Final Fantasy XVI | 16 PRO TIPS - Everyone Should Be Using!

Final Fantasy 16 gameplay guide, with advanced tips. Master the combat system, use powerful ability & skill combos, focus important quests, gain stronger gear, Chocobo drift, & more!
HIT ME UP ON TWITTER @BoomstickAlex / boomstickalex
Access to Final Fantasy XVI was provided for free by Square Enix.
00:00 Intro
00:17 Elevation Damage
00:55 Extra Chocobo Actions
01:30 Stagger Damage Multiplier
02:16 Cooldown Indicator
02:31 Improved Parry
02:49 The Berserker Ring
03:24 Torgal Enhanced Attacks
04:16 Magic Caster Build
05:02 Ignition Ability
05:27 Photo Mode
05:55 Torgal Heal Bonus
06:22 Save Old Gear
06:42 Best Basic Combo
07:24 Charged Attacks
07:44 Precision Dodge Burst
07:57 Special Side Quests
08:26 Outro
#FinalFantasyXVI #FinalFantasy16 #FF16

[@BoomstickGaming]

*Square Enix hooked me up early, so I could hook YOU GUYS up early!* -BoomstickAlex

[@Happyfoam-lw3yt]

Out of curiosity, when were review copies sent out?

[@BoomstickGaming]

@@Happyfoam-lw3yt 1 week ago for me

[@excludedkratos]

What they want in return?

[@Happyfoam-lw3yt]

@@BoomstickGaming may I ask how many hours?

[@room.beer.controller3032]

Hey Boomstick Alex, what control scheme do you recommend please?

[@patrickbrannigan8]

60 hours in and no end in sight yet. Been awhile that I truly felt I got my moneys worth out of a new release. If you’re considering the game i doubt you’d regret it! 🎉

[@sayer3035]

13 hours in and 48% 💀 this sh8 is meaty

[@patrickbrannigan8]

@@sayer3035 Especially if you’re like me lol. I’m a stoner so every three seconds i have to stop to take in the sights!

[@morningstarx5340]

​@@patrickbrannigan8I haven't smoked in 3 years and just started again just to play this game😂

[@patrickbrannigan8]

@@morningstarx5340 Hope you enjoy brother 🙏🏻 I had an amazing experience!

[@mychrisdiaz1]

Totally agreed the game has been worth the money . Im about 30 hours I think . Still feel as the game is going to get better

[@VoyagersRevenge]

The combat variety in this game surprised me. I love Final Fantasy XVI

[@troymuni6120]

If you mean the stuff he showed in his video, yes it helps. It looks like it’s going to be a little more interesting as long as we’re not just spamming the same combo.

[@semitope]

Combat variety meaning different things you can do but don't really need to?

[@troymuni6120]

​@@semitope Actually, I wasn't really feeling it had any or enough variety until I saw the tips he posted here. In the demo I completely missed that you could slot in the eikons across color groups. Also, his combo strategy will actually give me a reason to use my Sony pro controller. It' might be the first game with something that's a lot easier to pull off using the mapped buttons underneath.

[@HaykInWonderland]

​@@semitopeyou don't need to play the game either

[@jeremyargha9086]

​@@semitopeYeah like why should I use other builds that are worthless when I can just cheese every boss with my rivers of blood bleed build.

[@mnopinion]

This wasn’t mentioned here.. But Diamond Dust (shiva’s ult) maxes out the dmg multiplier (1.50x) immediately during stagger window. When an big enemy gets staggered, I usually open with DD then go into more devastating moves like Zantatsuken lvl 5 and Gigaflare.

[@aidanmcgrath792]

Yeah and you don’t have to waste slots on 2+ moves just to get to 1.5x. I keep seeing “pro tips” recommending the lightning rod ability. It’s not that hard to get to 1.5 and even if it was, just using more high damaging moves is usually better anyway.

[@mnopinion]

@@aidanmcgrath792 I still have Lightning rod equipped, but not for the purpose of building multiplier, but for building dancing steel zan meter. You can build zan meter instantly with it. You can probably squeeze in 2-3 lvl Zan within one stagger window.

