Final Fantasy XVI Guide | How To Beat Shiva’s Dominant

Here’s everything you need to know on how to beat one of the most satisfying boss in Final Fantasy XVI.

Game Guide by Ornstein on Jan 17, 2025

One of the most complex and satisfying fights in all of Final Fantasy XVI is the boss fight against Shiva's Dominant, Benedikta Harman, who equips herself with the Eikon of Ice. Benedikta combines fast-paced aerial assaults with crippling ice skills. You'll have to adjust to her way of fighting while being economical with your resources and trying to exploit those definite vulnerabilities that will appear in this battle. Here's how to beat Benedikta in this step-by-step path.

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Preparation for the fight

Approach Benedikta when Clive is fully geared up. Wear accessories that give survivability, such as increasing HP or reducing the incoming damage taken. Also, use your restorer supplies like potions and high potions conservatively during the fight so you will have enough throughout the fight.

Eikonic abilities are those that should be continuous and provide chipped damage or interrupt her attacks, such as Garuda's Deadly Embrace, pulling her out of the air, or Phoenix's Rising Flames, area-of-effect damage. Learn the timing of your dodging and build up an accurate evasion to make full use of the counterattacks.

Phase 1: Close Quarters Combat

Benedikta initiates combat through close-quarters fighting, using speedy melee attacks along with projectiles based on ice. In this part of the combat, keep moving around because she will be unleashing quick slashes along with projectiles. Be aware of her tells- a bright weapon or a longer windup animation- that signify really damaging attacks. Take advantage of these to dodge the strikes and counterattack with precision.

Final Fantasy XVI Guide, PC, Gameplay, How To Beat Shiva's Dominant, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Her ice bullets are really slow, so if you time it just right, you can dodge them. You'd be better off dodging back or to the side whenever she does her wide slash with the ice blade. Act with your abilities during her recovery frames for maximum damage, but don't overextend since she does transition quickly between moves. Garuda's skills also stun her, making her more open to extra abuse.

Phase 2: Air and Ice Barrage

When low on health, Benedikta will move back into the air and commence an all-out barrage on everything with her ice-based attacks. She could either create Frost Shards that rain down from the sky or punch through the ground to create pillars of ice. They are telegraphed by bright blue markers that give you a moment to move. Always keep moving around so you do not get cornered or overwhelmed.

While she's air-bound, hurt her with ranged attacks and skills. Skills like Phoenix Shift allow you to close the gap in a very short time and pull her down to the ground. In addition, Garuda's Deadly Embrace will interrupt her mid-air acrobatics and give you a chance for a stagger combo. Watch out for her devastating AoE ice blast, often telegraphed by her hovering in situ. The moment you see her charging the attack, get some distance between you and her to avoid taking lots of damage.

Final Fantasy XVI Guide, PC, Gameplay, How To Beat Shiva's Dominant, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Phase 3: Eikonic Clash and Enhanced Capabilities

In the last phase, Benedikta invokes the power of Shiva, enriching her with stronger ice attacks while being very aggressive. During this phase, she gains new skills, such as Diamond Dust, where she covers a big area with ice and slows the movement speed down on anyone who falls under its effects. You must be really precise in your dodging, as the hits are much stronger and longer.

During this phase, stagger her as much as possible to prevent her from getting more effective. Use your Limit Break for lots of damage and to make this phase shorter. Pay attention to the stagger bar and unleash your strongest combos when it's close to breaking. In Diamond Dust, move around as much as possible, and be prepared to punish when she exits the attack into a period of recovery.

How To Succeed

Stay mobile. Benedikta's attacks are really fast and possess huge reach. She will constantly weave in and out of attacks and into dodges for survivability.
Use Eikonic Abilities Judiciously: Time them to interrupt her or punish during the recovery frames. Garuda and Phoenix work really well here.
Go easy on the potions and save them for the dangerous attacks that come in the last round.
Max Out Damage with Stagger Windows: Fill up her stagger gauge and let loose your biggest hits while she's stuck in an animation.

Final Fantasy XVI Guide, PC, Gameplay, How To Beat Shiva's Dominant, Screenshot, NoobFeed

Rewards After the Boss Fight

Beating Benedikta will advance the story and also get you some nice rewards, like new abilities and craftable resources. You learn even more about her character, and Shiva's Dominant deepens the story even more. Knowing her attack patterns, using the right abilities, and a bit of patience will finally let you beat Benedikta and win in this exciting fight.

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