It appears that Joshua dies in Final Fantasy 16 when the Eikon Ifrit rips him apart in his Phoenix form. Much of Clive’s attitude toward life and his driving force at the start of the game is because he believes he allowed Joshua to be killed at Phoenix Gate. But is everything as it seems? Did Joshua die during the Night of the Flames, or does his power as the Dominant of the Phoenix allow him to rise again?
Does Joshua die at Phoenix Gate in Final Fantasy 16?
Players will soon find out that Joshua didn’t die at Phoenix Gate in Final Fantasy 16. After Clive meets Cid, he hears rumors that a Dominant of a fire Eikon has been spotted. He believes this person must be Ifrit’s master and the one who killed Joshua. However, Clive has things entirely backward.
The “Lord Margrace” he pursues is none other than Joshua Rosfield in disguise. Joshua’s objectives in Final Fantasy 16 are shrouded in shadow, but he’s very much alive. He is still the Dominant of Phoenix, and his abilities have grown dramatically since Clive last saw him. He’ll continue to play a pivotal role in the game and is nominally an ally to Clive.
Joshua’s transformation into Lord Margrace and his concealed identity represents a major plot twist in Final Fantasy 16 (albeit one that’s revealed to the player well in advance), adding complexity to the game’s narrative. His survival suggests a deeper interplay of forces at work beyond what initially appears to be a simple tale of revenge and loss. The revelation also substantially impacts Clive’s character development, challenging his beliefs and forcing him to reevaluate his motivations and goals.
When he finds that Joshua has survived, Clive can finally let go of the last of his guilt and embrace Ifrit completely, making him exponentially more powerful.
