Summary
Final Fantasy 16made waves after its release in 2023, being the first true action-RPG of theFinal Fantasyseries. While it has consistently proven to be one of the franchise’s most divisive entries, it has still garnered significant public appeal and continues to move forward successfully into its future. Its first DLC, Echoes of the Fallen, was released to positive reviews, with many fans praisingthe final boss fight with Omega. Now, the latest installment in Square Enix’s longstanding franchise hopes to continue that positive trend with its Rising Tide DLC set to release this spring.
Not much has been disclosed aboutFinal Fantasy 16’s Rising Tide DLC yet, but there are a lot of assumptions that can be drawn from the trailer that was released alongside Echoes of the Fallen in December. At the very least, it looks like players are going to be in for a thrilling adventure with it, as a new location and a new boss are being introduced.
What to Expect From Final Fantasy 16’s Rising Tide DLC
Rising Tide Will Take Players to a New Location Called Misidia
One of the highlights of the Rising Tide DLC will undoubtedly be the new location of Misidia. Very little is known about Misidia, but it looks like a rather large open-world area that players will be allowed to explore. The towering halls of the Sagespire fromEchoes of the Fallenwere an awe-inspiring sight to behold, but it will be refreshing for The Rising Tide to take players into a much larger explorable area.
There will likely be other activities to complete in Misidia outside the DLC’s main story, as it could be considered a waste to have such a large open area with nothing noteworthy to do. The trailer shows new enemies joining the roster, likethe infamous Tonberry King, with many of those battles taking place on the open fields of Misidia. Beyond those features, not much has been revealed.
Leviathan Will Likely Serve as Rising Tide’s Final Boss
As shown in the DLC trailer and judging by its title, players will eventually square off againstthe legendary sea serpent Leviathanin what could be one of the game’s biggest boss battles. It also appears Clive will be transforming into Ifrit at some point during the fight, although it will likely begin with Clive in his human form. Furthermore, Leviathan is known for his trademark attack, Tidal Wave, which he is seen using against Ifrit in the DLC trailer.
In an interview with Famitsu, later translated on X (formerly Twitter) by @aitaikimochi, it was revealed that the Rising Tide DLC would also explain why the Eikon Leviathan was lost. Leviathan is only depicted in the base game on a mural left by the Circle of Malius, and Joshua acknowledges one of the Eikons as “Leviathan the Lost.” This is in reference toFinal Fantasy 16’s lore, which tells of several Eikons as being “lost” due to the absence of the Dominants required to host them, so The Rising Tide should expound on that further with Leviathan.
Players Should Expect New Weapons and Items With Rising Tide
Just as Echoes of the Fallen granted players new items likeCloud’s Buster Sword fromFinal Fantasy 7and several additional pieces of gear found scattered throughout the Sagespire, The Rising Tide is likely to do the same. Players should expect to receive a handful of new items — quite possibly even more than they received with Echoes of the Fallen — with the release of The Rising Tide.
There is certainly plenty to look forward to inFinal Fantasy 16’s Rising Tide DLC, from the sprawling open area of Misidia to the fight with Leviathan that is sure to keep players on their toes. While not every detail has surfaced, players can expect everything mentioned above and likely more when the DLC releases this spring.
Final Fantasy 16
WHERE TO PLAY
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
