Summary
Final Fantasy XIVhas featured a host of extraordinary trials over the years, but some fights have left an indelible and surprising impact on fans of the MMO. These trials pit the player against challenging bosses, and while many are introduced through optional content, still others are encountered while progressing through the game’s main scenario questline. In addition to including a story version for each trial,most include harder versions of the same encounterwith more challenging mechanics for players to sink their teeth into.
[Warning: Spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV]
The better part of a decade has seen the MMO introduce unique mechanics, morally ambiguous characters, and more than a few Easter eggs hailing from the vast library of the franchise’s content, all the way up to themust-playDawntrailexpansion. While it is certainly possible to enjoy these encounters individually, many of them are the culmination ofFFXIV’s award-winning storytelling. As a result,bosses feature mechanics that echo the narrative that introduces them, pitting the player not only against complex combat design but also mechanics that enhance the MMO’s storytelling.
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10The Akh Afah Amphitheatre (Hard)
Shiva
The first encounter with the franchise’s iconic Shiva takes place inFFXIV: A Realm Rebornpatch 2.4, and sees theWarrior of Light pursuing Lady Iceheart, who leads a group of heretics against the nation of Isghard. In an effort to prevent her from summoning a primal, the main character pursues her to The Akh Afah Amphitheatre, only to discover that she not only plans to summon one but can even transform into one.
Lady Iceheart’s last stand against the Warrior of Light marks an almost tangible shift in narrative style and pacingforFFXIV, replete with stellar voice acting and exceptional theme music. While the main scenario questline is undoubtedly slow inA Realm Reborn, encountering Ysayle and Shiva bridges the gap between the base game and the conflict in the MMO’s first expansion,Heavensward, as well as introduces characters that remain beloved by fans a decade later.
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9The Royal Menagerie
Shinryu
Introduced at the end ofHeavensward, it was heavily implied that Shinryu’s power surpassed even that of the elder primal, Bahamut. By the time the dragon is fought inStormblood4.0, it’d been captured by the archvillain, Zenos yae Galvus, who’d found a way to manufacture the power of the Echo to make himself even stronger. Zenos uses his newfound power as a Resonant to fuse with the primal, forcing the Warrior of Light to go toe-to-toe with the deadly amalgamation in order to see Ala Mhigo’s liberation complete.
Shinryu’s power surpassed even that of the elder primal, Bahamut.
In addition to all the story beats drawing to a satisfying conclusion in and around this fight, it was also appropriately difficult when it was first introduced.While the trial has since been nerfed, it remains an iconic showdown for many players, even if it isn’t as challenging as it was originally.
8Castrum Fluminis
Tsukuyomi
After being manipulated by her brother, Yotsuyu Naeuri transforms into a primal, forever robbing her of the redemption arc she might have enjoyed otherwise. The subsequent trial is a polarizing way for the story to bookend one of its more intriguing character development arcs, especially after a bout of amnesia following her downfall at Doma teased who she might have become were it not for her horrible upbringing.
In order to unlock this Extreme Trial, players will need to go to Kugane and proceed to X:11.6, Y:12.6 and speak to the Wandering Minstrel. Picking up the quest “Songs in the Key of Kugane” will unlock The Minstrel’s Ballad: Tsukuyomi’s Pain.
When Yotsuyu is first introduced inFFXIV: Stormblood, it’s hard to imagine a more abominable villain, but after meeting her brother and parents, the truth of her origin story sheds light on one of the more intriguing characters in the entire game.Battling Tsukuyomi in Castrum Fluminis involves battling her inner demonsand protecting her from her own hatred, all while trying to salvage as much of her innocence as possible.
7The Cloud Deck
Diamond Weapon
The Cloud Deck was introduced inFFXIV: Shadowbringerspatch 5.5, followinga questline that forces the Warrior of Light to battle a series of Allagan mechas, and in this case, the Diamond Weapon. Weapons were first encountered inA Realm Rebornwhen the Garlean Empire revived the Ultima Weapon to use against Eorzea, and the series of optional trials expands on the history of these mechas, as well as providing backstory on factions of the Garlean Empire.
Weapons first graced theFinal Fantasyfranchise in the late ‘90s, beginning withFF7, and while each one has been ported toFFXIVin great detail,Diamond has arguably received the most striking updates. Battling the giant mecha sees the Warrior of Light hopping between two airship platforms, and partway through the encounter, Diamond Weapon sheds its armor to reveal a bestial endoskeleton. The boss has been spectacularly reimagined for the MMO, leading to a high-octane fight for both the story trial and its extreme counterpart.
6The Dying Gasp
Hades
The battle with Emet-Selch serves as the capstone trial of theShadowbringersexpansion, and while the revelation of his true identity as Hades comes out of left field, it is almost poetic in how appropriate it is for his character.The Warrior of Light enters the trial in the midst of some of the best story content ever created forFFXIV, and it includes combat mechanics that mirror Hades’ role as guardian of the underworld.
