Primal The primals , also known as eikons , though there is a distinction between the two , are magical beings in " Final Fantasy XIV " worshiped by the beast races of Eorzea . They are classic " Final Fantasy " summons , and may be related to both the Echo and the sudden new attacks from the Garlean Empire , who considers them a threat . Each beast race has its own primal and plans to use them to its own ends , either to harass the city - states , self protection or to fight against the Garleans . Profile . Primals are born by specific set of circumstances : during a moment of chaos , such as during one of Eorzea ' s Umbral Eras . When there is an abundance of aether and people are praying for aid , the prayers manifest the aether into a physical form . Due to the nature of their existence , a primal must consume aether from its surroundings , becoming a threat to the world of Hydaelyn . The summoning rituals need an ample supply of aether — the most convenient being crystals . The aether can also be acquired with other tools , such as the enigmatic horn and tablet stored on Seal Rock , or the eye of a great wyrm . While usually an embodiment of the summoner ' s desire , there are cases when the summoner transforms into a primal . There are also primals like Bahamut and Moggle Mog created in the image of their namesakes . Ten years before the start of the original " Final Fantasy XIV " , the dragon Midgardsormr was killed in the Battle of Silvertear Skies and its seal on the aether beneath Silvertear Lake was broken . After this , the primals were easily summoned by the beast tribes . Since the the most convenient supply of aether for the summoning rituals is a massive amount of the same crystals and shards used by crafters , some of the beast races stopped selling theirs to the city - states . Once summoned , primals can " temper " other beings , instilling fanatical loyalty to the primal and creating a secure wellspring of faith . Usually this is an intentional process , but a few primals ( such as Ramuh ) have shown distaste for it , implying it is a natural byproduct of their existence . While those gifted with the Echo are immune , their soul ' s aether may still be consumed by a nearby primal if they ever lose their mortal form . Due to the presence of primals in Eorzea and the massive amount of energy needed to summon them , it is said that the flux of aether over Silvertear Falls has been disrupted and the land of Eorzea will slowly perish if this process isn ' t reversed . Thus , the Scions of the Seventh Dawn make it their goal to eliminate any primals that manifest . This is also one of the reasons behind the Garlean Empire ' s campaign to destroy the primals , according to Emperor Varis . Gaius Van Baelsar hoped to achieve a permanent means through the Ultima Weapon ' s ability to absorb them . The Ascian s have been teaching the means to summon primals , and for ancient Allag , the means to bind them . The creation of primals has an effect on Hydaelyn , seemingly as part of the goal to revive Zodiark . The primals and the tools to summon them have also proven to be useful in undoing an Ascian as the supply of aether needed to summon a primal can , if focused , shatter any Ascian trapped in White Auracite . Further , an Ascian ' s soul can be consumed directly by a primal if its host body is slain by one . Known primals . The term " Elder Primal " indicates those worshiped / summoned in older eras ( i . e . before the Sixth Astral Era ) , often from cultures that no longer exist . For example , Bahamut was originally summoned in the Third Astral Era , making him " Elder " to other primals such as Shiva , who is a recent " newborn " primal . Enkidu , the companion of Gilgamesh , is also inadvertently summoned to Eorzea in the same manner as a primal when Gilgamesh prays to be reunited with his friend while in the vicinity of a large number of Fire Crystals . While Hildibrand refers to him as " the Primal Enkidu , " Originally , fans believed him to be a Egi due to the nature of his summoning and his behaviour , however on a updated list confirming how many Primals there were since Patch 3 . 15 , Enkidu was confirmed to be a full primal , based on the memory of the original Enkidu . It is currently unknown what primals are worshiped by the Qiqirn , Gigas , or Mamool Ja , if they even worship any at all . Egi . Egi are tiny versions of primals , made of concentrated elemental essence . Only Summoners can call them forth after binding their power with the aid of their Soul Crystal . These egi bear many characteristics of the respective primal , but lack the personality or aether draining properties of the full scale forms . Some primal trials summon egi minions , such as Ramuh ' s Grey Arbiters and Titan ' s Granite Gaolers . Story . Version 1 . 0 . The adventurer was made aware of the primals by the Elezen mage Louisoix Leveilleur , leader of the Circle of Knowing , while investigating the activities of Garlean Legatus Nael Van Darnus . According to Louisoix , the primals ' absorption of the realm ' s crystals threatened the land . The adventurer learned that mysterious figures known as " Paragons " taught the beast tribes the means to summon the primals . As the adventurer took down the primals , Nael Van Darnus sought to destroy them by having the planet ' s lesser moon Dalamud crash onto Eorzea . As Dalamud approached , the primals ' aether was absorbed into it , and the summoned primals lost their physical forms . Even after Van Darnus ' death , Dalamud continued to fall until it broke apart , revealing the elder primal Bahamut . Although Louisoix tried to use the power of the Twelve , Eorzea ' s guardian deities , to reseal Bahamut , the attempt failed and Bahamut ' s rage was unleashed on the realm , triggering the Seventh Umbral Era . In the catastrophe ' s aftermath the beast tribes focus on rebuilding . " Final Fantasy XIV : A Realm Reborn " . The adventurer is asked by Thancred to aid in solving a mystery regarding mysterious disappearances in Camp Drybone . The mystery is solved when the Amalj ' aa are found to be the culprits . They have been kidnapping people to be offered to their primal , Ifrit . During the operation to catch the Amalj ' aa red - handed , the adventurer is betrayed