Benedikta Harman, explained
Before you can even get your bearings in Final Fantasy XVI, you’ll be introduced to several characters in rapid succession. Among these is Benedikta Harman, the commander of the Waloed Kingdom’s elite intelligencers. She shares a close relationship with the king Barnabas Tharmr and sits at “the highest tables of state” according to the Thousand Tomes.
If you’ve just started the game and want to know more about her, my best advice would be to just keep playing. You’ll learn about her history as you progress, which does include some twists and turns. The above is about as much context as you need starting out, and the game will fill you in on a need-to-know basis.
There is one other key detail about Benedikta, though some may consider this a light spoiler. Those who have played the demo or followed the pre-launch information for the game may have learned this already, but I would be remiss to not give a heads up regardless. Read on to find out more.
Who is Garuda in Final Fantasy XVI?
Yes, Benedikta is the Dominant of Garuda in Final Fantasy XVI. Longtime Final Fantasy fans will recognize Garuda as a wind-elemental summon in the franchise. She has an especially prominent role in Final Fantasy XIV, which the team behind Final Fantasy XVI specifically worked on.
Final Fantasy XVI takes place in its own universe, so this version of Garuda is not related to the other games. However, those who played the previous titles will recognize a few neat references when Benedikta takes on her Eikon form.
I’ll let you figure out how this will all play out in the story of Final Fantasy XVI. Is Benedikta a friend, or is she a foe? Keep playing to learn more!
