The Final Fantasy XVI Main Quest is a lengthy one and you may think you’re done with the game once you hit those credits. That’s not the end of your time with the game, however, as you’ll gain access to the Final Fantasy Mode, a tougher difficulty where you can carry over your status too. This page will give you all the tips and tricks you need to complete this difficulty.

New Game Plus (NG+) Changes in Final Fantasy 16¶

There is a wealth of new features to expect in Final Fantasy Mode, and understanding this will make your life a lot easier when you set off on Clive’s second adventure.

Clive’s Status¶

As mentioned above, Final Fantasy Mode is the NG+ feature of FFXVI, so you may be wondering what actually carries over to this mode as past FF games have allowed you to carry everything over. That won’t be the case here, as this also serves as the game’s Hard mode, but a vast majority of Clive’s status will carry over. The table below reflects the changes that you can expect in FF Mode.

Level Cap¶

In your first playthrough of FF16, your level cap was 50 (and you were unlikely to reach it without some degree of grinding) and although this will carry over to NG+, the level cap will also be released, allowing Clive to hit a max level of 100. This is needed, as soon after you’ve defeated Garuda during the Main Quest, you’ll start to see the levels go above that of the initial level cap.

To help address this change, you’ll obtain a lot more EXP and AP to make up for the new level cap, this means it’ll be a lot easier to master every ability in the game and get that Masterclass Trophy.

Enemy Difficulty¶

As touched upon at the top of this page, you’ll soon learn that the enemies are deadlier in NG+ but, more importantly, also have remixed positions. A clear case of this is the fact that you’ll run into a Minotaur during the first group of enemies you fight in The Greatwood.

With this in mind, you’ll need to keep on top of your levels and equipment in FF Mode to keep ahead of the curve, this leads perfectly to the next point.

Accessory Fusion¶

As you play through the game again on Final Fantasy Mode, you’ll notice that you’re getting the same accessories that you got in your first playthrough. There’s an important reason for this, this is so you can make use of the new Accessory fusion system which allows you to forge two of the same accessories (along with materials) to enhance the effects of an Accessory. This makes some already strong accessories (such as the Chronolith Trial ones) even stronger.

Equipment and Crafting Materials¶

To make up for the increased difficulty in enemies and their levels, you’ll be able to acquire new equipment when playing Final Fantasy Mode. From the outset, you’ll start noticing yourself acquiring the Flawless line of crafting materials, these are exclusive to NG+ and are required to craft the reforged versions of the Eikon weapons, while you’ll also be able to craft beyond +2 of the other weapons.

There are no weapons more exclusive than the Ultima Weapon, this replaces the Gotterdammerung as the most powerful weapon in the game and you can acquire it by progressing through the Main Quest and upgrading both the Everdark and Gotterdammerung.

Quick Time Events and Checkpoints¶

You may remember during some of the game’s more chaotic battles that there are moments where the game slows down and you have to press a button to either strike, dodge, or press the attack on the bosses. The button indicator is now gone on NG+, but the color remains so you’ll need to remember what button to press for each color (or check out the table below).

On top of this, how death works is handled slightly different too. Before, you would resume at the phase of the battle you were on with all your consumables restored, this made a massive difference later in the game when you were getting eight Potions and five High Potions but now, when you retry from a Checkpoint, you’ll only have two so remember to restock after the fact.

How to Beat Final Fantasy Mode in FF16¶

Now that you know all the changes you can expect in NG+, how do you go about approaching it? For many players, this will be one of the last Trophies they look to obtain on the road to securing the Platinum but may not have the confidence to take on this challenge. Read on below to discover the best tips for taking on FF Mode.

Precision Dodge and Will-o’-the-Wykes¶

Odds are, you’ve already been making lots of use of Precision Dodge, but it becomes even more apparent on FF Mode. Especially if you equip the Berserker’s Ring that you can obtain from the Patron of Whispers as this will enhance your attacks from a Precision Dodge. Likewise, you’ll want to upgrade Will-o’-the-Wykes and keep it up at all times in battle, the protection it affords you against the increased damage you’ll take is invaluable.

Keeping up with your Equipment¶

It goes without saying, but make sure you’re constantly forging the highest damage sword and the best defensive equipment when on FF Mode. It might sound obvious, but it can be easy to ignore it when on a NG+ playthrough and just wanting to rush to the end. You’ll get by the beginning hours without little trouble, but you’ll soon find the enemy’s stats go way beyond that of a regular playthrough Clive.

If you find yourself light on the new Flawless materials, be sure to take on some of the Side Quests as they’ll often reward materials such as Flawless Meteorite that is needed to forge that new gear. You’ll also be getting some of the new materials from the bosses you fight.

Maximizing Damage during Stagger¶

The one thing that makes Final Fantasy Mode in Final Fantasy XVI easier than that of, say, Hard Mode in Final Fantasy 7 Remake is that Clive becomes so powerful once you have access to his full kit. This means you can take bosses down, even on FF Mode, in less Stagger phases due to how much damage you can output.

With that in mind, you should have a clear method for pumping out as much damage as possible during Stagger. You can find a good method for hitting over 150,000 damage by heading to the Best Eikon Abilities page, but to make it short for you, using Limit Break, Lightning Rod, Gigaflare, and a Level 5 Zantetsuken will make short work of most enemies.

Likewise, when you’re fighting regular packs of enemies, an upgraded Diamond Dust is very powerful, as is (like for most enemies), a Level 5 Zantetsuken. By now, you should understand how easy it is to raise that gauge but be sure to upgrade and equip Dancing Steel and make use of it.

Timely Accessories¶

One often overlooked factor when it comes to FF mode are the Timely Accessories. These are designed for players not used to action combat systems and add useful functions as an easier dodge. You may assume that these are disabled for FF Mode, but the good news is in fact that they are available still to use and they won’t void the Trophy!

Carry over Powerful Equipment¶

To have the easiest possible start to your FF Mode playthrough, consider making sure you finish your first adventure with the Gotterdammerung, the best armor, and having your Potions inventory maxed out with the increased effect and stock. This will serve you better when you first start the playthrough and you’re thrust into the double boss battles against Shiva’s Dominant and Tiamat.

More Final Fantasy 16 Guides¶

If you’re looking for more help on Final Fantasy XVI, such as the Chronolith Trials, check out these pages below:

• Where to Find All Chronolith Trials
• How to Complete the Shiva Trial by Ice Chronolith Trial
• How to Complete the Phoenix: Trial by Fire