Weāre just one week away from the launch of Final Fantasy XIVās latest expansion, Endwalker, which brings forth the culmination of ten years of storytelling with gorgeous new zones, immersive quests, epic dungeons, raids, and more! As we gear up for its launch, we’re sharing some last-minute advice and suggestions for sprouts and veterans alike. Here’s everything youāll want to get done to prepare for the full release of Endwalker on Tuesday, December 7.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Yhh0RiSknM
Finish Shadowbringersā Main Story Quest
If youāve been actively playing Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, youāre more than likely already caught up on the Main Story Quest. If youāve just recently returned to Eorzea, however, youāll want to make finishing the Main Story Quest, or āMSQ,ā your first priority. This series of quests tells the full story of the Shadowbringers expansion and its completion is mandatory in order to begin Endwalkerās Main Story Quest. Youāll need to complete all Shadowbringers and Post-Shadowbringers Main Scenario Quests, the latter of which require a level 80 job.
You can check how far along you are in the MSQ, and brush up on the storyās so far, by opening the Journal, clicking āCompleteā and selecting the āMain Scenario (Shadowbringers)ā button. The next quest youāll need to complete is featured at the top right corner of the UI. Clicking on the questās name will pop up a map of your next objective. On the map, Main Story Quests will feature an icon with the familiar flames of the Final Fantasy XIV logo. The final quest in the Post-Shadowbringers Main Story Quest is āDeath Unto Dawn.ā
Complete Role Quests
Shadowbringers introduced a new type of quest, called Role Quests, which replaced individual class quest storylines and instead offered a Main Story Quest-adjacent story experience exclusive to each of FFXIVās roles: Tank, Healer, Melee DPS, and Ranged DPS. You will have to have completed at least one series of Role Quests to progress in Shadowbringersā Main Story Quest. All Role Quests are unlocked in the Crystarium starting at level 70. Additional quests are unlocked along the path to level 80.
Role Quests will be making a return in Endwalker and, although they will no longer be required to progress in the Main Story Quest, youāll likely be interested in the narrative they have to offer. For this reason, we recommend completing additional Role Quests outside of those offered to your main job. New Role Quests are split into five separate questlines rather than Shadowbringersā four, now offering separate quest experiences for Ranged DPS and Caster DPS. As an added bonus, new Role Quests available only to players who have completed all five questlines will be added in Endwalkerās Patch 6.1.
Complete Previous Expansionsā Raid Content
Though this latest Final Fantasy XIV expansion comes with an ominous-sounding name, donāt worry: Final Fantasy XIV isnāt going anywhere. Well, besides the moon. Endwalker is the last expansion of the Final Fantasy XIV storyline thatās been told over the past 10 years, since the game’s release in 2010, through countless quests, dungeons, and raids.
Final Fantasy XIVās directors have confirmed that there are no existing raids that will be required to complete specific Endwalker content, unlike the return of a specific raid from A Realm Reborn and its significance in the Shadowbringers Main Story Quest. However, both Naoki āYoshi-Pā Yoshida, Final Fantasy XIVās beloved game producer and director, and Natsuko Ishikawa, lead writer for Shadowbringers and Endwalker, have recommended that players complete some specific previous expansion raid content to gain a deeper insight into the stories surrounding and personalities of certain NPCs and to broaden the understanding of Final Fantasyās world-building and its grand overarching story ten years in the making.
Both Yoshida and Ishikawa recommend players complete the Coils of Bahamut and Omega raids. Yoshi P also suggests that players run the entirety of the epic Alexander raid series. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Yoshi-P noted, āIf you want to play through Endwalker with a deeper insight into the characters and their thoughts, I’m sure that these raids will enable a richer game experience!”
The Coils of Bahamut
The Coils of Bahamut is a series of level 50, 8-player raids introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Each of the three Coils features multiple (at the time) challenging encounters. These raids are recommended as they heavily feature a storyline surrounding Alphinaud and Alisaie who, although always relevant, will be increasingly so in Endwalker as players travel to Old Sharlayan. You can unlock this questline by speaking with Urianger in the Waking Sands and accepting the quest, āPrimal Awakening.ā
Alexander
The Alexander raids are a series of level 60, 8-player raids from the Heavensward expansion that take players deep inside the workings of a gigantic robot that appeared and promptly began absorbing as much Aether as it can from the surrounding area. As aether is necessary for essentially all life, magic, and everything in between, naturally, players have to put a stop to this. The Alexander questline is unlocked by speaking with Slowfix in Idyllshire and accepting the quest, āDisarmed.ā
Omega
Finally, Omega is a series of level 70, 8-player raids introduced in Final Fantasy XIVās Stormblood expansion. As with the Coils, the Omega raids feature many fascinating encounters focusing primarily on a storyline surrounding the deadly Omega weapon which, though defeated by the end of Stormblood, has recently made an appearance in the Endwalker trailer, teasing its relevance and a possible return in the latest expansion. The Omega questline is unlocked by speaking with Wedge in Rhalgrās Reach and accepting the quest, āThe Hunt For Omega.ā
Complete Hildibrand quests
Though the popular Hildebrand quests are not known to be required to unlock any content in Endwalker, itās generally considered an inevitability that there will be new additions to this long-running questline. Also, theyāre wildly hilarious. Therefore, we recommend getting up to speed with the latest ridiculous adventures of the legendary Hildibrand Manderville and company. This questline is unlocked by speaking with Wymond in Ulādah and accepting the quest, āThe Rise and Fall of Gentlemen.ā
Prepare your inventory
The tidying of oneās backpack and storage prior to a new expansion has long since been an MMO rite of passage. Final Fantasy XIV is, of course, no exception to this ritual, and we recommend clearing your bags and various storage of any unneeded items.
