Odin (Final Fantasy XVI)

Odin, the Warden of Darkness, is the Eikon of Barnabas Tharmr in Final Fantasy XVI. Barnabas used Odin to conquer the continent of Ash and form the kingdom of Waloed, which he rules as king. He would later become part of an enigmatic plan to draw the other Dominants together. Odin is an armor-clad dark knight who rides a six-legged spectral horse; the steed is not a manifestation of the Eikon, but his Egi. Odin wields a katana made of darkness that can slice through anything and erase matter from existence.
Odin is a recurring summon in the Final Fantasy series associated with Instant Death or Lightning. In Final Fantasy XVI, Ramuh is the Warden of Thunder and Odin is associated with the element of Darkness. Odin's signature attack in the series is Zantetsuken that kills anything in one hit; in Final Fantasy XVI this is represented as an attack that erases matter from existence; the only known thing Zantetsuken does not slice through is the Phoenix's magick barrier.
== Active Time Lore ==
== History ==
Odin is one of the Eikons awakened as a result of Ultima planting a "seed" of his kin's power among the newly created humans on Valisthea; Odin was to eventually awaken among the descendants of the "Motes of Darkness" people, who likely inhabited the south-east of Valisthea in Dzemekys. The Dzemekys Mothercrystal was destroyed in a conflict between Ultima and the Fallen civilization, leaving but a gargantuan circular hole in the landscape that in current day Valisthea is a seemingly bottomless waterfall. The Dzemekys people, presumed to be the descendants of the Motes of Darkness tribe, migrated from Valisthea to the lands beyond, and Odin was unknown upon the Twins until one day some of their descendants made their way back: notably, Barnabas Tharmr. The first ever known Dominant of Odin, Barnabas conquered the continent of Ash and became the "last king" of Waloed, as though he had been in power for 35 years by the year of the realm 878, he still appeared as a man in his thirties.
Barnabas summoned Odin against the forces of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque at the Battle of Belenus Tor in his bid to encroach upon the continent of Storm. Sanbreque deployed Bahamut, and their brief clash appeared to have ended in a stalemate.
Barnabas semi-primed Odin when facing Clive Rosfield in Old Kanver, and bested him with Odin's katana, using it to sever “nigh every sinew” in Clive’s body. Jill Warrick primed Shiva to protect Clive, and though the outcome of the Ice versus Darkness clash was not witnessed, Barnabas took Jill captive afterward, so she is presumed to have lost. 
When Clive and the Cursebreakers set sail on the Enterprise to pursue Barnabas and rescue Jill, Barnabas summoned Odin on the Naldia Narrow seas. Odin battled the Phoenix, who resisted Zantetsuken with an impenetrable magicked barrier. When Clive and the now-freed Jill rushed to Joshua's aid, Clive fought Odin as Ifrit, severed Odin's sword, and used the severed blade to defeat Odin's steed.
Odin's Zantetsuken sliced a gash into the sea itself, where Clive and Jill fell into. Barnabas followed them to the sea floor and fought Clive again in semi-primed form, but Clive persevered despite losing. Clive and Jill escaped by freezing a tunnel through the waves with Shiva's powers.
Clive followed Barnabas to Ash and met Odin in Eistla. Odin did not challenge Clive there, but created a dark-aspected magic barrier that prevented passage to the north of the continent, inviting Clive to meet him in at the top of his abode in Reverie.
Clive followed suit and found Odin at Reverie, where he at first rode his steed through the skies before battling Clive atop the spire. After being defeated, Barnabas willingly passed the power of darkness onto Clive as per Ultima's plan to prepare Clive as the perform host body for all of the Eikons' powers: "Mythos". When Barnabas was defeated, Odin ceased to exist as did the Egi, Sleipnir Harbard.
== Characteristics ==
Odin is a large humanoid clad in dark armor, with large horns or antlers on his helmet, and his eyes glow blue through the visor. He wears a large dark cape, with a golden glow on the edges. His black six-legged horse, likewise, has glowing blue eyes and golden hued cracks along his coat. Odin towers over others when sat upon his large flying spectral steed; though the steed is an Egi while Odin is the Eikon, his horse appears in the ancient mural of the Circle of Malius that depicts all Eikons , whereas Garuda's Egis do not. The horse is another form of Sleipnir Harbard, Barnabas's most loyal supporter.
