Final Fantasy 16 marks the latest installment in the franchise, and one that has taken the fanbase by storm with its plot and gameplay experience. Players can choose between the Story or the Action mode when they first start the game, and can even go for the New Game+ Final Fantasy mode for their second playthrough. Naturally, the latter two offer a more violent experience, with the combat getting a stronger focus and becoming more difficult.
Eikonic abilities play a crucial role in the game, and Clive can access two each from the three Eikons that he chooses at any given time. Shiva, being one of the last that players get access to, offers quite an aggressive, tactical playstyle based on her element, ice. Clive gains these powers when Jill, Shiva’s Dominant, shares them with him during the Through the Maelstrom quest. While a couple of them may not match up to players’ expectations, others make for a very strong addition to any moveset.
5 Ice Age
Through this Eikonic ability, players trigger a line of icicles that lift enemies into the air, and damage and Stagger them. On paper, it offers 3 points in Attack and 1 in Stagger. It is a bit lower than average in its potential for crowd control in Final Fantasy 16, since it can be a bit tricky to aim the line correctly in the heat of battle. While holding the button to trigger the move, they need to leave it in the red portion of the circle for the highest impact.
Although it does leave enemies Staggered and thus more vulnerable, the effect itself is not significant and the damage is underwhelming as well. Although it has a long range and a short cooldown, Rime would work better for controlling crowds as it lasts longer and causes more impact. If players wish to use Ice Age for its striking visual effect, they can spend 600 Ability Points (AB) to upgrade it, increasing the window of time for triggering it for highest damage. Subsequently, they can spend 1,000 AB to master this Eikonic ability and make it available for other Eikons in Final Fantasy 16.
4 Rime
When triggered, Eikon Shiva’s Rime summons a massive crystal that locks enemies in place and deals a great amount of damage over time. It is a great move for crowd control in Final Fantasy 16, since it independently locks down multiple monsters and allows Clive free rein to tackle the stronger ones in another area. The ability does become useless if the placement is not appropriate. However, it is fairly easy to do it properly since players can just move into a horde with Cold Snap and unleash it.
Another great benefit is that even if this Eikonic ability’s placement is somehow incorrect, gamers can just knock enemies into it and leave them be for a surprisingly good length of time. After unlocking Rime for 100 AB, they can increase its duration by upgrading it for 550 AB, and earn mastery over it by spending 1,000 AB.
3 Mesmerize
Mesmerize is a notable Eikonic ability that many may skip in favor of other options since it affects only smaller enemies. When activated, Clive sends out ice shards and pulls lighter enemies to him. With this, their moves are interrupted, thus granting players a bit of reprieve. Like its stats, 2 points each in Attack and Stagger, it deals just an average amount of damage on its own. However, the move’s shining point comes from how well it works with others.
Mesmerize offers a very enterprising combo in Final Fantasy 16. Those who wish to capitalize on it can slide in close to stronger enemies, trigger this ability, and then use Diamond Dust. This will deal a great deal of damage in a wide range, and the ones left will be Staggered to a good extent, leaving them vulnerable to increased damage. If players wish to use this move from Eikon Shiva more often, they can upgrade it for 525 (AB), which fires shards at enemies behind Clive as well. They can then master it for 1,000 AB, making it available for other Eikons.
2 Cold Snap
Cold Snap is one of the best Eikonic abilities that players can use from Eikon Shiva in Final Fantasy 16. Since it is a core ability/feat, it can be used continuously at any time. Essentially, it allows Clive to evade attacks by sliding a short distance on ice. However, there is more to it than just increased agility and safety. When players dodge and land a hit, Frostbite will be triggered, a small ice crystal that freezes enemies in place for a very short duration. Further, when they dodge at the last second, the ability will activate Permafrost. This sends out a wave of ice that leaves foes frozen for a longer duration, not only unable to attack but also vulnerable to increased damage.
Although this Eikonic ability may seem like a simple one that only helps to dodge, it can be very handy for newcomers learning the ropes of combat. Although they may struggle with critical dodging to trigger Permafrost, Frostbite can still be relatively helpful. Meanwhile, it can be a boon for veterans as it will allow them to string combos along more fluidly since the enemies will be temporarily frozen. As such, not only does it help Clive be safe, but also helps build combos and take down entire hordes more easily. Since there is no upgrade option present, players can directly go for mastery over it by spending 3,000 AB in Final Fantasy 16.
1 Diamond Dust
With 3 points in Attack and 5 in Stagger, Diamond Dust is easily the most damaging move that Eikon Shiva offers in Final Fantasy 16. It can make a phenomenal impact on gameplay. When triggered, Clive summons a storm that freezes all enemies in a big radius and then slams his sword into the ground to generate massive icicles that rise up and damage them, knocking them back as well. Further, this Eikonic ability causes enemies (those who are still somehow alive) to be Staggered, leaving them susceptible to bonus damage.
While the cooldown comes in at 75 seconds and is disappointingly long, it can change the tide of a battle immediately. Yet another negative point, although justified with it being a super ability, is the amount of Ability Points required to purchase and master it. Once unlocked for 1,940 AB, players can upgrade it for 2,575 AB, which triggers two ice blasts and increases the number of hits as well. Finally, they can spend 4,500 AB to master it and make it available for all the Eikons.
Final Fantasy 16 is available exclusively for the PlayStation 5.