Final Fantasy 16: Best Garuda Eikonic Abilities

Final Fantasy 16 introduces the new elemental abilities called Eikons that give Clive abilities he can utilize during his journey. Multiple Eikons are useful in different kinds of situations. In the early game, you don’t really have a choice and have to stick with the Phoenix Eikon, however, as Clive goes ahead on his journey, more Eikonic abilities are unlocked. In this guide, I am going to discuss the best Best Garuda Eikonic Abilities in FF16 you can utilize to the fullest.

Just in case you’re struggling in beating Garuda in FF16, I suggest watching the following video:

Best Garuda Abilities To Have In FF16

Here is an overview and my opinion of Garuda’s abilities you should not skip & get them as soon as possible:

1. Gouge

As you unlock Garuda, the Gouge ability can be accessed from the get-go. I think this is perhaps the most useful out of all Garuda’s abilities as it is just as important in the end-game as it is regularly. Gouge consists of a flurry of slashes that inflict significant stagger damage against the enemy. It is by no means the strongest of the Garuda’s Eikon abilities, but rather the most consistent one—the wide range allows you to break down the health bar efficiently. 

Gouge allows the player to throw in multiple sweeping strikes in mid-air, as well as on the ground. Moreover, I found that this ability especially comes in handy against staggered enemies as the damage output increases with every attack.

2. Rook’s Gambit

Rook’s Gambit allows the player to dodge an attack and immediately follow it up with a counter. Dodging is already a powerful defense in Final Fantasy, but when you retaliate against the enemy with multiple-clawed kicks, it becomes deadlier. I’ve always found dodging an enemy’s attack to strike back loads of fun.

This counterattack ability can be utilized in various ways if you love trying out different combos—the game always provides you with multiple ideas. Rook’s Gambit is a good way to avoid damage against human-sized bosses later in the game–countering them with decent damage–though it isn’t that important of an ability in the end-game.

3. Wicked Wheel

Unlike the previous two abilities, Wicked Wheel enchants veterans more often than secondaries. This particular ability allows Clive to lift up enemies in the air, and is among the Best Garuda Eikonic Abilities in FF16. The claw can make way for mid-air combos, and the best thing about it as per my experience is how it allows direct transition into aerial combat.

While most Final Fantasy fans would get excited about this, I’ll make this clear that this ability doesn’t work on even remotely heavier enemies, and even if they do–in a fortunate case–Clive can miss the mid-air attack. Despite the flaws, Wicked Wheel is still incredibly useful situationally but shouldn’t be completely relied upon.

4. Deadly Embrace

Deadly Embrace is yet another powerful and incredibly useful Eikon ability of Garuda. The ability can pull smaller enemies towards you, making them completely vulnerable to any sort of damage—providing you the freedom to try out powerful combos. In my playthroughs, the best use I found for it is getting rid of enemy healers and mages.

Against bosses or flying enemies, Deadly Embrace launches Clive into the air, allowing him to try out different aerial combos and break the enemies’ Will. Deadly Embrace is an effective ability regardless of the situation and can turn the tide of the battle at any moment.

5. Aerial Blast

Aerial Blast of the Garuda Eikon abilities in FF16 is a small tornado, consisting of wind magic that slowly hunts down the enemies on the battlefield. This ability is activated once Garuda is fully charged and hurls the windstorm onto the battlefield. Once the enemies are grouped together, unleash this ability and enjoy as twister pummels them into the ground.

While there is a chance that you might get caught up in the attack, it isn’t hard to avoid it as there’s already a signal for players—lights on the ground. Useful as it may be, make sure you don’t try this ability out on heavy enemies, as it won’t be able to shatter them and may leave you vulnerable to powerful attacks with it’s visibility reduction which I think is very problematic.

If you want to avoid the tornado covering your screen, I suggest using the Diamond Dust ability from the Shiva Eikon as your go-to stagger damage option.

Mastering the Eikon of the Wind, Garuda, in Final Fantasy 16 is an exciting and strategic endeavor. Each of Garuda’s Eikonic abilities offers a unique approach to combat, creating a dynamic battlefield filled with opportunities for strategic maneuvers and devastating combos. 

My Opinion On Garuda Abilities In Final Fantasy 16

After having played Final Fantasy for 100+ hours, going through each and every side quest and battling the game’s toughest monsters, I’ve found that each of the game’s Eikons has a specific role when it comes to combat. If I talk about Garuda, the main focus of her abilities is aerial mobility and primarily stagger dmg. All of her abilities though deal low HP dmg, can stagger enemies easily.

If I talk about my favorite abilities, they have to be Rook’s Gambit and Deadly Embrace. Rook’s Gambit is a more technical skill, and that’s what I like. It’s true effectiveness is when you precisely dodge an attack with it, which I believe adds a lot more fun to its usage. Similarly, the game’s combat is all about keeping the attacks going, and Deadly Embrace is highly valuable in making sure you never stop dishing out punishment.

There you have it, everything about FF16 Best Garuda Eikonic Abilities that I had to mention in the guide. for more amazing articles look at FF16: Blacksmith Blues 2, Knight Of The Splendent Heart Guide and Sekhret Location, Boss Fight & Rewards

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