As a passionate FF gamer who has eagerly awaited the release of Final Fantasy 16 for years, I was thrilled to dive into the latest epic installment in the storied franchise when it launched recently. However, having played many titles in the series, I know all too well how easy it is to accidentally gloss over hidden side quests, special items, and secret achievements in these massive JRPGs – even for veteran fans!
FF16 is positively brimming with incredible content – a gorgeous open world, impactful story beats, thrilling action combat and TONS of optional content. So for completionist players like myself who want to experience everything the game has to offer, keeping track of "missables" is essential.
What Are Missables?
For those new to the concept, "missables" refer to quests, items, weapons, accessories and even achievements/trophies that can be permanently missed or skipped over if players progress too far into FF16‘s story. Once missed, they can ONLY be recovered by starting a brand new 30+ hour playthrough!
To avoid this fate, we have compiled the ultimate guide covering all the biggest missable items, quests and secrets that you will absolutely kick yourself over if you miss them on your first playthrough of this incredible game. Let‘s dive in!
The lush world of FF16 is stuffed with hidden side content just begging to be discovered! (Photo Credit: Square Enix)
The Point of No Return
Before covering specific missables, it‘s crucial to clarify the point of no return in FF16‘s story progression when side content gets locked out.
This pivotal moment occurs after finishing Main Quest 26 "The Crystals‘ Curse" and returning to Rosaria from the different realms. So once players set foot back in Rosaria, they forfeit their access to many previous areas like Dalmekia, Cielo Alto and Mount Gunnhildr. This permanently locks out any remaining side quests, hunts, collections or unexplored areas.
So I cannot stress enough – make sure to finish up ANY remaining side activities before returning to Rosaria after finishing Main Quest 26! This includes:
- Hunts
- Side Quests
- Mini-Game Content
- Unexplored Areas
- Treasures
Trust me, there is nothing more agonizing than missing cool content, so wrap up all business in FF16‘s open world BEFORE hitting this climactic point of no return!
Missable Quests
Of the many missable quests in FF16, here are the most notable ones that offer especially lucrative rewards which players will sorely regret failing to complete:
1. A Dog‘s Life
This quick and cute side quest involves finding and returning a lost dog to his owner before setting out from Rosaria. It rewards a nifty Direwolf Signet ring perfect for beefing up Torgal‘s wolf form in battle. Make ABSOLUTELY sure to finish this easy quest upon first arriving in Rosaria or you will miss out!
2. In Search of Myrrh
Given by researcher Myrrh at Audhul Docks, this multi-part quest spans several chapters and must be completed before the events of Main Quest 21. Finishing it bestows the mighty Myrrh Wand staff that boosts healing spells – perfect for supportive mages. Don‘t leave Myrrh hanging!
3. White-Winged Wonders
Perhaps the most critical missable quest in all of FF16 – finishing White-Winged Wonders allows players to WHISTLE FOR CHOCOBOS ANYWHERE as mounts! FAILING this quest robs players of easy overworld travel and mobility, so be sure to finish it ASAP when available! No one should miss their trusty chocobos!
And there are MANY more easy-to-fail quests, but finishing the ones above should be top priority before risking progression. But to summarize other key questlines:
| Quest | Rewards | Missable Upon |
|---|---|---|
| King of the Hill | Exp, items | Main Quest 26 |
| Blacksmith‘s Blues | Accessory | Main Quest 26 |
| Meteorite Menace | Exp, items | Main Quest 22 |
| The Die is Cast | Exp, items | Entering Than hyperfocus |
Use your brain and knock all of those out before the listed story events!
Missable Items
Beyond quests, FF16 contains loads of powerful gear pieces that can ONLY be acquired during certain windows that are easy to miss!
