How to Beat Barnabas

Barnabas is a boss that appears during the Through the Maelstrom and The Last King quests in Final Fantasy 16 (FF16). See the best strategies for how to beat Barnabas, how to counter its attacks and abilities, as well as its location, quest appearance, spoils, and drops.

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Sleipnir	Control Node

Barnabas Overview

Barnabas Location and Drops

All Barnabas Phases

Phase	Main Strategy
First Encounter	・Focus on staying alive before Iron Flash is unleashed.
Second Encounter (1st Phase)	・Counterattack after sword combos.
Second Encounter (2nd Phase)	・Opportunity to attack while abilities are being channeled. ・Successfuly execute Quick Time Events
Second Encounter (3rd Phase)	・Energy sword attacks can be dodged through.
Second Encounter (4th Phase)	・Combined abilities are slow and can easily be evaded.

How to Beat Barnabas (First Encounter)

Step-by-Step Guide
Fight Back After Teleportation Abilities Avoid the Energy Beam AoE Skill Focus on Evading During Iron Flash

Fight Back After Teleportation Abilities

Barnabas shares a lot of similarities with Sleipnir as he'll usually teleport around the area first before appearing in-front or behind Clive to unleash sword combos. This includes sending out horizontal slash waves, 360 spin moves, and unleashing a single sword attack that fires off in multiple directions.

Wait for his teleportation skills to end then precision dodge and parry at the right time. Afterwards you can spam your abilities and combos at him.

Avoid the Energy Beam AoE Skill

The Lord's Measure skill sees Barnabas summoning energy beams in a cross-shaped pattern. This AoE ability doesn't take up too much breathing space in the battle zone, so you can outmaneuver this easily by dashing or running away.

Focus on Evading During Iron Flash

As the battle ensues, Barnabas will charge up the Iron Flash ability and you'll be prompted to deplete the purple gauge bar before the timer ends.

Do not attempt to attack him as you are meant to succumb to it and lose the fight. Instead, focus on evading the laser beams spawning all over the arena, and his sword attacks as losing all your health before Iron Flash is discharged leads you to the game over screen.

How to Beat Barnabas (Second Encounter)

Step-by-Step Guide
First Phase Second Phase Third Phase Fourth Phase

First Phase

Counterattack at the End of Sword Combos

Barnabas will constantly be deflecting and parrying your basic attacks so you'll only have the chance to attack him only after each of his combo ends as he'll be entering a short but relatively quick recovery animation afterwards.

Once you get the timing of his moves, you can precision dodge then precision attack afterwards to deal decent damage at him.

Dodge and Evade Unique Abilities

During the first phase, Barnabas has access to two abilities that are both AoE attacks.

Ability	Dodge Method
Gungnir	Jump over shockwaves as the projectile hits the ground.
The Lord's Measure	Avoid getting caught in the laser beams.

Second Phase

Abilities are Enhanced in the 2nd Phase

The 2nd phase of the fight sees Barnabas' abilities gaining upgraded versions of Gungnir and the Lord's Measure with both of them being used in succession. Remember that you can still dodge through both abilities as they approach you.

Ability	Enhanced Effects
Gungnir (Enhanced)	Followed up by two aerial slashes.
The Lord's Measure (Enhanced)	Spawns several more laser beams across entire arena.

Attack From Behind During Blinding Steel

Blinding Steel is an AoE attack which unleashes a channel of energy across the arena from where Barnabas is standing at.

As he charges this up, quickly get behind him to avoid getting caught in the impending energy wave and attack him with your abilities as he'll be vulnerable for a few seconds.

Cinematic Clash Occurs After Reducing HP to 60%

After getting his HP to 60%, a Cinematic Clash will occur in which you'll have to repeatedly spam the Square Button to prevent a giant energy sword from striking you down.

Quick Time Events Guide: Are There QTEs?

Third Phase

Prevent Ultimate Zantetsuken From Unleashing

The 3rd phase begins with Barnabas charging up the Ultimate Zantetsuken and you'll be prompted to deplete the purple gauge bar to prevent him from discharging it.

If you fail to completely put a stop to this fatal ability, you can use Limit Break to prevent yourself from getting killed.

Precision Dodge Through Energy Sword Attacks

Once Barnabas activates Quieting, he'll be able to use two new abilities, the All-wielder and Great Divide which he can use to slash you in different directions using a huge energy sword that he'll be wielding for the rest of the battle.

Take note that both these attacks can easily be precision dodged, negating all damage and effects if timed correctly.

Ability	Effect
The All-wielder	Slashes a sword vertically followed by a deadly energy beam.
Great Divide	Cleaves a gigantic energy sword vertically and horizontally.

Fourth Phase

Focus on Evading Odin's Sword Combos

Combo	Horizontal Slash > Thrust > Horizontal Slash > Vertical Slash

The final phase sees Barnabas temporarily transforming into his Odin form and will execute a sequence of sword combos that you'll have to dodge as you won't have an opportunity to attack him during this.

Circle of Malius is Followed Up by Sword Attacks

After the initial Odin attacks, Barnabas will return to his semi-primed form and will gain a new ability, Circle of Malius, where he'll turn himself into a spinning wheel and will lunge towards you twice.

As the ability ends, he'll also thrust his sword at you twice so be prepared to dodge again.

Anticipate Blinding Steel and Lord's Measure Combination

Barnabas can now combine Blinding Steel and Lord's Measure into one. Similar to earlier tactics, avoid getting caught up in the laser beams, then quickly circle behind him as he channels up Blinding Steel. Afterwards, use all your abilities and combos at him while he's unleashing the energy wave.

◄ Previous Boss	Next Boss ▶
Sleipnir	Control Node

Final Fantasy XVI (FF16) Related Guides

List of Bosses and Formidable Foes

All Formidable Foes

All Formidable Foes
Gigas	Morbol	Knight of the Blinding Dawn
Eikon of Fire	Shiva's Dominant	Tiamat
Dragon Aevis	Fafnir	Midnight Raven
Chirada	Suparna and Chirada	Benedikta
Garuda	Knight of the Dying Sun	Iron Giant
Infernal Eikon	Infernal Shadow	Imperial Cannonier
Akashic Dragon	Typhon	Republican War Panther
Akashic Morbol	Flame Lizard	Liquid Flame
Coeurl	Hugo	Undertaker
Titan	White Dragon	Necrophobe
Bahamut	Sleipnir	Barnabas (First Encounter)
Control Node	Aurum Giant	Barnabas (Second Encounter)
Behemoth	Ultima (First Encounter)	Ultimalius