Final Fantasy 16 offers a wide array of side content, and tracking down Notorious Marks on the Hunt Board is easily one of the most rewarding activities for players. Among the early challenges Clive encounters on his journey through Valisthea is a C-Rank hunt known simply as The Pack. While it may appear straightforward, this battle against multiple agile enemies requires careful preparation and tactical positioning to overcome without losing unnecessary health.
How to Unlock and Locate The Pack
Before you can set out to find this Notorious Mark, you must first unlock access to the Hideaway Hunt Board, which occurs naturally as you progress through the main campaign. Once the bounty becomes available, your destination lies within the vast and sun-drenched Dhalmekian Republic region. To reach the area quickly, open your world map and fast-travel directly to the village of Tabor.
From the Tabor obelisk, begin heading directly south along the main path to locate their hidden nesting grounds. You will eventually encounter a fork in the road, where you should take a right turn and watch the left side for a narrow opening. Following this path leads Clive into a secluded cul-de-sac called The Gilded Path, where the group of beasts waits beneath the trees.
Battle Strategies for Defeating the Beasts
The primary difficulty when dealing with this encounter is not the raw damage of a single opponent, but rather the sheer overwhelming numbers. Clive will find himself outnumbered five-to-one, making it incredibly easy to get surrounded and caught in a devastating stagger combo. The key to surviving this encounter is to keep moving constantly and maintain a safe distance so all five targets remain directly in front of you.
Utilizing high-impact area-of-effect abilities is highly recommended to thin out their ranks simultaneously. Spells like the Phoenix's Rising Flame can knock multiple creatures down at once, opening them up to powerful ground finishers. Focus your single-target attacks on one beast at a time to reduce their overall numbers as quickly as possible.
Countering Special Attacks and Evasion Tips
As the fight progresses, the surviving members of the group will cooperate to unleash a unique coordinated assault known as the Thrill of the Hunt. During this phase, every living dog will take turns diving at Clive in rapid succession from different angles. Because the timing of these lunges can vary slightly, relying on precision dodges or a well-timed block is vital to avoiding massive damage.
If you have already unlocked advanced defensive abilities, using Titan's specialized blocking style can mitigate the danger of these swift strikes completely. Keep your focus on countering after a successful evasion to quickly stagger the remaining targets. Once the pack's numbers dwindle to one or two, the battle becomes significantly easier to manage.
Rewards for Completing the Hunt
Defeating this unique encounter successfully yields a variety of valuable resources that are incredibly useful for upgrading Clive's equipment early in the game. Upon slaying the beasts, players receive an influx of experience points alongside fifty ability points to customize their active skill trees. Additionally, you will earn a generous sum of gil and ten renown points to boost your standing at the Hideaway.
The monster drops themselves include essential crafting items such as sharp fangs, bloody hides, and magicked ash. These common components are frequently requested by Blackthorne the blacksmith to forge stronger armor and upgrade early-game weaponry. Gathering these materials ensures Clive remains well-equipped for the much tougher challenges waiting later in the story.