With the highly anticipatedFinal Fantasy 16right around the corner, fans of the beloved series have eagerly been looking forward to exploring the land of Valisthea, and this new world is set to focus on a massive geopolitical narrative that drives the conflict of the game. What’s clear already is thatFinal Fantasy 16has expansive lore concerning the developments and interactions of its several different countries, known as the six realms across Valisthea.
In Valisthea, kingdoms have been built around powerful natural formations called Mothercrystals that produce invaluable energy known as aether. To protect their Mothercrystals, kingdoms utilize Dominants, people born with the ability to controlsummoned monsters referred to as Eikons. With almost every kingdom controlling its own Dominant, the massive power of the Eikons seems to have served to balance out the political power of the separate nations. The six nations of Valisthea are set to become another set of mainstay locations in theFinal Fantasyseries, with each having its own unique identity.
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There are Six Major Realms in Final Fantasy 16’s Valisthea
The Grand Duchy of Rosariawas formed long ago by a group of small independent provinces in the western continent Storm. Rosaria is the homeland of the player character Clive Rosfield and his younger brother Joshua, both Dominants of their own Eikons (having two is uncommon andIfrit’s role inFinal Fantasy 16seems largely antagonistic). Rosaria draws its Aether from the Mothercrystal Drake’s Breath located on a volcanic island. The law of Rosaria is that the Dominant of the Phoenix, Eikon of Fire, is enthroned as the Archduke when they become of age. Like the rest of the world in the events of the game seems to be, Rosaria is now under threat of a corrupting force known as the Blight after years of prosperity for the realm.
The Crystalline Dominionsits between the eastern continent of Ash and western Storm, right in the heart of Valisthea. This kingdom is built around the tallestFinal Fantasy 16Mothercrystalof all, named Drake’s Tail. Though this is a small plot of land overall, many battles were fought over this region due to its strategic importance to the various warring realms. After what seems to have been much war, there was a peace treaty between the nations. Under the conditions of the treaty, The Crystalline Dominion became an autonomous kingdom led by a council of representatives of each realm that ensures equal claim to the blessings of this highly contested region’s Mothercrystal.
The Holy Empire of Sanbrequeis characterized as the largest theocratic force in Valisthea, a highly religious kingdom located in northeastern Storm. The holy capital of Oriflamme is built around the Mothercrystal known as Drake’s Head. The people live in supposed comfort and security under an emperor, with these people supposedly going so far as to worship their emperor as their one true deity. Sanbreque still participates in Eikon usage though, and the Dominant ofBahamut, “Warden of Light”serves as the emperor’s champion in battle.
The Dhalmekian Republicis made up of five states on the western Storm continent, which the members of its parliament represent. This nation’s powerful Mothercrystal, Drake’s Fangs, is said to be partially hidden in the heart of a mountain range. The Dhalmekian Republic’s control over its Mothercrystal and aether has apparently led it to hold dominant control over most of the entirety of southern Valisthea. The Dominant of Titan, Eikon of Earth and aclassicFinal Fantasysummonis installed as a special advisor to parliament and given a significant say in political decision-making in this bureaucratic realm.
Final Fantasy 16’s Waloed and Iron Kingdom Seem Ready for War
The Kingdom of Waloedcontrols the entirety of the eastern Ash continent, despite such authority being tested by the Orcs and Beastmen who originate from the land of Ash. The current ruler of the realm is actually theDominant of the Eikon Odin, “Warden of Darkness.” This Dominant king has succeeded in quelling the indigenous rebellions of the fearsome residents, using the overwhelming power of Odin. With the power of the Mothercrystal, Drake’s Spine, the new king seeks to use his might to test the strength of the other kingdoms of Valisthea.
The Iron Kingdomis composed of a small group of islands off of the coast of the Storm continent and ruled over by an extreme crystal worshiping faith known as the Crystalline Orthodox. Controlling the Mothercrystal Drake’s Breath located at the heart of the islands, this isolated kingdom has a history of tension with the neighboring Grand Duchy of Rosaria. The Iron Kingdom stays separated from the mainland and aloof, with the people known as “Ironblood” even speaking their own language. The Crystalline Orthodox disagree with the concept of Dominants as a whole, seeing them as unholy abominations.The darker-toned Iron Kingdomtakes its hatred of Dominants and Eikons to the extreme, and is said to execute any Dominants that are born in the kingdom.
The six realms of Valisthea all have clashing principles that lead to epic conflicts during the events of the story, with Clive somehow in the middle of it all. The opposing values of nations like those between the Kingdom of Waloed, the Iron Kingdom, and the Holy Empire of Sanbreque are likely to ignite massive battles that inevitably drag the rest of the realms into some kind of war. With the mysterious aether-depleting Blight spreading and corrupting the land all the while, it’s going to take a lot for the revenge-seeking Clive and his party to save mankind from its own fate. The game is even set to followClive Rosfield’s journey through multiple periodsin his life, so there’s no telling how players will see the six realms of Valisthea change across time during the events ofFinal Fantasy 16.
