As a lifelong Final Fantasy fan and expert player, I‘ve eagerly anticipated Odin‘s debut in the latest installment of the series. This Norse god of death is one of the most iconic recurring summons, bringing his sinister yet satisfying abilities to every battle.
In Final Fantasy 16, Odin appears as a dark Eikon unleashed by the warrior Barnabas Tharmr. After besting Tharmr in an epic showdown during the main story quest "The Last King", Odin‘s powers become available for the hero Clive to wield.
In this expert guide, I‘ll breakdown everything you need to know to unlock Odin and master his unique skills. You‘ll learn about optimizing his deadly combos, unleashing his ultimate Zantetsuken finisher, and testing your limits against his merciless Chronolith trial.
Let‘s get started!
Who is Odin?
Before jumping into Odin‘s new abilities in FF16, let‘s briefly recap his history across the Final Fantasy series. Often appearing as an optional late-game summon, this mysterious knight has struck fear into enemies for over 30 years.
Debut: Final Fantasy III
Signature Attack: Zantetsuken
Main Appearances: Final Fantasy III, IV, VII, VIII, IX, XIII
Across his many incarnations, Odin‘s core features remain:
- A dark warrior astride a six-legged horse
- Wielding his mighty sword Zantetsuken – Usually to instant-kill enemies
- Dealing non-elemental damage – Making him universally effective
- Testing player skill with difficult unlock conditions
This sums up Odin‘s iconography over the past three decades. So what twists does he bring to the table this time? Let‘s find out!
Unlocking the God of Death
As mentioned earlier, Odin becomes available during the main story quest called "The Last King" in Chapter 3.
To unlock him, follow these steps:
- Complete the "Footfalls of Ash" quest
- Fast travel to Reverie
- Initiate "The Last King" quest
- Battle Odin‘s Dominant Barnabas Tharmr
- Emerge victorious to harness Odin‘s power!
Once unlocked, Odin‘s full arsenal of skills will appear in your Abilities menu ready to be equipped.
Now let‘s examine each of deadly powers…
Odin‘s Complete Ability List
One key difference this time is Odin‘s abilities follow the dark elemental affinity rather than non-elemental attacks. Take advantage of his sinister skills with these breakdowns:
Rift Slip (100 AP to Learn)
- Effect: Escape from any ability or action
- Use to safely dodge enemy attacks
Dancing Steel (450 AP to Learn)
- Attack: 12
- Stagger: 30
- Unleash swift dual blade strikes
- Rapidly builds Zantetsuken gauge
Heaven‘s Cloud (575 AP to Learn)
- Attack: 12
- Dash quickly up to 3 times slashing foes
- Also fills special move gauge
Gungnir (625 AP to Learn)
- Attack: 12
- Perform lethal combo with Odin‘s legendary spear
- Exe. extended flurries while building gauge
Arm of Darkness (5000 AP to Master)
- Attack: 5
- Stagger: 50
- Replace weapon with Odin‘s blade
- Unleash ultimate attack Zantetsuken!
So in summary, you have an quick evasive skill, three hard-hitting combos, and a special weapon upgrade to climax with Zantetsuken.
Now let‘s optimize using these powers in battle…
Mastering Odin‘s Abilities
Despite unlocking the Eikon, Clive cannot directly transform into Odin since he is Ifrit‘s Dominant. However, equipping these dark skills still makes you a dangerous force!
Here are some key ability tips I‘ve discovered through my extensive gameplay:
Openers
- Lead with Dancing Steel or Gungnir for early gauge buildup
- Dash in quickly with Heaven‘s Cloud to start pressure
- Use Rift Slip preemptively if expecting a boss attack
Combos
- Alternate Dancing Steel and Heaven‘s Cloud to vary timing
- Use Gungnir when both abilities are on cooldown
- Master parry timing to counterattack safely
Finishers
- Activate Arm of Darkness once gauge maxes out
- Unleash Zantetsuken! Massive dark damage
- With practice, instantly kill bosses under 20% health
Defensive Play
- Employ Rift Slip to safely evade attacks
- Learn enemy patterns to determine best dodging moments
- Save special gauge instead of risky combo chains
Practice these key ability sets to wield Odin like a seasoned veteran. Now let‘s see how he compares…
Odin Compared to Other Eikons
A common question – how does Odin stack up against the other Primals you can unlock?
