How to unlock Triple Triad in FFXIV

If you love collecting things, have a passion for winning, and don’t mind a little bit of gamer frustration, Triple Triad is the perfect thing to distract yourself with while playing Final Fantasy XIV. There are currently 402 cards to collect, but let’s start with the basics.

Unlocking Triple Triad

To unlock the card game, head for Card Hall in the Gold Saucer. Talk to the Triple Triad Master (X4.1 Y7.4) and pick up the quest called Triple Triad Trial. This quest doesn’t actually have anything for you to do, but rather provides you with a set of instructions on how to get started, along with your first five cards:

• Dodo card
• Sabotender card
• Bomb card
• Mandragora card
• Couerl card

Creating your deck

To register these cards as a deck, select Character from your menu (the first circle) and click on Gold Saucer. When the pop-up window opens up, click Card Decks. You’ll see that you have five open slots for multiple decks. 

Pick one of them and another window will open up, allowing you to transfer your cards into the deck. Once all five cards are placed into your deck, click Save. You now have your first deck of cards. This is also how you modify your decks going forward.

Basic rules of Triple Triad

Each card has four numbers and these are what you want to focus on, for now. In a game with no special rules, a higher number trumps a lower one. Whenever you place a card down next to an opponent’s, the number on the side of your card that meets theirs needs to be higher. If your number is higher, you’ll capture their card. The player with the most cards captured at the end of the match wins. 

Matches within the Card Hall

Throughout your journey trying to collect all of the Triple Triad cards that FFXIV has to offer, you’ll encounter many different games with special rules. From Ascension to Draft, each game has its own nuances and tactics for winning. However, I suggest battling four of the six NPCs within the Card Hall as these matches will give you a nice introduction on how to play.

Triple Triad Master (X4.1 Y7.4) – All Open

This match is the tutorial of Triple Triad and can be replayed at any time if you need a refresher on the basic rules. All Open simply means that all cards are visible to both players. It doesn’t change the rules of the game in any way. 

Jonas of the Three Spades (X4.6 Y7.3) – All Open

The same rules as you experienced with the Triple Triad Master, but without the tutorial that she provides.

Guhtwint of the Three Diamonds (X4.3 Y6.9) – Three Open

Similar to All Open, except only three random cards from each deck are visible to both players. Also doesn’t affect the basic rules of the game. 

Aurifort of the Three Clubs (X4.1 Y7.7) – Three open/Order

This NPC combines Three Open with another special rule, Order. This rule means that both players must play their cards in the order in which they are registered in the deck. 

There are two other NPCs with matches on offer within the Card Hall. I don’t recommend trying to defeat them just yet; their decks far outweigh the starter deck and their rules (Ascension and Plus) make them practically unbeatable at this point. If you do want to try, they can be found at the following locations:

• Ruhtwynda of the Three Hearts (X3.9 Y7.5)
• King Elmer III (X3.8 Y7.8)

As you set out to gather cards and improve your decks, utilize this tracker to help you remember which ones you need to win.