Summons have never been given this much time in the spotlight as they do in Final Fantasy XVI, and their being attached to some of the best FF characters is just the cherry on top. If you’re curious to see who these Dominants are, what Eikons they channel, and how much of an impression they left the team, this is the article for you.
Every Dominant in FF16 from worst to best
Warning: Post-Crystalline Dominion spoilers ahoy. Turn back now while you still have the chance!
8. Benedikta, Dominant of Garuda
Say it with me: Benedikta was a waste. While I know that not everyone gets redemption or a happy ending, Benedikta truly didn’t deserve much of what happened to her. Her purpose was “survival,” and working for Barnabas was the only path that she saw which led to it. Benedikta didn’t have to be an ally, but she didn’t deserve her fate. Most importantly, she didn’t deserve how she met her fate—in the most disgraceful way possible, a remnant of her roots as a Branded.
I would have accepted her despite her flaws, but what truly irks me is the fact that Cid never truly gave up on her. He was there, always with an open palm, to give her a chance to carve her own path. But she never took his hand.
7. Kupka, Dominant of Titan
Kupka was a man who was down bad—and who could blame him? While we don’t exactly have a full picture of this man’s history, it really seemed like Benedikta was the only woman who showed him any affection. I may love vulnerability in my men (see my #1), but not when that vulnerability becomes their Achilles heel. Kupka would have ruled over his dominion for decades if he wasn’t blindsided by love, but I suppose that’s what loneliness does to a person.
6. Dion, Dominant of Bahamut
I loved Dion before the events of Crystalline Dominion, back when he was level-headed enough to make good decisions. Watching Dion’s story unfold after this is...painful. He charges into things without the intent to return. That’s not bravery; that’s recklessness. It’s admirable of him to want to atone for all that he’s done, but he constantly forgets that there are people waiting for him to return. If he truly wanted to atone, he would have been in Northreach with his people.
You really can’t blame him, though—there were a lot of third-party entities at play in that throne room. Dion, I suppose, was also not built to be a character that “listens” to other people because he never had to. As a prince, he was always the one being listened to. Thus, he doesn’t know how to listen. It’s an extremely frustrating part of his character.
5. Jill, Dominant of Shiva
I love Jill. She’s sweet, strong, and willing to step up when the situation calls for it. However, when compared to the other Dominants on this list, she’s not who I’d immediately take as my favorite. After her epic moment against the leader of the Ironbloods, the game kind of snubbed her to focus more on Clive and Joshua. In fact, my biggest gripe about her lies with the events just before the fight with Ultima, when she is given the same treatment as Torgal (if you know, then you know).
Jill just had so much potential to be placed higher on this list, but unless we get a DLC that can give her more spotlight, she stays as my number five.
4. Barnabas, Dominant of Odin
I initially considered putting Barnabas below Jill, but the game did make an effort to complete his character (de)growth, enough that I was compelled to rank him higher. Barnabas was a king who fought for what he believed was best for the world. He didn’t concede to the ideals of his enemies until the very end, which I find admirable. There is no redemption at the end of Barnabas’ story, only the sight of someone suffering the consequences of his actions. And for all his faults, Barnabas did show “will,” as Clive pointed out, which made the untouchable king feel entirely human.
3. Joshua, Dominant of Phoenix
Joshua’s endearing, so consider this entry my most biased one. He made a lot of terrible decisions I couldn’t fathom the reasoning behind (like not telling Clive he was alive for five years), but he’s a Rosfield. And I find all Rosfields cute, charming, and lovable.
Joshua is shown to be someone who doesn’t just love his family but also knows how to carry out his duties, which I find admirable. I especially love that he never had that annoying stubbornness most games give their teenage character. He’s stubborn, but he is never blinded by the fact that he can do things alone. He concedes when it’s absolutely necessary and listens when people speak.
2. Cid, Dominant of Ramuh
Cid Telamon was one of the most memorable Cids I’ve met. He’s funny and smart. But more importantly: he was integral to the plot—something that certain mainline titles before XVI have forgotten to do. Final Fantasy 16 was able to tell such a rich and long history about Cid despite him not being there for most of the game. When Clive gets compared to Cid a lot, you can absolutely feel the way people talk about him. Sometimes, it felt that he would have been a pretty damn good Final Fantasy protagonist if his name wasn’t Cid.
1. Clive, Dominant of Ifrit
You knew this was coming. There is no other Dominant I want in my number-one spot except for Clive. Clive is, in a sense, just like Joshua. He knows how to listen and backs off when he knows he can’t do it alone. For that alone, he gets a ton of plus points from me. I hate it when protagonists think they’re invincible.
I also love how Clive values his connections. He never does anything to worry people (for the most part), and when he does, he makes sure that they’re aware. He cares about family and treats everyone like family. Despite all the hardships that he endured in the Empire, he never lost that Rosfield brand of kindness. When he needs help, he doesn’t push people away. This vulnerability made Clive such a good character, one that made sound decisions and loved people equally.
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Bianca Versoza is Pro Game Guides' Weekend Editor. With over three years of experience in gaming journalism, she specializes in anything remotely turn-based and strategic, like Pokémon, Valkyria, and Honkai: Star Rail. Bianca is a huge fan of Square Enix, RPGs, party games, and visual novels, but will play anything with a banger OST. She's a proud early bird.