While not as brute force as Titan or Garuda, Odin brings a surgical, combo-based playstyle fitting his title as the God of Death. Precise, lethal, visually stunning – hijack Clive with Odin‘s skills to feel like a whirlwind reaper, mercilessly cutting down foes before they even realize their doom.
Some key strengths:
Mobility – Heaven‘s Cloud and Rift Slip grant high mobility
Combos – Gungnir and Dancing Steel enable swift, punishing chains
Finisher – Instant-kill potential on bosses with Arm + Zantetsuken
Conversely, Odin lacks wide-range attacks making him less suitable against large mobs. But against single targets or 1v1 boss matches? None can match the God of Death‘s clinical precision.
Now let‘s dive even deeper…
Advanced Tips for Mastering Odin
After unlocking Odin‘s abilities, I‘ve uncovered additional advanced tactics to truly master his combat potential:
- Extend Heaven‘s Cloud dash into Dancing Steel for fluid chains
- Alternate Gungnir and Dancing Steel against resistant foes
- Use Rift Slip mid-combo to avoid attacks without losing gauge
- While gauging patterns, use Heaven‘s Cloud to safely build meter
- Max out Arm of Darkness first for earliest Zantetsuken access
- After Zantetsuken, use window to unleash your strongest attack chain or spell
Learn to flow between his abilities for nonstop assaults. Dance around the enemy using Rift Slip to attack safely and build relentless pressure.
Think like the God of Death – precise, lethal, and merciless. Extend your combos with Odin to terrorize any foe who stands before you!
But simply reading about mastering Odin is one thing. To truly prove your worth, you must conquer his ultimate challenge…
Facing the God of Death: Odin‘s Chronolith Trial
Once you‘ve honed Odin‘s abilities, test your skills against the "Hand of Enceladus" – his intense Chronolith battle located in southwest Vidargraes.
This multi-stage crucible pits you against waves of enemies with Odin‘s abilities alone. You must defeat them quickly before the next wave spawns, all while racing against a tight clock.
Here are some key tips I‘ve gleaned from completing this relentless trial:
Early Waves
- Prioritize building special meter quickly
- Dispatch weaker enemies with Heaven‘s Cloud
- Use Rift Slip to avoid boss attacks only
Mid Waves
- Concentrate on mastering extended ability chains
- Safely build gauge with Gungnir and Heaven‘s Cloud
- Prepare to unleash Arm + Zantetsuken finishers
Final Waves
- Unload Zantetsuken the moment it‘s available
- Follow up with strongest magic attacks in the window
- Use Arm‘s transformation buff to enhance all damage
- Everything must die in seconds – leave no enemy standing!
Completing Odin‘s Chronolith trial truly tests your skill with Action RPG combat. But apply my advanced tips above while effortlessly chaining his abilities to carve a path through the hordes. Stay light on your feet, eliminate the threats quickly, and establish your reputation as the true God of Death!
In Conclusion: Fear the Reaper Himself
And there you have it – the ultimate guide to unlocking Odin and mastering his Eikon abilities. Here are the critical takeways:
- Acquire Odin midway through the main story questline
- Specialize in swift, lethal ability combinations
- Master advanced combos like Heaven‘s Cloud into Dancing Steel
- Max out abilities starting with Arm for early Zantetsuken
- Complete his intense Chronolith trial using expert strategies
I hope my decades of Final Fantasy expertise have helped prepare you to wield Odin‘s might. Use these tips to dance between enemies as the Embodiment of Death itself – they won‘t know what sliced them until it‘s far too late!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about dominating with Odin‘s powers. And be sure to check out my other FF16 job guides below:
FF16: Mastering the Devastating Red Mage Build
Dominate Bosses with the Paladin Tank Class
FF16‘s Top Magic Spells and Ultimate Attacks
Go forth, young warrior – make Odin proud and demonstrate what makes you worthy of harnessing his iconic abilities. The God of Death watches…
