With a darker storyline that will be unlike anything seen in the entire series, Final Fantasy 16 is certainly not afraid of putting players in difficult situations. The predicaments that protagonist Clive Rosfield will find himself in are plenty, and most of the time, they require a show of force in order for a resolution.
One of those situations is the initial quest to bring down the Dominant of Shiva, who is currently under the control of the nefarious Ironblood. Upon seeing the Dominant, it would appear she was forced to be part of the bloody conquest rather than a willing participant. Sadly, the misunderstanding is not resolved before Clive has to ready himself to battle with Shiva's Dominant in Final Fantasy 16.
How to Beat Shiva's Dominant in Final Fantasy 16
Needless to say, fighting against a Dominant in human form is much easier than dealing with the Eikon itself. However, that doesn't mean that Shiva's Dominant will go down easily, especially not when her life is on the line.
First Phase
As a master of the element of Ice, it is clear that players will have to be alert to avoid getting frozen in their tracks and taking plenty of punishment. Shiva's Dominant is good at using her sword as well, so that's at least two ways she can hurt Clive if no care is taken.
Similar to other boss fights, it is key to take note of the attack patterns of Shiva's Dominant:
- She can use her sword to attack at fast speeds, so always remember to dodge out of her extended combos when she starts swinging.
- At range, she can toss ice projectiles that hit hard. Keep moving to avoid getting hit, or use Precision Dodge to counterattack effectively.
- Shiva's Dominant can also cast Blizzard, an AoE spell that blankets an area with ice. Step out of the affected area and use Charged Spells to do more damage.
Combine Phoenix Shift and Rising Flame to stay on top of the enemy, and eventually, she will become Staggered. Leverage the window where damage is amplified to unleash every attack available.
Second Phase
With half of her health gone, Shiva's Dominant will get more desperate and, as a result, more dangerous to Clive and his allies. All of her attacks will become more frequent, and she now uses Blizzaga to cover more areas with AoE attacks. Move out of the affected areas to keep Clive healthy.
The game will also introduce the Parry mechanic here, which players can execute by hitting Square just as an opponent attacks. This will temporarily slow down time and provide a chance for free hits. Maintain the same strategy of aggressive attack, especially when she is focused on the others, and Shiva's Dominant will fall.
The reward for besting this boss will be 48 XP, 200 Gil, and a bunch of items, including two Frozen Tears, which can be used in crafting.
Final Fantasy 16 is exclusively available for PlayStation 5.