Garuda is an Eikon of Wind in Final Fantasy 16 (FF16). This Garuda Summon Guide includes everything about Garuda, its Eikonic Abilities, her Chronolith Trial, when Garuda is unlocked, and its connection to Benedikta!

Garuda Summon Overview

Dominant and Element

Garuda Basic Information
Dominant	Benedikta Harman
Element	Wind

How to Unlock Garuda

Defeat Benedikta in Headwind

Garuda can be acquired by defeating Benedikta during the Headwind main quest.

However, the Eikon's abilities in the Ability tree will only be available for Clive to upgrade and use at the start of the next main quest, Wings of Change.

Headwind Walkthrough

Garuda Eikonic Abilities and Skills

Abilities Learned From Garuda

Ability	Description	Cooldown
Aerial Blast	Attack: Stagger: Summon a tornado that slowly hunts down nearby enemies and, upon ensaring them, inflicts multiple hits.	110s
Rook's Gambit	Attack: Stagger: Jump back, then deliver a punishing counter. If the jump evades an attack, counter potency is increased. Can be used in midair.	25s
Deadly Embrace	Attack: Stagger: Send a grappling claw out to grab an enemy and pull it toward Clive. Grappling heavier enemies will launch Clive into the air.	N/A
Wicked Wheel	Attack: Stagger: Perform a rising attack, striking all enemies within range and lifing them from the ground. Can be used in midair.	27s
Gouge	Attack: Stagger: Summon twin claws that relentlessly tear at a target. Can be used in midair.	30s

Garuda grants Clive 5 total Abilities that he can learn and use in combat. In order to learn and master all of Garuda's Abilities, it would require the player to rack up a total of 12,875 Abilitiy Points.

Be sure to farm for AP by equipping The Wages of Warcraft accessory and beating Bluebirds to quickly earn AP and unlock all of Garuda's Abilities!

List of All Abilities and Skills

Grants Clive Wind-Based Skills

Garuda will be able to unlock more powerful Wind-based attacks by gaining Ability Points from defeated enemies!

Clive will be able to access Garuda's Wind-based skill tree throughout the rest of the game once players unlock the Eikon.

Best Abilities to Learn and Master

Garuda Chronolith Trial

The Hand of Dione

World Map
Local Map

The location of the Garuda's Chronolith Trial can be reached by warping to the The Dalimil Inn and heading northeast.

Alternatively, the nearby Krozjit Echoes can be warped to if it's available.

All Chronolith Trial Locations

How to Use Garuda

Equip Garuda's Eikonic Abilities

Since Clive isn't Garuda's Dominant, he will not be able to transform into Garuda but instead gain access to her Wind-based attacks after obtaining her essence.

After acquiring Garuda, this Eikon's abilities will be unlocked in the Abilities menu and be available for upgrade. You can then equip them to Clive and use her attacks in combat.

Garuda Connections to Benedikta

Inherited by Benedikta Harman

Garuda is initially inherited by Benedikta, a member of Waloed's elite intelligencers. It is unknown what happens to her status as a dominant as trailers and gameplay footage shows Clive using the powers of Garuda.

Dominants Explained: What are Dominants?

Garuda Unlockable Trophies

Never Coming Down

Never Coming Down Bronze Trophy
	Land Gouge, Wicked Wheel, and Rook’s Gambit in midair before landing (excluding battles in the Hall of Virtue).

This trophy requires the use of three of Garuda's abilities, which means of them should be mastered and assigned to a different Eikon. Once you have Gouge, Wicked Wheel, and Rook's Gambit equipped, land all three while in midair to unlock the Never Coming Down trophy achievement!

This is easier done on large enemies since they can be hit in midair without extra steps. On small enemies, you can use Wicked Wheel first to launch them to the air, Gouge them in midair, then finish the combo with Rook's Gambit.

Trophy Guide: How to Get Platinum

Final Fantasy 16 (FF16) Related Guides

List of All Eikons and Summons

All Unlockable Eikons

Unlockable Eikons and Summons
Phoenix	Garuda	Ifrit	Ramuh
Titan	Bahamut	Shiva	Odin

All Enemy Eikons

Enemy Eikons
Typhon	Titan Lost