Magitek (Final Fantasy XVI)

Magitek is a form of lost magic-based technology in Final Fantasy XVI. Though having been used widely by the Fallen civilization (known as "magitek"), the technology predates them and originates from Ultima's species,their living clockwork machines being known as echoes .
==Characteristics==
The Fallen made use of magitek in their clockwork machines and airships. The Fallen civilization came to an end 1,500 years ago. Magitek was a highly advanced magical technology that even produced weapons nigh indistinguishable from living beings whose destructive power rivaled "the gods of legend". The early chroniclers labeled these living magitek creations the "Eikonoklastes".
Final Fantasy XVI Ultimania elaborates that powerful magic-users were needed to operate this magical technology; according to the official timeline on magitek- and magic-users, while magitek flourished many individuals were born with higher than usual attunement to aether, similar to modern day Bearers, and were called "summoners" for their ability to "summon" the power of magitek. A part of this term passed down in the term "summons" ("Eikons" in English).
In modern days, the "living clockwork machines" are known as echoes, and though commonly found in Fallen ruins and thus believed by the modern populace to be vestiges of their skybound ancestors, these creations were originally servants of Ultima; they appear in places Ultima's race built that predate mankind, such as Reverie, apodyteries, and inner sanctums of Mothercrystals. From this it can be hypothesized that the Fallen civilization, known to have used similar technology, repurposed or copied the technological marvels the Ultima species either brought with them or erected in Valisthea, and thus mankind could have originally advanced technologically much faster than had they started from scratch, as what was forced to happen after "the Fall". Therefore, lifestyle in the modern era has greatly regressed compared to the skybound civilizations of the Fallen.
Echoes do not appear to require water or food or fuel, seemingly existing solely to protect their habitat from intruders, suggesting they are pre-programmed sentry machines that operate by channeling ambient aether. After the land's aether balance is tipped askew by Primogenesis, crystal shards and Bearers largely lose their ability to channel, whereas Ultima's thralls are invigorated and echoes become more active, beginning to roam around Valisthea instead of staying strictly in their previously designated areas, suggesting their programming has been "rewritten" and that they are guided by Ultima's will.
Echoes are plated in the same material as the Fallen ruins, but will break down if the plates are dislodged.
Whether using magitek/echoes advances the Blight is not specifically pointed out in the game, but it is likely, as the Blight started to spread in Valisthea in the wake of the Fallen civilization's use of magic,Final Fantasy XVI Ultimania, Timeline and the Blight is what rendered the Ultima species's original homeland uninhabitable, forcing their migration and grand plan of creating a new world, and this magic-based technology ultimately originates from them. When Clive Rosfield destroys the nexus aboard Origin, he destroys the wellspring of magic, and presumably renders all still-operational magitek creations/echoes unable to function.
==List of enemies==
Some echoes are fought as enemies, specifically in Fallen ruins and in locations built by Ultima.
==Etymology==
 In the Final Fantasy series, magitek combines magic and science, and the term originates from Final Fantasy VI; subsequent uses of the term can be considered allusions to this entry in the series.
The term "Echo" was also used in Final Fantasy XIV, made by the same development team who also developed XVI.
==Citations==
category:Final Fantasy XVI