FFXIV Rival Wings: Hidden Gorge PvP Explained

No, that’s not League of Legends, but the FFXIV Rival Wings PvP arena sure shares a few similarities with the MOBA. Whether you’re a veteran or a newcomer to Final Fantasy XIV’s chaotic mech-mounting PvP mode, chances are the Hidden Gorge isn’t too familiar to your list of daily duties.

Thankfully, Square Enix throws us a bone once in a while, and the slow queue times for Rival Wings improve as event incentives engage the community. Initially, the mode hosted two maps: Astagalos and Hidden Gorge. However, Hidden Gorge is the only arena open to players for now.

Preparing for FFXIV PvP

Before you queue into anything PvP-related, prepare for FFXIV Rival Wings by teleporting to the Wolves’ Den in La Noscea and unlocking the arena. You gain access to the large-scale showdown by speaking to Softknox (X:5.7, Y:5.4) for the Earning Your Wings quest. It only takes a second to complete, but you must be level 30 or higher.

Note that battle jobs in PvP don’t share hotbars with your standard PvE-ready loadouts. Ensure you’ve adjusted your abilities using the PvP Profile menu before joining a match. Additionally, add shortcuts for quick chat to ease communication, and don’t forget buttons for PvP’s unique Sprint action along with Return and a keybind for your favorite mount.

What’s the goal in FFXIV Rival Wings PvP?

In Rival Wings, FFXIV divides 48 players into two opposing factions. Each 24-man team hosts six smaller parties of four (Light Parties). Those teams — the Falcons and Ravens — rush to storm the enemy base (Core) and destroy any protective structures (Towers) along the way. You’ll have 15 minutes to smash the rival team’s base, or the win goes to whoever’s in the lead.

The Hidden Gorge has a few key areas. There’s your Core, two lanes lined with Towers, a middle area with the Train Loading Station, and grasslands surrounding the station. In those grasslands, you’ll find Ceruleum Tanks and cave entrances on the map’s north and south sides.

Hidden Gorge: Objectives explained

Focusing on player kills alone won’t win the game for you; that’s free advice for Frontlines, too. Pick off enemies as opportunities present themselves, but you’ll want to focus on a few other conditions first:

• First, book it to the Train Loading Station mid unless the delivery is Gobbiejuice
• If it’s Gobbiejuice, start collecting Ceruleum Tanks and push a lane
• Keep Ceruleum storage rolling; parties want enough gas to keep mechs deployed
• If no one in your party is piloting a mech, mount up yourself
• Kill enemy Mammets ASAP as they approach; they’ll explode on your Towers
• Watch the Goblin Mercenary cave timers to the north and south

Both Raven and Falcon Cores have two Towers, one in each lane, guarding their base. To damage the Core, teams need to break through on one side, at least. If your team’s Core reaches zero HP, it’s game over.

Watch the Loading Station

The Train Loading Station delivers supplies of Gobbiejuice, Man Ceruleum Tanks, Gobtanks, and Gobcrates. They’re all helpful if you can spare the journey to the midpoint, but sometimes, they aren’t worth risking the fight. Those supplies include four options:

• Gobbiejuice yields a Soaring buff stack increase
• Main Ceruleum Tanks give every Light Party 50 Ceruleum
• Gobtanks spawn tanky allies in both lanes
• Gobcrates deliver all three buffs above and only spawn after 10 minutes

Pilot your Mechs

Rival Wing’s Machina arsenal of Cruise Chaser, Oppressor, and Brute Justice win matches. If your team isn’t keeping a steady rotation of Alexander-themed defenses on the field and forgetting to stockpile Ceruleum, you’re fighting a losing battle. Each has its own specialty, but you’ll want to keep prioritizing objectives with the robot. Also, when you encounter an enemy Machina, try to focus their HP down first. Don’t let them roam uncontested.

Each Machina requires 50 Ceruleum to summon and don’t waste gas chasing a single Paladin around Eorzea. Note that Brute Justice is only available after losing one Tower.

• Oppressor specializes in destroying structures
• Cruise Chaser blows up players and other Machina
• Brute Justice is great for both structure, player, and Machina damage

Mammets Hurt

Don’t ignore the Mammets. If you’re familiar with League of Legends, or really any other MOBA, think of these as your minions. They’re about the least threatening-looking thing on the enemy team, but if they go uncontested, opposing Wind-Up Vikings and Magus deal serious damage. Mammets aren’t very hard to kill, so when you see them, turn your attention to burn them down quickly. If enemy Mammets reach your Tower, they fling themselves at the structure and explode.

It’s not always worth the cast, but also note you can heal your team’s Mammets. If they’re close to the other team’s Tower, you may want to babysit the little guys to ensure they reach the end for a little sacrificial damage.

Keep tabs on Mercenaries

In the north and south of Hidden Gorge, Goblin Mercenaries take up residency in caves. These objectives can be recruited as allies for your team, and aid in either the north or south lanes to help push forces along. Spawn timers on the gobbies-for-hire are random, but the map keeps you abreast of their arrival with little goblin icons. Just hover over the indicator for their countdown.

Whichever team deals more damage to the target recruits the Goblin Mercenary, but be careful about approaching unprepared. The goblin is hostile and fights back until the Ravens or Falcons deal enough damage to win its loyalty.

Ultimately, FFXIV Rival Wings isn’t that complicated when you break it down piece by piece. The map and UI may come off as pretty intimidating, but I find I’ve got at least a fighting chance if I abide by a few of those principles mentioned above. If you want the TLDR, remember these tips:

• Soaring increases damage and healing dealt
• Limit Breaks also charge faster with Soaring
• Don’t tunnel vision on players
• Kill enemy Machina and Mercenaries first
• Map awareness wins in PvP; open the full display
• Do not over-cap on Ceruleum
• Always keep your Mechs in play

FFXIV Rival Wings Rewards

Thanks to wait times outside of events, Rival Wings is arguably Final Fantasy XIV’s longest PvP mode to grind. However, the effort isn’t in vain, and FFXIV Rival Wings rewards two mounts for meeting certain conditions. You’ll unlock the Magitek Avenger for 100 Rival Wings wins, while the Magitek Avenger A1 is available after 100 Hidden Gorge wins. As of Endwalker, Hidden Gorge is your only arena option, so you’ll be stuck working on both goals for now. For the achievement hunters, you’ve also got 11 objectives to work toward in this mode.

While not entirely Rival Wings-exclusive, The Moogle Treasure Trove 2023 event also lists the PvP brawl as one of several ways to earn Tomestones of Tenfold Pageantry. Typically, this is when the mode is its most active and the best time to grind out Hidden Gorge battles. This year’s Moogle Treasure Trove yields tons of rare items, including emotes like Pointed Misgivings and Excessive Petticoats or fight-locked mounts like the Fae Gwiber or Euphonious Kamuy Fife.

The Hidden Gorge grind should keep you busy for a while but don’t forget to check out other limited-time in the MMO, too. In addition to the Moogle Treasure Trove, FFXIV is currently hosting its annual celebration of rebirth, The Rising.