What can you do as a free member?

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and unlock all our premium features and tools to enhance your gaming experience.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save articles to your watchlist and get notified when they're updated with new information.

Member benefits illustration

Create your free account today and save your favorite games for quick access later, synced across all your devices.

Member benefits illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you'll receive instant notifications when someone replies to your posts.

Comment rating feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can make use of convenient features in the comments section, such as rating and sorting comments.

Premium archive feature illustration

By creating a Game8 account and logging in, you can access Premium articles that are exclusively available to members.

Site Interface

Guest
Free Member
Article Watchlist
Game Bookmarks
Cross-device Sync
Light/Dark Theme Toggle
User Profiles
Direct Feedback
Comment Rating

Game Tools

Guest
Free Member
Interactive Map Access
Interactive Map Pins
Interactive Map Comments
Interactive Map Pins Cross-Device
Check List
Event Choice Checker
Deck Builder Cross-Device
Message Board Notification
Message Board Cross-Device
Build Planner
Stat Calculator
Diagnostic Tool
Weapon/Armor Wishlist

Want more information?Learn more

Final Fantasy 16 (FF16)

Gouge Ability Effects and Cooldown

Add to Watchlist

Gouge is one of the abilities of Garuda in Final Fantasy 16 (FF16). Read on to learn how to unlock and use Gouge, its ability upgrades, effects, AP cost, and more!

Gouge Overview

Overview and Effects

FF16 - Gouge
Gouge
FF16 - Attack FF16 - 2 Star
FF16 - Stagger FF16 - 4 Star
Description
Summon twin claws that relentlessly tear at a target. Can be used in midair.
Ability Cooldown 30 seconds

Details and Use Cases

Recommended Use
- Follow-up strikes can be performed by tapping the execute button.

Techniques

Technique Command
Gouge Strike an enemy multiple times with a single Gouge.

How to Unlock Gouge

Unlock Garuda During Wings of Change

Gouge is unlocked by gaining the power of Garuda during the quest, Wings of Change. You may need to complete or encounter a certain story section in order to unlock this ability.

Wings of Change Walkthrough

How to Use Gouge

Inflict Massive Stagger Damage

Gouge has a 4-star Stagger rating and can be extended by mashing the attack button. This is a great ability to have equipped against a formidable foe or a boss as it can shred their Will gauge and quickly inflct Stagger!

How to Stagger Enemies

Can Be Used in Midair Combos

Gouge can also be used in midair to juggle enemies launched by your other abilities or simply doing midair combos. When using Gouge in midair against stronger foes, be cautious as they can suddenly attack you mid-combo.

Gouge AP Cost and Upgrades

Base Ability and Upgrade Cost

AP Cost Added Effect
Base Base -
Upgrade 575 Increases follow-up strike speed.
Mastery 1000 Allows assignment to any Eikon.

Clive can learn and upgrade Abilities by spending Ability Points (AP) obtained through enemy combat and through completion of Main Quests, Side Quests, or even Hunt Board Quests.

How to Learn and Upgrade Abilities and Skills

Final Fantasy 16 (FF16) Related Guides

FF16 - Abilities

List of All Abilities and Skills

All Garuda Abilities

List of Abilities
Aerial Blast Aerial Blast Rook Rook's Gambit Deadly Embrace Deadly Embrace Wicked Wheel Wicked Wheel
Gouge Gouge

Author

    Please participate in our site
    improvement survey
    12/2025
    Would you assist in
    improving Game8's site?
    ×
    This survey will take about 1 minute.
    Your answers will help us to improve our website.
    We are listening to our users' valuable opinions and discussing how to act on them.
    The information collected through this survey will be used for the purpose of improving our services. In addition, the information will only be disclosed a part of a statistic in a format that will not allow identification of personal information.
    Begin Survey

    All rights reserved

    Guide Index