The Mysterious Past of Barnabas in Final Fantasy 16: Unveiling Intriguing Enigmas

Highlights

Odin's Dominant Barnabas is the biggest villain in Final Fantasy 16, but his background and upbringing offer little explanation for his character.

Barnabas and his mother arrived in the continent of Ash from a distant land, implying the existence of other lands beyond the two main continents.

Curiosity arises regarding the origin and emergence of Dominants like Barnabas, as well as the presence of Mothercrystals and unique Eikons in other lands. The enigmatic nature of Eikons may remain beyond complete comprehension.

In Final Fantasy 16, Odin's Dominant Barnabas stands as one of the most formidable villainous characters. His immense power and unyielding boredom, derived from years of invincibility, are gradually revealed to players. Surprisingly, it is only during his ultimate confrontation with the game's protagonist, Clive Rosfield, that Barnabas exhibits any genuine emotion.

Despite appearing deeply fractured, little is unveiled about Barnabas' background to explain his demeanor. While the influence of his mother's teachings and death is evident, there is scant evidence to elucidate his true identity in Final Fantasy 16. Focused solely on the present, his past raises significant questions for those who delve into it.

A Dominant Not From The Land of Storm or Ash

Barnabas' mother brought him to the continent of Ash during his youth as per the lore of Final Fantasy 16. Known for her strict and orderly nature, it is speculated that her upbringing may have influenced Barnabas' pursuit of leadership, despite ultimately being subservient. The extent of her discipline remains undisclosed but she passes away after their arrival in Ash. The timing of her death, whether it occurred during Barnabas' childhood or his conquest of Ash, remains uncertain, although the latter is the more probable scenario. It is possible that he bears some responsibility for her demise, which coincides with his awakening as the Dominant of Odin, a concept that seems peculiar. While it makes sense for a Dominant to exist in Valisthea, the land of the Mothercrystals, it has been implied that Dominants are born with their powers. Barnabas, on the other hand, was not born in Storm or Ash.

The background information divulges that Barnabas and his mother migrated to Ash from another continent, which aligns with a few references to other lands in Final Fantasy 16. Not much is known about these mysterious lands, but they are considered separate entities from the two major continents. It is plausible that they succumbed to the Blight long before the events of the game, explaining Barnabas and his mother's decision to seek refuge in Ash. However, this does not clarify how Barnabas became the embodiment of Odin. Either he possessed the power from birth, similar to other protagonists, suggesting that Dominants and Eikons are not restricted to Storm and Ash, or a Dominant can be chosen or awakened without inherent power. The exact timeline of Barnabas' conquest and awakening remains unclear.

Either option is intriguing. For instance, although many fans speculate that the Medicine Girl in Final Fantasy 16 is the unawakened Dominant of Leviathan, this could lead to other possibilities, such as Leviathan appearing in different regions. The latter scenario would be fascinating, as it would tie into Anabella's motivations, who desired a pure bloodline with the power of the Phoenix, which could potentially awaken in Clive if he wasn't Mythos. This also raises questions about the selection process for other Dominants and whether other continents had their own Mothercrystals.

In the end, it is unlikely that the mysteries surrounding Final Fantasy 16's Eikons will be fully explained, partly due to the constraints imposed by their Awakening. It is also possible that there may be additional factors not discussed here that could provide answers to these questions. However, the manner in which Eikons awaken remains an engrossing point of interest. Particularly for Leviathan, it will be captivating to see if Square Enix addresses this in the Final Fantasy 16 DLC.

Final Fantasy 16 is available now for PS5.