If there’s one space the place the strain is on a brand new entry within the Closing Fantasy franchise, it is in its forged. The demand is that the Closing Fantasy XVI characters are good – adequate to face as much as the storied events of the sequence earlier than it – and that is a tall order.

As we strategy the Summer season 2023 launch of FF16, it is essential to get to know the forged of newcomers that we’ll spend many hours with as we discover the world of Valisthea and observe protagonist Clive on his jouney of revenge. That is what this web page is for – to provide you a pre-release primer on all the FF16 characters, who they’re, and what they’re like. All primarily based on pre-release materials, after all – so spoiler free.

Should you’re making an attempt to study as a lot as you may about FF16, it is best to examine our our evaluation of the primary trailer, our run-down of the FF16 devleopment workers, our profile on FF16 director Hiroshi Takai, which can assist let you know what to anticipate from his first FF within the director’s chair.

Meet the Closing Fantasy 16 Characters

On this web page, we’ll introduce you to the characters of Closing Fantasy XVI protecting it as spoiler-free as Sq. Enix defines – by which we imply, we received’t discuss or characteristic any info on the characters that hasn’t been revealed in official pre-release materials. We’d, nevertheless, speculate on the character of some characters – ensuring hypothesis is clearly listed.

This can be a ‘residing’ web page as FF16 approaches its launch – which means as Sq. Enix reveals extra of the forged of characters within the sport and their roles within the story, we’ll replace this web page and hold it filled with element, so each time the sport launches you may bounce proper into the story feeling forward of the sport. 

So, with out additional ado, let’s get into the characters of FF16

Clive Rosfield

The principle protagonist of FF16, Clive Rosfield is the son of aristocracy – the first-born son of the Archduke of the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, one in all FF16’s key areas. Clive’s youthful brother, Joshua, is chosen to inherit the standing because the ‘Dominant’ of Phoenix, a robust fiery Eikon/summon, from their father. Clive trains to be a talented swordsman in an effort to shield his youthful brother in his perilous position. 

Formally, he’s given the title of the First Defend of Rosaria to characterize his mission to protect his brother and the Phoenix. 

Within the early phases of the sport, a fifteen-year-old Clive will face the darkish Eikon Ifrit in what producer Naoki Yoshida has described as a “grand tragedy” – and no matter occurs in these tumultuous units him on a path of vengeance. An older model of Clive seems to be in search of revenge for no matter occurs on that fateful day – which we’ll expertise in-game. 

In FF16’s trailers, we see two distinct time intervals: one with Clive as a younger man and one with him as an grownup. Primarily based on the trailers, it appears the tragedy befalls him as younger man, after which we’ll additionally tackle his revenge mission as a extra grizzled, tattooed grownup. 

Hypothesis & Evaluation on Clive:

Thus far, Clive is the one character we really see the participant immediately controlling – and truthfully, we wouldn’t be stunned if FF16 eschews conventional get together mechanics and primarily has you solely controlling Clive, as with Noctis in FF15 at launch. We’re certain others will be part of him on his journey, although – we’ve already seen transient glimpses of others combating alongside him.

We’ve additionally caught small appears at his skills. He’s a talented swordsman, however he additionally clearly wields the ability of sure summons in fight. We see him carry out a fiery uppercut fashion transfer with an enormous wing (Phoenix), smash opponents with a stony fist (Titan), and swipe at them with a avian-like talon (Garuda). What different summons would possibly he be capable to borrow the powers of? We’ll should see…

Sequence Factoid: That is the second Clive in Closing Fantasy historical past; in FF14, there’s an NPC member of the College students of Baldeson who shares the identify, which is a standard Outdated English identify becoming for FF16’s medieval fantasy setting. 

The official description of Clive: 

The firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria. Although all anticipated him to inherit the Phoenix’s flames and awaken as its Dominant, future as a substitute selected his youthful brother Joshua to bear this burden. Seeking a job of his personal, Clive devoted himself to mastering the blade. His apply pays off when, at simply fifteen years of age, he wins the ducal event and is dubbed the First Defend of Rosaria—tasked to protect the Phoenix and blessed with the power to wield part of his fireplace. Alas, Clive’s promising profession is to finish in tragedy by the hands of a mysterious darkish Eikon, Ifrit, setting him on a harmful highway to revenge.

Joshua Rosfield

Clive’s youthful brother. As talked about above, Joshua Rosfield is the Dominant of the Phoenix, having inherited that title from his father. The title was anticipated to go to Clive, however future selected the youthful of the Archduke’s sons as a substitute. 

On the planet of FF16, a summon/Eikon’s Dominant can actively rework into them – so Joshua can primarily morph into Phoenix, the highly effective Eikon of Fireplace, a creature that additionally adorns the flag of the dominion he’s royalty of. 

Joshua is ten years previous within the earlier timeline occasions of FF16. Time will inform if he really survives these occasions – but when he does, he’ll naturally be a bit of older for the remainder of the sport, most likely in his late teenagers. 

Sequence Factoid: Joshua’s backstory is similar to one other Sq. Enix character of the identical identify – Vagrant Story’s Joshua Corrinne Bardorba. He too is the son of a Duke who befalls tragedy associated to his bloodline. 