[@kelela37clch]

Thanks for sharing these extremely useful tips! Love the Chocobo air juggle combos! Side quests with green plus signs - got it!!! All the best!

[@FuzzyWhisper]

Awesome tips as always! I learned a lot of cool stuff. This game's combat is absolutely packed with fun nuances. I love it.

[@stephensparkman6115]

I think the 4 hit sword combo with magic out of first melee combo and then hold until end is actually even better than stated. because since you only slow down one time out of the first hit, you not only do more dmg per combo, you don’t mess up as often, and you don’t have the input delay of the combo by having to hit triangle in between just spamming square. the time to finish the combo is tenths of seconds faster so the dps is also higher

[@BSparksGaming]

I watched until the very very very end! Awesome video man. I’d be that guy that sells all the old gear so that was really helpful lol.

[@xXdhampirXvexXx]

Cannot express how much i appreciate and enjoy your videos dude. I WAS going to wait a bit on this game

[@trackstar0102]

You got my sub for the "Fast 16 Chocobo Drift" lmao

[@celestialkitsune]

As somebody who loved DMC5, and also played the demo for this game, looking forward to delving even more in depth in this game. Also suuuper jealous of the early access you had to the game lol.

[@sshim950]

Wall texture photo got a chuckle out of me : )

[@jil88]

so many tips videos out there but i keep coming back to this one, thank you boom

[@ShadKats]

I really appreciate "katamari'd" as a verb. Great tips mate!

[@neda9438]

Best tips video I’ve found yet. Amazing ty man. Finally a good tips and tricks video. Rest are all mostly common sense.

[@QucumberBranford]

Love that beep boop cooldown sound effect

[@chazclark86]

This game is phenomenal man

[@faiyaazkhan13]

I literally just changed my control type back to A after thinking that the full Magic Burst combo is the best way to combo in the game.. I'm going back to B thanks to this... I didn't even think about using the charged magic attack while combo'ing with standard attacks... This game kicks ass btw, didn't expect that the battle system would be as awesome as it is...

[@Ashtarte3D]

Of all things I'm most glad to know in advance to keep my gear around, that'll save me some hassle.

[@ShadowProject01]

Bahamut is great for juggles. Also when you are flying around while your flare meter is charging stay close to enemies and go for the precision dodge. This instantly gives you one full gauge. Also remaining stationary builds the meter faster. Also Garuda has the best stagger meter attacks. And precision dodges with Shiva will cause it to freeze any and all enemies solid for 2 seconds even when they are in the middle of an unblockable attack creating space and giving you an opportunity to retaliate.

[@Joerpg84]

You have the best most concise tips on this game and makes me excited to try these out. Thanks.

[@cmadeam]

Bro you always have the most useful and unique tips 👌🏾

[@mikedelgrande5296]

Definitely useful! I didn’t know about the precision sic. Also that combo with charged magic is new to me. Thanks so much!

[@kidarmstrong8676]

Great tips! This will be My first FF game! after the demo I immediately preordered the physical copy.. will keep coming back for more content 🙏🫡🛡️🗡️🙌

[@Makoto03]

Thank you for these tips. Can't wait to finally play this tomorrow.

[@danwillburn]

I’ve beaten 1-15. I know there’s no beating the MMOs but I have put 100s of hours in both 11+14. This is a Final Fantasy game regardless of what people say, and I love it. The combat makes you feel like a god when approaching new game +. All the haters need to put 30 hours in and realize its glory.

[@bagusadhywicaksono250]

I see DMC and Dragons Dogma element in it, thats awesome.

[@Hiroyashy]

What needs to be noted regarding the Berserker Ring, it only improves your melee combo. Without the ring you can use a charged magic attack after a precision dodge, but with the ring you only do a normal magic attack, so it is not the ultimate "keep it on all the time" but use it when you want get chummy with melee combat only.

[@OhShunz]

I watched a recent playthrough of the demo and I was in awe! I placed an order for a PS5 the very next day just so that I could play FF16. It’ll arrives this Saturday and I’m so stoked. Thanks so much for the tips!