and knocked unconscious . Upon awakening , the adventurer finds that s / he is to be turned into a follower of Ifrit . Through the protection of Hydaelyn , Ifrit ' s fire has no effect on the adventurer and s / he defeats him . After some time , the Maelstrom , the grand company of Limsa Lominsa , requests the adventurer to slay Titan , who has been summoned by kobolds near the city . The adventurer is warned by Y ' shtola that Titan is much stronger than Ifrit and that advice from the Company of Heroes , a brave band of men and women who have in the past killed Titan , would come in handy . After performing a series of tasks for the company members , the adventurer receives their blessing and enters Titan ' s lair , where his / her group defeats Titan . Later on , the adventurer works with Cid and Alphinaud to reach Garuda where the Ixal have summoned her in Natalan . Garuda is revealed to be much more powerful than the previous two primals , able to retain her physical form even after seemingly being beaten . She proclaims to tear down each city - state and leave behind a world where she is revered . Before she can attack the adventurer again , Gaius Van Baelsar arrives and mocks her , slaying the Ixal whose prayers were powering her . Garuda rips Ifrit and Titan into existence from the followers of theirs her Ixal had captured and prepares to feed upon their aether , but the intervention of the Ultima Weapon , deployed by Van Baelsar , defeats Garuda and the other primals . After the defeat of the Garlean Empire and the resurrected primals , the adventurer is asked by Alisaie Leveilleur to investigate a dungeon beneath Castrum Occidens called the " Binding Coil of Bahamut " to discover the mystery behind Bahamut ' s sudden disappearance . As they travel through the dungeon , they find fragments of Bahamut ' s body , and when they reach the center , they see its head held in place by technology from Dalamud . They see Louisoix and Nael Van Darnus alive watching over Bahamut . Unable to do any more , the two take their leave . The Sahagin accumulate enough crystals to summon their primal , Leviathan . After being warned by the Scions of the Seventh Dawn of the impending crisis , Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn mobilizes the Maelstrom in launching a preemptive strike against the Sapsa Spawning Grounds . They find a Sahagin Priest calling forth Leviathan , who claims he will achieve eternal life through the Echo . He transfers his mind into the bodies of fellow Sahagin after being shot by the Admiral , but he is absorbed by the awakened Leviathan himself . To take out the Lord of the Whorl on the open seas before he can unleash a catastrophic tidal wave , a special barge called the Whorleater is created to enable the adventurer to approach and defeat the ocean primal . The touched Sylphs call forth Ramuh , Lord of Levin . The sylphs of Little Solace had previously assured Ramuh was of minimal concern , focused only with the protection of the forest , and it was believed that an influx of refugees from the unrest in Ul ' dah pushed the touched ones ' hands into summoning their primal . When confronted by the Scions , the Lord of Levin condemns the actions of man . Questioning the adventurer ' s resolve to be Bearer of Light , Ramuh bids him / her to undertake his trial . Once defeated , he grants the adventurer his blessing and leaves the physical world . The heretic Ysayle summons forth Saint Shiva as a primal . Being a user of the Echo , she can channel the primal into herself , becoming its avatar — a feat previously unknown . Shiva is defeated by the adventurer , and reverts to Ysayle . Frustrated , she condemns their involvement , insisting she ' s doing this for the sake of peace . The Gnath , a tribe of arthropod - like beastmen native to Dravania , became increasingly belligerent to both dragons and hunters . The dragon Vidofnir reveals that they had summoned a primal , and this has put the dragons on edge and thus denied the adventurer , Ysayle , Alphinaud , and Estinien access to Hraesvelgr for the time being . The adventurer and Ysayle let themselves be captured as offerings to the primal , Ravana . Realizing the primal is a wargod , Ysayle offers a trial by combat , asking the Gnath abandon their conquest if they defeat him . In the first round , Ysayle transforms into Shiva to duel Ravana , but is defeated . The adventurer is up next , and defeats the primal , who honors his word . In the Sea of Clouds , the Vundu tribe of the Vanu Vanu had summoned Bismarck as a primal , an immense whale capable of devouring the floating islands , including the one that housed the key to Azys Lla . Cid concocts the idea of towing a floating island via airship as bait , and installing Ishgardian Dragonkillers as a means to harpoon the whale . This allows the adventurer to defeat the Lord of the Mists at the Limitless Blue . It is revealed the Archbishop Thordan VII and his elite knights , the Heavens ' Ward , used Ascian teachings to channel the legend of King Thordan and his Knights Twelve as a primal of the church . At the floating continent of Azys Lla , Thordan uses the power of Nidhogg ' s right eye to transform into King Thordan with the intent of eliminating all war and conflict in the world and ruling as a God - King . As his first act , the primal executes Lahabrea and absorbs the Ascian overlord ' s aetherial essence . The Knights of the Round are defeated by the adventurer in the Singularity Reactor . Soon after , Alexander is awoken in the Dravanian Hinterlands , while the Warring Triad stirs from their slumber . Later , atop Baelsar ' s Wall , Ilberd utilized the Eyes of Nidhogg and the sacrifice of himself and his soldiers to summon Shinryu and bring Calamity upon the Empire . Other appearances . " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . Some of the primals appear in " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . " Triple Triad " . Some of the primals appear on Triple Triad cards in the version available via " Final Fantasy Portal App " . Etymology . The Garlean word " eikon " may derive from the Greek word " eikon " , translated in English as " image , " which is the root word for the English work " icon " whose early definition was religious imagery .