Flare Breath (Final Fantasy XVI)

Flare Breath is one of Bahamut's default Eikonic Abilities in Final Fantasy XVI that the player can assign to Clive's loadout. Clive will breathe a light-aspected stream of flame, the default position being right in front of him but the player can aim it with . Flame Breath deals continuous damage to any enemy the flames come into contact with. The player can slowly move to reposition during the lengthy attack animation by using .
==Obtained==
Clive gains access to Bahamut's powers as part of the story, during "Fire in the Sky", usable in his loadout after the events in Twinside. Flare Breath is already learned when Clive gains Bahamut.
==Mechanics==
Clive can use Flare Breath in battle whenever it is equipped to his current loadout. He can have two Eikonic Abilities alongside his Eikonic Feat, which for the light loadout is Wings of Light.
Flare Breath has Clive breathe out a long-lasting stream of flames that deal continuous damage to all enemies they touch. Clive can slowly walk with and aim the flames with . Enemies will recoil from being touched by the flames and the player can reposition small enemies, pushing or pulling them, e.g. to group them tighter.
Version 1.31 made some changes to Flare Breath: it now dispels certain ranged magic attacks, lifts enemies instead of knocking them back when canceled mid-attack, and the damage it deals is also increased.
Flare Breath activates the battle technique, , when the flames of a single Flare Breath strike multiple enemies.
After being used, the ability has a 27-second cooldown before being able to be used again. Upgrading/mastering the ability has no effect on its cooldown. 
AP cost 	Effect
Already learned	Able to equip Flare Breath to Clive's light loadout.
600 (Upgrade) 	Lengthens range.
1000 (Master) 	Able to equip Flare Breath to any loadout.
==Use==
Flare Breath is worth upgrading to extend its range if the player is using it in their loadout, however, it initially was not among Clive's best abilities for its lackluster power and long animation (the ability has been made stronger in version 1.31). It is an easy way to engulf small enemies into its pull, dealing continuous damage and stopping the enemies from fighting back. Aimed at a launched enemy, the player can juggle the enemy in the air with the flames. However, Flame Breath has a long duration and Clive is wide open to backattacks during it, or attacks from any enemy heavy enough to not recoil from it. Flare Breath is best against a group of small enemies, however, small enemies are quickly killed with almost any ability, anyway. Flare Breath can be augmented with Ramuh's Lightning Rod.
Flare Breath has some synergy with Bahamut's other Eikonic Abilities, Satellite and Impulse; tapping the magic execute button during Flare Breath's animation has Clive continuously fire laser beams from the satellites, and Impulse's charges can be detonated during Flare Breath's animation if they were set up beforehand.
Flare Breath is outclassed by Bahamut's ultimate Eikonic Ability, Gigaflare. As both abilities are fairly similar in execution but Gigaflare is much better, the player will likely want to replace Flare Breath in their loadout when they learn the ultimate.
During the chronolith trial with the Bahamut's abilities, triggering by dealing 120 hits with Flame Breath earns a 12-second time bonus.
==Etymology and allusion==
The ability is likely named in vein of Megaflare, Bahamut's signature ability in the Final Fantasy series.
Category:Eikonic Abilities in Final Fantasy XVI