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The difficulty of the standard Action Mode inFinal Fantasy 16has a pretty interesting ramp to it, though it doesn’t really push back too hard until the final act. The Arcade mode adds some level of challenge to completed stages, but the difficulty there is still limited. Things don’treallystart to get spicy until you encounter the late-game bosses and start attempting some of the high-ranking hunts. However, the greatest challenges you will find in the main game are the trials. And of those trials, the Phoenix’s—also known as the “Trial by Fire: The Hand of Hyperion”—is one of the hardest.
Related:Things Only Pro Players Know You Can Do In Final Fantasy 16Not only will you need to eliminate a number of resilient enemies, but you will need to do it in a short period of time, while looking to cash in the different time bonuses. Thankfully, you can perfect certain strategies to help replenish time, and while certain elements are preset, there are ways for you to ease the difficulty of these challenges. You will need to complete three stages in total. Then, you’ll be faced by the Firebound Plague, the trial’s final boss. We’ll take you through each section and help you claim victory with a minimal number of repeats.
General Trial Tips
So, before we begin, let’s cover a few basic pointers…
Levels and equipment matter.You will be forced to use specific Eikonic abilities, but you are free to equip whatever weapons and items you want.This means that you will want to tailor your equipment to whatever skills you are locked into. Thankfully, you can change that equipment each round. As for levels,the enemies' levels are fixed (level 38), but yours is not.So, you can always level up and come back stronger.
Upgrading your abilities will have no effect. So, don’t worry about trying to improve them for more effect during your trial.
You will want to target the additional time bonuses.The hardest of the bunch will likely be the “Double Shift”. Unfortunately, the video attached to this technique leaves a lot to be desired.Just Phoenix Shift to a flying enemy while they are in the air and hit them with your magic shot. You’ll need to do this twice to earn the bonus. It is alittlefinicky, but with enough attempts, you’ll get it.
Some of the best bonuses you’re going to aim for are theShift Combo bonus, which will give you eight seconds for landing a Phoenix Shift and following it up with a complete melee combo,the Punish bonus, which gives you three seconds for landing a punish attack, andthe Eikonic ability bonuses, which will give the biggest rewards and change every level.
Lastly, and most importantly,you will have no access to your potions or healing items.This means that you will need to be careful as you combat your way through these levels, asyour only source of healing will be your limit break.
Location Of Phoenix Chronolith
The chronolith that will take you to the Phoenix’s Trials is pretty easy to find.From Martha’s Rest, just head north. You will see the conspicuous tablet right outside the nearby ruins.Interact with it and you will being the Trial by Fire: The Hand of Hyperion.
Phoenix’s Trial Guide
There are three levels that you will need to complete before facing off against the Firebound Plague: who is the Phoenix Trial’s final boss.You will need to consistently accrue time through completing bonus objectives before confronting the Firebound Plague,as once you do, there will be no time bonuses on the table. So, the more time you have gathered, the better. Aim to have, at the very least, three and a half minutes, as the Firebound Plague is extremely evasive.
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1x Firebound Wivre
There is nothing in this first phase that should give you much in the way of trouble. Justmake sure to hit any groups you see with the Scarlet Cyclone attack, and try to finish any weakened opponent with your Rising Flame whenever you see an enemy who is low on health.Both of these abilities can earn you a lot of extra time.When possible, use your Phoenix Shift to rush an enemy and land a full combo.
The second round of enemies you face is where you will have your chance to shift toward the Vultures in the sky and land magic shots. This is important, as this is your best opportunity to get the Double Shift bonus.ensure to hit the scorpions with yourScarlet Cyclone.
If you are stung by a scorpion, you will be briefly stunned, which will waste seconds of time. You can use your limit break to escape this stunned state.
Finally, you will face off against the Wivre. Make sure to unload your abilities whenever they become available. You want to get this creature stunned, so you can land your Phoenix Shift combo.Beyond that, you will be doing a ton of precision dodging, which will help you rack up some more seconds on the clock.
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2x Firebound Hornets 1x Firebound Cannonier
Of all the phases, we think this make be the most troublesome one. The Guardian isn’t a big deal, just react to his tells appropriately, while hitting him with all your abilities.You will need to get a Heat Wave counter in, the best time to do it is when the Guardian sends one of his slow-moving energy projectiles your way.Fight the Hunters first, look to land your Scarlet Cyclone on them, and the Guardian will likely fire its projectile at you from the distance. That’ll be your best shot to use your Heatwave counter.
When the Guardian is looking to land its big spinning attack, it will wind up, pause, then wind up a tiny bit more. This final twist is your signal to prepare your dodge.Once you dodge through the spinning attack, land the Phoenix Shift combo to its back as many times as you can to stockpile some seconds. The Guardian’s other attacks are slow-moving enough that you will likely be able to time them and dodge them.
The next group is easy to handle. Just rush them,hit the whole group with a Scarlet Cyclone, land your full combo after a Phoenix Shift, follow up with your punish attacks on the downed enemies, and if the crabs fire their slow-moving energy balls, counter them with the Heat Wave.
The third stage brings the hornets. This is your chance to get that Double Shift bonus. However, this can be really rough, as having your back to the Cannonier is extremely dangerous. He really needs your undivided attention whenever possible. So, land that Phoenix Shift magic burst sequence on the hornets early, and then immediately shift all your attention to the Cannonier.When he does his “Rocketeer” attack that sends him rocketing around the arena, he will fly at you three times. Make sure to hit your precision dodges. You can also dodge his flamethrower attack repeatedly, which will help earn you some seconds on the clock.
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1x Firebound Lich 1x Firebound Undertaker
Your first fight will be against four Firebound Bugs, use your Flames of Rebirth to clear them out quickly.The Mousse will hurl a giant fireball at you, this is the perfect chance to land a Heatwave counter.
The next round of enemies all come withprojectiles that you can counter with your Heatwave as well.Obviously, this is also your best chance to land the Phoenix Shift attack on the flying Dragonets and get that Double Shift Bonus.
The final section of this stage will be against the Firebound Lich and Undertaker. The Undertaker is very slow, predictable, and easy to precision dodge. While the Lich is much slippier.You’ll want to focus on the Lich first and foremost. He will use a number of projectile attacks, which you’re able to absolutely counter with the Heatwave.Once you finish him off, you will only need to deal with the Undertaker, who is slow, lumbering, and predictable.You will be able to rack up a lot of extra time getting the Phoenix Shift combo bonus, which you will be able to land regularly.
Don’t lock-on to the Undertaker, as it will cause your Phoenix Shift to send you into the air, which will interrupt your Phoenix Shift combo bonus.
Final Boss
Firebound Plague
The tricky thing about this guy is just how much time he will spend running away. He likes to teleport. When he does, he will often throw two projectiles at you before firing a laser. You will need to precision dodge the projectiles. The Plague will also pool energy before releasing it in a giant burst. Use this time toland your Rising Flames and Flames of Rebirth. You want to hit these attacks as often as possible, as you need to sit this ghoul down.
How aggressively you fight the Firebound Plague will be determined by how much time you have stored up. If you have less than four minutes, you will need to push it as much as possible and play hyper aggressively.Sticking close when the earth is about to erupt under your feet and using your precision dodge to escape uninjured and immediately returning to get slashes in.
For a more detailed breakdown of this enemy’s attacks,you’re able to consult our hunt guide for Ahriman. The two fights are virtually identical.
