The rarest of metals glimpsed by few. Darksteel – a mystical material infusion with unparalleled strength and magical essence. Those fortunate enough to claim a piece of this night-kissed steel can shape it into feared weapons that channel this dark energy into staggeringly powerful blows.
I am one of those lucky few who now grasp a sliver of Darksteel in my hands. Legends speak of forging a greatsword called Gotterdammerung from this metal – a blade said to herald the very end of days with its apocalyptic fury. What secrets unlock this weapon‘s fantastic potential? Join me in unraveling the origins of Darksteel itself – the key not only to Gotterdammerung‘s shear devastation but its mythic lore.
Analyzing Darksteel: Properties of a Legend
Darksteel‘s scarcity across the realms already imbues this metal with an air of majesty. But the qualities giving this material its infamous reputation reveal even deeper secrets.
According to expert metallurgists in the city of Archambault, Darksteel possesses a unique composition making it far denser and durable than traditional steel:
"Our analyses revealed trace amounts of long-decayed Astral energies bound to the metal itself. It seems Darksteel formed originally from a meteor of the Astral plane that landed in a blast furnace. That would explain the metal‘s paradoxical lightness yet impenetrable durability when forged."
This fusion with cosmic magics gifts Darksteel with a charcoal black gleam and enduring razor-sharpness when formed into blades. In fact, master blacksmith Besithia claims no other metal holds an edge better than Darksteel:
"I once forged a pair of Darksteel knives that retain their piercing points even after dismantling fifty armored soldiers! No matter how many bones it slices or armor it shears, that devilish edge never dulls."
Such praise comes as no surprise from the man who helped construct the legendary airships of ancient Ivalice. Clearly harnessing Darksteel weapons can grant even a common soldier tremendous feats.
The preternatural fusion with Astral magic grants Darksteel its signature dark gleam and magical essence (Source: SquareEnix)
But what limits can be achieved wielding this metal as a hulking greatsword? Let‘s uncover the staggering capabilities granted by gathering enough Darksteel to forge Gotterdammerung itself.
Thanatos and the Prince of Death – Keepers of Darksteel
Before collecting Darksteel straight from source, one fact bears repeating given this scarce resource: no merchant or trader deals in Darksteel. None would dare rob the feared fiends who yet horde minuscule Darksteel stockpiles.
I speak of course of Thanatos, Usher to the Underworld and the Prince of Death – two deified beings not known for freely bequeathing their assets…
These notorious level 40+ Marks appear as imposing armored warriors, wielding massive Darksteel greataxes capable of felling lesser men in a single swing. And their otherworldly vitality enables them to brawl eternally without tiring.
To even glimpse their guarded troves of Darksteel, one must topple these deathless demigods in square combat.
While many brave warriors fell attempting to smite Thanatos and his ghoulish prince, the observant can discern cracks in even demonic armor…
"Pierce their breastplates at just the right angle, and Thanatos and his princeling grow as vulnerable as any man. A precise onslaught upon those breaks allows my survival where countless others perished!" ~ Barrigan the Bold, mercenary
Now the pathclair to snatching Darksteel unveils itself! Once adequately prepared through further magical and martial training, I shall guide brave souls in conquering these formidable Marks without sharing our bold Barrigan‘s fate…
The deathless Thanatos grips Darksteel as tightly as he clings to (un)life itself (Source: SquareEnix)
Crafting the Apocalypse: Forging Gotterdammerung
At long last, with Thanatos and his fellow fiend felled, I claimed two invaluable Darksteel ingots among their enchanted arms and armor. Further mystical reagents gathered from my adventures allowed me to approach the mythical blacksmith Besithia. Ancient texts named him the only craftsman capable of transforming Darksteel into the fabled Desolation Blade – Gotterdammerung.
Besithia further elevated this weapon‘s infamous legacy by channeling his own elaborate metal-and-magic fusion process into the sword‘s forging. Subjecting the crystalline Darksteel to three hellacious days of magical bombardment within his blazing furnace, Besithia melted away impurities until naught but an obsidian liquid metal of utmost purity remained.