The official description of Joshua: 

The second son of the Archduke of Rosaria and Clive’s youthful brother by 5 years. Joshua awoke because the Dominant of the Phoenix quickly after his beginning. Regardless of his noble upbringing, Joshua treats all his father’s topics with heat and affection—none extra so than Clive, whom he deeply admires. Joshua typically laments that it was he, the frail and bookish youthful son, who was granted command of the firebird’s flames, and never his stronger, braver brother. Whereas Clive will gladly throw himself into any hazard, Joshua quails on the sight of a carrot on his dinner plate. However carrots change into the least of his concern when he, too, is swept up into the tragic occasions that change Clive’s life eternally.

Jill Warrick

Presumably FF16’s fundamental feminine lead, Jill Warrick has suffered a troublesome previous – she was taken from her house as a political hostage, traded and held in an effort to hold worldwide peace. Regardless of the character of her arrival to the dominion of Rosaria, the Archduke handled her like a daughter, which in flip made her a sister determine to each Clive and Joshua. She could be seen within the early trailers through the earlier section of FF16’s narrative, throughout which she is aged round 12 years previous. 

If Jill survives these earlier occasions, she’d seemingly be in her late teenagers or early twenties within the later portion of FF16’s timeline – precisely the form of age of most of FF’s feminine leads.

Hypothesis & Evaluation of Jill:

We discover Jill’s costume curious – in her idea artwork, her outfit is white accented with blue. This can be a sharp distinction to Joshua’s pink outfit. Given Joshua’s connection to Phoenix, Jill’s outfit does make us marvel if she might have a connection to Shiva, an Eikon we all know is within the sport however know nothing of her Dominant. Within the ‘Dominance’ trailer, we see Shiva achieve, however the identification of her Dominant is conspicuously stored a secret. May or not it’s Jill?

Sequence Factoid: Jill form of shares her identify with Jihl Nabaat, an under-utilized antagonist in FF13. Her historical past as a political prisoner bartered from one nation to a different to maintain the peace locations her near FF’s earlier feminine lead, FF15’s Lunafreya, who had the same backstory.

The official description of Jill: 

Born within the fallen Northern Territories, Jill was taken from her homeland at a young age to change into a ward of Rosaria, securing peace between the 2 warring nations. The Archduke insisted that she be raised alongside his sons, and now, at twelve years of age, she is as a lot part of the Rosfield family as Clive and Joshua. Ever type, gracious, and unassuming, Jill has change into a trusted confidant to the brothers.

Hugo Kupka

Revealed within the ‘Dominance’ trailer for FF16 in June of 2022, Hugo Kupka is a robust determine on the planet of FF16 – largely as a result of he’s the Dominant of the highly effective Eikon Titan. Hugo has the look of Titan about him, too – he is a robust wanting man with a shaved head.

In contrast to the royalty in a lot of the remainder of the FF16 forged, Hugo started life as a easy, lowly soldier, and was thrust into greatness when he gained Titan’s energy. Maybe unsurprisingly, meaning he is received a bit of gruffer edge, at the least from what we see within the trailer. The query is – will he be a good friend, or a foe? His official character description would not make him sound just like the nicest of fellows…

Sequence Factoid: There’s by no means been a Hugo within the sequence earlier than, however can we glean something from that surname? In Polish, the phrase Kupka can imply ‘small pile’, or ‘piles’ – which appears like fairly an earthy reference befitting of Titan. However, small? Maybe Hugo is not as sturdy as he lets on…

The official description of Hugo:

Everlasting Financial Adviser Hugo Kupka’s meteoric rise to prominence was sudden, if not sudden. As soon as a anonymous foot soldier within the Republican Military, his awakening as Dominant of the Eikon Titan thrust him to the forefront of Dhalmekian politics. It was right here he used his newfound place as essentially the most highly effective man within the republic to exert affect over each the nation’s armies and its coverage making—amassing a private fortune within the course of. But whereas it’s stated {that a} man who has every part desires for nothing, Benedikta Harman will train him cash and energy are removed from all of the world has to supply.

Benedikta Harman

Talked about within the profile of Hugo above, we lastly have a reputation to place to the mysterious blonde-haired feminine tactician we noticed in FF16’s very first trailer – Benedikta Harman. Carrying a golden-handled sword, she seems to be a warrior in addition to a spy and tactician. 

Revealed in trailers is the truth that Benedikta is the Dominant of the Eikon Garuda, a wind-themed summon that may be a FF staple but in addition is not one of the vital well-known summons. Benedikta has a design that speaks to this, with a feathered jacket and scaly armor that offers away her connection to the large bird-like beast.

Sequence Factoid: Garuda is a comparatively ‘new’ Closing Fantasy summon, having first appeared in FF11 – but it surely’s then appeared in FF13, 14, and 15 since. Garuda was added to FF15 in a patch as a part of an FF14 cross-over quest. As for her identify? Benedikta is an applicable identify for a spy and tactician – it is derived from ‘Benediction’ (additionally a spell in FF14), which is itself from Latin meaning “to talk” (diction) “properly” (bene).

The official description of Benedikta:

Having emerged from the storm of youth coldhearted and ruthless, Benedikta Harman—Dominant of the Eikon Garuda, Warden of the Wind—turned her expertise for swordplay and subterfuge right into a command of Waloed’s elite intelligencers. It’s on a mission to search out the elusive second Eikon of Fireplace that she crosses paths with a like-minded Clive and is pressured to face her previous.