To preserve his ideals and restore his brethren to life, Hades conjures phantoms to aid him in battle. This includes actual apparitions as well as AOEs comprised of Ascian spirits. While there is no doubt he is a villain who has committed countless atrocities over the years, it reinforces the burden he’s borne to restore the world to its original utopia.
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5The Seat Of Sacrifice
Warrior Of Light: Elidibus
The fight with Elidibus, Emissary of the Ascians, turns theFFXIVstory on its head as the revealed-to-be primal refuses to shirk his duty to the Ascian people, transforming into the guise of the original Warrior of Light from the very firstFinal Fantasygame. Despite being the last of the Unsundered, Elidibus remains committed to freeing Zodiark at any cost, and battling him includes several cutscenes before, during, and after that confirm lore regarding the Warrior of Light.
Elidibus summons heroes from other reflections.
In addition to the trial’s significant story beats,the fight against Elidibus includes many attacks the player will be familiar with, only now the party is on the receiving end. As Elidibus summons heroes from other reflections, he uses skills pulled from other jobs, such as Dragoon and Paladin. He even uses his own arsenal of limit breaks, as well as the most intense Active Time event ever to grace the MMO.
4The Mothercrystal
Hydaelyn
Hydaelyn is revealed to be a primal partway throughFFXIV: Shadowbringer, and it left many a player deeply concerned over the influence she’d been exerting on the main character from the beginning. Yet, when her motives come to light at the tailend ofEndwalker, it becomes abundantly clear that her ultimate objective was to prepare the player for nothing short of saving the world from oblivion. She invites her champion, the Warrior of Light, to meet her in battle as a final test of their ability to “surmount the insurmountable.”
The contest with Hydaelyn incorporates many elements the player would have grown familiar withthroughout their journey through the game, from crystals, tidal waves of light, and job changes similar to what the Warrior of Light has used over the years. It’s a thrilling engagement perfectly scored to mark the gravity of taking her place as the last hope for mankind.
3The Dancing Plague
Titania
Titania is discovered to be the ruling king of Il Mheg, the land of the fae, but after transforming into a Lightwarden after trying to protect her people, she is subsequently locked away in her castle to prevent her from harming them. To restore night to Il Mheg, the player needs to enter Titania’s castle and defeat her.
According to lore, the ruler of Il Mheg is colloquially referred to as king, regardless of their gender.
The pixie king employs several nature-based attacks throughout the fight. In addition to possessing command over the elements, she summons giant tree folk, thorns, and fairy spirits to her aid. Yet, while the fight features several interesting mechanics (especially in the extreme version),one of its crowning gems is its unexpected and whimsical theme song, “What Angel Wakes Me.”
2The Final Steps Of Faith
Nidhogg
After defeating Nidhogg atop The Aery inFFXIV: Heavensward, the dread wyrm’s vengeful spirit eventually possesses the former comrade, Estinien, who was already mired in the cycle of violence between Dravania and Ishgard after losing his family to dragons as a child. Easily susceptible, he becomes a vessel for the dragon’s hatred, and the Warrior of Light is forced to consider the possibility of killing a friend to protect everyone else.
Heavenswarddeals with many serious themes, including loss, justice, honoring the fallen, and the corrosive consequences of the pursuit of vengeance. While the conflict with Nidhogg sees the player battling the destructive tendencies of an easily identifiable evil, it also turns it on its head by forcing the player to consider the possibility of doing the same with a friend. The trial is unforgettable, andone of many reasons why the aforementioned expansion won many awards the year it was released.
1The Final Day
The Endsinger
Following Zodiark’s defeat around the halfway mark of theEndwalkerexpansion, many were left scratching their heads at the rather anti-climactic end to what was considered the “big bad” for well on a decade. The truth of the so-called Final Days of the Ancients comes to light and the player travels to the edge of the universe to battle The Endsinger, whose command of the mysterious energy known as dynamis allowed her to unravel the life-sustaining laws of aether that naturally worked on the planet of Etheirys.
The trial of the Endsinger is the culmination of everything that’s transpiredthroughout the course ofFinal Fantasy XIVin its entirety, and the conflict features both familiar mechanics and never-before-seen ones, such as the boss flinging literal planets at the party. In addition to being an exciting trial mechanically,the narrative also sees the Warrior of Light joined by their companions in surprising ways.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
Final Fantasy 14 (otherwise known as Final Fantasy XIV) is a widely popular MMORPG created and published by Square Enix. Taking place in the land of Eorzea, players create their own character from a variety of races and adapt to a series of jobs that they can freely swap between. Largely considered a failure at launch, Final Fantasy 14 rebranded itself as Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn and has managed to become one of the best MMORPGs in the world.