[@TypicallyUniqueOfficial]

So, how are you liking your new PS5?

[@OhShunz]

@@TypicallyUniqueOfficial loving it! It arrived a day early and I promptly jumped into FF16 and played pretty much non-stop and just finished it on Saturday morning. Mind blowing and Amazing game and the PS5 worked flawlessly. I played on graphics mode and the console definitely delivered!

[@RovingSentinel]

Thank you as always for putting these videos out Alex. Looking forward to diving into the full game myself.

[@michaelespinosa9168]

Umbasa! 16 months later I STILL use your chug for days Elden Ring DAY ONE get OP video on all my new starting characters. That was a work of genius and I still am playing elden ring. Do you think you'll be playing FF16 for a long time and does it allow "builds" per se. Anyway, I am trying to stay 100% BLIND on this one so I didn't watch the video but maybe i'll come back after a few hours in! Umbasa!

[@BoomstickGaming]

Appreciate that! Yea, it has a diversity of builds for sure. For the higher difficulty mode, it says you need to have your build on point. I'm currently working on getting into that mode.

[@wollyram6248]

Gotta admit, the how to capture wall texture tip caught me off guard 🙃

[@TheInterplanetary]

What an incredible experience. I just finished this game yesterday and there were a couple of these I hadn't used in the game. The Will of the Wykes skill I literally never used even though normally I love skills like that. It just didn't match my playstyle, but seeing how you used it along with a couple other skills like Ignition I was impressed. Same with the knock up skills, I avoided doing a lot of air combat and used chain lightning or charged magic to knock them down. Really didn't know about the Torgal punishes or the chocobo drifting! Thanks for a great video

[@grapeeggplant3863]

I'm not one to look at any kind of video game spoiler like 99% of the gaming community does so going into this game I didn't know anything at all. It had a slow wind up but I am pleasantly surprised with this one, love the game!

[@1Ksheffi]

I subscribed. Thanks for the video. It helps. I'm looking forward to finding out more as I dive into the game today. Again, thank you.

[@KT-83]

Best tips and tricks KZbinr period! 👊

[@kyle7447]

I went into this game after missing the last few. Wow, this story is so good

[@TG-Maverick22]

Thank you for these tips, I found a number of them very helpful and game changing combat experience. 5/5!

[@akirachisaka9997]

I really liked that you use "This Primal" and "That Primal" to indicate them. It helps preventing a lot of spoilers! Thanks a lot!

[@LuquiLuck]

Finally someone explaining combat with such detail. When people say combat is boring and repetitive, they clearly hadn't tried more combos than using Eikon skills, wait for cooldown and dodge attacks xd

[@LiveAndLaughs]

This was a great video for an incredible game. Thank you!

[@snipinpixihunter]

Wow, im like 30 hours in and you literally just blew my mind with the conplexity that is possible with this combat! I'm excited to jump back in!

[@mrhellahammer8097]

This video definitely helped as a refresher for coming back to play the Echos of the Fallen DLC 🎉

[@billygrego4769]

Damn near every point was hella useful! Thanks!

[@espirite]

This game starts off gentle but then keeps opening up more combat options and keeps getting better and better the more you play. I love it.

[@vojinvmilojkovic7622]

Amazing video, thank you for tips and tricks :D most blessed by your existence

[@StraightcheD]

Nice 1 and timely, thank you.

[@lksmurf]

thank you for the video. your videos are always more helpful than other channels. greatly appreciate your content

[@MilkPudding]

Amazing tips! I'm 20 hours in and did NOT know about the chocobo skills :D

[@13jsisco]

Yes! Love this video. I was using type b for the demo but I think c will be better

[@TheDumontShow]

Wow. I feel like i can olay this game like a pro after this. This was super extensive. Much props, Alex

[@dltmdduf]

parrying with charged attack was most useful tip.

[@hellbent2835]

Green plus signs quests on my way , this is so much helpful, so the game realy opens up after the mid part, now im excited 😮

[@xleaselife]

As always, thanks for your concise, in-depth, incredibly useful tips, Alex!

[@luroc]

Great video! Learned a lot here that other videos havent been covering. Good stuff!

