Square Enix has detailed the six realms of Valisthea that make up Final Fantasy 16’s setting.

Square Enix has detailed the six realms of Final Fantasy 16’s world of Valisthea, providing us with more information about the game’s setting.As we learned from the game’s teaser website, Valisthea is a land “studded with colossal mountains of glittering crystal called Mothercrystals.” These Mothercrystals provide aether to the people of Valisthea, and wars have been fought over the ownership of this powerful resource. This has split the realm into warring states, each with their own quirks and characters. It’s very Game of Thrones.Five of the nations have a ‘Dominant,’ a special person imbued with the transformative power of an Eikon, special summons that “can level nations.” Depending on the nation, a Dominant can be seen as royalty or a force to be feared. Here’s some more information about the six realms of Valisthea in Final Fantasy 16. You can check out all of the realm’s flags on the Final Fantasy 16 teaser website.
The Grand Duchy of Rosaria
Rosaria is a nation made up of “small independent provinces in western Valisthea,” and it’s where the game’s protagonist Clive Rosfield hails from. His brother Joshua Rosfield is the realm’s Dominant, who is powered by the Eikon of Fire, a great Phoenix. The realm’s Mothercrystal is called Drake’s Breath and is held on a volcanic island off the coast. Rosaria’s prosperity has been hurt by something called “the Blight”, which threatens to bring the realm to its knees.The Holy Empire of Sanbreque
Sanbreque is a theocracy ruled by a “Holy Emperor” who is worshipped as a living manifestation of God. The capital of Sanbreque is Oriflamme, which is actually built upon the Drake’s Head Mothercrystal that supplies the realm with its all-important aether. The realm’s Dominant “serves as the empire’s champion” and is known to “rout its enemies” on the battlefield.The Kingdom of Waloed
Waloed is based in the eastern partition of Valisthea, an area known simply as “Ash”. Orcs and beastmen threaten to overthrow Waloed’s rule, but the realm’s Dominant and ruler has used the power of the Drake’s Spine Mothercrystal to create “a mighty army” to stop them in their tracks and seek expansion beyond the borders of Ash.
The Dhalmekian Republic
The Dhalmekian Republic is ruled by a parliament made up of representatives from five states in southern Valisthea. The area draws its powers from the Drake’s Fang Mothercrystal, which is hidden in a mountain range. The area’s Dominant is a “special advisor” to the republic’s parliament and channels the power of Titan, the Eikon of Earth.The Iron Kingdom
Made up of coastal islands in western Valisthea, The Iron Kingdom is ruled by an “extreme faith” called the Crystalline Orthodox, who worship the Mothercrystals. The Kingdom is often in conflict with Rosaria over the Drake’s Breath Mothercrystal, which sits “at the heart” of one of the kingdom’s islands and provides both nations with their power. Its inhabitants are known as the Ironblood who are isolated from the mainland, speaking their own language and treating Dominants as “unholy abominations” who are executed upon birth.The Crystalline Dominion
At the heart of Valisthea is The Crystalline Dominion, which is built around a tall Mothercrystal known as Drake’s Tail. The five realms used to war for control over the crystal, but an armistice was reached which left the area autonomous and controlled by a council with input from each state, except for The Iron Kingdom. As such, the area does not have its own Dominant.Final Fantasy XVI was announced for PS5 back in September of this year and has already completed “basic development”, with more news about the game coming in 2021. You can find out more details about FF16 in our article covering the game’s heroes and the world, and you can watch the first trailer, Awakening, here.
Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.