Shiva (Final Fantasy XIII)

Shiva, also known as the Twin Sisters of Shiva, is Snow's Eidolon in Final Fantasy XIII. The Twin Sisters, Stiria and Nix, are ice-elemental mechanical women who can transform and merge into a motorcycle.

Profile
The elder sister Stiria has dark blue skin with a pale blue claw mark on her right eye. She has dark blue and white color palette with bronze highlights. Stiria's torso serves as the front half of the motorcycle, with the wheel on her head as the front wheel, the protrusion near where her ears should be as the handlebars, and her legs as the exhaust pipes.

In contrast to Stiria, Nix has pale blue skin with a blue skintight clothing and silver metal armor. Beneath her visor is a dark blue claw mark on her left eye. She wields a floating wheel. Nix's forearm and head serves as the backrest of the motorcycle.

The Latin writing on the sphere of ice during the summoning animation reads:
 * By the grace of Etro, twin rulers arise from your icy thrones. Come forth, sisters of Winter wastes.
 * A name in blood, a pact of ice. Shiva shall rise, her bond eternal and unyielding.
 * Aurora Borealis
 * Aurora Australis

Final Fantasy XIII
Eidolons are entities who reside in Valhalla, the middle world between the mortal realm and the unseen realm of the dead. They answer to Goddess Etro, the deity that rules over Valhalla, and she sends them out to help l'Cie who struggle with their Focus.

Stiria and Nix are faced by Snow in Lake Bresha. The battle commences after the the point of view returns from Lightning's party to Snow, who has remained behind. He is apprehended by PSICOM, and when surrounded inadvertently summons Shiva. After the Shiva Sisters have annihilated the PSICOM forces, the sisters turn against Snow, who must defeat them to tame them.

The Twin Sisters are summoned by Snow when the party returns to Cocoon from heir excursion on Gran Pulse. They crash a grand prix event in Eden and ride through the racetrack with their Eidolons in Gestalt Mode.

Final Fantasy XIII-2
The Shiva Sisters help Lightning fight Caius in Valhalla, but are of different color from the original game, suggesting they are an alternate form of Shiva, like Caius's Chaos Bahamut.

In the paradox ending, "The Future is Hope", Snow is seen sitting on the same gestalt motorcycle he had in Final Fantasy XIII. It is therefore possible that Snow received the Shiva Sisters again upon becoming a l'Cie.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
The Shiva Sisters appear during Lightning's final battle when Snow summons them to shield her. The Shiva Sisters bid farewell to the party and disappear into the void alongside the other Eidolons, as their kind cannot exist in the new world. There is a general store in Yusnaan called Nix and Styria General Store, named after the Shiva Sisters.

Boss


The battle with Shiva is the first Eidolon fight in the game. The tutorial for Eidolon battles appear before the battle starts.

Since Snow fights his Eidolons alone, Stiria cannot be targeted during the fight, but instead heals Snow as he has no other support. Shiva Sisters "yield to those who defend against attacks", so the simplest method of victory is to Paradigm Shift to Sentinel, and repeatedly use Steelguard.

Summon


While summoned, the sisters have separate ATB Gauges, but both will be dismissed if their shared SP Gauge falls to zero. This is compensated by Stiria not being able to be directly targeted. In normal mode, Stiria focuses on the Medic and Ravager roles, healing Snow and dealing ice-elemental damage to enemies. Nix focuses on a Commando role, although she does have Blizzara at her disposal. While Stiria cannot be targeted by enemies, she can still be damaged by Area of Effect attacks.

Their Gestalt Gauge increases by driving up enemy chain gauges and by defending against enemy attacks as a Sentinel. In Gestalt Mode, the Shiva Sisters transform into a motorcycle Snow can ride.

Stats
Stiria has 3 ATB bars and Nix has 4.

Stiria's abilities
Stiria attacks the enemy Snow is targeting with Blizzard and does nothing while its ATB gauge charges. If Snow is afflicted with a negative status it casts Esuna. If Snow's HP is below 70% it casts Curaga.

Nix's abilities
Nix attacks the enemy Snow is targeting with Wheel Rap three times followed by Flip Kick. While the ATB gauge charges it closes in on the enemy it is targeting and ATB Charge accelerates the charge rate.

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade
Some of the Eidolons appear.


 * Ability Cards

Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Stiria and Nix appear as enemies in Final Fantasy Record Keeper. Their abilities, however, may be imparted to the delegation's units as Soul Break skills.

World of Final Fantasy
Shiva-Ixion, a variant of Shiva based on the Shiva Sisters, appears accompanying Snow in the game. She's one of the few Mirages that can't be imprismed in any way.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game
Shiva appear as cards in this trading card game, representing their respective element.

Triple Triad
Shiva appears on Triple Triad cards in the version available via Final Fantasy Portal App.

Merchandise
T-shirts with Eidolon designs have been on sale in the Japanese Square Enix store. The shirts cost ¥3,900, with two versions, Odin or Shiva. The Eidolons have also been made into action figures in the Final Fantasy Creatures Kai Vol. 3 series. These figures cost ¥6,240 a piece. Final Fantasy XIII -Play Arts Kai- Shiva Bike Action Figure Set with Nix and Stiria was released in November 2010 with the Shiva Sisters, which could either be assembled separately or into a bike as they appear in Gestalt Mode.

Gallery

 * Concept art