[@michaelphilip1]

If you’ve never fully charged Bahamuts circle skill use tornado and hide inside.

[@TrophyHunterTyler]

I suggest doing ALL side quests they are all tied to trophies and missing even one quest can lock you out of special items

[@nickhannan8008]

Excellent tips as always. You make the best tips videos I've found anywhere online. You've also clearly got skillz. I'm pumped to unlock some of the abilities you showed that I don't have yet.

[@gaymercody4735]

Awesome video. I'm 75% done with story and learning about these new combos should help out alot.

[@Talhn]

SUPER HELPFUL! Thank you

[@andywinchester8422]

Thank you for these tips🤩🤩

[@whitelotuschief9321]

very nice Alex, i learned quite a bit, especially about the charged shot combos

[@yashohashikoto9945]

quick question: how do you perform the downward flame slash of clive? i’ve been struggling to perform that move.

[@MrBaggio1994]

I believe you have to master the downward thrust ability

[@yashohashikoto9945]

@@MrBaggio1994 oh i see, it does not require any specific button to press like pressing X and SQUARE simultaneously?

[@angbald]

​@yashohashikoto9945 jump in the air and then yes you do have to press jump and attack simultaneously.

[@angbald]

​@@yashohashikoto9945but also as the other comment says you have to buy the ability in the menu.

[@yashohashikoto9945]

@@angbald i see. thats the only skill i am unable to perform during combos. thanks for the tips!👌💯

[@GuacaFlockaFLAME]

Thanks for the helpful tips! Really hyped to play this! The game is kinda overwhelming for me (lots of numbers and things on screen) but I’ll keep referencing this video to improve:)

[@dalamar4327]

Total chaos on screen.😅

[@b.anderson]

It's pre-ordered and pre-installed for me. 900pm my time!

[@Sazumaru]

Thanks can’t wait to buy this game today 😍😍😍😍

[@xmaslieder]

I found Bahamut's fire breath or whatever it's called really op at clearing out groups of enemies. Especially because it lasts so long

[@tobietera]

Im half way through the game and barely knew any of these tips. Subbed 👍🏻

[@Abbe10able]

Thanks for all the tips, specially the one about holding the melee and magic buttons, didn't have an idea we could do those combos, hope i can adjust fast to type c controls fast

[@AdamHallDeathPunch]

I'm glad Ignition was mentioned because the move is almost broken with how great it is with clearing the field for you. I also give it the 10% bonus gear and tear through everything. It will also get you to the 1.5x when you open with it on a stagger, then quickly use the rest of your super moves and it will most likely be ready to use one more time at the end of the stagger.

[@EAchank]

1 piece of advice If you're going to do the new game plus try to not upgrade or use too many eikons I kept the stock eikons the whole first playthrough and new game plus is so fun because now I'm using the other eikons Feels like a new game

[@SenseiBase]

Thanks for the info about the berserker ring! I saw a streamer using it and thought it was a part of the limit break move set but I was so confused when I tried to figure out how to do it. It’s one of my favorite animations in the games combat and I can’t wait to try it out once I have the ring! Dope air combo in the beginning too btw. 😁👍🔥

[@Max6464654]

This video changed the way i fight in the game, thanks so much:)

[@boingbryan8123]

Thanks Alex❤

[@chacazulo1987]

Thnx a lot for these tips, i’m a noob at the game. I won’t skip the sidequests anymore lol.

[@flyingsplice]

you can also use shiva's circle ability while an enemy is staggered to freeze the stagger timer for a couple seconds each time (if you land it right) and using it in between spamming abilities can make for some gnarly long stagger combos

[@sepposantapukki1044]

Great tips, I learned a lot! I want to point out one thing about the double-charging though: you should NOT wait to release both and then start charging again, it’s suboptimal. Because you can start charging the magic attack already when the melee attack animation plays out, and vice versa. So basically you keep both buttons charged all the time, and just momentarily release the other finger to release the attack, and then start immediately holding it again during the animation. Once you find the correct rhythm, you can basically charge-dance and deliver charged attacks non-stop. At least in the early game this has given me the best stagger damages by far, when those other options are not yet available.

