Final Fantasy 16 follows Clive Rosfield as he embarks on a journey to discover who he truly is. Unlike other Dominants, he can absorb portions of an Eikon's power and use some of their abilities as a result. The more Eikons he defeats, the more abilities he gains access to, but not all abilities are easy to master.
Zantetsuken is one of the most powerful abilities in Final Fantasy 16, especially if players know how to use it correctly. Like Flames of Rebirth and Wings of Light, it is capable of devastating large groups of enemies with a single use, but it can also be used to deplete a significant portion of health from some of Final Fantasy 16's more powerful foes.
How To Unlock Zantetsuken In Final Fantasy 16
Players will gain access to Zantetsuken and Odin's other abilities upon completing The Last King, the forty-third main quest in Final Fantasy 16. When the next main quest, Brotherhood, begins, a prompt will appear, informing players of the new Eikon abilities Clive can use.
Odin's abilities can then be assigned to Clive in the Gear & Eikons tab in the pause menu, but those who only wish to only use Zantetsuken and have no reason to acquire any of Odin's other abilities are free to only equip the Arm of Darkness. That said, having access to an additional Odin ability or two can make filling the Zantetsuken Meter much easier.
How To Use Zantetsuken In Final Fantasy 16
When activated, Zantetsuken targets nearby enemies and unleashes an attack that depletes a large amount of health. It is best used when it reaches Level 5 and when faced with groups of enemies, as it can vanquish most common enemies with a single use; it can also be used to deal some hefty damage to Final Fantasy 16's more powerful enemies, like bosses and the Notorious Marks.
Players must master the Arm of Darkness ability to increase Zantetsuken's maximum level to 5. Doing so costs 5,000 AP .
While Odin is assigned to one of Clive's Eikon slots, players will have access to the Zantetsuken Meter. Filling this meter will increase the level of Zantetsuken, allowing players to dish out even more damage when the ability is unleashed. To fill this meter, players must make use of Odin's other abilities while in combat.
The Zantetsuken Meter will only fill if the attacks offered through these abilities connect with an enemy, so players should make sure to perform them only when they are guaranteed to land. Using Odin's abilities on staggered enemies is usually the best way to fill the Zantetsuken Meter.
For Clive to use Zantetsuken in combat, players must assign Odin to one of Clive's three Eikon slots. This will give Clive access to Arm of Darkness, an ability that replaces his sword with Odin's blade. Landing attacks with this weapon will slowly fill the Zantetsuken Meter, but those hoping to fill it quickly should rely on moves like Dancing Steel, Heaven's Cloud, and Gungir.
When players are ready to unleash Zantetsuken, they must ensure that the Arm of Darkness ability is active. If it is, holding Square until Odin's blade glows and then releasing will begin the attack.
Final Fantasy 16 is available exclusively for PlayStation 5.