Ditch High-Quality Gathered Items
In an effort to reduce inventory bloat in Endwalker, the decision was made to remove all High-Quality variants of gathered goods. These items will remain in your inventory and will retain the āHigh-Qualityā tag, but will no longer have any special function when used in missions, leves, or other turn-ins. Additionally, they will no longer be able to be brought or sold on the marketboard.
Say, “Goodbye!” to Belts
In an unexpected but completely sensible announcement, belts will no longer be obtainable or equippable in Endwalker. Belts donāt have any visual when glamouring, the true endgame of Final Fantasy XIV so, presumably to further reduce inventory bloat, Square Enix has given them the boot. Belts will not be removed from player inventories, but they will essentially serve no purpose. You might as well clear them out now! Itās worth noting that you will not be able to extract Materia from belts once Endwalker hits, so if you have any belts that are fully spiritbound, you might as well dismantle them while you still can.
Be thorough!
While often criticized for its restrictive storage availability, over the past few years Final Fantasy XIV has become a bit better about offering a variety of different storage options. Only a bit, though. To ensure youāre ready to start cramming your bags full of what Endwalker has to offer, be sure to clear not only your bags but also your Armoury Chest, Chocobo Saddlebag, and the inventories of your Retainers. For the full tidying experience, give your Armoire and Glamour Dresser a once-over, too.
Raise your main job gearās item level
For the first handful of levels into Endwalker, youāll be obtaining gear that is of a lower item level than the current highest gear in Shadowbringers. Based on previous expansions, once you reach around level 85, youāll be able to start increasing your item level beyond Shadowbringersā max.
While itās not necessary to have best-in-slot items, youāll still likely want to go into Endwalker with some decent gear to help make leveling and completing dungeons a bit easier. Here are some recommendations for gear sets and pieces you can still easily obtain prior to Endwalker. Donāt forget that you wonāt need a Belt!
- Edenmete (Item level 510) items – These gear pieces can be purchased from Yhal Yal in Eulmore in exchange for items dropped in the Edenās Promise 8-player raid. This raid has had its lockout removed, so you can run as many times as needed to obtain the Lost Antiquity items required to purchase Edenmete pieces.
- Exarchic (Item level 510) items – These gear pieces are crafted and can be purchased from players via the marketboard.
Get Sage / Reaper gear
If youāre planning on giving Endwalker‘s two new jobs, Reaper or Sage, a whirl, youāll want to come prepared. While youāll receive a set of gear upon unlocking the new jobs, you might want something a bit better to start taking on Endwalkerās content as efficiently as possible. The Reaper, Endwalkerās new DPS job, uses Maiming gear, previously useful to Lancer and Dragoon jobs. We recommend checking out our helpful guide to understand the value of each attribute on this gear. Unsurprisingly, as the new healer on the block, Sages will use Healing gear. You can learn more about the stats found on this gear in our guide to Disciple of Magic’s Attributes.
The easiest gear to obtain at this point prior to Endwalker are Augmented Scaevan items, which can be purchased from Enna in Rhalgrās Reach in exchange for the Allagan Tomestones of Poetics currency item. While Poetics do have a cap (2000), you can earn an unlimited amount of them each week so if youāre willing to put in the leg work youāll still be able to assemble a full set of gear (or at least some choice pieces) just in time for Endwalker. A full set of gear will require spending 4055 Poetics.
Run the Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker Official benchmark
If you havenāt already, youāll likely want to run the Endwalker benchmark software to check how well your computer will be able to run this latest expansion. You can download the benchmark from the Final Fantasy XIV website here. Once the benchmark is complete, youāll receive a score based on your systemās performance at varying levels of in-game settings. As an added bonus, youāll also be able to create and customize the newly added Male Viera then load this data into Endwalker‘s character creatorĀ at launch!
Prepare to rock out
Finally, hereās our suggestion of one of the most important tasks you should complete prior to the launch of Final Fantasy XIVās Endwalker expansion. We recommend you begin drafting letters of apology to your neighbors, especially if you live in apartments, so youāre ready to address the inevitable noise complaints youāll receive because youāre definitely going to want to blast Endwalkerās soundtrack at unspeakable volume levels. Maybe include some treats as a peace offering. Or, maybe, let the expansionās killer tracks be ear candy of their own.
The sound production in ENDWALKER has been the largest ever. We've gone through hell again, but I'm sure you'll all enjoy the content!
Plz turn up the sound volume a little louder than usual and SUPER enjoy!#FFXIV pic.twitter.com/ZrGwk5BSv3— ćć¼ē„å (@SOKENsquareenix) December 1, 2021
[Icy Veins is also a part of the Enthusiast Gaming network.]
Published: Dec 1, 2021 06:00 pm