[@pipzgutz]

I finished my first playthrough and didn't know most of this, thank you for the tips

[@playetplayer9103]

like the crafting in ff9 where you needed tons of early stage weapons to create the late game stuff

[@바보Queen]

just started this game, the combat is amazing, playing this game feels like an epic movie

[@steveboy35]

Mastering Cleves regular abilities non eikon do also change their cast times or attributes yes? Like lunge mastered adds a fire attack?

[@omlg2021]

I wondered why the game's combat wad like dmc, then i searched it up and found out the conbat designer from dmc worked on this game's combat

[@educationiskey3331]

Keep up the good video tips, thx. I learned a few things I didn't know.

[@FarZeroDark]

Wicked Wheel and upheaval is already max damage, no need for extra elevation but nonetheless a cool combo

[@weiyu3592]

May I ask what the sword ur using in the charged attack tip 14?

[@Hopps11]

Damn, wish I would have known about the control types at the beginning T_T, Stuck trying to unlearn the last 20 hours of gameplay. IT IS BRUTAL! Control type B-C are too good for combos, specifically the basic.

[@matthewtaylor5878]

Devil may Fantasy... The fact that this game has enemy step in it is actually crazy to me

[@troymuni6120]

It desperately needs more FOV. It feels more zoomed in than DMC and makes it a PIA to see everything around you.

[@doctortraumacock]

I haven't seen one video say why to save old gear. TY 👍

[@specialnewb9821]

Problem with berserker is the follow combo is short a few hits due to animation. It's actually a slight danage decrease. However if use Phoenix shift right after the dodge you can get the hits back. Game loses something since you can't juggle bosses :(

[@asad-ullahkhan2368]

wow this was amazing, most tips videos just say obvious stuff, this was more in depth

[@Daigoooo]

2:22 to 2:25 out of context is so good

[@anthonydavidson535]

This is my first FF game and I love it

[@dreamer6737]

15 more mainline FF games to play ;)

[@Kabebanger]

If you're having trouble doing the dodge option, you can stick with titans block. It can block most of the skills and will reflect back high stagger attack when doing perfect block. So if you have judgment bolt, giga flare or other ultimate skills spamming on stagger enemies kind of thing, just do the block reflect and attack to dish out the stagger bar.

[@jakenastysnake]

Wow a lot of these I was not aware of. I’ve been doin’ it wrong.

[@Genyuine]

Tend to use upgraded impulse with the orb cus it still gets to the max multiply (especially if you use ignition on it) plus its also a good ranged ability as it hits enemies and hold them in place, and if its a boss all orbs focus it for free DoT

[@kingrogers7740]

This was clutch, thank you

[@thejoaquindead9515]

The Ifrit abilities actually look fun. How early can you get them? I have a feeling we’re gonna be stuck with only Phoenix for a while.

[@iammicrochip156]

We haven’t seen Ifrits abilities in human/hybrid form. Only in his Eikon form

[@thejoaquindead9515]

@@iammicrochip156 I assumed the three abilities in the large skill tree was Ifrit. The flaming dash and the Will o’ the Wykes. I don’t think we move seen the third one yet.

[@iammicrochip156]

@@thejoaquindead9515 That’s part of Phoenix. It’s a whole Phoenix icon when he uses the move bruh

[@thejoaquindead9515]

@@iammicrochip156 but then why aren’t those skills on the Phoenix skill tree? Even the flaming dashing attack looks extremely similar to Ifrit’s Wildfire skill in Eikon form.

[@RikuoYT]

​@@iammicrochip156Ifrit doesn't get a separate eikon primary ability and the ignition and will of the wykes skills are bound to the phoenix slot if not mastered

[@MrTheonenotesong]

I have 44 hours into the game and learned some new tips! Thank you!

[@morningstarx5340]

I finally just started playing and to see how fast those combos are at 1:40 in your vid is pumping me up. Is there a speed skill set that im not running into just yet because my combos aren't twerking like that

[@Cloud_Alchemy]

I've been using the combat type b as well. It feels like I'm playing God Of War