Since the early 90s, Final Fantasy games have always had larger-than-life battles where the protagonist and their party muster all their strength to defeat the slew of antagonists thrown at them. In addition to the incredible strength and magic abilities at their disposal, the heroes are typically able to summon the help of powerful Eikons or mythical beings that have historically functioned sort of as an ultimate ability.
In Final Fantasy XVI, these traditions are carried forward and greatly expanded upon. Clive is a unique hero in that he can directly harness the power of Eikons into his combat abilities, and occasionally transform into one himself. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to unlock Eikons and use them in battle.
How To Unlock Eikon Abilities
Despite Clive having the innate ability to use multiple Eikons from the beginning of the game, he won’t be able to access them right away. After completing the prologue which ends with Ifrit fighting the Phoenix, Clive will be able to access the Phoenix Eikon skill tree. Like the core skills Clive possesses, he will be able to unlock and upgrade the Phoenix Eikon skills in this skill tree.
As you continue to progress through the game, Clive will encounter other Dominants who wield their own unique Eikon. Typically, after besting them in battle, Clive will be able to take their abilities which will unlock new Eikon skill trees.
How To Use Eikons In Battle
As you unlock Eikons, you will be able to seamlessly use their abilities on the fly during combat. Although each Eikon has a handful of abilities, you can only have two equipped at a time. These two moves are triggered by holding down R2 and then pressing either the Square or Triangle button. You can select which two abilities you want to assign to each Eikon in the Gear & Eikons menu.
After unlocking the second Eikon, you will be able to cycle between your Eikon load-outs by pressing the L2 button during combat. This opens up a whole other layer of combat complexity, allowing you to choose the right ability for the circumstance. For example, you can use Geruda's abilities to rapidly take down the enemy's defense, staggering them, and opening up a chance to use the powerful Phoenix abilities to deal massive damage. Additionally, having access to multiple Eikons at once means you can swap between them while their abilities are recharging, ensuring you always have a powerful attack that is ready to go.