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After taking on two very tough bosses in the Crystalline Dominion, a dragon and an undead sorcerer,Final Fantasy 16might have seen fit to give you a break. Alas, the game is not as kind as that, and you’re up against the big king of the dragons himself: Bahamut, the Eikon of Light.
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Like other Eikons in the game, Bahamut is a multi-phase ordeal, and there are some tricks and threats unique to all of them. Hopefully, you’ll be ready to embody Ifrit and take down this draconic brute, and if you aren’t, we’ve got the fights detailed in full below.
First Phase
In the first phase of this fight, you’ll be up against Bahamut asIfrit. As far as Eikon battles go, this one is quite standard - you’ll need tolearn and adapt to Bahamut’s attacks, dodging them as efficiently as possible, and then retaliate when you can.
Bahamut is anagile boss who also flies, making this an annoying battle in which to get damage in. While it might not seem like it,Ifrit’s regular jumping attack has a generous hitbox, so you should be able to get to Bahamut and then simply perform midair attacks to hit him.
Wildfireis especially crucial in this fight, not only for avoiding Bahamut’s very large attacks but also for pursuing him across the battlefield quickly.
Spinning Divebomb
Bahamut performs a swoop at you while spinning.
This attack has some very obvious startup as Bahamut closes his wings, ready to spin, but the attack itself is very fast. A well-timed Precision Dodge is the best way to tackle this.
Wingblades
Bahamut swings his wings at you, one at a time. The wings emit vertical blades of light. In later phases of the fight, this attack is used three times in succession instead of twice.
The projectiles from this attack are easy to avoid, but you may simply want to make a lunging attack through them. Bahamut is stationary during this attack and the projectiles do not deal much damage.
Aura Blast
Bahamut creates a very large, circular patch of glowing ground. After a few moments, the entire radius will explode.
A single prolonged Wildfire dash away from Bahamut should be more than enough to get out of the attack’s radius. Dash back in afterward, as Bahamut will be open for attacks.
Quintessence
Bahamut creates a long line of massive light orbs. After a moment, the balls will start to slowly drift towards you, tracking you well.
These orbs are slow but persistent. With enough Wildfire dashes you’ll easily be able to get out of their range. Alternatively, Spitfire can destroy them in an instant.
Flare Breath
While high up in the air, Bahamut charges and then fires an extended breath attack at your location on the ground.
This attack is easily anticipated and then dodged. Just wait for Bahamut rising higher into the sky.
This phase of the fight is quite simple and is relatively short.Use aerial and ranged attacks to knock Bahamut’s Stagger meter down,and use a fully-chargedBrimstoneattack whenever you may safely get it off.
The most annoying attack to deal with in this phase of the fight isQuintessence, so it’s a good idea to take it seriously and learn how to best avoid it - you’ll be dealing with this attack in various forms throughout this entire fight.
After dealing enough damage, you’ll witness a quick cutscene. Here, you’ll learn Ifrit’s second special ability:Spitflare. This is a great attack for usewhen Bahamut is Staggered.
Eventually, you’ll deal enough damage to push Bahamut into his second phase.
Second Phase
In this phase, you’ll beplaying as Joshua in his Phoenix form. This is largely an on-rails segment, but Bahamut still has plenty of attacks that you’ll want to be aware of and know how to avoid.
Description
Bahamut breathes a jet of flare magic, and then ‘swings’ it at you.
As long as you’re aware the the breath attack will eventually be aimed at you in a sweeping motion, you should be able to anticipate when to dodge it.
Homing Orbs
Bahamut summons a circle of light orbs. These will then travel at you slowly.
Using Lock On, target as many of these circles as you can and let off a Volley attack. They only take a single hit to destroy.
Megaflare
Bahamut sends out a large number of ranged attacks that track you. They will persistently target you for a long period of time.
An easy way to avoid (most) of these attacks is to start making a circular loop of the screen when they start firing at you. When you reach a corner and need to adjust your direction more, use dodges to conserve momentum.
Bahamut spins in place and swings a wing at you, sending out a massive blade of light.
These are very large attacks that can be easily anticipated and dodged.
Orb Turret
Bahamut summons multiple large orbs with crystals in the middle. These will fire off their own laser attacks at you from time to time.
Instead of Volley, use a charged Fireball attack to take these out.
As Phoenix, you will have two methods of attack at your disposal:
You will want to be using Fireball to hurt Bahamut. It simply has the best damage and will knock him down to the next health level that he needs to be at to progress the battle quicker. Save Volley for dealing with the Homing Orbs that Bahamut summons from time to time.
Every now and then, after dealing enough damage and surviving a Megaflare, a cinematic sequence will begin. Bahamut’s attack patterns don’t change much between these patterns until you reach the final one, after which he’ll startcharging up Gigaflare.
When this occurs,use charged Fireball attacks to destroy the six Orb Turretsthat Bahamut is draining aether from. Since the orbs are moving clockwise, be ready tomove your Fireball beam anti-clockwiseas soon as an orb is destroyed to get some chip damage in on the next one.
Halfway through this sequence, Bahamut will summon a very large number ofHoming Orbs. Use a single charged Volley to get rid of as many of these as possible, and then resume destroying the Orb Turrets. Any damage from leftover Homing Orbs will be negligible.
