Of all the awe-inspiring Eikonic abilities at Clive Rosfield’s disposal in Final Fantasy XVI, none carry the sheer weight of history and raw, unadulterated power as the Royal Arms. These are not mere weapons; they are the crystallized legacy of the fallen nations of Valisthea, each with a unique moveset and a devastating ultimate technique. While acquiring them is a feat in itself, mastering their potential through strategic upgrades is the true mark of a Dominant. This guide will provide a comprehensive breakdown of how to maximize the damage output of your Royal Arms, turning Clive into an unstoppable force on the battlefield.
Understanding the Royal Arms System
Before delving into upgrades, it's crucial to understand what makes these weapons special. Unlike standard swords you purchase from Blackthorne, Royal Arms are acquired by defeating certain major bosses or through key story progression. Each one is tied to a Eikon and comes with its own distinctive ability:
- Invictus (Ifrit): The starting weapon, balanced.
- Sword of the Guardian (Phoenix): Focuses on precision and countering.
- Blood Sword (Garuda): Excels at staggering enemies.
- Rune Blade (Ramuh): Infuses attacks with lightning magic.
- Coral Sword (Titan): A heavy, powerful blade for high damage per hit.
- Ice Brand (Shiva): Inflicts frost damage and has a high rate of attack.
- Flame Tongue (Ifrit Upgrade): The upgraded form of Invictus, boasting superior firepower.
- Diamond Sword (Odin): The ultimate weapon, with unparalleled base damage.
Their damage is not solely dependent on their base stats. Two primary systems govern their power: Forging at the Black Hammer and Mastery through AP (Ability Points).
Phase 1: Forging and Reinforcing for Higher Base Damage
The most direct way to increase a Royal Arm's damage is by upgrading it at the blacksmith, Blackthorne. This requires two key resources: Crafting Materials and Gil.
1. Gathering Materials: Royal Arms demand rare materials, often obtained from specific, high-level threats.
- Notorious Marks (Hunts): This is your primary source. Check the Hunt Board at the Hideaway regularly. Defeating elite marks like Atlas, Svarog, or Gorgimera rewards you with essential materials like Orichalcum, Darksteel, and Scarletite.
- Main Story Progression: Certain key story bosses drop unique materials required for the final upgrade tiers. Pay attention to what they yield.
- Field Exploration: Break down shiny mineral deposits in later-game zones like Ash, Waloed, and the Kingdom of Kanver for a chance at rarer ores.
2. The Upgrade Path: Each weapon typically has three stages:
- Base Weapon: Acquired from a story event or boss.
- Reinforced [Weapon Name] (Level 1 Upgrade): Requires less rare materials (e.g., Wyrrite, Magicked Ash, Iron Ore). This provides a significant stat bump.
- Reforged [Weapon Name] (Level 2 Upgrade): Requires the rarest materials (e.g., Orichalcum, Darksteel). This maximizes the weapon's base damage potential.
Prioritization: Focus on upgrading the Coral Sword (Titan) and Diamond Sword (Odin) first. The Coral Sword's high stagger and damage multiplier is invaluable against bulky enemies, while the Diamond Sword, once obtained, has the highest damage ceiling in the game.
Phase 2: Mastering Abilities for Enhanced Effects
Base damage is only half the equation. Each Royal Arm has a unique ability (e.g., Titanic Block for Coral Sword, Dancing Steel for Diamond Sword) that can be mastered using AP.
- Learning vs. Mastering: Initially, you simply "Learn" the ability, allowing you to use it. "Mastering" it, which costs a substantial amount of AP, provides a significant damage boost and often enhances the secondary effects.
- Example: Mastering Dancing Steel (Odin) not only increases its damage but also drastically increases the amount of Zantetsuken gauge it fills per hit.
- AP Farming: To master these expensive abilities, you need to farm AP efficiently.
- Hunts and Side Quests: Later-game hunts and side quests, particularly those labeled "Blacksmith's Blues," offer large AP rewards.
- The Arete Stone: Use the Stone Training Mode at the Hideaway. The **"Time Attack" challenges can be repeated for consistent AP gains. Equip accessories that boost AP acquisition, such as the "The Wages of Conviction" from quests, to speed up the process.
Mastering a Royal Arm's ability is non-negotiable for maximizing its damage output and utility.
Phase 3: Strategic Synergy: Builds and Accessories
A weapon's true potential is unlocked when it's part of a cohesive build. Damage increase is multiplicative when you stack different bonuses.
1. Eikonic Feat and Ability Synergy:
- Diamond Sword (Odin): This is the pinnacle of damage synergy. Pair the mastered Dancing Steel ability with the Arm of Darkness Feat. Use accessories that boost Zantetsuken potency (e.g., Odin's Emblem). The goal is to build Zantetsuken to level 5 quickly and unleash it for catastrophic damage, often dealing tens of thousands of points in a single blow.
- Coral Sword (Titan): Use this weapon with Titan's Block (Raging Fists) feat. Successfully blocking an attack powers up your next move. Follow up with the Coral Sword's Titanic Counter for a massively damaging riposte.
- Ice Brand (Shiva): This weapon shines in a precision-focused build. Use Shiva's Cold Snap to dodge and freeze enemies, then switch to Ice Brand for bonus damage against frozen targets.
2. Damage-Boosting Accessories: Accessories are paramount for min-maxing damage. Farm the materials to create the best ones from Blackthorne.
- Genji Glove: The single best accessory for melee damage. It significantly increases the damage of your basic sword combos with any equipped weapon.
- Odin's Emblem: Specifically boosts the damage of Zantetsuken. Essential for an Odin build.
- The Favor of Wind/Ground/Lightning (etc.): These accessories boost the damage of abilities from a specific Eikon. Equip the one that corresponds to your Royal Arm's ability (e.g., Favor of Earth for Coral Sword's Titanic Block).
- Badge of Mettle: Increases Will damage dealt to enemies, helping you stagger them faster. This is excellent for the Blood Sword (Garuda) or any weapon used in a stagger-focused build.
The Ultimate Goal: The Diamond Sword and Zantetsuken
The culmination of your upgrade journey is building around the Diamond Sword (Odin). The strategy is refined and devastating:
- Upgrade: Reforge the Diamond Sword to its maximum level at Blackthorne.
- Mastery: Master the Dancing Steel ability. This is AP-intensive but critical.
- Accessories: Equip the Genji Glove for strong basic attacks, Odin's Emblem for Zantetsuken damage, and perhaps the Favor of Wind (for Odin abilities) or a BERSERK RING to increase damage after a precision dodge.
- Execution: In combat, use Dancing Steel on a staggered enemy. This will instantly fill your Zantetsuken gauge to level 5. Immediately activate Arm of Darkness and unleash Zantetsuken. This single attack can easily obliterate over 100,000 HP, making it the highest-damage technique in the game.
Conclusion
Maximizing Royal Arms damage in Final Fantasy XVI is a rewarding three-step process: strengthening the blade itself at the forge, mastering its unique technique through diligent AP investment, and integrating it into a powerful synergistic build with the right accessories. It demands exploration, conquest of the most fearsown Hunts, and strategic planning. By following this guide, you will ensure that the legacy of Valisthea's rulers is not just remembered, but that it continues to unleash unparalleled destruction through the hand of the most powerful Dominant.
