Follow our Final Fantasy XVI walkthrough for the 'Across the Narrow' main quest. Learn how to use Shiva's abilities, craft Icebrand, and tackle new side quests.
Alright, so you've just kicked off the 'Across the Narrow' main quest in Final Fantasy XVI. Before we dive into the actual quest steps, let's quickly touch on some new stuff that unlocks. You'll get access to Shiva's full ability tree, and there are some new crafting options and a bunch of new side quests popping up. It's a good time to get your bearings and maybe grab some extra gear or lore!
Shiva's Abilities: First off, head to the Abilities tab in your menu to check out Shiva's tree. She comes with Ice Age and Mesmerize unlocked. Don't sleep on Cold Snap, though – it's a fantastic defensive ability that freezes enemies when you nail a Precision Dodge. If you've got the Ability Points, you can also unlock Rime and the super powerful Diamond Dust, which is a top-tier Stagger ability. It's worth experimenting with these in the Hall of Virtue to see how they feel.
New Crafting: Back in The Hideaway, Blackthorne has a new recipe for you: Icebrand. It's a decent upgrade over the Runeblade +2 if you crafted that, and it's a good way to use up any Ice Shards you might have lying around.
New Side Quests: This is where things get really interesting. A bunch of new side quests unlock now, and they're generally more substantial and rewarding than what you've seen before. Many of them advance character arcs, so they're definitely worth your time. You can pick most of them up via the Alliant Reports. The ones in The Hideaway require a bit more legwork. For 'Self-Determination,' you'll need to read a letter titled 'Captain Dorys' in Clive's Chambers.
Here's the list of new side quests:
- Blacksmith’s Blues IV (The Hideaway)
- Duty Undying (Dhalmekia)
- Even Weirder Science (The Hideaway)
- Lines in the Sand (Dhalmekia)
- Phoenix, Heal Thyself (The Hideaway)
- Rekindling the Flame (Rosaria)
- Self-Determination (The Hideaway)
- Trading Places II (Dhalmekia)
- Under New Management (Sanbreque)
Main Quest Walkthrough: Honestly, the main quest itself for 'Across the Narrow' is pretty straightforward. It's mostly about moving between key characters and locations within The Hideaway to trigger scenes and advance the plot.
- The Hideaway - Infirmary: Your first objective is to enter the Infirmary. A scene will play out here.
- The Hideaway - The Shelves: Next, make your way to The Shelves and speak with Harpocrates.
- The Hideaway - The Ale Hall: After talking to Harpocrates, leave The Shelves. You'll trigger another scene, this time at The Ale Hall.
- The Hideaway - The Mess: Finally, head to The Mess and talk to Otto.
Once you've finished up with Otto, you'll need to leave The Hideaway and travel to The Shadow Coast. Once you arrive there, the 'Across the Narrow' quest will conclude, and you'll unlock the next main quest, 'Footfalls in Ash'. Since you can fast travel from Ash using the world map, don't stress too much about being locked into that area.
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