As a longtime Final Fantasy fan and professional esports gamer, I‘ve analyzed the iconic Eikons inside and out. Garuda in Final Fantasy 16 is one of the most unique – a literal god of the raging storm.
Garuda has a towering presence on the battlefield, with wind and lightning answering its call. The winged humanoid channels the tempest to unleash devastating abilities, making this Eikon a force to be reckoned with.
Of its abilities, four, in particular, stand out – each with the potential to decimate foes or turn the tide of battle if mastered. But which should you prioritize learning first?
In this advanced guide, I‘ll be ranking Garuda‘s abilities from a professional gamer‘s perspective. You‘ll discover optimal ability combinations, advanced tips, and how Garuda‘s skills compare to other Eikons.
Evaluating Garuda‘s Abilities
As context, I‘m ranking based on overall power, versatility, and ease-of-use in various situations:
Power: Raw damage & staggering capability
Versatility: Effectiveness against different enemy types
Ease-of-Use: AP learning requirements & skill cap
Additionally, I‘ll speak from firsthand experience using Garuda‘s skills extensively on hardcore difficulty. Let‘s dive in and unleash the wind!
4. Wicked Wheel
Power: ⭐⭐⭐
Versatility: ⭐⭐⭐
Ease-of-Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wicked Wheel launches a multi-hit spinning air attack to damage and juggle groups of enemies.
This ability excels at crowd control and setting up aerial combos. Activating it mid-jump lets you effortlessly chain hits while enemies are airborne.
However, Wicked Wheel lacks in raw damage and struggles against heavier foes. Don‘t expect this ability to take down an Iron Giant quickly.
My Take: Wicked Wheel is a fun, low-commitment ability that fits an acrobatic playstyle. I use it mainly to handle mobs of weak enemies. But the AP costs are steep for what it provides. Prioritize other abilities first before upgrading this.
3. Rook‘s Gambit
Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Versatility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease-of-Use: ⭐⭐
A well-timed dodge counter that deals massive damage if the evasion succeeds.
Rook‘s Gambit is extremely potent – I‘ve one-shot bosses by evading a heavy attack then landing the enhanced counterblow.
But the brief evasion window means precise timing is vital. Expect some frustrating failures while learning. Once mastered though, this ability can bail you out of dangerous situations.
My Take: Rook‘s Gambit is very matchup dependent – extremely effective against hard-hitting enemies and bosses. I don‘t use it much against groups though. But the payoff merits upgrading this after your core abilities.
2. Gouge
Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Versatility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease-of-Use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ferociously shred enemies with twin wind claws, rapidly draining break gauges.
Gouge is easily one of Garuda‘s most versatile abilities – its raw DPS and staggering make it effective against virtually any enemy.
It‘s also incredibly easy to use. Just tear into a target and watch their break gauge melt with each claw strike. Plus, Gouge activates instantly, making it great for weaving into combos.
My Take: As a core part of my loadout, Gouge‘s break-shredding prowess can‘t be overstated. I use it liberally to pressure enemies and create openings for heavy finishers like Deathly Embrace. Upgrade this ASAP.
1. Aerial Blast
Power: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Versatility: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease-of-Use: ⭐⭐⭐
Summons a large roaming tornado that repeatedly hits enemies, draining break gauges fast.
Aerial Blast is hands-down Garuda‘s most powerful ability. Once upgraded, this move can wipe out mobs of enemies effortlessly.
The tornado has a huge area-of-effect, breaks enemies rapidly, and persists for 20+ seconds – letting you unleash other abilities simultaneously.
But it‘s very AP intensive to upgrade. And the tornado moves slowly making it easy for quicker foes to escape. Proper positioning is key.
My Take: As my current showstopper, smart use of Aerial Blast can instantly devastate groups and quickly weaken bosses for killing blows. But it takes investment – prioritize upgrading this first.
Garuda Ability Combinations & Tips
Based on my playstyle, here are some of my favorite Garuda combat combos:
- Aerial Blast on groups → Gouge lone survivors
- Wicked Wheel to juggle → Deathly Embrace finisher
- Rook‘s Gambit evade → Gouge counter blow
- Gouge weaker enemies → save MP for bosses
And some general tips:
- Abilities can be used even at 0 MP but drain max HP instead
- Evade THEN attack to reduce damage taken in larger battles
- Wind magic like Aerora complements Garuda‘s skills
- Upgrade Aerial Blast first – it‘s extremely AP intensive
How Garuda Compares to Other Eikons
| Eikon | Power | Mobility | Party Support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garuda | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Ifrit | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ |
| Shiva | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Titan | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Among her peers, Garuda‘s wind abilities enable unmatched mobility perfect for my acrobatic playstyle. And while lacking strong party support skills, Garuda‘s individual powers are top tier.
Shiva and Titan may edge out in healing or defense buffs. But in terms of disabling and damaging groups of enemies rapidly, none surpass an upgraded Garuda.
Conclusion: Dominate With the Goddess of Storms
Garuda, alongside Ifrit and Shiva stand as FF16‘s offensive powerhouses. Wield the raging storm to crush enemies under deafening winds and blinding strikes of lightning.
Of Garuda‘s varied skills, prioritize upgrading Aerial Blast first for its game-changing area devastation. Next, invest heavily in Gouge for its versatility and break shredding might.
While tricky to master, abilities like Wicked Wheel and Rook‘s Gambit expand your options. Ultimately, Garuda dominates offensively – so customize your build to your playstyle and unleash complete tempestuous destruction!
Let me know what you think of my Garuda ability guide in the comments below! Which combo is your favorite?
