Grinding levels and equipping the most powerful weapons possible won't get you far in Final Fantasy XVI. No, what you need is mastery skills and the right combos. But since there are only three Eikon slots and six skill slots, you might be wondering which ones you should bring. Here are all the Eikons in FF16, ranked.
All Eikons in FF16 ranked from worst to best
Note: Just because it's on the bottom doesn't mean it's useless. I've actually found each Eiko to be great in its own way. It just so happens that others have more utility!
9. Ramuh
Ramuh is one of two well-balanced Eikons in Final Fantasy 16 (the other being Bahamut). Its attacks deal almost equal HP and will deal damage. But what makes it bottom tier for me—you want Eikons that specialize in raw damage or will measure drain. This will allow you to control which Eikons to use when your opponent is up and moving and which to use when they are down.
Ramuh has the most playable AoE attacks, with less time to think. It is ideal for people who are not too combat intensive in their game.
8. Bahamut
Bahamut is the Eikon to use for players who want to stay away from the enemy. All of its abilities are long range. Instead of having all these abilities balanced by stats like Ramuh, Bahamut has moves that are either high power or high damage. This is the reason I call it well balanced.
However, as I said above, I'm not a big fan of “well-balanced” Eikons, so I'd have to put Bahamut on the bottom half. Take Gigaflare as an ability though. It is a long and powerful punch when the enemy's will gauge has been exhausted. I also like Satellite, which helps clear will gauges faster.
Related: Best Eikon Skills Level List – Final Fantasy 16
7. Garuda
Garuda, to me, is only good for two things: Air Blast and Death Embrace. I like to combine the two during continuous mob fights (using Deadly Embrace to pull things into the Tornado). Tornado and Deadly Embrace can also be used during boss fights thanks to their respective abilities.
Like the wind Eikon, Garuda is also the master of aerial combos. Those who are comfortable with action RPGs and combo binding will find plenty of use for Garuda. For more casual gamers like me, though? I find Shiva the better choice.
6. Shiva
Shiva's kit is a combination of other Eikons: Ifrit/Phoenix (movement), Garuda (hug), and Ramuh (AoE). It's a good Eikon to equip if you don't specialize in any of the aforementioned. I put Shiva higher on this list only because of one move: Diamond Dust.
Diamond Dust drains a good portion of your enemies will gauge, hits twice and charges quickly. In fact, it is so powerful that it cuts famous brands and average bosses' size at least in half (75% if you are stronger). If you don't use Shiva, at least take this move with you. You won't regret it.
5. Phoenix
I've talked about how I'm not a huge fan of well-balanced things, but Flame of Phoenix Rebirth only lasts so long that the three-star damage it deals is worth it. You can even use it in big mob fights and restore HP when you're in a pinch.
Besides that, we all know how useful and versatile Phoenix Shift is. Not only can you use it to get close, but I find it a more reliable dodge button when you're far from your target.
4. Leviathan
If you purchased The Rising Tide DLC, then you will have access to one of the best Eikons in the game: Leviathan. Leviathan's unique ability turns Clive's arm into a gun, which also changes his basic movements. Square will shoot water balls, and triangle will deal devastating long-range area blasts. The only catch is the reload, but it's such a small price to pay to quickly get rid of those nasty Tonberries from a distance.
Leviathan also hosts one of my favorite abilities, Tsunami, which is a Gigaflare that someone does double its damage. It's slow to load but cathartic to use.
3. Titan
Titanic Block is a treat. It's super player friendly, for one. While you are being hit from the front, just holding the button will block the attack. It's also really good for action players because of its counter mechanic. Instead of dodging attacks, Precision Block will reward you so much for counter damage. Since this is native to Titan, it goes high on our list.
I'm a faster combinator. But even I have to admit that Titan's abilities, while not my preferred way of playing, are pretty good. They deal great damage without the long charge time. You just need to be precise with your times!
Related: All Hunting Locations in Final Fantasy 16
2. Ifrit
I know Ifrit only has two abilities, not including the limit gauge, but both have been incorporated too much into my play for me not to place this Eiko near the top. First, if you haven't equipped and upgraded Will-o'-the-Wykes, you're missing out on one of the best abilities in Final Fantasy 16.
Will-o'-the-Wykes is a shield that can reduce the damage of enemy attacks. Upgraded, it can cancel up to four attacks, allowing you to hack and slash with less worry. You can even save it for a big attack that you can't dodge because it will cancel that as well.
It also deals additional damage with decent stagger utility when you get close enough to your target. Plus, it charges very fast, so you can have it for 80% of your battles.
Meanwhile, Ignition is fun if you don't have Shiva equipped, as I use it more for movement than anything. You can also use it to knock back any enemy (even marksmen and mid-bosses) and mess up their combo.
1. Odin
I harassed many enemies with Odin's sword combos, and you could too. Never mind Odin's equippable skills (although they ARE very good) – the real strength behind this Eikon is Arm of Darkness and Zantetsuken. Arm of Darkness changes Clive's sword to Odin's blade. Although not as powerful as his regular sword, it does more attacks, which adds up to more damage.
For example, when you stop, it adds a kill counter. And when you perform a Precision Dodge with the sword out, an equally deadly follow-up attack will automatically trigger. Both of these will fill one bar of the Zantetsuken meter instantly.
Zantetsuken is the deadliest move of them all.
At level five (mastered), it can drain as much as 25% to 40% of an infamous mark's HP. And if you loop the combos with the Precision Dodges and parries, your opponent will hardly have enough window to launch an attack. Odin is the best Eikon of them all—truly fit for a king.
For more help with Final Fantasy XVI, check out FF16 Clive Build – Best Skills for Clive and Final Fantasy 16 AP Farming Guide – How to grind Skill Points fast here at Pro Game Guides.
