Why Final Fantasy 16’s sword system disappoints players and how a transmog or upgrade system could fix it
Players want swords to feel more worthwhile
Final Fantasy 16 players are voicing significant criticism towards the game’s approach to weapons and progression, specifically targeting a system that renders most swords functionally worthless over time.
The core complaint centers on a lack of meaningful equipment depth, where players cannot upgrade their favored blades, forcing a constant chase for higher-stat replacements.
While Final Fantasy 16 has garnered widespread praise for its cinematic story and intense action combat, its reception isn’t unanimous. A segment of the fanbase feels the shift towards a pure action experience has come at the cost of the series’ traditional RPG soul.
This pivot is most evident in the streamlined gear systems. The game favors fast-paced, combo-driven battles over complex character building or loot-driven exploration, creating a disconnect for players who value long-term investment in their equipment.
The equipment system’s simplicity is its greatest flaw. Weapons primarily feature only two relevant stats—Attack and Stagger—leading to a linear “bigger number = better” progression. There is no incentive, mechanically, to retain a weapon for its unique model, elemental affiliation, or narrative significance once its raw numbers are surpassed.
Community sentiment crystalized in a popular meme on the Final Fantasy subreddit, where a Gravity Falls template was used to label swords as essentially ‘worthless.’ This sparked a broader discussion, with a thread advocating for a revamped upgrade system amassing considerable support.
The problem is exacerbated by the game’s reward structure. After climactic Eikon battles, players are often granted a unique, ‘rare’ sword themed after that primal. These visually stunning weapons serve as badges of honor.
However, within a few hours of gameplay or a couple of story missions, these hard-earned trophies are statistically outclassed by common loot found in the next zone. This creates a jarring dissonance where a sword representing a monumental victory becomes vendor trash.
One player encapsulated the frustration: “It’s so demoralizing to return to the hideaway and see your epic purple legendary sword is already weaker than some random white sword you just picked up.”
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Other community members echoed this, with one stating, “The crafting system feels completely redundant. You can just follow the main story and inevitably find a superior weapon,” while another dismissed the entire gear loop as a mere “afterthought” by the developers.
Practical Tip: Don’t over-invest Gil or resources into crafting every new sword blueprint you acquire. Focus only on the ones that provide a substantial Attack power leap, as intermediate upgrades are quickly outgrown.
Common Mistake: Hoarding old weapons for sentimental or visual reasons will clutter your inventory without providing any gameplay benefit. The game offers no system, like transmog or cosmetic overrides, to utilize old skins.
Implementing a transmog (transmogrification) system is the most frequently requested solution. This would allow players to apply the appearance of any sword they’ve collected to their currently equipped, statistically superior weapon. It’s a feature common in modern RPGs and live-service games that respects player choice and visual identity.
Optimization Tip for Advanced Players: Since weapon stats are linear, min-maxing is straightforward. Always equip the sword with the highest Attack stat. For Stagger-focused builds, prioritize that secondary stat only if the Attack loss is minimal (less than 10 points). Ignore weapon names and rarity colors; the raw numbers are all that matter for performance.
Beyond cosmetics, players have proposed deeper solutions. A meaningful upgrade path, using rare materials to incrementally improve a favorite weapon’s stats, could create attachment. Alternatively, introducing unique, non-stat-based perks to legendary swords (e.g., “Increases Limit Break duration by 15%”) would give them a permanent niche. The hope is that Square Enix addresses this feedback in future updates or DLC to add the depth and longevity players crave.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Final Fantasy 16 players criticize “worthless” swords & upgrade system Why Final Fantasy 16's sword system disappoints players and how a transmog or upgrade system could fix it