FFXIV: Complete guide to Hall of the Novice, including Tactical Training

The Hall of the Novice is an entirely optional piece of side content in Final Fantasy XIV that allows you to practice skills and learn new things that can prove useful in battle. With patch 7.1, a number of new training exercises were added for players to complete if they choose. 

Hall of the Novice was introduced way back in patch 3.2, and has been left relatively untouched since then with little being added. However, the training exercises are immensely useful for both new players, and those who have stepped away for a while and haven’t been keeping up with newly added mechanics. 

How to unlock the Hall of the Novice in Final Fantasy XIV

When you get your first class to level 15, you can speak with an NPC called “The Smith” in any of the following locations to unlock the Hall of the Novice:

• New Gridania (X:11.0, Y:13.0)
• Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (X:11.0, Y:11.0)
• Ul’dah – Steps of Nald (X:12.0, Y:9.0)
• South Shroud (X:19.0, Y:18.0)
• Central Shroud (X:10.0, Y:22.0)
• Central Shroud (X:19.0, Y:28.0)
• Western La Noscea (X:28.0, Y:24.0)
• Western Thanalan (X:27.0, Y:16.0)
• Eastern Thanalan (X:14.0, Y:30.0)

When you’ve got the Hall of the Novice unlocked, you’ll be able to undertake the various training exercises that are available. 

How to complete Hall of the Novice training in Final Fantasy XIV

There are four different categories of training exercises at the Hall of the Novice:

• Tank
• Healer
• DPS
• Tactical Training

While Tactical Training can be completed by any players using any Job, including those most recently added as part of Dawntrail, the individual class (Tank, Healer, and DPS) training exercises can only be completed by jobs added during Stormblood or before. 

That means that the Jobs listed below cannot take part in basic Hall of the Novice training:

• Gunbreaker or Dancer (added during Shadowbringers)
• Reaper or Sage (added during Endwalker)
• Viper or Pictomancer (added during Dawntrail)

To take part in Hall of the Novice training, you can either approach one of The Smiths at their locations noted above and select “Undertake Hall of the Novice training”, or open up the Duty menu and select “Hall of the Novice”. Either method will bring up an interface that looks like the image below:

To find a particular exercise, click on the “Display all exercises” button in the bottom right corner, select the training exercise you want to complete, and then click on “View exercise”. As long as you’re playing with a qualifying Job, you’ll be able to select “Begin” to be taken into the exercise. 

All basic Hall of the Novice exercises in Final Fantasy XIV

In total, there are 20 basic exercises that you can complete if you choose to do so. These exercises are split between the different roles, with each role having a “final exercise” that combines everything from previous exercises into one fight sequence. Completing all exercises will reward you with a set of level 15 “Brand-new” gear for the role that you completed the training.

Tank exercises

Tanks have the most exercises of all roles, and while the topics might seem fairly basic, it’s definitely worth completing all of them. This is especially true if you’re new to MMOs and want to get into higher-level content:

• Exercise 1: Avoid area of effect (AoE) attacks
• Exercise 2: Execute a combo to increase enmity
• Exercise 3: Execute a combo in battle
• Exercise 4: Accrue enmity from multiple targets
• Exercise 5: Engage multiple targets
• Exercise 6: Execute a ranged attack
• Exercise 7: Engage enemy reinforcements
• Exercise 8: Final exercise

Healer exercises

There are five different exercises for Healers to undertake specifically, and although they’re pretty basic, they’re great for those who may be nervous about having the lives of the party in their hands:

• Exercise 1: Avoid area of effect (AoE) attacks
• Exercise 2: Heal and ally
• Exercise 3: Heal multiple allies
• Exercise 4: Avoid engaged targets
• Exercise 5: Final exercise

DPS exercises

DPS classes have a total of seven exercises to complete, including the final exercise to test everything they’ve learned. Again, while these seem pretty basic, it’s all very useful to know and understand if you’re new to this type of play style:

• Exercise 1: Avoid area of effect (AoE) attacks
• Exercise 2: Assist allies in defeating a target
• Exercise 3: Defeat an occupied target
• Exercise 4: Avoid engaged targets
• Exercise 5: Engage enemy reinforcements
• Exercise 6: Interact with the battleground
• Exercise 7: Final exercise

All Hall of the Novice: Tactical Training exercises in Final Fantasy XIV

Tactical training can be undertaken while playing any job, regardless of when that job was added. You’ll need to complete the level 49 MSQ quest “Hearts on Fire” before you can unlock and complete them, though. When that’s done, head back to one of The Smiths and talk to them to unlock the Tactical Training exercises. 

There are three Tactical Training exercises to complete that unlock in sequence after completing the previous one, and each will take you through various different mechanics that are commonly seen throughout the content in FFXIV. For completing the three Tactical Training exercises, you’ll be rewarded with a Neophyte’s Ring, which increases EXP gain by 30% when playing on a Job that’s below level 60.

Let’s take a look at each exercise, and the different mechanics that you’ll encounter while completing them.

Tactical Exercise 1 – React to Attack Markers

Mechanics included in this Tactical Training include linear Tank Busters, AoEs that chase you across the arena, Stack Markers, and Spread Markers. You’ll go through each mechanic individually, and then utilize what you’ve learned in a final test that you’ll need to pass to complete the exercise.

Tactical Exercise 2 – React to Floor Markers

This exercise will take you through more complex mechanics, such as Knockback Markers, Proximity Markers, and Towers. Again, you’ll be tested in a final exercise that combines all of the taught mechanics. 

Tactical exercise 3 – React to advanced visual indicators

The third and final Tactical Training exercise will take you through various more complex mechanics, such as Proximity Tethers and how to break them, Gaze attacks, status effects such as Poison or Bind, and how to use Esuna to cleanse them. Completing the final test in this exercise will reward you with the Neophyte’s Ring.