For the most part, players can explore the world of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn at their own leisure. But what would an MMO be without some group content? In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to the numerous activities that can only be mastered in groups of four to 24.
The realm of Eorzea, with its three city-states, is far-reaching. It has many hidden corners and crevices in which the wicked can find a welcome foothold. Be it the manor of a lady, so struck with vanity that she exchanged sanity for it, or an abandoned mine overrun with beastmen — adventurers are in constant demand, and there’s always something to do.
Throughout the game, adventurers will also come across the so-called Primals. How these god-like beings are called into the realm is an important part of the storyline, so we won’t give too much away.
The best known example of the sheer destructiveness of the Primals was the coming of the Seventh Umbral Era, brought forth by the elder primal Bahamut, who was freed from his prison in the lesser moon Dalamud. A single, massive battle with Bahamut reshaped the face of Eorzea forever. What happened with Bahamut after the battle, no one knows…
Dungeons
Adventurers don’t just become famous by fulfilling the quests of the general populace. Have you ever heard of dungeons? Enemy-infested abodes and holes in the ground. What does that mean for you? Simple — grab three of your friends and cleanse them, for fame and fortune!
Dungeons are instanced. That means only you and your group — with a total size ranging from 4 to 8 — will be able to enter. They are generally harder than what you’d find in the outside world, but they also give unique rewards like equipment that you can’t find anywhere else, and massive amounts of experience points.
So what if you’ve missed one? Or out-levelled a dungeon? No problem; each Dungeon has a “maximum level.” Should you exceed it, you will be levelled down to the appropriate level.
And you don’t have to run to the dungeon every time you want to enter it. After you’ve unlocked the dungeon, you’ll find it in the Duty Finder, where you can queue up with random players — although you may find it preferable to build your own group.
And what about the endgame? Well, about a quarter of the dungeons are Level 50 based, and some of them are available in hard mode — but we wouldn’t want to spoil the fun, now would we?
Raids
What would endgame be without Raids? Right now, there are two in the game: the Labyrinth of the Ancients within the Crystal Tower, a 24-man raid for three distinctive groups of eight, and The Binding Coil of Bahamut, an 8-man raid for the most dedicated groups. But it also delivers the best equipment currently available…
The Binding Coil of Bahamut is for those of you that are experienced in group play and want a real challenge, as only a few groups have managed to push beyond the final boss at this point.
With future content updates, which are currently planned to be released every three months, we will constantly expand the endgame landscape.
Primals
Throughout your travels, you’ll come across the Primals — god-like beings, called to the world by the beast tribes through means initially unknown. These challenging fights never fail to impress, and many adventurers have found their calling in sending these infernal beasts back to where they came from.
But it doesn’t end with that… Not only are there Hard modes for the Primals, but also the elusive and extremely difficult to master Extreme modes. Do you think you’ve got what it takes?
All of this content is available to you conveniently through a tool called the Duty Finder, so you can re-experience them at any time, help friends to master them, and find companions to battle your way to the top.
Enjoy your time in Eorzea!
