Final Fantasy XVI | Beginner's Guide
Here's everything you need to know on how to get started in Final Fantasy XVI
Game Guide by Ornstein on Jan 04, 2025
Final Fantasy XVI is an epic action RPG set in a world of rival nations and powerful Eikons. Be it a fresh entrant into the Final Fantasy series or a frequent player, Final Fantasy XVI brings about new systems and features to which one must orient. Get yourself up and started with this book that will provide important recommendations on fighting, exploration, and progression, making your adventure throughout Valisthea much more enjoyable.
Understand the Combat System
Final Fantasy XVI's combat system is quite a drastic change in comparison to the normal turn-based battles that happen within former Final Fantasy games. This game contains real-time action fighting similar to that of Devil May Cry and God of War. You will be playing the character of Clive Rosfield, defeating enemies with a combination of melee attacks, Eikonic abilities, and dodges.
Get used to Clive's basic sword strikes and his capability to dodge and parry. It is a game of perfect timing, which comes in even more crucially when trying to avoid strikes from opponents. Whenever this is perfectly timed, it takes an effect called Precision Dodge that slows down and gives room to counterattack.
As you progress through, Clive will gain powers from numerous Eikons, such as Phoenix, Garuda, and Titan. Since each Eikon power is different, assign them to your controller as you like. You should experiment with different sets until you find a playstyle that suits your taste. Phoenix would, for example, feature excellent mobility and healing capabilities, while the powers of Garuda are good in stunning enemies.
Most of the common enemies and bosses have some kind of stagger gauge that drops as you hit them. Give attention to such abilities that drop this gauge quickly, thus stunning enemies and rendering them helpless against fatal damage. Staggering is crucial when fighting bosses since it allows you to strike with the most fatal blows without returning any injury.
World Exploration in Valisthea
Valisthea is a wonderful design world full of locations to explore. Although the game doesn't feature an open-world RPG in terms of storytelling, there are quite a number of side activities to find and surprises to dig into.
You should not hurry up to enter the main story. Take your time whenever you enter any place. You'll find side missions, secret treasures, and lore that help you dig deep into the universe. Most of the rewards for side tasks are handsome armor upgrades, craft items, and XP.
Towns and villages you enter are full of NPCs who sometimes tell stories and give you quests in return. Communicating with NPCs will add flavor to your experience, and sometimes, it will reveal some hidden objectives and opportunities to gain rewards.
Final Fantasy XVI features a fast travel system around the world map. Use this to save time when you need to travel between regions, but never forget to keep some time to explore by foot because you may get across exciting encounters or hidden items.
Managing Clive's Progress
Development for Clive in Final Fantasy XVI focuses on learning new abilities, upgrading equipment, and managing resources correctly.
Ability upgrading comes first when one earns AP in battles and uses it to upgrade Clive's abilities. The focus should be on abilities that go with your style of play. For example, for aggressive battle styles, upgrade your offensive Eikonic abilities, while those willing to play defensively should develop their dodges and counterattacks.
Upgrading weapons and accessories will make an enormous difference in Clive's performance. The blacksmith will be able to forge or improve your equipment regularly. To make sure you exploit Clive's full potential, pay close attention to the statistics and special effects of each piece of equipment.
Pay close attention to your inventories to make sure you always have enough healing items, craft materials, and various consumables. In the most intense encounters, healing potions will definitely help you out. Stock up before entering some of the most dangerous areas.
Mastering Eikon Battles
Perhaps one of Final Fantasy XVI's most iconic elements is epic Eikon battles. These larger-than-life battles pit Clive against powerful beings, and they're often in cinematic, over-the-top scenes. Each Eikon fight is unique, offering different attack patterns and phases. Pay close attention to the Eikon's movements and attacks to know when to dodge, block, or counterattack. Memorizing them will make the battles much more manageable.
During Eikon battles, Clive can harness his Eikonic abilities to deal damage and avoid attacks. To maximize their utility in these high-stakes battles, take some time to learn the cooldowns and repercussions of each ability. Eikon battles are some of the most visually beautiful sequences in Final Fantasy XVI. Take a moment to appreciate the cinematic flair and narrative that are laced throughout these encounters. More than just fights, they are pivotal story events that forward the plot.
Navigating Sidequests and Hunts
Side quests and hunts are a pretty good way to earn extra rewards and dive deeper into the lore of Valisthea. For whatever reason, not every side quest is created equally. Quests with a blue icon usually yield bigger rewards or unlock additional features, such as Chocobo mounts or improvements to crafting. If you have limited time, stick to these quests.
Hunts are special quests where you hunt down and defeat fearsome monsters. Check the Hunt Board in town to see what hunts are available. These fights can be pretty grueling, but the rewards are big, too, including rare materials for crafting and equipment. As inconsequential as these might seem, green icon quests often yield great insight into the world and those who populate it. The completion of these quests also helps Clive forge bonds with several NPCs.
Balancing Story and Exploration
One of the great things about Final Fantasy XVI is the story. Finding a good balance between story and exploration will be one of the most important keys to this game. Follow the Main Story for Major Eikon Battles. Most major Eikon battles and turns in the plot take place in the main storyline. If you want to find out what goes on in the next story beat, stay within the main path.
Just don't dive so deep into only the main storyline. Allowing time for side quests and explorations, as well as armor upgrades will ease your difficulty in carrying out the great battles within the main story. Pay really close attention to the cutscenes. Final Fantasy XVI has quite a few nice cutscenes, really setting the context to what happens in such an intertwined story; keeping up with these scenes will make it very easy for someone to tell exactly what is happening.
Final Tips for Beginners
Going into Final Fantasy XVI might be rather overwhelming. However, with just a few last-minute tips, you're on your path toward readiness to dominate the game. Experiment with fighting: Do not be afraid to try all kinds of Eikonic powers and fighting methods.
In fact, it encourages innovation, and there is no single solution for fighting. Save often, even with autosave. This way, when an unexpected defeat occurs, some precious progress will not be erased.
Finally…
Final Fantasy XVI is not a game-it's an experience. Take your sweet time to explore the world of Valisthea, and enjoy the story and the epic battles, too. With these recommendations, you should now be well on your way to taking your first steps through Final Fantasy XVI. Whether you're into plot, combat, or world-building, Valisthea has got something for all of them.
Also, check our Final Fantasy XVI Review and other guides below:
Editor, NoobFeed
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