~ Spoiler Warning: Minors spoilers involving who is and isn’t a Dominant. ~While playingFinal Fantasy 16, you will come across 8 different Dominants. Dominants are people who have been blessed to host Eikons, some extremely powerful beings that are the most powerful in the world.
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While meeting these 8 Dominants, Clive will learn quickly that most of them have their own agenda that revolves around themselves rather than others. You might be wondering which Dominants are the best in terms of power and their character; well, here’s the answer.
Updated by Erin Rice on July 07, 2025:The longer Final Fantasy 16 is out, the more information players gain about the many characters that live in the world. This update includes some small details about the Dominants as well as in-text links to help players.
8Benedikta
Benediktais the first Dominant whose Eikon you will have to fight. She isGaruda’sDominant, the Warden of the Wind. Benedikta was once Cid’s friend, but now, the two are sworn enemies. The road that Benedikta chose led her far from Cid’s path. She now spends her time in the company of Barnabas, another Dominant. Her job as one of Waloed’s Elite Intelligencers gives her this opportunity.
She was sent on a mission to find the second Eikon of Fire when she and Clive first crossed paths. Benedikta does capture an Eikon of Fire, unfortunately for her, it was the wrong one. She is an extremely strong Dominant and can channel Garuda in order to grow wings. Garuda’s powers of wind are also pretty powerful. Her downfall is that she cannot keep her emotions in balance.
Hugo is a Dominant that you’ll see early on in cutscenes, but won’t actually meet until later into the game. He is the Dominant of the Eikon Titan, Warden of Earth. Titan’s skills focus mainly on earthen effects. He is the Permanent Economic Adviser of the Dhalmekian Republic. He is another character that spends a bit of time with Benedikta, especially in the past. While Benedikta was ordered to spend time with him, he was in love with her.
Hugo was originally a nobody in the Dhalmekian Republic, a nameless foot soldier in their large army. However, when he awoke as the Dominant of Titan, he was thrust into a world of politics. It was there he met Benedikta and began to want more than just power. He is another Dominant that is extremely powerful, but just like Benedikta, he cannot keep his emotions under control. His death comes due to his hatred of Cid.
Dion is the next Dominant on the list. He is the Dominant of Bahamut, the King of the Dragons, and the Warden of Light. His Eikon is a giant dragon and is probably one of the coolest designs for an Eikon. Dion is another Dominant you will see early in cutscenes but will not actually meet until much later. His powers rival those of any other Eikon in the game, and he is a tough opponent for Clive.
He is the son of the king of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque. He is also the leader of their fiercest army of knights in the empire. His ability to turn into a dragon and use some amazing skills makes him a pretty great Dominant. Interestingly, toward the end of the game, Clive and Dion team up to stop the corrupt Barnabas and Ultima. Together, Dion, Clive, and Joshua are able to stop them and save Valisthea.
Jill is arguablyone of the best charactersin the game. She is the Dominant of Shiva, Warden of Ice. Jill was born in the Northern Territories, however, when these fell, she became a ward of Rosaria. The Archduke allowed her to grow up alongside his kids, Clive and Joshua. She became their best friend, and one of the few people Clive can truly trust in the corrupt world of Valisthea. She is one of the good characters.
Jill was taken from Rosaria after the events at Phoenix Gate. The unspeakable horrors she saw and experienced caused her to awaken as Shiva’s Dominant. When she meets Clive again, she is forced to fight in the war. Upon freeing her, the two reconnect, and she begins to help Clive save Valisthea and the Bearers. Her desire to always see the good and help people put her above others on the list. However, her Eikon isn’t as powerful as some of the others Clive will run into.
Cid is one of the first Dominants that Clive meets in the present day. When they first meet, Cid is working with his friend Goetz to find Jill and save her from her life of slavery. At first, Clive is reluctant to allow Cid to take Jill, but he has no choice. As he follows Cid, he soon learns that Cid has a hideout and works to save all Bearers and any Dominants who aren’t able to live and die on their own terms.
RELATED:Final Fantasy 16: Best Easter Eggs, RankedAfter some time, Clive learns that Cid is actually the Dominant of Ramuh, the Warden of Thunder. Cid’s Eikon is an extremely powerful Eikon that does a lot of lightning damage to those around it. Cid’s desire to make the world a better place where Dominants and Bearers can be their own people makes him one of the best Dominants. Ramuh is extremely powerful, but he’s not the most powerful on the list.
Barnabas is one of the last Dominants you will meet in the game. However, you will see him in quite a few cutscenes early on and will be accustomed to him before meeting him. He is the Dominant of Odin, Warden of Darkness. This is another pretty cool Eikon design. He is a large god-like figure that rides atop a six-legged steed. He has one of the most powerful Eikons in the game.
Barnabas is the king of Waloed, a kingdom he has able to overtake using his sheer ability to battle. He was close to Benedikta before her death as she was one of his most important allies. While Barnabas has an extremely powerful Eikon and Clive can use the Eikon for some amazing skills, he isn’t as good as the final two Eikons. His devotion to Ultima also puts him lower on the list.
Joshua is the younger brother of Clive and the Dominant of the Phoenix, Warden of Fire. Believing he had died at Phoenix Gate, Joshua’s death is what drove Clive to stay alive during his difficult life. However, at Drake’s Breath, Clive learns that Joshua is very much alive and well. He does everything he can to keep Ultima from harming his brother during the battle.
Joshua’s sheer strength is amazing. The way he is able to keep Clive and Jill safe during Drake’s Breath shows how powerful he is. While his motives are unknown until the end, it is obvious that he wants to keep his brother safe no matter what. His Eikon may be the most powerful in the game. He is also a well-developed character in the game.
Clive is the best Dominant in the game. To begin with, it seems that Clive is just a Bearer and is assigned as his brother’s Shield. However, once he heads to Phoenix Gate with his father and brother, he awakens as the secondEikon of Fire, Ifrit. Interestingly, Clive doesn’t even realize he is Dominant until the present day. Once he finds out, it takes him some time to come to terms with it.
What makes Clive the best Dominant is the power he possesses. As you progress, you will obtain the power of the other Dominants, gaining the Eikon powers they have. This makes Clive unstoppable, and the most powerful Dominant by far. None of the others can even compete with Ifrit. His power coupled with the fact that he is so willing to sacrifice himself for the good of humanity makes him the best Dominant.