After interrupting Gigaflare, a cutscene will begin playing, and you’ll enter the third phase of the fight.
Third Phase
You’re back as Ifrit in this part of the fight, and you have Phoenix backing you up. Notably, Phoenix will not only attack Bahamut himself but will also join in when you use any special moves. These includeBrimstone and Spitflare, as well as normal finisher moves.
You can think of this phase as an extended version of the first phase - Bahamut keeps many of the attacks he used there but also adds some more:
Mortal Coil
Bahamut flies backward and then shoots a single ball of light at the ground. This erupts in a pillar of light.
Be wary of this, as the radius of the pillar of light is quite wide. A Precision Dodge should get you safely away from the attack.
Triple Coil
Bahamut fires off three Mortal Coils in quick succession. Avoid as you would above.
Ground Slam
Bahamut simply slams the ground. This sends out a shockwave, so it can still hurt you even if you get far away from the initial impact.
As with most shockwave attacks in the game, you may quite easily jump over this.
Energy Rain
Bahamut leaves the arena, out of melee range, and starts firing thin lasers of light into the sky. These then fall on the battlefield in a random array.
Constant dodging is a good way to avoid damage during this attack, as the lasers are not telegraphed well and you have little time to react.
As in the first phase, take the time to learn how to best avoid Bahamut’s attacks. He’s veryagile, as mentioned previously, and will often put a large gap between himself and you. Since the majority of his attacks are ranged,this makes getting back in melee range quite dangerous.
attempt to save your abilities for specific moments.Spitflare is a good ability to use while Bahamut is stationary during Energy Rain, and also a good opener to a Stagger period.Brimstoneis best saved for the end of a Stagger period when thedamage multiplieris at its highest.
Halfway through this phase, Bahamut will start charging upTeraflare. Phoenix will create a domed barrier in the center of the arena -make sure you’re inside this dome at the end of Bahamut’s countdown. During the following sequence, you’ll need to successfully complete aCinematic Clash.
2,000
100
2,500
Spoils
Sharp Fang x50, Meteorite x5
But the fight isn’t over just yet! There is one final phase, which begins immediately following this one.
Fourth Phase
This phase is fought as a combination of IfritandPhoenix, Ifrit Risen, and begins with acinematic sequence. After correctly entering the prompts when they appear, the battle begins in earnest.
Ifrit Risen has one new ability:Lightspeed. Think of this as a far upgraded version of Wildfire that is only used to zip right to your target’s location. You can use this to avoid attacks or simply close gaps.
This version of Bahamut has many of the same attacks from the previous phases, with yet some new ones. These are, of course, detailed below.
Supernova
Bahamut emits a massive ball of energy that homes in on you.
This has great tracking and can follow you closely. Use Wildfire or a well-timed Lightspeed to avoid.
Gigaflare
Bahamut emits a huge, persistent breath attack. He will then start slowly moving it towards you.
Use Lightspeed to reach Bahamut and then dodge around to his back - he will never be able to swing the Gigaflare around to you in time and you can get some easy damage in.
Lightflare
Bahamut shoots smaller versions of Gigaflare at-will, with weaker tracking.
These attacks come out very quickly with little warning, and are usually used in succession. Once you start seeing these get used, try to get behind Bahamut’s back if possible.
Dashing Lasers
Bahamut dashes away from you to get some distance, emitting some homing lasers as he goes.
Using Lightspeed to close the gap between you and Bahamut will incidentally avoid the laser barrage if you time it right.
Radiance
Bahamut conjures multiple beams of light that sweep the entire battlefield in two rows.
This attack is incredibly hard to avoid normally. To avoid it, you’ll need to perform Precision Dodges through the beams, being ready to perform immediate Precision Dodges through the next one to threaten you.
Aura Burst
This is the same attack that Bahamut has been using throughout the battle, but now with added lasers of light that make the outside of the explosion radius dangerous.
After dashing outside of the explosion radius, find a spot that isn’t due to be blasted by a laser.
Stationary Lasers
Bahamut summons multiple small orbs that will target you with a harmless, thin laser of light. After a short while, these lasers become larger, damaging ones.
Celestial Foundry
Bahamut creates a massive wall of glyphs. After charging up for a few seconds, each glyph fires a massive laser beam forwards.
The beams of light are centered on the glowing centers of the glyphs. Take some time as the attack is charging up to move into a safe zone. Alternatively, get behind the wall to avoid the attack entirely.
This phase is the ultimate test of your abilities in Ifrit’s form.Lightspeed, the new ability you get at the beginning of the phase, is a godsend - use it liberally once you’re used to how it works.
Overall, you should be used to how Bahamut attacks. In this phase, you’ll simply need to adapt to some particularly nasty attacks (RadianceandCelestial Foundryespecially) and close gaps more often.
As long as youkeep your aggression upandtime your ability uses smartly(see the previous phase for timing recommendations), you shouldn’t take too long to deplete Bahamut’s health. Just be wary of a cutscene halfway through the fight that requires you to make aCinematic Dodgeand, later, Bahamut charging up Teraflare and requiring you toaggressively attack and deplete a purple charge bar.
3,000
300
Light Shard x1, Wyrrite x50, Magicked Ash x50
In addition, during the next cutscenes, you’ll unlockBahamutand his abilities.Gigaflare and Impulseare two of the strongest attacks in the game, so we recommend using those.
