This article is part of a directory: Final Fantasy 16: Complete Guide & Walkthrough
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After finishing The Rising Tide's main story, Final Fantasy 16 players will gain access to Kairos Gate: a brand-new mode providing some of the most challenging fights in the game. To complete it, players will need to survive 20 challenging encounters in a single sitting, which is much easier said than done.

Images from some of the side quests in FF16's Rising Tide DLC
Related
Final Fantasy 16: Every Side Quest in The Rising Tide (& How to Complete Them)

Completing every DLC side quest in The Rising Tide will take FF16 players a few hours and reward them with a bunch of useful items and materials.

To start a Kairos Gate run, players will first need to complete the DLC expansion's main story and then pay a visit to the Arete Stone at the Hideaway. The first time they do so will unlock Ultima's Eikonic Abilities and the Deus EX Trophy, after which, they'll be free to take on Kairos Gate. Below, they can learn what each circle of hell consists of and the rewards for completing them.

All Kairos Gate Enemy Types and Rewards

ff16-kairos-gate-menu

Circle

Enemies

Reward(s)

1

  • Wave 1: Melee x5
  • Wave 2: Melee x5
  • Wave 3: Melee x5

  • Eludium (First Time)
  • Rhema

2

  • Wave 1: Melee x5
  • Wave 2: Aerial x5
  • Wave 3: Melee x4

  • The Will of the Creator (Proselytize) (First Time)
  • Rhema

3

  • Wave 1: Melee x3 + Aerial x2
  • Wave 2: Melee x5
  • Wave 3: Large x1

  • Radiant Levinbolt (First Time)
  • Rhema

4

  • Wave 1: Large x1
  • Wave 2: Melee x3 + Aerial x2
  • Wave 3: Large x1 + Melee x2

  • The Breath of the Creator (Proselytize) (First Time)
  • Rhema

5

  • Boss Battle (Infernal Ifrit)

  • Radiant Flametongue (First Time)
  • Rhema x6

6

  • Wave 1: Melee x6
  • Wave 2: Ranged x5
  • Wave 3: Melee x6

  • Eludium (First Time)
  • Rhema

7

  • Wave 1: Melee x6
  • Wave 2: Ranged x4 + Aerial x2
  • Wave 3: Large x1

  • The Will of the Creator (Voice of God) (First Time)
  • Rhema

8

  • Wave 1: Melee x6
  • Wave 2: Melee x4 + Ranged x2
  • Wave 3: Large x2

  • Radiant Icebrand (First Time)
  • Rhema

9

  • Wave 1: Large x1
  • Wave 2: Melee x5
  • Wave 3: Large x1 + Melee x2

  • The Breath of the Creator (Voice of God) (First Time)
  • Rhema

10

  • Boss Battle (Warden of Wind)

  • Radiant Stormcry (First Time)
  • Rhema x6

11

  • Wave 1: Melee x6
  • Wave 2: Melee x3 + Ranged x2
  • Wave 3: Melee x6

  • Eludium (First Time)
  • Rhema

12

  • Wave 1: Large x1
  • Wave 2: Melee x4 + Ranged x2
  • Wave 3: Large x2

  • The Favor of the Creator (Dominion) (First Time)
  • Rhema

13

  • Wave 1: Large x1
  • Wave 2: Melee x4 + Ranged x2
  • Wave 3: Large x1 + Melee x3

  • Radiant Brightburn (First Time)
  • Rhema

14

  • Wave 1: Large x1 + Melee x3
  • Wave 2: Large x1 + Melee x3
  • Wave 3: S Rank x1

  • The Breath of the Creator (Dominion) (First Time)
  • Rhema

15

  • Boss Battle (Warden of Stone)

  • Radiant Brightburn (First Time)
  • Rhema x6

16

  • Wave 1: Melee x7
  • Wave 2: Melee x5 + Ranged x2
  • Wave 3: Large x1

  • Eludium (First Time)
  • Rhema

17

  • Wave 1: Large x1 + Melee x2
  • Wave 2: Melee x3 + Ranged x4
  • Wave 3: Large x2

  • The Favor of the Creator (Ultimate Demise) (First Time)
  • Rhema

18

  • Wave 1: Large x1 + Ranged x2
  • Wave 2: Melee x4 + Ranged x3
  • Wave 3: Large x1

  • Radiant Tidestrike (First Time)
  • Rhema

19

  • Wave 1: S Rank x1
  • Wave 2: Large x1 + Melee x4
  • Wave 3: S Rank x1

  • The Breath of the Creator (Ultimate Demise) (First Time)
  • Rhema

20

  • Boss Battle (Warden of Darkness)

  • Radiant Everdark (First Time)
  • Opportunity (First Time / Final Fantasy Mode Only)
  • Rhema x6

While playing Kairos Gate Final Fantasy mode , players will be able to unlock a secret boss battle by achieving an S rank on all twenty circles in a single run. The Final Circle sees Clive face off against The Shadow Within.

Kairos Gate Rewards, Explained

ff16-kairos-gate-rewards

Completing all twenty circles of Kairos gate for the first time will reward players with eight Creator accessories that can be used to buff Ultima's Eikonic Abilities and Radiant versions of the game's Eikonic blades. The stats on the latter are the same as the regular versions, but they look infinitely cooler and so are well worth using as skins. Players will also receive four pieces of Eludium, which can be used to craft the Eludium Belt and Wristlets; the best pieces of armor in the game. Those playing on Final Fantasy mode will also get the Opportunity, a rare crafting component that's needed to craft a powerful sword known as Original Sin. In addition to all of this, every Circle will reward players with Rhema, which can be sold for 2,500 Gil a piece.

While playing on Final Fantasy mode, players will receive Flawless Eludium rather than regular Eludium, and Radiant versions of the Reforged Eikonic blades.

Tips for Beating Kairos Gate

ff16-kairos-gate-icons

Players should always pay attention to the types of enemies they'll be up against next and choose their Eikonic Abilities accordingly. If they're going to be up against larger waves, they'll want plenty of AoE attacks, while single enemies can be taken down with more powerful abilities like Gigaflare. Cross Swell deserves a special mention when it comes to larger waves of melee enemies, as it can help to pull them all into one spot, which can make it much easier for players to take them out using ranged attacks with smaller areas of effect. Enhancements and Boons can make a huge difference too, particularly those that bolster Clive's defense or help him recover HP. The first half of Kairos Gate is easy, but things get progressively harder the deeper players get and it's here that these Enhancements and Boons can really make a difference.

Players can find four Timely Accessories in the Boons menu and will be able to equip them with zero cost. Using them will lower the player's score, but for those who just want to complete Kairos Gate and unlock the Occasio Calva Trophy, this shouldn't really be an issue. After all, it's better to get all C ranks than to fall during one of the final circles and have to start all over from scratch.

final fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 16

Developer(s)
Square Enix
Publisher(s)
Square Enix
Platform(s)
PS5
Released
June 22, 2023