Clive's Journal — Mysidia Chronicles
The Rising Tide DLC: Complete Walkthrough
The Rising Tide is the second and final DLC for Final Fantasy XVI, taking place before the base game's finale. Clive receives an anonymous letter pleading for help for the Dominant of Leviathan — the lost Eikon of Water. This 8-hour expansion introduces a new region (Mysidia), the Leviathan ability set, the Kairos Gate roguelike mode, and a brutally challenging final boss that rivals anything in the main campaign.
I. How to Start The Rising Tide
Prerequisites:
- Reach the main quest "Back to Their Origin" in the base game
- Complete side quests: "Where There's a Will" and "Priceless"
- Level 50+ recommended (60+ for Final Fantasy mode)
Trigger: Check the reading table in Clive's chambers at the Hideaway. A letter from a mysterious white-haired woman named Shula appears. Accept the quest to unlock the voyage to Mysidia — a hidden land protected by a barrier that mimics the Blight, keeping outsiders away for generations.
II. New Leviathan Eikon Abilities
| Ability | Type | Effect | Cooldown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Serpent's Cry | Eikonic Feat | Summons a water serpent that strikes from range, piercing enemies | 15s |
| Deluge | Circle AoE | Summons a torrent of water around Clive, damaging and pushing enemies | 25s |
| Abyssal Maw | Channeled Beam | High-damage water beam, destroys stagger gauge | 35s |
| Tsunami | Ultimate | Massive AoE wave, highest stagger damage of any Eikon ability | 90s |
III. Boss Strategy: Timekeeper
The Timekeeper is a mid-DLC boss that gates access to Leviathan's full power. It manipulates time — slowing Clive while accelerating its own attacks. Key strategy: Equip the Ring of Timely Evasion if you're struggling with the speed disparity. Without it, you need frame-perfect dodges. The boss has three phases:
- Phase 1: Use Phoenix Shift to close distance. Spam Rising Flames and Scarlet Cyclone during openings after its time-slowing AoE.
- Phase 2: Timekeeper summons clockwork adds. Use Garuda's Deadly Embrace to pull them into AoE range of Wicked Wheel.
- Phase 3: Boss enters "Time Acceleration" — all attacks are 2x speed. Save Limit Break for this phase. Burst with Gigaflare + Diamond Dust while Limit Break is active.
IV. Leviathan Final Boss (Final Fantasy Mode)
This is the DLC's hardest fight. Leviathan has four phases with checkpoints between each. Phase 3 includes a DPS check: a shield must be destroyed within 30 seconds or it's an instant wipe. Use Spitfire + Brimstone immediately when the shield appears, then Phoenix Shift to melee range.
V. Kairos Gate Survival Mode
Kairos Gate unlocks after completing the DLC story. It's a 20-round survival gauntlet against enemies and bosses from the base game, with escalating difficulty. Each round rewards ability points and crafting materials. Strategy: take the healing boon after every 5 rounds. Save your strongest Eikon abilities for rounds 15-20, where multiple bosses spawn simultaneously.
VI. Trophy Roadmap
| Trophy | Difficulty | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| The Calm | Story | Accept The Rising Tide quest |
| Flow | Story | Awaken Leviathan powers |
| Thou Brakest the Head | Hard | Defeat Leviathan on Final Fantasy mode |
| The End Can Wait | Medium | Complete 10 side quests in Mysidia |