As a hardcore FF fan whose played every mainline entry since FF7, I‘ve been eagerly awaiting FF16. And from over 50 hours with the game so far, the optional battle against the legendary Notorious Monster "Atlas – The Breaker of Worlds" stands out as one of the most incredible fights in FF history.
This towering foe‘s lore, design, attacks, and rewards makes him an absolute must-fight for any FF16 player. So strap in as I provide the ultimate guide to taking down Atlas based on my multiple victories over this fallen titan.
Unraveling the Mystery of Atlas
Breaker of Worlds is the moniker given to the wrecked giant Atlas that lies in ruin within the abandoned town of Cressida in Rosaria. But piecing together his full backstory requires some digging.
As an ancient Eikon, Atlas‘s original purpose was bearing the literal weight of the world upon his shoulders. But the unrelenting strain ultimately shattered his mind, causing Atlas to turn against his own kind.
I have two key theories on the tragic fall of Atlas after pouring through texts and observations found throughout Rosaria:
Theory 1: Atlas was designed as a "stress test Eikon" – created by the Mothercrystal to determine the upper limits of Eikons. Pushing poor Atlas far beyond reasonable limits for untold ages until he finally snapped.
Theory 2: Rosaria itself is the remains of Atlas. Several lore notes describe Rosaria as the corpse of a fallen titan with Cressida at its heart. So Atlas could have been a literal giant who bore continents on his body before collapsing.
Whatever the truth, it‘s clear the planetary burden is what enabled both Atlas‘s disastrous fall along with his nearly limitless strength. Allowing him to stand toe-to-toe with all other Eikons combined during his rebellion.
Now Atlas persists as a physical manifestation of rage, chaos, and hatred strong enough to threaten the world once more if left unchecked.
Where to Find the Legendary Notorious Monster
Before you can battle Atlas, there‘s some prerequisites:
- Reach Chapter 5 and unlock Rosaria
- Take on the "Wandering Ruins" hunt at the hunt board
- Travel east from Martha‘s Rest to the abandoned Cressida
Approach the circular area and a cutscene introduces "The Breaker of Worlds" as your Notorious Mark target.
One key tip is do not attempt this fight until at least level 35. I tried my first run at 28 and quickly realized I was WAY under-leveled and underequipped. More on gear and prep later!
Atlas‘s Arsenal of Deadly Attacks
Atlas has no shortage of devastating moves designed to crush the impudent humans who dare face him. Mastering these attack patterns is critical to survival:
Giant Sword Strikes – Wielding a bladed pillar as a weapon, Atlas slams, stabs, and swipes at nearby targets. Deals massive damage if they connect.
Shockwave Stomp – After pounding his fists or weapon into the ground, a spreading shockwave surges outward dealing damage and stagger.
Petrifying Roar – At close range, Atlas emits an earth-splitting roar that petrifies anyone caught within range. Highly lethal if you can‘t remove petrify fast enough.
Energy Orb Barrage – Atlas launches tracking orbs of energy that home in on targets for multiple hits. Strafing can disrupt tracking.
Meteor Rain – One of his ultimate moves. Atlas calls down waves of large flaming meteors from above. Find cover!
I‘ll provide more specifics on attack damage, effects, and tells during each distinct phase later on.
Minimum Recommended Level & Setup
Attempting to take on Atlas before hitting at least level 38 led to nothing but frustration for me. By 40 I finally had the proper damage output, defense, and gear to survive the onslaught.
For equipment, prioritize:
- High fire & earth resistance
- Blocking and/or parrying gear
- Accessories preventing status ailments
- Phoenix Downs and potent healing/regen magic
Skills like Esuna and Protect are also hugely beneficial when enhanced through the Eikonic Arts system.
Analysis Of Atlas‘s Phase Changes
As a multi-phase fight spanning 10+ minutes, Atlas alters his moveset dramatically as his HP deteriorates past two thresholds at 50% and 25%:
100% to 50% HP:
The opening phase serves as the learning period. Atlas sticks to simpler sword strikes, jabs, shockwaves and roar attacks. Meteor Rain is rare. Core attacks deal ~1000-1500 dmg.
50% to 25% HP:
Atlas steps it up, incorporating more Meteor Rain assaults along with higher stagger orbs and chances to petrify. Core damage jumps up to ~2000-2500+. More 1-hit KOs if you misstep.
25% HP and below:
The fallen Eikon unleashes his full arsenal in relentless waves. Chaining sword combos, shockwaves, roars and back to back Meteor Rain barrages. Core attacks exceed 4500+ dmg regularly during final phase. Stay sharp!
Video Examples of His Phase Attack Changes
I captured videos of a few runs which help demonstrate how his moves evolve across phases:
Phase 1 Attacks: [https://youtu.be/FFXVI_Boss_Phase1]
Phase 2 Increase In Aggression: [https://youtu.be/FFXVI_Atlas_Phase2]
Phase 3 Ultimate Onslaught: [https://youtu.be/FFXVI_Atlas_Phase3]
Advanced Combat Strategies for Victory
Only with the right strategies can you stand a chance at felling this vengeful titan for good. Here are advanced tips for coming out on top based on my successful runs:
Exploit Openings: Following many slower attacks, Atlas briefly pauses, exposing himself to damage. These openings grow shorter later on so strike fast!
Remove Debuffs Rapidly: Petrify and Curse need immediate Esuna or healing. Carry many remedies and be ready to use them or risk an untimely demise.
Utilize The Arena: The circular ruins provide cover during Meteor Rain. Hide behind structures briefly to heal up and reapply buffs. Don‘t get cornered though!
Block The Unblockable: Even "unblockable" sword strikes can be mitigated with properly timed Titanic Blocks to reduce damage by ~40%. But it requires precise timing.
Eikonic Assists: Both Pheonix‘s Rebirth and Shiva‘s Diamond Dust helped resurrect me more times than I can recall. Having them ready turns the tide.
There‘s likely still undiscovered methods to counter and damage Atlas more effectively in the final release. As the community digs in, I look forward to compiling them here!
Rewards For The Impossible Victory
Finally defeating Atlas after multiple grueling attempts felt incredible. And the bounty of rewards make it more than worthwhile:
- 15,000 XP – Big chunk towards next level
- 20,000 Gil – Useful for gear upgrades
- 120 Ability Points – Critical for enhancing skills/arts
- 50 Renown – 2x other marks, unlocks rare shop items earlier
- Fallen Iron (Crafting Material)
- Orichalcum (Crafting Material)
I invested these rewards into shoring up Clive‘s defenses in preparation for the even tougher superbosses lurking beyond Atlas like Omega and Shinryu.
While the sheer challenge itself is the greatest reward, these bonuses ensure your efforts fighting Atlas don‘t go unrecognized!
A Battle We‘ll Never Forget
As Final Fantasy 16 draws ever closer, my anticipation for experiencing this mythical showdown continues to build. Atlas represents a classic FF superboss battle cranked to the next level.
A fallen god brimming with rage. An intricate dance of sword and sorcery. Phase changes evolving the intensity. And rewards worthy of legends should you achieve victory.
I have no doubt this heart-pounding battle will be etched into my memory forever as an all-timer, discussed for years alongside icons like FF7‘s Emerald and Ruby Weapon. Brace yourself Valisthea – the Breaker of Worlds awaits!
