Longtime Final Fantasy fans will be very familiar with the Eikons that show up in the 16th installment of the franchise. These powerhouses are a major part of the game's story and can bestow Clive with some unique abilities. However, the player can only have a few active at one time, and some are far stronger than the rest. Luckily, Final Fantasy 16 does allow for some variety, and multiple Eikons active at a time.
To take on the toughest content the game has to offer, players will want to invest in the right ability combinations to create the strongest Eikon builds they can find. By choosing the right feats and abilities, players will quickly find themselves tearing through enemies and bosses alike.
Updated August 30, 2023, by Aldous Foster: Final Fantasy 16 offers players a wide variety of combat approaches, and the many different Eikons and their abilities can complement any playstyle. Players will want to make sure they learn what each Eikon can offer each playstyle before diving into one of the game's harder battles, as having access to a reliable and effective Eikon build can often mean the difference between victory and defeat. Whether players are looking to create an excellent area-of-effect build or a great boss-killing build, each Eikon has something to offer. However, some Eikon combinations are better than others, so players should be sure to play around with all the builds available to discover what works best for them.
7 AOE: Phoenix
Phoenix is the first Eikon that Clive gains access to and is a major part of the story. With a focus on flames and quick movement, this Eikon can make for a great damage-dealing option for bosses and groups alike. Its feat is Phoenix Shift, which is an excellent gap closer, ensuring that the player can keep the damage coming and is necessary for this Eikon's close-range attacks. The best ability to pair with this feat is Rising Flames. This deals high damage around the player and can throw enemies.
Flames of Rebirth is a Phoenix ability that deals damage and heals Clive. It is a great option for players who find themselves running low on healing options or who are looking for another way to deal with enemy groups. Having Bahamut as an Eikon to swap to allows players to mix in ranged damage options such as Flare Breath. Players should also have Ignition on one of their Eikons, as it is a very powerful tool against groups of enemies. If they are looking for a little bit more single-target damage, abilities such as Gigaflare and Judgement Bolt provide this build with very strong ranged damage options.
6 Boss Damage: Odin
Odin is unlocked very late in the game. This Eikon revolves around building the Zantetsuken ability, which is granted by Odin's core feat. As such, using some of Odin's other abilities is generally the best way to go. Once fully charged, Zantetsuken can deal massive amounts of damage to surrounding enemies, making this classic summon one of the best in the game.
The best ability for raising Zantetsuken's level is Gungir, which does not deal a lot of damage but hits multiple times. Players can then choose between Heaven's Cloud and Dancing Steel. Dancing Steel is easier to use and can either be used on all enemies or on a single target. Heaven's Cloud requires good aiming to keep the chain going but can be incredibly strong against groups with the Collateral Cloud Technique. Either way, for players who enjoy flashes of light and attacking more times than they can count, Odin has much to offer.
5 Crowd Control: Titan
Titan is one of the most variable Eikons in the game and can offer great stunning, crowd control, and boss damage. At the core of Titan's strength is Titanic Block, which can prevent damage and offer counterattacks. This feat is devastating against single targets, as it allows the player to completely change the momentum of the fight and deal some powerful follow-up attacks. After landing those counterattacks, the best general ability the Titan Eikon offers is Windup. This deals heavy damage and can close the gap slightly, making it great against bosses. Meanwhile, Upheaval can help out in group combat as it provides some staggering and AoE damage.
Running this build will guarantee that the player has excellent damage and survivability in pretty much any combat encounter. Pairing the Eikon with Phoenix and Shiva allows for some incredible movement and some freezing, which can be very useful when the player needs a second to regroup. Using abilities such as Ignition and Scarlet Cyclone on these Eikons can take this Titan build from being good to being almost all the player needs to bully any group of enemies in the game.
4 Ranged Spellcasting: Bahamut
Although Bahamut cannot offer as much single-target damage as some of the other Eikons, the crowd control potential of this build is among the best in the game and the ability to attack from range keeps the player safe. Bahamut's Eikonic Feat is Wings of Light, which deals great damage and stun but does require charging up. Although it does interrupt the flow of combat, the damage is more than worth it. The Impulse ability is also great here as it keeps enemies in place as they take damage, which can allow Clive to focus on other enemies while that one is distracted.
Players can pair this with Odin for more single-target damage or Titan for more crowd control, but either way, the third Eikon they will want is Ramuh due to the Pile Driver ability. With its upgrade and the Collateral Drive Technique, it can hit loads of enemies and prevent them from hassling the player for a good while. Ramuh's Judgement Bolt also works excellently here.
3 Stagger: Garuda
For players who love breaking enemy Will Gauges, Garuda is an excellent Eikon. Deadly Embrace is a feat of hers that can provide damage and stagger on any enemy. Gouge is an incredibly fun ability that can be used to relentlessly attack multiple targets or tear through stagger bars. Although it does not deal the most direct damage and locks the player into attack chains, its pure effectiveness makes it one of the best abilities in the game.
Garuda's Aerial Blast is also ridiculously powerful, as it makes staggering enemies almost too easy. This massive whirlwind seeks out enemies and tears through them while the player continues attacking. Once fully upgraded, it allows Clive to ignore groups and bully any single target. For beginners and experts alike, Garuda is one of the best Eikons the game has to offer.
2 Crowd Control: Shiva
When it comes to single-target fights, the ability to freeze enemies and deal massive stagger damage is ideal. Shiva provides some freezing and some movement with her Eikonic Feat, but her true strength lies in the Diamond Dust ability. This freezes enemies and then deals incredible amounts of stagger, allowing for easy damage. Her Mesmerize ability is also an excellent option for dealing with several enemies at once.
The best pairing for this amazing ability depends on what the player is looking for. For even more stagger, they may want to look at Titan and abilities such as Upheaval. However, for those who prefer a focused attack for bosses or Hunts, Ramuh's Judgement is a no-brainer. This is best used against enemies who have already been staggered by Diamond Dust and can make short work of most bosses.
1 DPS: Garuda
When enemies just need to die as soon as possible, the combination of Garuda, Odin, and Shiva is almost unbeatable. Using Mesmerize and Deadly Embrace together will often instantly delete any smaller enemies. Adding Ignition means that no matter how many there are, the player can keep moving and create space while dealing massive amounts of damage. Shiva's Diamond Dust is an obvious addition as it absolutely tears through Will Gauges.
For Odin, players can either use Gungnir or Heaven's Cloud alongside Gigaflare, allowing for some serious damage once the Zantetsuken gauge fills up. Alternatively, players can use Dancing Steel. Although it does not have excellent damage by itself, when combined with abilities such as Will o' the Wykes or Impulse, it can be incredibly powerful, especially once players obtain the Will of Darkness (Dancing Steel) Accessory. Either way, with this setup, players will quickly tear through anything in their way.
Final Fantasy 16 is available now for PS5.