Final Fantasy XVI will have two different difficulty options available, which players can choose from at launch. There are indeed two different options you can choose from in the game, which may be confusing to players who don’t know about the difficulty.
Here’s everything you need to know about which difficulty you should choose in Final Fantasy XVI, as well as how each one differs.
Story-Focused vs. Action-Focused: Which Should You Choose in FF16?
There are two different difficulty modes you can choose in FFXVI. The first is Story-Focused, which allows you to focus on the story and make combat easier with the use of Timely Accessories (more on that later). The second option is Action-Focused, which is the “standard” difficulty of the game. This does not give you the accessories and allows you to experience the game as the developers intended.
We think the best difficulty in Final Fantasy XVI to choose from is Action-Focused. This does not make the combat easier and is generally for anyone who wants to experience the action thrills XVI has to offer. If you don’t want anything to do with combat and would rather just experience the story as quickly as possible, we recommend choosing the Story-Focused difficulty option.
What Are the Timely Accessories?
As aforementioned, the Story-Focused mode allows you to get access to Timely Accessories. This makes combat much easier, as most of the mechanics are done automatically. This takes the fun and experimentation away that you’ll find in Action-Focused mode, but you will be able to conquer enemies in Valisthea much quicker as a trade-off.
This completely changes how the game plays. You can check out each of the Timely Accessories and what they enable you to do below:
| Accessory | Description |
| Ring of Timely Strikes | When equipped, complex ability combinations can be executed by simply pressing ‘Square’. |
| Ring of Timely Evasion | When equipped, Clive will automatically evade attacks, as long as the attack can be evaded. |
| Ring of Timely Focus | When equipped, time slows before an evadable enemy attack strikes Clive. No effect when equipped with the ring of timely evasion. |
| Ring of Timely Healing | When equipped, Clive will automatically use a potion when his HP falls below a certain point. Potions will be used before high potions. |
| Ring of Timely Assistance | When equipped, pet commands are executed automatically and Torgal’s actions will adapt to Clive’s. The Ring of Timely Assistance’s effects are included in the Ring of Timely Strikes. |
How to Change Difficulty in Final Fantasy XVI
Luckily, you are able to change difficulty modes whenever you’d like in your playthrough! If you’re really having trouble on a certain fight, switching over to Story-Focused mode can allow you to gain access to the Timely Accessories. Be aware that if you switch over though, the accessories will remain in Clive’s inventory for the remainder of the game. This doesn’t mean they have to be used, but they will be there.
Changing difficulty in Final Fantasy XVI can be done by following the below steps:
- Open the Main Menu of the game and tab over to the System tab
- Tab over once within the System tab to get to Game Settings
- In the Game Settings menu, you’ll see an option for ‘Gameplay’. Switch it to your desired mode.
Once you beat the game, you will gain access to New Game Plus. Here, new difficulty options will be available for you to choose from.
A brand new free Final Fantasy XVI demo is available to play now! This demo allows players to play through two sections, the Prologue of FFXVI and the Eikonic Challenge. You’ll be able to get a taste of the game’s story, world, and combat with this demo. If you’re on the fence about purchasing the game, this is a great way to get a taste of the world of Valisthea and the combat it offers. You can learn all about the demo by checking out the posts below.
- Final Fantasy XVI: Demo Impressions
- Final Fantasy XVI: How to Play the Demo
- Final Fantasy XVI: How Long Is the Demo?
- Final Fantasy XVI Demo: All Performance Options Compared
Final Fantasy XVI is set to launch on June 22, 2023, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
Check out all of Final Weapon’s Final Fantasy XVI coverage in our Compendium, available right here!
