Final Fantasy XIV’s adorable amphibian comes in mount form, as the Megaloambystoma, or the Axolotl mount, debuted in Endwalker’s Patch 6.4. The dopey-faced salamander isn’t an easy ride to come by, but we’ll explain how to get FFXIV’s Axolotl mount from Savage, along with a few tips.
FFXIV’s Axolotl mount and where it drops
Right, as I was saying, the Megaloambystoma Horn drops from Anabaseios: The Twelfth Circle (Savage). That’s the final fight in Endwalker’s Pandaemonium raid series, and if you’re unfamiliar with Savage encounters, the Axolotl isn’t the easiest mount to score.
The quick version is you’ll need to finish The Twelfth Circle Savage (P12S) and roll the winning number on the mount drop. As long as no one in your group has cleared the fight for the week, the party is always guaranteed one mount will drop. The Axolotl mount isn’t tradeable, so you can’t sell it on the Market Board, and party members who own it cannot roll again.
It’s you versus seven (give or take) others after getting the clear. If it’s of any solace, I’m rooting for you. Also, you could always take some Savage breaks by grinding for the Wivre mount, or perhaps you fancy the Vinegaroon.
How to unlock Pandaemonium: Anabaseios (Savage) Raids
If you’re braving the Pandaemonium Raid series in its most difficult form, you’ll need to unlock the Normal version first. You don’t have to clear all of the Savage fights before floors nine through 12; those all unlock with these same steps.
The Pandaemonium questline begins with The Crystal From Beyond, assigned to you post-Endwalker by Nemjiji in Old Sharlayan (X:9.6, Y:11.8). Follow that quest chain through its 16 other assignments, finally leading you to complete Guided by the Past. Working through all of those Normal fights take a while, but they’re well worth the story and preview of the encounters.
With the Normal Pandaemonium quests all done, speak to Nemjiji again, this time in Labyrinthos (X:8.4, Y:27.4), to unlock Anabaseios Savage.
Farming Endwalker’s Anabaseios (Savage)
If the prospect of clearing P12S is too daunting for now, don’t worry. As FFXIV updates, the Patch 6.5 series will add Echo to the fight, making it a little easier with time. It’ll also clear lockout restrictions, so if you have any friends more familiar with the encounter, they can help.
Until it’s lifted, that weekly FFXIV lockout resets every Tuesday and prevents players who cleared P12S from clearing again for loot rewards — that means friends can’t help each other endlessly farm Savage for the Axolotl. Typically, the lockout lifts several months after the Savage tier launches.
The Pandaemonium Savage loot restrictions have lasted a little longer than usual. Judging from FFXIV’s current pattern and the domino of past delays, I’m expecting the ninth through twelfth floor of Pandaemonium to unlock sometime in early 2024, after Patch 6.55. So, if you plan to farm P12S, maybe hold off until then.
And even if it still proves too hard for you now, don’t give up on hopes of getting your own mega-cute Megaloambystoma mount — say that three times fast. Next year, when Dawntrail launches, FFXIV will add another raid series, too. With the increasing Item Level and new gear, revisiting Endwalker Savage grows exponentially easier.
As a little reassurance, I’ve cleared most Savage tiers while they were still current, but I skipped out on the final tier of Omega in Stormblood. In the middle of Shadowbringers, way after the fight launched, friends were able to help me make quick work of the final boss and score an easy win on the Omega mount. I knew nothing of the encounter, but fumbling my way through was fine with all the added stats and levels.
