Welcome to the FF XVI: The Rising Tide trophies guide and tips covering the 13 trophies in the second expansion.
Refer to the Final Fantasy XVI Trophies Guide for a detailed walkthrough of the trophies in the base game. FF XVI: Echoes of the Fallen Trophies Guide covers the first expansion.
Unlocking the Expansion Quest
When you first launch Final Fantasy XVI after installing the The Rising Tide DLC, the game will inform you that you need to complete Where There’s a Will and Priceless to access the content. Unfortunately, there are additional prerequisite steps that they fail to mention. Refer to the FF XVI: How to Unlock the DLC Quests for a step-by-step guide to help you quickly access both DLC packs if you did not complete all the side quests on your final playthrough.
Game Stats
- Difficulty: 7.5/10
- Time to Completion: 6-10 hours (add another 1-1.5 hours if you need to finish the prerequisite quests)
- Does Difficulty Affect Achievements/Trophies?: Yes. Thou Breakest the Head must be earned in Final Fantasy mode.
- Missable Achievements/Trophies: No. You can replay missions to collect anything you missed with Stage Replay on the Arete Stone in the Hideout.
General Tips
- Play the expansion on Final Fantasy mode/difficulty if you’re aiming to get all trophies. It’s recommended that you be at least level 90 before starting The Rising Tide.
- Use the cheat rings to make the game significantly easier, especially in Final Fantasy difficulty.
- Feel free to experiment with different builds. You can refund ability points by holding Square.
- Focus on using the new Leviathan abilities until you unlock both Eikon trophies.
- Try to complete the Bird of Passage side quest after acquiring Leviathan’s abilities to summon your chocobo in the DLC area.
- Completing the What Ails You side quest will unlock the ability to track rare crafting materials in the DLC.
Links
- FF XVI: How to Unlock the DLC Quests
- FF XVI: Echoes of the Fallen DLC Guide
- Story Trophies
- Eikon Trophies
- Quest Trophies
Story Trophies
The Calm
5G – Find again what was lost.
Automatic story trophy. This will unlock after reading the unmarked missive in Clive’s Chambers and watching the cutscene that begins the DLC quest, The Rising Tide.
Homecoming
5G – Enter Mysidia.
Automatic story trophy. This will unlock after crossing the bay and reaching The Lost Cloak obelisk on your way to Shula’s village.
Flow
5G – Awaken the storm.
Automatic story trophy. This will unlock after acquiring Leviathan’s power and defeating Perykos with water abilities.
Flood
5G – Restore the flow of time.
Automatic story trophy. This will unlock after defeating the Timekeeper and watching the cutscene that follows.
Thou Breakest the Head
5G – Defeat Leviathan in "Final Fantasy" mode.
Don’t start heading toward the top of the mountain to restart time until you are at least level 95. Once you reach the point where time starts, you will get locked into the battle with Leviathan. If you are under level 95, it will be exceptionally difficult to defeat the boss without having a perfect run during a timed phase. The QTE’s will not give button prompts, but the screen will flash with 1 of 3 colors: red for R1 to dodge, yellow to spam Square for cinematic clashes, and blue for pressing Square once to attack.
By far, the most difficult phase of the fight is the DPS check when Leviathan prepares to release the Tsunami while hiding inside a shield. Open this phase by using Spitflare (R2+Triangle) to attack from a distance. Close the gap by holding Circle to dash across the arena while avoiding projectiles. Once you get close enough, hold R2+Square to charge up and unleash Brimstone. Continue damaging with Square and Triangle to build up combos. When you see projectiles form, be ready to dodge. Use both abilities when their cooldowns are up. You will get pushed back 2 times during the 2 minute fight. If you can make it past this phase, the rest is doable.
Explain That
5G – Tamed the tides.
Automatic story trophy. This will unlock after defeating Leviathan and returning to Haven village at the end of The Rising Tide quest.
Eikon Trophies
Tideslinger
5G – Land 300 Tidal attacks combined (excluding battles in the Hall of Virtue).
Shortly after leaving Haven village, you will acquire a portion of the Eikon Leviathan’s essence. Press Circle when Leviathan is active to change your left arm with Serpent’s Cry. Then, use Square and Triangle to attack enemies with the Tidal attacks. Continue using Tidal attacks throughout the DLC and the trophy will unlock after 300 hits. This trophy should unlock quickly once you start using Serpent’s Cry.
Supersoaker
5G – Strike three or more enemies with Tidal attacks while using unlimited ammunition following a Quick Refill.
Activate Serpent’s Cry by pressing Circle when Leviathan is active. Press Circle to refill the Tidal Gauge (does not need to be empty). As the thin outer ring overlaps the thick central ring onscreen, press Circle again to earn unlimited ammunition for a few seconds.
During that time, hit and kill at least 3 enemies with the Tidal attacks available (Square/Triangle). Spamming Tidal Stream (Triangle) works great if the weak enemies are near each other. This is best done against a group of weaker enemies when you don’t have AI companions with you. The Leviathan chronolith trials are an ideal place for earning this trophy. See Still Breathing below for details.
Refer to the FF XVI Supersoaker Trophy Guide for additional details.
Deus Ex
5G – Channel the heavens.
After completing The Rising Tide main questline, return to the Hideout and interact with The Arete Stone. After a cutscene, you will receive new abilities and fights a few waves of enemies. Defeat the enemies to unlock the Deus Ex trophy.
A Most Worthy Vessel
5G – Acquire and master all Leviathan and Ultima abilities.
After completing Deus Ex above, go into the Abilities trees and free up points by holding Square over abilities you don’t use in your build. Spend those points to max out both new Eikon ability trees in The Rising Tide.
Quest Trophies
The End Can Wait
5G – Complete 10 Mysidian quests.
Complete 10 side quests offered in The Rising Tide DLC to unlock the trophy. The side quests are first available after reaching the Haven village. Additional side quests unlock as you progress The Rising Tide main quest. Available side quests include:
- It’s the Thought that Counts – Unlocks the foundry
- The Pursuit of Knowledge – Unlocks the stores
- The Uninvited Guest
- Bird of Passage – Unlocks your chocobo in the DLC
- Roles of Honor
- What Ails You – Unlocks rare resource tracking
- Beyond the Grave
- Last Licks – Unlocks The Water of Life quest
- Lost in the Woods
- Reign of Pain
- The Water of Life
Still Breathing
5G – Complete the Trial by Water.
Complete all 4 sections of the Leviathan water trials at the below location. During each phase, you will have preset abilities and will need to utilize them to complete the trial. At the start of each phase, press Circle to activate Serpent’s Cry. Then use Square/Triangle to use Tidal attacks between special ability cooldowns.
Occasio Calva
5G – Complete Kairos Gate.
After completing the requirements for Deus Ex above, interact with the Arete Stone in the Hideout and complete the 20 Kairos Gate challenge.
More details coming soon.
That’s it for the FF XVI: The Rising Tide trophies guide. Please post any questions or comments below. Thanks.