Unraveling the Immersive World of Bahamut in Final Fantasy 16
Delve deeper into Final Fantasy 16's captivating lore as the mythical creature, Bahamut, takes center stage like never before Uncover its significance to the Empire of Sanbreque and the hidden secrets behind the enigmatic Eikons
Highlights
Final Fantasy 16 showcases Bahamut, one of the most iconic summons in the franchise, with an impressive and unique depiction.
In FF16, Bahamut's backstory is further developed, portraying an unusual connection with the light element. Bahamut takes on a pivotal role as a prominent figure within the narrative, aligning with the Holy Empire of Sanbreque and playing a crucial part in safeguarding and extending the empire's influence.
Final Fantasy 16 marks the latest addition to a franchise that spans more than 35 years. While iconic summons like Bahamut, Ifrit, and Shiva have been present since the early days, the newest installment takes them to new heights. Bahamut, in particular, holds a special place in the series, appearing in nearly every entry, including the very first game before the introduction of the summons system. The portrayal of Bahamut in FF16 is undoubtedly one of the series' most impressive, and its role as one of the central Eikons in the story adds to its awe-inspiring lore.
In the initial installment of Final Fantasy, Bahamut served as an NPC offering class upgrades to the player character. However, from that point on, Bahamut became a summonable entity. This dragon has become an immensely recognizable figure within the Final Fantasy series, making notable appearances in most games and even having its own spin-off, Bahamut Lagoon. Known for its non-elemental magic attacks that disregard defensive stats, Bahamut is consistently among the most powerful summonable beasts in any Final Fantasy game. Given this context, it comes as no surprise that the entity garners significant attention in FF16. Interestingly, in the sixteenth entry, Bahamut is aligned with the light element, deviating from its usual associations.
Bahamut Is Important to The Empire of Sanbreque
In FF16, Valisthea, a fragmented world, is divided into several kingdoms that were established by elemental Motes. These Motes have a lineage of inheriting the powers of Eikons, and every few generations, a Dominant with the respective Eikon's power is born. The Holy Empire of Sanbreque is ruled by the Motes of Light, who have passed down the Eikon of light, Bahamut. This nation is a theocracy devoted to Greagor, and the Dominant of Bahamut is hailed as the champion of the domain. Their responsibility is to defend and expand the empire. Dragons, such as Bahamut, are generally perceived as servants of Greagor by the Sanbrequois.
Though the Dominant of Bahamut is highly regarded, the emperor is believed to be the physical embodiment of Greagor. The Dominant assumes the role of the imperial army's leader. Directly below the Dominant is the Holy Order of the Knights Dragoon, an elite group of soldiers trained to fight like dragons. Currently, Dion Lesage, son of the emperor of Sanbreque, holds the position of Dominant of Bahamut. Dion Lesage is known for being the founder and compassionate leader of the Holy Order of the Knights Dragoon, despite his status and immense power.
The Eikons Hide a Dark Past
In Final Fantasy 16, players uncover the origins of the Eikons, specifically Bahamut. Approximately 5000 years prior to the game's events, Ultima created Bahamut, along with other Eikons. Ultima's society, which utilized magic, eventually succumbed to the blight, similar to the current state of Valisthea. The surviving members of Ultima's species devised the Mothercrystals and empowered humanity to create Mythos, a vessel designed to restore their society. Mythos achieves perfection by absorbing all the Eikons, and Clive, the game's protagonist, serves as the intended vessel for Ultima, embodying Mythos.
In Final Fantasy 16, Bahamut, the Eikon of Light, is bestowed with a more extensive backstory compared to previous entries in the franchise. Dion plays a vital role and his camaraderie with Clive and Joshua, as the Dominant of Bahamut, holds symbolic significance as they strive to vanquish Barabas Tharmr, the dominant of Odin, the Eikon of darkness. While Bahamut is not traditionally associated with light, the lore of the Greagorian church justifies this affiliation in the game. Ultimately, Final Fantasy 16 presents Bahamut as the most intriguing and unforgettable rendition of this legendary creature.
Final Fantasy 16 is available now on PS5.
