How to get a Chocobo in Final Fantasy 16: Unlock quest & controls

The legendary Chocobos return in Final Fantasy 16, giving players a handy way to travel around Valisthea quickly. Here’s how to get a Chocobo in Final Fantasy XVI.

Despite being a PlayStation exclusive at launch, Final Fantasy 16 has already established itself as one of the biggest games of 2023. The latest entry in the franchise is introducing plenty of new ideas, from the addition of Arcade Mode to the new Active Time Lore system.

That being said, Final Fantasy XVI still has all the hallmarks that the franchise is known for, from powerful characters to Summons, this time known as Eikons. Another staple is the trusty Chocobo, the iconic bird that has become a series mascot.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to get a Chocobo in Final Fantasy 16.

(Mild spoilers ahead)

How to unlock Chocobos in Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy 16 players can unlock Chocobos by completing The White Winged Wonder side quest. This additional objective can be picked up from Roman in Martha’s Rest, a location you’ll visit as part of a main campaign quest called The Gathering Storm.

You won’t arrive in Martha’s Rest until around 17-20 hours into the story, and there’s no way of getting hold of a Chocobo before that point. Luckily, once the quest is completed, Clive will have his own personal Chocobo to call on demand.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to unlock Chocobos in Final Fantasy 16:

1. Follow the main campaign until you hit The Gathering Storm quest.
2. As part of the story, head to Martha’s Rest.
3. Find and talk to Roman near the entrance to the village.
4. He will offer you The White Winged Wonder side quest.
5. Follow the marker to track down the Chocobo.
6. Defeat the bandits attacking the creature, including a boss fight.
7. Claim the Chocobo for your own.

Once you complete this quest, Clive will realize that Whiteheart is none other than Clive’s own Ambrosia, who it turns out survived the fire at Pheonix’s Gate.

How to ride Ambrosia in Final Fantasy XVI

Once you’ve unlocked your personal Chocobo in Final Fantasy 16, press R3 to call Ambrosia. Then, simply press X to hop on and R2 to sprint, allowing you to make full use of your noble steed to make traversing a much smoother process.

It’s worth noting you can only call Ambrosia in open areas, the Chocobo is unavailable when in more compact locations like towns or cities.

While you’ll want to dismount before getting into a fully-fledged battle, Ambrosia can also deal damage by pressing the Square button. She won’t be pulling off combos like Clive, but it’s a great way to begin a fight by damaging unsuspecting enemies.

That was everything you need to know about how to get a Chocobo in Final Fantasy 16. For more, be sure to check out our other guides:

Does Final Fantasy 16 have multiplayer or co-op? | Is Final Fantasy 16 be open world? | Does Final Fantasy 16 have New Game Plus? | Is Final Fantasy 16 be on Steam Deck? | Will there be Final Fantasy 16 DLC?