Final Fantasy 16: Best Builds For Final Fantasy Mode (New Game+)

Final Fantasy 16‘s action-oriented combat is widely regarded as the best example of a pure action combat system in a Final Fantasy game. The Eikon abilities system gives players ample opportunity to customize their play style, whether they prefer a crowd controlling magic user or a counter-punching melee bruiser.

When it comes to new game+, players will have all Eikons unlocked and enough AP to master the best Eikon abilities, which then allows players to mix and match abilities with core Eikon powers. That leads to a number of powerful build combos that will make Final Fantasy mode much easier to handle.

This guide will focus on accessories and Eikon setups, since players’ best option for swords, belts, and vambraces will always be the ones with the highest stats currently available to craft. With the option to swap out accessories and no-cost skill respecs, there’s no reason not to experiment and find which of these endgame builds works best.

6 Crowd Control

Clear Mods With Ease On Any Battlefield

For players aiming for 100% completion, this build will help with clearing side missions by laying waste to any trash mobs. The accessories are self-explanatory; Adamantite Gloves for more health, Genji Gloves for more damage, and Badge of Mettle for more defense. Survivability is usually a non-issue in these kinds of fights, so feel free to swap them for farming gear like the Cait Sith Charm.

The move rotation is simple; use Ignition to group enemies together, then Mesmerize and Scarlet Cyclone to deal big damage to large groups of small enemies. When tougher mob enemies and mini-bosses appear, Aerial Blast will do high will damage to help stagger alongside Garuda’s Eikonic feat. Then, Judgment Bolt and Earthen Fury will deal huge damage to staggered foes while also dealing with any remaining smaller enemies.

Players with the Rising Tides DLC can enhance or vary up this build with the new Eikon, Leviathan. Cross Swell and Tsunami can replace Ignition and Scarlet Cyclone, doing the same job with a little more DPS. The Echoes of the Fallen DLC items Escapement Bit and Assailment Bit also make powerful additions to this build.

5 Counter Attacker

Perfect Block Followed By Fierce Retaliation

Shut down even powerful opponents with perfect blocks and counter moves. Titan’s Eikonic feat allows for perfect blocks with counter punches that do decent retaliation damage. Rook’s Gambit and Raging Fists give even more options for reactive counterattacks that deal good damage and will damage.

Once foes are staggered, use Lightning Rod and Dancing Steel to build up the Zantetsuken gauge while dealing damage, then unleash the level 5 move. Gigaflare and Earthen Fury can help keep up the high DPS output after this.

The accessories for this build are focused on reducing the cooldown of Gigaflare (Favor of Light) and increasing the gain rate of the Zantetsuken gauge (Pull of Darkness). This will help with dealing maximum DPS in enemy stagger phases. The DLC item Assailment Bit will therefore be more efficient than the Genji Gloves due to the increased stagger damage multiplier — if players have access to it.

4 Artful Dodger

Perfect Dodge Mastery To Freeze Foes

Master perfect dodging to freeze foes and launch devastating counterattacks. Shiva’s Eikonic feat allows players to freeze even tough enemies with perfect dodges. Combined with the Aerial Blast and Diamond Dust abilities, players can use this to breeze through enemy stagger bars without ever being touched.

Once this is achieved, it’s time to go to work with the Dancing Steel plus Lightning Rod technique to build up that Zantetsuken gauge and unleash it at max level. Having Phoenix’s Eikonic feat lets you close the gap on bosses. With Rising Flames and Impulse, the ability cooldowns are short enough to help keep up damage output in any phase of the fight.

Having the Berserker Ring helps the DPS of this build as it gives regular attacks the same buff as a limit break when players pull off those perfect dodges. Alternatively, the DLC item Escapement Bit can be used in place of this or the Genji Gloves for added healing and cooldown reduction after a perfect dodge.

3 Elemental Master

Flashy Stagger And Damage Potential

This is a nice, all-rounder build that can be used in any battle scenario in Final Fantasy 16. Having Shiva, Titan, and Phoenix as Eikonic feats gives players the flexibility to perfect dodge, perfect block, and gap close when needed.

The ability setup requires some AP to master the various abilities, but it will let players control the elements to beset the battlefield with overwhelming stagger and damage output. Having Breath of Earth and Breath of Lightning allows for more regular damage output from Judgment Bolt and Earthen Fury.

2 Stagger King

Lock Down Enemies To Deal Damage With Minimal Resistance

This build uses Diamond Dust, Aerial Blast, and Gouge to deal so much will damage that foes have no chance to respond. Along with Garuda’s Deadly Embrace Feat, this can melt the stagger bars of boss enemies and tough single targets.

When stagger has been achieved, the Dancing Steel and Lighting Rod combo for Zantetsuken, and the addition of Gigaflare allow for high damage output. This is especially true since these combos will also help raise the stagger damage multiplier.

The main downsides here are the long cooldowns on Diamond Dust, Gigaflare, and Aerial Blast. That’s why Breath of Ice is a recommended accessory — and Breath of Wind can also be useful. Using the DLC item Assailment Bit will also allow for a higher stagger damage multiplier and should be used in place of the Genji Gloves if available.

1 Double Zantetsuken

Maximum Damage Through Rapid Zantetsuken Charge

This high skill cap build relies on being able to build the Zantetsuken meter quickly and reliably. It’s also entirely reliant on DLC items from The Rising Tides and Echoes of the Fallen to get the most out of the build.

The idea of this build is to have your powerful moves active whenever you need them through Escapement Bit’s cooldown reduction. Diamond Dust, Judgment Bolt, and Tsunami can output big damage in or out of stagger when they can be used at will.

Then, players need to get comfortable building the Zantetsuken meter just prior to a stagger to get the timing correct for unleashing two max level Zantetsuken in one stagger phase. This makes The Pull of Darkness another essential accessory, as it increases the gain rate of the Zantetsuken Gauge.