Shiva (Final Fantasy XIV)

Shiva is the patron saint and primal of the Harriers, and a boss in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn as she appears in the main scenario, and as a superboss in an optional "extreme" battle. A version of Shiva appears in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers as a boss in the Eden side quest.
==History==
===Early life===
According to legend, an Elezen maiden named Shiva fell in love with the dragon Hraesvelgr. As her life is but a blink of an eye compared to the ageless dragons, Shiva besought Hraesvelgr to devour her so her soul would be entwined with his for eternity. Though reluctant at first, Hraesvelgr honored Shiva's request and inspired an alliance between man and dragon that lasted for two hundred years. The calming influence of Shiva's soul kept Hraesvelgr from participating in the Dragonsong War.
===Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn===
In time, demonized by the Holy See of committing the grave sin of laying with dragons, Shiva became a patron saint to the heresy cult that sided with the Dravanian Horde. Ysayle Dangoulain, known as Lady Iceheart of the Harriers, attempts to summon Shiva's essence into her own body and becomes an avatar for her perceived vision of her faith's saint to battle the Warrior of Light, but is defeated and restored to her original form.
===Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward===
When the Ishgardians attempt to build an outpost to guard the area, the Harriers drive them off and, using their store of crystals, enable Ysayle to transform into an even more powerful incarnation of Shiva. Despite her newfound power, the Warrior of Light defeats her again. She later allies with the Warrior to defeat Ravana and transforms into her Shiva form, but Ravana easily defeats her.
Ysayle would later learn, to her shock and dismay, that the "Shiva" she summoned was but a collective manifestation of her and her fellow Heretics' beliefs and prayers. She uses this form one final time when the Garlean dreadnought Gration is chasing the Enterprise Excelsius in the skies of Azys Lla to distract the Garleans long enough for the Excelsius to escape. She is killed, but thanks the Warrior of Light for showing her the light. As a result of her assault, the Gration is forced to remain moored at Azys Lla indefinitely due the engines being sealed in aetheric ice.
===Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers===
During the Warrior's adventures in the First, they help Ryne bring life back to the Empty by fighting versions of the primals from the Warrior's memories to restore the land's elemental aether. With only the ice element left to add, Ryne offers herself as the vessel for the First's version of Shiva upon hearing Ysayle's story. She loses control of her primal form and is saved by the intervention of Gaia.
==Gameplay==
Ysayle's Shiva form is fought twice as a boss in : once during the "Dreams of Ice" main scenario arc, and in an optional Extreme battle. Both are fought at level 50 with a full party of eight. Completing grants the achievement "Let It Go" and "Mightier than the Frost" with a party of 8 blue mages with echo turned off and level synced to 50. 
Ice Barding will grant a player's chocobo companion armor similar to that worn by Shiva. 
In 5.3, Shiva was fought in an Unreal trial for a limited time in . The whole instance, aside from item level, item level sync, and the boss's level upscaled to level 80, is identical to its extreme difficulty. Completing it gives you a Faux's Hollows once a week. As of 5.4, Shiva Unreal is no longer available and was replaced by .
Ryne's Shiva form is fought as the boss in , having the ability to redress herself into a form resembling Hydaelyn or summon a replica of Hraesvelgr to equip.
==Musical themes==
The two themes that play while battling Shiva are "Footsteps in the Snow" and "Oblivion" on the original soundtrack.
The First's version of Shiva uses "Footsteps in the Snow" and its remix, along with "Return to Oblivion" as her boss themes.
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy Record Keeper===
===Final Fantasy Trading Card Game===
Shiva appears as an Ice-elemental card.
===Final Fantasy Portal App===
Shiva appears as a Triple Triad card.
393a Shiva.png|Shiva.
393b Shiva.png|Shiva.
393c Shiva.png|Shiva.
==Behind the scenes==
Square Enix's Eorzea Cafe served a dish called "Cremet d Anjou of Shiva ~no-bake cheesecake~" whose description translates to: A dish inspired by Ice Goddess, Shiva's Icicle Impact attack. For some reason, 'that' snowman is nestled in the lone corner of the battlefield (plate) where shelter may be taken...?
The posture that Ysayle and Ryne take prior to summoning Shiva into themselves is identical to the beginning of her incarnation in X's version of Diamond Dust.
===Voice===
Shiva, being the primal form of Iceheart, is voiced by Sally Saffioti in English. Since Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, she is voiced by Siobhan Hewlett. She is voiced by Maaya Uchida in Japanese.
The First's version of Shiva, created from Ryne, is voiced by Emma Ballantine in English and Kana Ichinose in Japanese.
==Gallery==
FFXIV Shiva Concept.jpg|Concept art.
Shiva FFXIV Art 2.jpg|Concept art.
Ryne as Shiva from FFXIV concept art.png|Concept art for Ryne's Shiva by Hiroyuki Nagamine.
FFXIV Shiva Minion.jpg|Wind-up Shiva minion.
FFXIV Dreams of Ice Promo.png|Shiva and Lady Iceheart in a promotion for "Dreams of Ice".
FFXIV Heavensward Promo.png|Shiva and Lady Iceheart in a promotion for Heavensward.
FFXIV Early Shiva Render.jpg|Early, in progress, render of Shiva.
FFXIV Shiva Screenshot.png|Shiva close-up.
FFXIV Shiva Aurora.jpg|Dreams of Ice.
FFXIV Shiva Screenshot2.png|Shiva in sword form.
FFXIV Shiva Azys Lla.png|Shiva battling the Gration in Azys Lla.
FFXIV Shiva Before Diamond Dust.png|Shiva preparing the Diamond Dust.
==Etymology==
Category:Primals in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Elezen