ThroughoutFinal Fantasy 14, Zodiark is an imposing force of darkness against the Hydaelyn goddess. While its name has been invoked by Ascians since the beginning of the MMO, it was not until Shadowbringers when players really got to understand the lore around this ancient primal.In Endwalker, many expected Zodiark to be the final boss, but it turned out to actually be the first trial boss.
The lore inFinal Fantasy 14is complicated, so much about Zodiark gets lost in all the stories of the Ascians, the Final Days, Etheirys, and Hydaelyn. Despite being an embodiment of darkness, which most connect to evil and death, the primal was made to save the ancients and Etheirys from the Final Days. However, to Eorzeans, the primal is the root of their many Calamities and troubles.
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Zodiark’s Backstory
To know how Zodiark works, it’s important to understand how the primal was made. The primal was created during the “Final Days” in Etheirys. The Final Days was a stagnation of aether that caused creation magic to warp into monstrosities that killed everyone. The ruling body of Etheirys wasthe Convocation of Fourteen, and they came to the conclusion to create Zodiark, a primal that could “weave the laws of reality anew,” which would solve the stagnation of aether. Half of the population of Etheirys willingly sacrificed themselves to create Zodiark. Zodiark needed a core that would be its personality, and Elidibus of the Convocation of Fourteen volunteered himself, after Loghrif was convinced not to.
Zodiark worked in stalling the Final Days, as it was able to make a barrier that replenished Etheirys' aether. However, moresacrifices were given to Zodiark in an obsession for the primalto restore Etheirys. Eventually, the Convocation made plans to sacrifice other races in order to resurrect any ancients that were sacrificed earlier. This created discord among the ancients, as some did not approve of sacrificing other races for their own gain. Due to this, Elidibus separated himself from Zodiark to try to broker peace between the two groups of ancients: Those that wanted to sacrifice others, and those who did not. This move from Elidibus is what deprived the primal of a personality.
Elidibus was too late, as Hydaelyn was created and sundered Zodiark and all of Etheirys into fourteen fragments. The physical body of Zodiark was stored in the Source’s Moon. It was this that made surviving ancients become Ascians, and theystarted making Calamitiesas a way for the fourteen fragments to rejoin with Zodiark so that Etheirys and its people can be restored.
How Zodiark Works
Due to the huge sacrifices made to Zodiark, the primal is incredibly powerful. To create a barrier that can make aether flow again during the Final Days is no small feat. All this power was taken, however, when it and Etheirys were sundered. By the time the Warrior of Light defeats Zodiark, the primal is still not in its full power (as can be seen from seals on its half-formed body).
It isrevealed in Shadowbringersthat Zodiark actually enthralled all that summoned him. This means that the Convocation’s choice to sacrifice many lives to Zodiark may have been due to Zodiark’s supernatural influence and not necessarily their own will. If they were not enthralled, the story may have turned out quite different. This would further explain why so many sacrifices were willing.
Behind The Scenes
Zodiark’s design looks to have inspiration from other Final Fantasy titles. In fact, Zodiark is a name in of beingsFinal Fantasy 12andFinal Fantasy Tactics.Some have compared Zodiark’s adornments with the Zodiark inFinal Fantasy 12.In Endwalker, when Zodiark’s mask breaks, its face looks a lot like the final boss from the originalFinal Fantasygame, Chaos.
There is some interesting etymology to Zodiark as well, as the name appears to be derived from the word “zodiac.” Most are familiar with having zodiac signs depending on time they were born. This gives Zodiark a very celestial and fate-themed name. In Latin, “zodiac” means “circle of animals.”
Final Fantasy 14is available now on PC, PS4, and PS5.