Here are some MAJOR missable weapons, accessories and items that NO ONE should miss:
The mighty Genji Gloves are an easy accessory to miss but provide a MAJOR damage boost! (Photo Credit: Square Enix)
| Item | Effect | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Genji Gloves | Boosts damage by 20% | Chest in Delbin Tunnels, only accessible during ch. 4-7 |
| Zeus Mace | Magic boosts and stagger power | The Watchplains chest, inaccessible after events of Main Quest 21 |
| Coral Sword | Stagger boost | Optional path in Main Quest 16 |
| Ouroboros Belt | Major defense boost | Quest reward for finishing Blacksmith‘s Blues |
| Chocobo Crest | Summons mounts anywhere | Reward for White-Winged Wonders quest |
| Sirius Garb | Boosts fire magic damage | Find in chest behind barred door in Sullen Pass, inaccessible later |
| Serpent Fang | Poison/MP regen ability | Chest on unmarked path midway through Main Quest 26, PERMANENTLY missable! |
And TONS of rare crafting materials required for ultimate gear can also be skipped. So fully explore EVERY nook and cranny as soon as areas open to avoid missing key items for that Blasphemous Blade you are after!
Trust me, it hurts the soul to accidentally miss cool weapons and gear for an entire playthrough. So stay vigilant in each area before progressing events!
Missable Achievements
While most trophies in FF16 can still be acquired via chapter select after beating the game, Speed Demon and Half Past Twilight can be PERMANENTLY missed:
Speed Demon requires finishing the game in under 35 hours which is only feasible on a FIRST playthrough. No shortcuts or cheats! So try to move briskly through if chasing this trophy. It leads to serious bragging rights!
Half Past Twilight demands obtaining and fully upgrading the ultimate Gotterdammerung weapon. But take CAUTION – the special materials needed can be sold or used on other gear, making obtaining it impossible! So no matter what, DO NOT sell these materials at any point:
- Sprite‘s Kiss x5
- Sylkis Bud x3
- Moonbeam Silk x3
- Miracle Blood x3
Keep those precious materials in reserve at all times to avoid this agonizing missable trophy!
By keeping those crucial trophies in mind, fans can earn every last achievement on their first ride through FF16‘s epic story!
Key Takeaways to Avoid Missables
After detailing the sheer breadth of FINAL FANTASY 16’s gigantic open world and stack of side content that can so easily be skipped, it may feel daunting trying to 100% this absolute unit of an RPG on first playthrough.
So to summarize the keys for vigilant fans:
- Always speak with named NPCs – new quests unlock constantly
- Finish side quests available BEFORE advancing main story beats
- Thoroughly explore every nook and cranny as soon as available
- Open chests the SECOND you can access them
- Save rare/unique crafting materials – THEY MATTER!
- Record missables to revisit on future playthroughs
- Use Chapter Select to clean up anything you accidentally skip!
If you follow those vital pointers, you will be well on your way to a complete initial playthrough with no regrettable misses! But most importantly…take your time and soak in everything this incredible RPG has to offer!
Now get out there and catch ‘em all before endgame creeps up faster than you expect! The realm of Valisthea awaits, packed to bursting with treasures for the taking! Let no shiny weapons, uber materials or adorable quests escape your grasp! Go forth and conquer – for the glory of Rosaria!
But what about you? Have you uncovered any other elusive missables in your FF16 journey so far? Sound off with your experience in the comments!
Final Thoughts
And there you have it – the ULTIMATE guide to help über fans avoid skipping over awesome content and score 100% completion on their first playthroughs of this incredible game!
We covered the biggest offender – the pivotal point of no return closing off huge chunks of content. We outlined major missable questlines that offer sweet rewards and should NOT be skipped!
We revealed god-tier weapons and accessories that can ONLY be acquired during small windows of availability. And we detailed missable achievements that can only be earned on initial playthroughs before chapter select unravels constraints.
Hopefully these pointers help diehard completionist fans fully experience the glorious breadth of content FF16 has to offer. This journey only unfolds once blindly, so march forth and claim ALL the secrets hiding withinthis top-tier JRPG! The fate of Rosaria is in your hands!
Did we miss any other crucial missables? Let the community know below!
