Best Abilities To Unlock First In FF16

Best Abilities To Unlock First In FF16

Key Takeaways

  • Swift Recovery is a must-buy for only 10 AP, aiding Clive’s combat recovery.
  • Prioritize mastering Burning Blade early on for a powerful and quick-fire attack.
  • Mastering Precision Dodge can prevent unnecessary damage in FF16’s combat.

As a seasoned Final Fantasy player with countless hours spent exploring various worlds and mastering countless abilities, I can confidently say that Final Fantasy 16 has truly outdone itself with its combat system and skill trees. Clive, our protagonist, is a formidable fighter, but his true potential lies in the abilities we can unlock and master.


The main character of Final Fantasy 16, Clive, is an impressive combatant, yet his capabilities can be significantly amplified by uncovering and mastering additional skills. By accumulating enough Action Points (AP), players can unlock and perfect every one of Clive’s abilities; however, novice gamers might find themselves perplexed about which ones to prioritize initially. Certain skills prove more advantageous than others, and there are a few factors that players should consider when investing AP early in the game for an enhanced gaming experience.

In Final Fantasy 16, players have the freedom to decide which abilities they wish to unlock. Many of Clive’s fundamental abilities are accessible at the game’s outset. Abilities linked to Eikons other than Phoenix can’t be obtained until later stages, but most of the skills from Clive’s primary skill tree can be mastered immediately. Although players might need to accumulate AP for some of Final Fantasy 16’s top abilities, the time and effort spent will prove valuable for those seeking to dominate enemies with panache.

Final Fantasy 16: Most Important Abilities to Learn Early On

Best Abilities To Unlock First In FF16

It’s important to mention that while it’s affordable to pick up Clive’s fundamental skills, becoming proficient takes more effort. Eventually, players should aim to master all his abilities. Initially, players will have some skills such as Magic Burst and Precision Dodge at their disposal, but the remainder can only be obtained through AP. The following abilities are beneficial to acquire early on, especially if players wish to make combat in Final Fantasy 16 more dynamic and exciting quickly.

  • Swift Recovery – Swift Recovery should be the first ability that players purchase with AP. It only costs 10 AP and allows Clive to get back into the fight immediately after being knocked down by pressing R1. It’s a simple and effective move that goes a long way in making the combat of Final Fantasy 16 less frustrating to deal with.
  • Burning Blade – Burning Blade allows players to hold square and charge up a powerful fire attack for Clive. Although this move takes too long to use effectively in combat, it can be charged up before combat starts and works as a great opener.
  • Charged Magic – For players that prefer to keep their distance, Charged Magic is a good alternative to Burning Blade. Simply hold Triangle, and players will be able to shoot a powerful magic blast. The element of this attack changed based on the attuned Eikon as well.
  • Stomp – Stomp allows players to jump off of enemies, providing them with just a little bit of extra air. This is useful for setting up aerial combos and gives players new options in combat, especially since airborne combat becomes more common as players engage in more battles.
  • Flames of Rebirth – An extremely powerful attack that requires a ton of AP to unlock. It’s worthwhile to stock up and cash in on this skill since it’s an effective AoE that also heals Clive, making it a useful attack if players are in a pinch.
  • Ignition – An excellent technique that allows players to collect numerous smaller enemies and bombard them with attacks. Larger enemies can also be hit multiple times with this ability to fill up their stagger meter.

Final Fantasy 16: Most Important Abilities to Master Early On

Best Abilities To Unlock First In FF16

Improving your skills may come with a cost, but it significantly boosts their effectiveness. Some players might misunderstand this extra enhancement, thinking it’s primarily for allowing certain abilities to be used in every Eikon’s move set. However, the basic moves that Clive can always use can be made even stronger through mastery, and more details about this can be found by checking the additional info available in the skill menu. It is advisable to master these following abilities as soon as you can.

  • Precision Dodge – Clive starts with this ability, but mastering it extends the time frame to perform a precision dodge. This is incredibly important in the combat of Final Fantasy 16 since players will spend a lot of time dodging attacks to prevent Clive from incurring any unnecessary damage.
  • Burning Blade – Burning Blade normally takes too long to make it worth using in the midst of battle. Mastering this ability makes it charge rather quickly, letting players unleash a powerful attack that knocks smaller enemies down and deals a decent amount of stagger damage to larger enemies.
  • Downthrust – Once mastered, Downthrust will imbue Clive’s blade with fire, causing a small explosion around the area of impact. This turns aerial attacks into a devastating option, making it a perfect attack to combo with certain Eikon abilities that send Clive airborne.
  • Lunge – A great way to close the distance with a quick stab that damages enemies. Mastering this ability enhances the distance covered by this move, making it a perfect substitute for Phoenix Shift if players are using the abilities of another Eikon.
  • Titanic Block – Players will love the ability to block attacks in a game where attacks are relentless, and mastering Titanic Block ensures that players can fill up the Limit Gauge and unleash Clive’s enhanced offense in no time.
  • Arm of Darkness – Gaining access to Zantetsuken makes for an epic move that players can charge up with Arm of Darkness. Mastering this move lets players charge Zantetsuken up to Level 5, unleashing an attack that dishes major damage in one fell swoop.

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2024-09-18 13:24