Does FF16's The Rising Tide DLC Affect [SPOILER]’s Death?

Summary Everyone's ultimate fate is sealed in FF16, even with the addition of The Rising Tide DLC. Sacrifice is a central theme in this tragic tale.

The Rising Tide DLC does offer meaningful story changes in the form of lore, new locations like Mysidia, and details about Jill's backstory.

Despite hopes for a happier ending, FF16's overall dark tone and cautionary message about power's destructive nature leads to an inevitable death.

Final Fantasy 16's second DLC, The Rising Tide, has a major impact on its story. Unlike the first DLC release, Echoes of the Fallen, which mostly centers on a single postgame dungeon, The Rising Tide explores FF16's biggest mystery: the origins and ultimate fate of the Eikon of water, Leviathan. Leviathan is considered a "lost" Eikon throughout the entirety of FF16's base game, but the DLC has Clive, Joshua, and Jill traveling to the shadowy land of Mysidia in search of answers.

[Warning: This article contains spoilers for the ending of FF16, but remains spoiler-free for the DLC.]

At the end of FF16, Clive, having destroyed all the Mothercrystals, defeated Ultima, and erased the existence of magic from the world, succumbs to his exhaustion from the battle, and ultimately dies. It's a tale of sacrifice that certainly fits with the story, and he's not the first Final Fantasy protagonist to meet with such an end. But still, with the overall darker tone taken on by the rest of FF16, many had hoped for a happier ending for its long-suffering protagonist. A story-focused DLC like The Rising Tide seems to provide the best opportunity.

Related FF16 The Rising Tide DLC: Release Date, Price, & Everything Included FF16’s second DLC, The Rising Tide, is on the way. Here’s everything to know about when it comes out, how much it costs, and what it includes.

Clive Still Dies After FF16: The Rising Tide

DLC Doesn't Change FF16's Ending

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In an interview with GameInformer, developers confirmed that The Rising Tide DLC won't change anything about FF16's ending - Clive will still die after the final confrontation with Ultima. This may seem like a huge missed opportunity for FF16's DLC, but the omission is definitely intentional. FF16 is a tragedy at heart, a caution against the destructive nature of weapons like Eikons. Clive willingly participates in the violence as he claims more and more power, even if he does so with good intentions. That power eventually takes its toll on him, just as it does all its other victims.

What FF16's The Rising Tide DLC Changes About The Story

More Lore, New Locations, & Jill's Origins

But while The Rising Tide doesn't change much about FF16's base story, it does add a lot to the lore. Besides answering lingering questions about Leviathan, it also introduces a new map area, Mysidia. Mysidia provides a new angle on the role of magic in FF16, which helps fill in the gaps in its morality tale. It also provides a broader look at the world of Valisthea.

Mysidia is a recurring town name throughout the Final Fantasy series, and usually refers to a place inhabited by magic users.

Additionally, The Rising Tide puts special focus on Jill Warrick, one of FF16's most overlooked characters. The Dominant of Shiva and adoptive sister of Clive, Jill is a fascinating character with a unique perspective. But she takes a backseat through most of the base game, except for a single chapter that touches on her backstory. Although she grew up in Rosaria alongside Clive and Joshua, Jill hails from the northern lands around Mysidia. By visiting them, The Rising Tide DLC delves further into her obscure past.

But even though it materially changes certain aspects of the overall story, The Rising Tide doesn't have any effect on FF16's ending. No matter whether players complete the DLC or how it ends, Clive will always die in the final moments of the base game. As depressing as that may be, it's a necessary part of his character arc, and a fitting conclusion to the saga of Final Fantasy 16.

Source: GameInformer