Final Fantasy 16’s Eikons Could Be Its Best Feature

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The newly introduced Eikons for may be its greatest strength. Eikons are the new names for Summons, a staple of the series. While Summons were awe-inspiring for their devastating magic, typically only usable towards the end of games, Eikons instead will be prevalent throughout the majority of ’s story. This allows them to get more screen time and make more of an impression as veritable deities of the elements.

These Eikons aren’t just nostalgia bait for fans, though, they have an entirely new system that refreshes their gameplay. In , Eikons are tied to Dominants, special people that can wield their elemental powers and even transform into them during combat. This transformation style echoes the Titans from or the Infernal Demons from. Given their refreshed utility compared to the more traditional Summons, there are a number of ways that Eikons may elevate the experience of .

Related: Will Final Fantasy 16 Come To Xbox, Switch, & PC?

Due to having more screen time, the Eikons are allowed to play a greater part in ’s story. Summons have typically been part of the world, rather than being integral to the plot of their specific games (with some notable exceptions such as Bahamut). The game's trailers make it clear that control of Final Fantasy 16's Eikons and their Dominants is essential for the clans to maintain their power, which embeds Eikons in the main conflict. Additionally, the dual restorative and destructive natures of Phoenix and Ifrit are integral to the story’s themes, shown clashing in the new logo for .

Eikons comprise the core of ’s combat system as well, as the protagonist Clive Rosfield wields their elemental powers in battle. Gameplay demos reveal that Clive can wield multiple Eikons’ abilities at once,