Final Fantasy 16 has players focus only on playing Clive throughout the vast majority of the game. With this focus, Clive is also given a very complex skill tree, with new abilities added for each Eikon he gains throughout the story.
With this ever-growing list of skills at your disposal, it's easy to lose track of some of the better ones. Thanks to the very simple respec system, you'll be able to refund your AP to try new skills as often as you'd like to find the perfect options for your play style. While some of Ramuh's abilities are not as great as others, this Eikon will give Clive more ranged options beyond just the basic magic attack.
5 Lightning Rod
Lightning Rod is a valuable ability that is difficult to use to its full potential. The most powerful way for this ability to activate is for an enemy to strike the ball and cause it to discharge, which may not always happen as enemies dart around the battlefield and not straight into the one tiny orb you left floating near their previous location.
While the orb can be discharged by Clive, the area of effect is relatively small and even smaller if not hit by an enemy. This ability also feels like a contrast to the otherwise fast-paced combat the game focuses on, being a defensive ability in a highly offensive game. While some players may find the occasional use for this, it is rarely worth one of your ability slots.
4 Blind Justice
Blind Justice is better than Lightning Rod simply because it is always available in your ability hot bar and can be used as often as you'd like. Its ability to aim at multiple enemies at once is great crowd control, but the overall damage for each individual charge is not enough for the time it takes to prepare and use this ability.
Blind Justice's ability to slow down time to let you aim properly is both the best and worst part of the ability. This ability is perfect for those who need a second to slow time down to stop and think. At the same time, this slowdown pulls players out of the fast-paced combat and will have you aiming and charging an attack that will give little satisfaction when it finally fires.
3 Judgment Bolt
Judgment Bolt is Ramuh's super ability, which will cost a few thousand AP to get unlocked and upgraded. This ability also has a very long cooldown like other super abilities and won't be able to be used very often, even with accessories to try and lower its cooldown time. This ability is worth it all despite the startup cost and delays between uses.
Judgment Bolt is an incredibly powerful ability that not only looks awesome to use but also decimates even the most powerful enemies caught within. This ability has very great damage and a decent stagger, making it incredibly efficient against stronger enemies with a stagger bar. This ability does have a bit of a longer cast time but can deal incredible amounts of damage to a staggered enemy.
2 Pile Drive
Pile Drive is one of the starting abilities Clive will get after obtaining Ramuh. This ability is the definition of simplicity, as Clive slams a spear into the ground to create a small circle of electricity. This ability is able to damage anything near Clive and offers a surprising amount of damage and stagger for its short cooldown.
This ability is easily woven into combos and fits in with just about any other ability. It also offers a powerful knockback that will throw any enemies back that survived the initial electrocution. Pile Drive also has a short cast time and cooldown, allowing you to jump into big crowds of enemies before trying to fry them all with a single ability.
1 Thunderstorm
Thunderstorm is the most basic idea for an ability coming from the Eikon of Lightning. This ability deals significant damage, decent stagger and gives Clive one of his more powerful ranged options. While your basic magic attack is useful, its damage will quickly be outclassed by your melee, only really scratching enemies from a distance. With Thunderstorm, you're able to hit any enemy you can lock onto on the battlefield and can go over other enemies to target specific high-value ones first.
Thunderstorm will call down multiple bolts of lightning, giving consistent damage over a short time will also stun any enemy caught within. While this spell excels at a range, it also gives off additional damage if you use it up close. The longer cast time will have Clive spinning Ramuh's staff overhead, but any enemy hit by that staff will take additional damage, giving you an additional close-range attack while you charge up for a ranged attack.