Final Fantasy XV Royal Arms Ability Effects and Usage Tips: Guide

Final Fantasy XV Royal Arms Ability Effects and Usage Tips: Guide

In Final Fantasy XV, the Royal Arms are a unique set of weapons tied directly to the lore of the Lucian kings. These powerful arms, once wielded by past rulers, offer Noctis unparalleled strength at a cost. Each Royal Arm drains HP with every swing, making them both a blessing and a burden in combat. Mastering their use is essential for players seeking to maximize Noctis’s potential, especially in challenging post-game content and boss fights. This guide delves into the abilities, effects, and strategic usage of each Royal Arm to help you harness their power effectively.

Understanding Royal Arms Mechanics

Before exploring individual weapons, it’s crucial to understand how Royal Arms function. Unlike standard weapons, Royal Arms consume a percentage of Noctis’s HP with each attack. This makes them risky to use, especially when health is low. However, they ignore enemy defenses and often possess unique abilities, such as stat boosts or special attacks. Equipping multiple Royal Arms can further enhance Noctis’s stats, even if they aren’t actively used, making them valuable for build optimization.

There are 13 Royal Arms in the base game, with additional ones available in the Royal Edition and DLCs. Each weapon varies in type, ranging from swords and daggers to shields and poles, catering to different playstyles.

1. Sword of the Wise

• Ability: Delivers wide, sweeping attacks ideal for crowd control.
• Effects: Boosts Max MP and magic stats when equipped.
• Usage Tips: Use its broad arcs to hit multiple enemies. Pair with MP-regeneration accessories to offset HP drain. Ideal for magic-focused builds.

2. Axe of the Conqueror

• Ability: Slow but devastating blows that break enemy guards.
• Effects: Significantly increases strength.
• Usage Tips: Best against single targets or staggered enemies. Use warp-strikes to close gaps and avoid telegraphs. Equip HP-recovery items or spells to counter HP loss.

3. Swords of the Wanderer

• Ability: Dual blades offering rapid, consecutive hits.
• Effects: Enhances vitality and evasion.
• **Usage Tips: Excellent for building up combo meters and applying status effects. Use in hit-and-run tactics, and pair with evasion-boosting gear.

4. Blade of the Mystic

• Ability: A katana with high critical hit rates and a unique teleportation attack.
• Effects: Boosts critical hit damage.
• **Usage Tips: Perfect for targeting weak points. Use warp-strikes to maximize damage while minimizing exposure. Ideal for precision-based players.

5. Star of the Rogue

• Ability: A shuriken that can be thrown for ranged attacks.
• Effects: Increases agility and ranged damage.
• **Usage Tips: Maintain distance from foes to avoid HP drain. Use to interrupt enemy attacks or finish off fleeing targets.

6. Bow of the Clever

• Ability: A ranged weapon that fires homing arrows.
• Effects: Enhances magic and spirit stats.
• **Usage Tips: Safe option for harassing enemies from afar. Effective against flying foes or when HP is low.

7. Shield of the Just

• Ability: Functions as both a weapon and a shield, allowing blocking and counterattacks.
• Effects: Greatly boosts max HP and defense.
• **Usage Tips: Use defensively to absorb damage and create openings. Pair with healing accessories to mitigate HP costs.

8. Mace of the Fierce

• Ability: A blunt weapon that staggers enemies easily.
• Effects: Improves strength and break potential.
• **Usage Tips: Effective against armored opponents. Use after parrying to maximize stagger chances.

9. Sword of the Tall

• Ability: A greatsword with wide, crushing attacks.
• Effects: Increases strength and max HP.
• **Usage Tips: Slow but powerful; use against large, slow enemies. Time attacks carefully to avoid interruptions.

10. Trident of the Oracle

• Ability: A polearm with piercing strikes and aerial combos.
• Effects: Boosts magic and critical rate.
• **Usage Tips: Excellent for aerial combat and linking combos. Use against enemies with airborne weaknesses.

11. Katana of the Warrior

• Ability: Balanced speed and power with a focus on warp-strikes.
• Effects: Enhances warp-strike damage.
• **Usage Tips: Ideal for players who frequently use warp-strikes. Equip with warp-reduction accessories for spamming.

12. Sword of the Father

• Ability: A short sword with high damage output and combo potential.
• Effects: Boosts all stats moderately when equipped.
• **Usage Tips: Versatile and reliable for most situations. Use in combination with other arms for stat stacking.

13. Ring of the Lucii

• Ability: Not a traditional weapon but a Royal Arm with unique spells: Death, Holy, and Alterna.
• Effects: Drains MP instead of HP but has limited combat use.
• **Usage Tips: Reserve for specific scenarios, like crowd control with Alterna or finishing weak enemies with Death.

Advanced Usage Strategies

1. Stat Stacking: Equip multiple Royal Arms to passively boost Noctis’s stats. For example, combining Sword of the Father, Shield of the Just, and Axe of the Conqueror significantly increases strength, HP, and defense.
2. Warp-Strike Synergy: Some Royal Arms, like Katana of the Warrior, enhance warp-strikes. Use these with the Armiger Unleashed mode for devastating initiation attacks.
3. HP Management: Offset HP drain with accessories like Ribbon or Black Hood, or use spells like Regen and Elixirs. The Armiger Accelerator accessory can also help build the Armiger gauge faster for healing bursts.
4. Combo Integration: Switch between Royal Arms and standard weapons during combos to minimize HP loss while maximizing damage. For example, start with a fast weapon like Swords of the Wanderer, then switch to Axe of the Conqueror for a finishing blow.
5. Armiger Unleashed: In the Royal Edition, collecting all Royal Arms unlocks Armiger Unleashed, a enhanced state that allows Noctis to wield all arms simultaneously without HP drain. Use this for boss fights or tough encounters.

Conclusion

The Royal Arms in Final Fantasy XV are double-edged swords—powerful but perilous. Understanding each weapon’s strengths and weaknesses is key to leveraging their potential. Whether you prefer brute force, tactical precision, or defensive play, there’s a Royal Arm to suit your style. By managing HP wisely, stacking stats, and integrating these weapons into your combat flow, you can unleash the true power of the Lucian kings and lead Noctis to victory.