The Final Fantasy 16 branded mark on Clive’s face has a significant meaning in the game. You’ve probably seen the strange mark on the main character’s left cheek in various promotional material or official artwork and wondered what it means. Indeed, the black brand may look like a cool tattoo, but it has a far darker implication and purpose that carries a lot of weight in the context of FF16’s story. Without going into heavy spoilers, here’s what Clive’s facial brand means in Final Fantasy 16.
What does the Final Fantasy 16 branded mark mean for Clive?
The Final Fantasy 16 branded mark on Clive signifies that he is a Bearer, a magical user who typically used as a tool and a slave.
Most people who live in Valisthea can’t use inherently use magic, instead relying on crystal shards to do so. However, some are born with the ability to cast magic without the use of a crystal, and these people are branded Bearers. These individuals are enslaved from birth in each of the game’s nations and given a brand to signify their status.
Clive may have prowess with combat and magic, but in the game’s prologue, he is forced to be a part of a group of assassins. The other members of his squad also have the same tattoo on their faces, revealing their low status in society. Most Bearers are used for rather mundane labor, where they are ordered to light fires, or very dangerous tasks that no one else wants to perform, like being an assassin.
As you might suspect, the tension between the Bearers and the ruling class becomes a focal point for the game’s story. I mean, turning slaves into assassins seems like something that could backfire.
At any rate, as shown in various previews and trailers, Clive’s brand, which is a tattoo of two crossed axes, shows how far he has fallen in status after the events of the opening chapter. His need for revenge and his sobering sense of loss drive Clive forward through the game.
For more Final Fantasy 16 guides, here is what happens to Clive’s mother as well as Clive’s brother Joshua later in the game.
