Eidolon (Final Fantasy XIII)

Unreleased Gestalt Mode (ドライビングモード Doraibingu Mōdo, lit. Driving Mode) is a special ability that the Eidolons of Final Fantasy XIII possess. It allows them to change forms, so that their summoner can ride them. When used by the player, it shifts the battle to a more action-oriented tone in which button inputs correspond to attacks. The duration of the Gestalt Mode is determined by a gauge, and each attack subtracts a certain number of points from the gauge. It also allows access to the Eidolon's finisher, which immediately consumes all the points left in the gauge.

Odin
Lightning's Eidolon, Odin, can become a horse.

Gestalt moves:
 * Thunderblade
 * Shockblade
 * Razor Gale
 * Thunderfall
 * Zantetsuken

Shiva
Snow's Eidolon, the Shiva sisters, can become a motorcycle.

Gestalt moves:
 * Wheelie Flash
 * Splash
 * Icicle Turn
 * Air Edge
 * Diamond Dust

Brynhildr
Sazh's Eidolon, Brynhildr, can become a sports car with side mounted machine guns.

Gestalt moves:
 * Rotor Spin
 * Caltrop Bomb
 * Sweeping Turn
 * Hot Rod
 * Múspell Flame

Alexander
Hope's Eidolon, Alexander, can become an immobile fortress surrounding the battlefield.

Gestalt moves:
 * Earthquake
 * Holy Judgement

Bahamut
Fang's Eidolon, Bahamut, can become a flying dragon.

Gestalt moves:
 * Hunter's Dive
 * Aerial Loop
 * Baneful Breath
 * Pulsar Burst
 * Megaflare

Eidolons without Gestalt Modes
The following Eidolons have been confirmed to appear in Final Fantasy XIII, but they cannot be summoned by the player. Instead, they appear as supporting creatures for other characters. These Eidolons don't have a Gestalt Mode like machine-like summons of Lightning, Snow and the others.


 * Carbuncle
 * Siren
 * Ifrit

Etymology
Die Gestalt is a German word for "form" or "shape". It is used in English to refer to a concept of "wholeness" in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.