TeamBRG | FFXVI

FF16 Phoenix Trial Guide. Strategy, Location, etc.

Looking for help beating the Phoenix trial (Hand of Hyperion Chronolith)? Hopefully our strategy, tips, tricks, (and potential cheese) help you get throught the Trial by Fire!

Thankfully, I'm pretty sure everyones no stranger to the Phoenix skills. I mean, Phoenix Shift alone is amazing. All of it's skills are very useful as well, and likely ones we've used extensively during our journey. Not a bad trial all in all.

Phoenix Trial Location

Phoenix's Trial is unlocked at the Hand of Hyperion Chronolith. The nearest waypoint is Martha's Rest at Rosaria. From here head on over to the "bridge" right in between Greensheaves, and Rhiannon's Ride. It's at the left/west entrance of this "bridge", hidden amongst trees.

Phoenix Trial Strategy Stage by Stage tips

Note that while I wrote this for the Final Trial of Fire ("Hard mode"), this advice will definitely apply to the normal Chronolith (Hand of Hyperion) as well.

Phoenix Trial - best general tips

  • Land a four-hit combo after Phoenix Shift (+8s)
  • Land a SHIFTSHOT (magic), twice on a flier (+8s)

ABUSE THE PHOENIX SHIFT COMBO - It's very easy to forget about it!. It's a free 8s gain each and every time!!! Use it on staggered enemies! Imagine each time you do a basic combo, BAM, +8s. As for the Shiftshot one, you can get it on every stage - this is important for the +20s for all objectives..

Phoenix Trial Stage 1

Skills:

  • Rising Flames: Launch an enemy into the air and it dies before reaching the ground. (+12s)
  • Scarlet Cyclone: Hit 2 enemies with Scarlet Cyclone. (+12s)

The Rising Flames bonus, if you just kill them with the initial hit it usually just gives the bonus. Same with Cyclone bonus, it's very easy to get this time bonus. Two enemies is nothing.

Stage 1-1

Enemies: Trashmobs

Scarlet Cyclone a clump, then Rising Flames any enemy - you'll get 2x bonus immediately. Clean up using shift combo and stomps. Feel free to use your skills.

Stage 1-2

Enemies: Trashmobs

SAME STRATEGY AS EARLIER. Scarlet Cyclone clumps, Rising Flames any enemy. Clean up using Shift combo and stomps.

Stage 1-3

Enemies: Aevis Miniboss

Once you partial Stagger, Scarlet Cyclone. you can pop Limit Break early if you like. Once staggered finish it off with Rising Flames. This one is quick.

Phoenix Trial Stage 2

Skills:

  • Heatwave: Dispel an enemy projectile and counter with Heatwave. (+12s)
  • Scarlet Cyclone: Hit 2 enemies with Scarlet Cyclone. (+12s)

Stage 2-1

Enemies: Fallen Guardian miniboss with trash.

Cyclone clumps and clean them up. Each time you can try to bait the guardian to do the cannon, try to Heatwave counter it. Limit Break is okay here to speed things up. Try to use Scarlet Cyclone either on partial or full stagger against the miniboss.

Stage 2-2

Enemies: Trash mobs with those ranged orbs.

Scarlet Cyclone clumps. Try to get one solid Heatwave Counter here and you'll gain lots of time. Otherwise just try to gain time by shift combo spam and stomps.

Stage 2-3

Enemies: Cannoneer Miniboss and 2 flyers.

Getting a Heatwave Counter here is unreliable due to his random skillset. Sometimes youll get the fireball, other times not. Don't wait too long for it. If you can get Shiftshot bonus on these two flyers, great. Try not to take too much damage here - you'll need all the life you can get for 3-3.

Phoenix Trial Stage 3

Skills:

  • Heatwave: Dispel an enemy projectile and counter with Heatwave. (+12s)
  • Flames of Rebirth: Hit a staggered enemy with FoR. (+15s)

Stage 3-1

Enemies: Slime miniboss and trash.

Go close and immediately slam Flames of Rebirth. Once against the slime, wail on it until FIRAGA. Take a step back and carefully Heatwave Counter its first firage. It should stagger and die soon after. SAVE your limit break for Stage 3.

Stage 3-2

Enemies: Trash mobs with fliers.

SAVE YOUR LIMIT BREAK FOR THE NEXT STAGE!

Stage 3-3

Enemies:2x Miniboss: "Fallen Giant", and Lich

This is the true trial. It's a slugfest no doubt. Just limit break and go ham on the lich. If you can Heatwave counter, great. Save your Flames of Rebirth to hit when one of them is staggered. Very difficult to get throug this unphased, you need to save up your HP for this one.

Final Stage - Boss

Skills:

  • Rising Flames (No Bonus)
  • Flames of Rebirth (No Bonus)

Boss: Ahriman

Start off with Rising Flames asap. Then each succeeding Rising Flames should be used on either Partial Stagger, Stagger, or Kill. You'll only get one Flames of Rebirt so slam it on stagger. This guy is easy, but you'll be super low after 3-3. You got this.

Summary and Closing

I found Phoenixes trial a little grating initially. Stage 3-3 is a killer! After a while though, you realize you can gain HUGE CHUNKS OF TIME by abusing the objectives. Overall pretty fun, and an easy S if you can get past 3-3.


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