Interestingly enough, this new information seemingly confirms one longstanding fan theory: Clive is Ifrit’s Dominant. And that information sets Clive on a really dark path when fans realize what Ifrit does in the very first trailer.
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Final Fantasy 16: Clive and The Second Eikon of Fire
The first two trailers, put together, reveal some key details around Phoenix and Ifrit. In the first Final Fantasy 16 trailer, it’s clear that Joshua summons Phoenix, and Phoenix and Ifrit end up fighting. There’s some red being and something more sinister at play, but whatever ends up happening, it’s clear the two have been fighting. There have been some theories that Clive dies and Joshua summons Phoenix to revive him, with that potentially dealing with the summoning of the Second Eikon of Fire if not Joshua somehow summoning both.
The second makes it clear that there will be giant Eikon battles, and it would seem that they are commonly Ifrit vs. others—like Garuda or Titan. This would suggest that Clive, the playable character of Final Fantasy 16, somehow has control of Ifrit. This would mean he is the second Dominant of Fire, but it’s more complicated than that when Final Fantasy 16’s combat shows him wielding powers associated with other dominants.
Furthermore, the biography of Final Fantasy 16 character Benedikta Harman throws some fuel on the fire. She is Garuda’s Dominant, and she leads Waloed’s elite intelligence. The thing is, the bio makes it clear that she is aware of the second Eikon of Fire, confirming that this does not come from Joshua. It could be that Ifrit is tied to some prophecy, and in turn, that connects to Clive.
It’s not certain if he was born as the dominant of the Second Eikon of Fire or if something happened in the first trailer that made him this way, but it seems likely Clive is the dominant of Ifrit. This carries some baggage. As one holy-like character addresses another character off-screen as dangerous and the Final Fantasy 16 Dominance Trailer ends by saying “Awaken, Child of Fate. Awaken Ifrit,” it seems Clive is truly a playable Warrior of Darkness.
This may not be of his choosing, but it’s clear he is seeking revenge. The reason? It is heavily implied that Joshua dies during the battle between Phoenix and Ifrit, meaning Clive may have accidentally killed his brother.
Final Fantasy 16: Clive’s Revenge
Thus, Clive’s revenge comes from a place of self-hatred. It would seem likely that someone MADE him the second Dominant of Fire and/or that it has something to do with Clive’s potential resurrection, and that is who he seeks. At the end of the day, Clive is likely suffering from PTSD from killing his own brother.
If this is the case, then the story needs to tread Clive’s personal and world-changing quest carefully. But it seems he is the dominant of Ifrit, he is a Warrior of Darkness, and his revenge may not save himself, his brother, or his world.
Final Fantasy 16 is in development for PS5.
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