Final Fantasy 16 is unlike any previous title in the series. The title returns the series' narrative and setting to their roots, including many of the Final Fantasy series' most iconic objects and features. At the forefront of these features are Final Fantasy 16's Eikons and Mothercrystals, which play a critical role in its narrative. Following the destruction of the first mothercrystal, players encounter a powerful enemy called Typhon the Transgressor. While the boss appears to be just another Eikon battle, Final Fantasy 16's late-game twists bring a much more complicated truth to light. Across the title's expansive campaign, the identity of Final Fantasy 16's Typhon and the role it plays in the narrative are among the game's weirdest reveals.
Final Fantasy 16 follows Clive Rosfield, one of the title's powerful Dominants. In the world of Valisthea, Dominants are powerful individuals who wield the ability to control Eikons, Final Fantasy 16's summons. While many Dominants are utilized by their nations to do battle over resources and land, Clive seeks to free humanity from this power struggle by destroying the mothercrystals, massive deposits of crystal from which humans and Dominants derive their magic. While Clive's mission seems simple at first, the appearance of an ancient enemy reveals that a much bigger event is playing out behind the scenes.
The Battle with Typhon at Drake's Head
Following the destruction of Final Fantasy 16's first Mothercrystal, referred to as Drake's Head, Clive and his party believe their job to be finished in the Empire of Sanbreque. However, a temporal rift suddenly opens behind them attacking the party. Cid is mortally wounded and Clive is pulled into the rift by an enormous hand, belonging to Typhon. Typhon, who refers to Clive as Mythos, spawns enemies to test Clive, before engaging in one-to-one combat itself. Following Clive's considerable display of power, Typhon seemingly spawns clones of itself, which combine with the original to form Typhon the Transgressor. Clive's Eikonic abilities see him destroy this version of Typhon, but his victory proves short.
Emerging from the Temporal Rift along with Clive is Final Fantasy 16's true antagonist, Ultima. Ultima attempts to merge with Clive, telling the hero that he is a vessel for something much greater. However, Clive resists, before being saved by his brother Joshua. During Final Fantasy 16's endgame, it is revealed that Ultima is the creator of all of humanity, the Eikons, and the mothercrystals. Splitting its soul among the mothercrystals, Ultima's spirit lay dormant until a physical host, Mythos, demonstrated the potential to allow Ultima to cast a spell that would destroy and recreate all of Valisthea.
Typhon's True Identity Revealed
Final Fantasy 16 goes on to reveal that Clive initiated Ultima's return by destroying the first Mothercrystal at Drake's Head, but the god-like figure first sought to put him to the test. Pulling Clive into a realm it could manipulate, Ultima literally donned the skin of Typhon, a fallen colossus whose death occurred long before the title's events. Manipulating Typhon's body and its ability to wield powerful magic, Ultima tested Clive's worth as a vessel. When Clive showed potential, Ultima collected other remnants of itself to create Typhon the Transgressor, an ability the antagonist wields again in the final battle, when it merges with the other remnants of its soul to become Ultimalius.
While Typhon first appears to be one of Final Fantasy 16's earliest Eikon battles, the truth is far weirder. The colossal entity appears to wield massive power and is responsible for one of the title's most significant deaths, but Typhon does not exist in the time of Final Fantasy 16. Rather, it is a massive corpse, manipulated into a weapon by Ultima to test Clive's worthiness. In the end, Clive proves more than worthy, using his human will to destroy Ultima, the Origin, and the mothercrystals' dark influence on humanity.
Final Fantasy 16 is available now exclusively on PS5.