How to get a chocobo in Final Fantasy XVI (FF16)

Kweh?!

There has been a lot of argument around Final Fantasy XVI about what makes a Final Fantasy. Is it role-playing systems, a moving soundtrack, or incredibly produced cutscenes? It is simpler than that, I argue. It is, among other things, the chocobos that make Final Fantasy. And you’ll probably want to get a chocobo of your own in Final Fantasy XVI.

Since Final Fantasy II, chocobos have been a core part of the Final Fantasy mythos. They are still ever-present in the world of Valisthea, and as you get weary of walking from place to place, you might even want to get Clive his own. The good news is that you can, but you’ll need to play a decent chunk of Final Fantasy XVI before you get there.

Can you get a chocobo in Final Fantasy XVI?

For those wanting a new means of traversal, yes, you can acquire a chocobo in Final Fantasy XVI. After completing a special side quest in the game (marked by a plus sign next to the quest icon) you’ll be able to saddle up and ride in any of XVI‘s larger, more open zones.

You will, however, need to advance the plot of the game past a certain point. You’ll need to be past the entire fight at Oriflamme to get this quest. (Though we’ll try to keep it light, there are some mild visual and conceptual spoilers ahead, so be warned.)

Once you’re at the proper point in the game, you should see a side quest on your map near Martha’s Rest called “The White-Winged Wonder.” This is where you start on the path toward your very own chocobo.

How to complete The White-Winged Wonder in Final Fantasy XVI

Talk with the quest giver, and he’ll tell you about some troubles with the local chocobos. Apparently, a white-winged chocobo has been defending the local chocobos from ruffians, and the evildoers may have the heroic bird on the ropes.

Rush off towards the quest marker to go help out. Clive will find a white feather on the way, hinting that he’s on the right path.

Once you reach the designated area, you’ll find the white-winged chocobo and its pals surrounded by bandits. There is only one solution, and it involves a lot of sword-swinging, magic-casting, and Eikonic destruction.

After dealing with the bandits, Clive will approach the white-winged chocobo and have a startling revelation. Reunited with his long-lost friend at last, the quest giver shows back up to help take the other chocobos to safety. After consulting with him, Clive will gain a new partner in his ongoing quest, further affirmed by the quest rewards screen. Ambrosia has rejoined the party.

With Ambrosia back in the fold, you’ll be able to summon and ride a chocobo around Valisthea. Simply click in the right stick (also known as R3) and hold it, and Ambrosia will heed the call.

Keep in mind, this only works in field areas. You sadly cannot ride your chocobo around in cities or dungeons. But as you take on a bunch of side quests and re-traverse old haunts, having a little extra speed on your side is helpful. My pro-tip: you might want to tune down or turn off the DualSense haptics. Pulling down the R2 trigger to run gets a little tiring after a while, otherwise.