Carefully pouring this sorcerous solution into a crucible of consecrated mythril, the reaction produced enough raw power to sunder lesser blades. Yet Besithia expertly channeled this energy into a molded greatsword form filled with flowing curse sigils and datatreams of combat algorithms. He then subjected this techno-arcane alloy to yet another week-long ritual of relentless hammering, folding, and sharpening techniques derived from 12 schools of weaponsmithing.
Finally, this ordeal gave rise to a completed 160 cm hand-and-a-half sword of peerless construction. Its thrumming low Ebony chord seemed to signal nothing less than the death knell of all creation…this could only be Gotterdammerung fully manifested!
Gotterdammerung taking form within Besithia‘s deific forge (Source: SquareEnix)
One final ritual remained – awakening the blade‘s sheer ruinous capabilities. Only by baptizing Gotterdammerung in a mighty foe‘s lifeblood could its sinistral majesty fully actualize…
Gotterdammerung‘s Apocalyptic Fury Realized
The ravenous Hydra of Behemat presented the perfect crucible through which to unleash Gotterdammerung‘s cataclysmic powers. This feral mutated creature possessed a level well above my own and the fortitude to endure grueling amounts of punishment – enough to awaken Gotterdammerung‘s rage.
Drawing the freshly forged Gotterdammerung, my Steel Obelisk Eikon Mizuti immediately resonated with the weapon‘s Darksteel composition. I unleashed Mizuti to pierce the Hydra‘s hide with iron spikes while parrying incoming attacks back with the flat of my blade. Mizuti‘s brutal shredding soon filled the Hydra‘s stagger meter.
Now to fully unsheathe Gotterdammerung‘s destructive potential. Using Active Time Combat, I commanded Clive to pour all his speed into one colossal Smite attack straight through our shredded foe.
Pure. Destruction.
A visible shockwave erupted from Gotterdammerung passing right through the Hydra‘s core. Jagged black energy ripped wider and wider until the Hydra‘s entire midsection exploded into fleshy shrapnel. An bewildering 83,452 damage in one elegant stroke!
Mere moments later, another Smite cleaved clean through a remaining head for 73,491 more damage. I continued pressing the assault, determined to push Gotterdammerung‘s limits ever higher. Several more liquid smooth combos flowed from training‘s instinct – collapsing the Hydra‘s remaining heads under critical wounds.
Soon Gotterdammerung had more than tripled its initial destructive unveiling. And our foe resembled little more than a pulpy mess of its former glory. This gruesome display of power, while difficult to fully stomach, represented Gotterdammerung in its fully-realized form. Truly this was Ragnarok‘s kin used to slaughter gods themselves.
Gotterdammerung‘s staggering critical hits lay waste to even demigods like the Hydra (Source: SquareEnix)
While horrifying to some, witnessing the lethal beauty inherit to Gotterdammerung‘s fluid combat dance and silencing blows holds an undeniable thrill for the battle-hardened. Now begins the true adventure unlocking this apocalyptic blade‘s potential across the realms!
Conclusion: A Weapon to Topple Gods
And so concludes the legendary journey to acquiring and unleashing Darksteel‘s might in physical form through Gotterdammerung. The Critically Acclaimed Reviews demonstrate that this Mythic Weapon expands the possibilities of Final Fantasy 16‘s Combat System insurmountably. Veterans and novice fans alike agree Gotterdammerung marks the pinnacle Weapon to collect before New Game+.
Yet equipment ranks among the shallowest facets defining heroes. True courage, compassion, and conviction reside within the character themselves. So while wielding Gotterdammerung can grant even commoners great strength on occasion, the qualities making Clive a savior see him through adversity far beyond any mere metal.
Nonetheless, we warrior scholars constantly seek meaning and advancement through the tools which fuel our trades. I shall continue honing body and blade until Gotterdammerung seems but a steel whisper cutting swaths across the realm. The true quest to master this weapon‘s apocalyptic powers has just begun…
Onward unto glory!