When Barnabas semi-primes, he becomes encased in a dark suit of armor similar to Odin's, but with a different helmet. Barnabas can manifest Odin's blade of darkness in his hand at will.
Odin's sword can is said to be able to sever the bonds of anything, and during their clash over Naldia Narrow, Odin uses Zantetsuken to erase a portion of the ocean itself. He can erect an impassable magic barrier to hinder Clive's progress called Glazheim Wall.
== Gameplay ==
===Boss===
The player fights Sleipnir in the Ironworks and in Old Kanver, though he is not really part of Odin, even when taking the form of his liege's steed.
Clive fights a semi-primed Barnabas in Old Kanver, and in the sea floor of Naldoan Narrow. The player cinematically fights Odin as Ifrit in the Naldoan Narrow, and also at the top of Reverie in multiple stages.
===Clive's abilities===
Odin's power is the last one Clive obtains, in the aftermath of "The Last King". When Odin is equipped and in use, Clive's magic is dark-elemental and dark red in color, though this is merely cosmetic as enemies lack elemental properties.
Odin's ability is Arm of Darkness, which swaps Clive's weapon for Odin's sword, which changes his sword-fighting moveset from a greatsword to a katana, consisting of quick slashes; the player also cannot chain melee combo into magic burst with Odin's sword. Attacking with Odin's sword and most of his Eikonic Abilities does not build Limit Break, but charges the sword up with dark energy instead, and the charged attack (hold down melee attack button) changes from burning blade to Zantetsuken, Odin's signature move in the Final Fantasy series. The maximum level of Zantetsuken is 5, unlocked in the Abilities menu by spending Ability Points. A level 5 Zantetsuken is one of the most powerful abilities Clive has in human form, dealing extreme damage to his targets in vicinity and instantly dispatching all foes that lack a will gauge.
The Eikonic Abilities learned from Odin are Gungnir, Heaven's Cloud, Rift Slip, and Dancing Steel. Odin's abilities, bar Rift Slip, are focused around charging Zantetsuken, and thus do mediocre damage and will damage on their own. When Zantetsuken is maxed out, the player should do Zantetsuken instead of any of the Eikonic Abilities. The charge is saved if the player switches back to Clive's own sword or changes loadouts.
Gungnir has Clive conjure Odin's spear and launch a series of attacks, each charging Zantetsuken. Tapping the execute button delivers more hits and extends duration. Heaven's Cloud has Clive strike an enemy while charging Zantetsuken, able to be executed repeatedly as long as each strike continues to land for further damage and Zantetsuken-gain. Dancing Steel is Odin's ultimate ability, which as a long windup but which charges Zantetsuken the most. All of these abilities have synergy with Ramuh's Lightning Rod to improve damage and Zantetsuken-gain, as well as Ifrit's Will-o'-the-Wykes to prevent interruption.
Rift Slip is a quality of life ability that is intended to be used when Clive is locked into another animation, such as when using another Eikonic Ability or when stunlocked by an enemy's attack. Using Rift Slip in these times instantly returns control to the player, and slows down time for everyone but Clive and his cooldowns. Weaving Rift Slip into Clive's combos streamlines action and extends stagger windows.
Arm of Darkness from FFXVI.jpg|Arm of Darkness.
Clive using Heavens Cloud from FFXVI.jpg|Heaven's Cloud.
Rift Slip from FFXVI.jpg|Rift Slip.
Clive using Dancing Steel from FFXVI.jpg|Dancing Steel.
== Musical themes ==
Odin's theme is "The Riddle".
== Gallery ==
Bahamut versus Odin from FFXVI artwork.png|Odin vs. Bahamut
Odin in Active Time Lore from FFXVI.png|Active Time Lore background
Odin erects a magic wall from FFXVI.png|Odin erects a magic barrier.
Odin and his sword from FFXVI.png
== Etymology ==
 He reigns over the hall of Valhöll (Valhalla), the Norse equivalent of heaven for those who fought bravely and died in combat.
Category:Eikons in Final Fantasy XVI