Where can you unlock every normal raid in FFXIV?
Just like any other MMORPG, Final fantasy 14 has raids. These eight-player boss battles are broken down by difficulty normal raids these are the versions you can unlock for loot and story, and ferocious raids are the ones that drop the best gear and mounts in the slot.
Below we explain how normal raids work and where you can unlock each normal (and wild) raid FFXIVand where to exchange loot for each raid series.
FFXIV normal raids and normal raid roulette, explained
Normal raids are boss battles for eight players which usually fit into a rich storyline in each expansion. There are typically 12 battles for each raid series released during a single expansion; each of an expansion’s three patches drops four battles.
Normal raids typically reward unique gear that is close to the best in the slot at the time of launch, and the savage difficulty levels of these battles (commonly referred to as savage raids) drop the best gear in the slot before then. Brutal raids are usually seen as the endgame content – with ultimate raids being even harder content that only the highest percentage of players complete, but that’s almost something else entirely.
If the gear becomes outdated a few patches later, it’s really only good to be used as a glamour.
Instead of getting armor pieces straight up, you get specific drops that can be exchanged for gear. The normal drops trade at the following rate:
- 2 lenses/helmets for head armor
- 4 shafts/armor for body armor
- 2 cranks/gloves for hand armor
- 4 feathers/chausses for leg armor
- 2 pedals/greaves for foot armor
- 1 bolt/bracelet per accessory
The latest set of raids may have raid drop restrictions in place, meaning you can only claim one drop from each battle in that set per week. Completing the final battle in each level before the ferocious attacks also awards a special mount.
Unlocking at least two raids from any series (except “The Coils of Bahamut”) will unlock it normal raid roulettewhich gives you EXP and other goodies in exchange for queuing up for a random normal raid.
As usual with post-game content, you’ll need to beat much or all of the story of the base game or expansion to unlock it. For example, to carry out the Omega raids Stormbloodyou must complete the main scenario mission ‘Stormblood’.
Where to unlock the A Realm Reborn raids, ‘The Coils of Bahamut’
An empire reborn‘s raid series is unlike any other raid because there are 13 battles, known as ‘turns’, and only four of the battles are available in savage.
Talk to to unlock the coils Urianger in The Wakkere Zand (Western Thanalan) to start the quest ‘Primal Awakening’.
Image: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image source: Square Enix
You unlock the first five turns, then the next four turns, and then the last four turns all at once. You can simply complete the last turn in each set to complete the quest.
Note that no one is queuing for the coils anymore, so don’t line up for these fights in regular duty seeker otherwise you will stay there forever waiting for people. Set up a party finder group and consider completing the quests during these battles.
This is also the only raid series where armor and gear are actually dropped, so you don’t have to worry about trading loot to an NPC.
Where to Unlock the Heavensward Attacks, ‘Alexander’
To unlock the Alexander raids you need to talk to Slowfix in Idyllshire to start the quest ‘Disarmed’.
Image: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image source: Square Enix
As you complete the raids and questline, you will unlock more and more battles until you have unlocked all 12.
If you want to unlock the ferocious battles for funsions after completing the normal raids, you can use the Wandering minstrel in Mor Dhona and do the quests ‘A Song for Steam and Steel’, ‘A Refrain for the Undaunted’ and ‘Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Retells Your Story’.
The loot from the Alexander raids can be traded Sabina in Idyllshire or the Rowena’s representative NPC in Ishgard.
Where to Unlock the Stormblood Attacks, ‘Omega’
Talk to to unlock the Omega raids Wedge in The range of Rhalgr to start the quest ‘The Hunt for Omega’.
Image: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image source: Square Enix
As with the other raid series, more battles are unlocked as you complete the quest, until you have all 12 unlocked.
If you want to unlock the ferocious battles after completing the normal battles, interact with the Magitek terminal in Rhalgr range.
The loot from the Omega raids can be exchanged for Gelfradus in the range of Rhalgr or the Rowena’s representative in Kugane.
Where to unlock the Shadowbringers raids, ‘Eden’
To unlock the Eden raids, talk to the “Frightened Crystarium Guardian” Enter NPC The Crystarium to start the quest ‘In the Middle of Nowhere’.
Image: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image source: Square Enix
The battles are unlocked one by one as you complete the quests.
The savage version of the Eden raids can be unlocked by talking to Lewrey in Ahm Araeng.
Loot from the Eden raids can be exchanged for a few NPCs: Ghul Gul in Amh Araeng, Yhal Yal in Eulmoreor the Mowen’s merchant in the Crystarium.
Where to unlock the Endwalker raids, ‘Pandaemonium’
Talk to to unlock the Pandaemonium attacks Nemjiji in Old Sharlayan to start the quest ‘The Crystal from Beyond’.
Image: Julia Lee/Polygon | Image source: Square Enix
You must complete each raid and mission to unlock the next, as part of the mission chain.
The ferocious version of the Pandaemonium raids can be unlocked by talking to Nemjiji in Labyrinthos.
The loot from the Pandaemonium raids can be traded in Djole in Radz-at-Han or Mylenie in Labyrinthos.
If you’re just starting out in the vast world of Final fantasy 14, we have tons of guides to help you. We have a beginner’s guide to get you started, along with guides detailing when you get your horse and which Grand Company to join.
If you’re starting out but feeling overwhelmed, we have guides to help you choose a job and a guide that explains how long it can take to stay up to date with the current content. FFXIV.
We also have guides to side content such as Ocean Fishing, Relic Weapons and Island Sanctuary, for those who want to take a break.