Summary
As you progress throughFinal Fantasy 16, you will be able to unlock more abilities that will offer a variety of gameplay options. From combo tools to defensive utility, all the abilities in the Eikon menu are amazing tools for you to craft the best combos you can for any playstyle you want.
When you fully master these abilities through the menu, you are able to mix and match attacks, but some are a constant must-have. Just like any other combo-heavy action game, combo staples like launchers, extenders, and finishers are a must for any situation that you might encounter through your travels in Valisthea.
Updated on June 26, 2025, by Jesus Morales:With the release of the DLC Echoes Of The Fallen, more people than ever are playing for the first time and revisiting the world of Valisthea, so we decided to add a few more abilities to help you on your journey to gather all the Eikons.
14Magic Burst
Up your combo game!
This ability will be your bread and butter for the entire game. Being able to weave in an extra magic attack in between slashes might be the damage you need to clear that hunt in record time. Magic Burst works as a timed input that you must press right after your slash connects. you’re able to consecutively continue to Magic Burst after each section of your entire slash combo.
You don’t need to use Magic Burst every time you attack an enemy, but hitting it consistently is what separates the new players from the best ones.
13Deadly Embrace
Wirebug in Final Fantasy 16
Early on in the game, this will be one of your main combo tools. With Garuda’s power unlocked, Clive will be able to grab onto nearby enemies and pull them closer to continue a combo.
This attack is going to be your go-to ability when fighting a perky flying monster. When fighting larger monsters, though, the attack will only launch Clive into the air rather than pull the beast towards you. When staggering a larger enemy, you will find yourself in a nice animation that knocks down your foe.
12Lightning Rod
Set up a multiple-hit combo
One of Ramuh’s first unlockable abilities will come in the shape of a lightning rod that stays out on the field for a couple of seconds. When Clive hits the rod, the pillar will emanate a small stock that will stun the enemies in the immediate area for a moment while you may rack up the hit on your combo.
This ability is one of the best to use if you’re trying to achieve the “It’s Over 50,000” trophy, where the game requires you to deal 50,000 damage to an enemy while staggered.
11Gigaflare
Bahamut obliterate!
Many of the big super abilities that each Eikon has are extremely epic and cinematic, but none are as great as Bahamut’s signature Gigaflare. Clive summons a massive ray of energy, whose direction you can control with the right stick, and obliterates anything in its path.
The damage output is off the charts on this attack, and this should be one of your go-tos when finishing a combo. As one of the few that can use this attack, go on and make Donald Duck proud!
10Downthrust
Excellent combo finisher
A combo without a finisher is like reading a book and dropping it before the end. It’s unsatisfying and boring to watch. Luckily, Downthrust has got you covered. Aerial moves like Burning Blade and Garuda’s Deadly Embrace can start your flashy air combos, and Downthrust can help you bring those foes back down through the power of gravity.
As you level up Downthrust, its potency increases depending on how you activate the ability, leaving a massive splash of fire upon landing.
9Burning Blade
Launch your foes in the air
Since the game’s overall gameplay shifted from a turn-based experience to a more combo-heavy action game, flashy moves and air juggling your enemies became a norm for Final Fantasy 16.
Burning Blade will be your go-to combo starter for most of your aerial shenanigans. If you charge the blade while on the ground, it can knock down most of the smaller-sized enemies, but if you perform the ability while jumping, Burning Blade becomes a launcher to set up your highlight reel combos.
8Precision Dodge
Gain an advantage by dodging at the right time
One of the bread-and-butter abilities in the game. Since there is no block button in Final Fantasy 16, dodging is essential to your survival. Without dodging against any formidable foe, you’ll be thrown around like a ragdoll all over theside quest-filled Grand Duchy of Rosaria.
With Precision Dodge, if done properly, you’ll get a small window of slowdown to follow up with another attack or even make some more distance between you and the enemy. If you opt for the follow-up attack, you will perform an even stronger Precision Counter to stagger the enemy a bit faster.
7Lunge
Close the distance against long-range foes
Due to the lack of a sprint button in the game, closing the distance between you and your enemy can be a bit difficult. Lunge can help you get up close and personal with the monsters in Valisthea by lunging with a slashing finisher.
Lunge can also be canceled with Magic Burst, giving you more combo routes to explore. Lunge, once fully upgraded, can increase the potency of the slash finisher, giving it acoating of the Phoenix’s blessingto torch down anyone in your path.
6Swift Recovery
Enemies can combo you too
There are a few enemies in Final Fantasy 16 that have long strings of combos that, once started, cannot be stopped. You’ll be stuck in hit stun and the combo will end up sending you flying while your enemy winds up their next deadly move.
Although you won’t be able to stop the combo halfway through it, Swift Recovery will help you get up faster so you can close the distance and parry the next attack or brace yourself by spending all of your potions.
5Cold Snap
Freeze the enemies in your path
Cold Snap is Shiva’s Eikonic Feat. By pressing circle on your controller, you will perform a step in whatever direction you are currently holding. This may not seem like a great move, especially when you see how slow it is to perform an action after it, but if done through an enemy it can freeze them, allowing you to combo them to your heart’s desire.
This Eikonic feat can also be used as a Precision Dodge since, if done at the right time, Cold Snap will give you the same slowdown as the regular Precision Dodge, but it will give a Permafrost on your enemies, freezing even the largest of Orcs.
