Dawntrail Dungeon, Ranked Worst To Best

Summary

• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
  introduces various dungeons with unique mechanics, story beats, and map designs.
• Notable dungeons include Ihukyatumu, Worqor Zormor, Origenics, Tender Valley, Vanguard, The Strayborough Deadwalk, The Skydeep Cenote, and Alexandria.
• Each dungeon offers challenges, rewards, and connections to the game’s larger story and

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail introduced eight new dungeons, but while they are all great, some will be remembered for years to come. While it remains to be seen how Dawntrail will compare to previous expansions, many of these new dungeons were a breath of fresh air for vets of the MMO, who had gotten used to seeing many of the same mechanics repurposed over the last 10 years. Given how engaging each of the dungeons is in this expansion, it bodes well that players can expect exciting new challenges in future patches.

[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail]

While a lot of what makes any dungeon great depends on personal taste, there are a number of hallmarks that make the content memorable. This expansion has introduced plenty of new mechanics, intriguing story beats, wonderful music, new glamour options, and immersive map design. Each of these appeals to different types of players, but when dungeons manage to nail every one, it makes it easy to see the ones that stand out.

8 Ihuykatumu (Level 91)

Exciting For The Story But Less So For The Mechanics

Ihukyatumu kicks off the expansion as the first dungeon the Warrior of Light encounters, and it sees the party ferrying down a massive river while racing to the next map in the story. When their raft is sabotaged by competitors, they are forced to adapt to a variety of obstacles or risk falling behind.

Ihukyatumu does a great job of eliciting that feeling of being swept up in a new adventure, which is appropriate as Dawntrail begins. It also offers reskinned versions of the armor sets from Shadowbringer’s Paglth’an, so while the armor is far from new, it offers a chance to grab alternate versions of gear that continue to be popular years later.

That said, Ihukyatumu struggles from lackluster bosses. Dawntrail introduced some inventive and fun mechanics in both its dungeons and trials – to the extent it bodes well for the expansion’s soon-to-be-released endgame content. While the river dungeon is fun from a purely story perspective, it is the lowest on the list because everything else is easily forgettable.

7 Worqor Zormor (Level 93)

Worqor Zormor Has Great Boss Mechanics

Worqor Zormor sees the party ascending the highest peak on the continent of Tural as they work to fulfill the challenges of Wuk Lamat’s rite of succession. The mountain is sacred to the reclusive Yok Huy people, as the summit houses records of the most important events in the tribe’s history.

Worqor Zormor is where Dawntrail’s starts introducing unique mechanics. After a decade of expecting fights to pan out a certain way based on markers, the first two bosses subvert those expectations and keep the party on their toes. The final boss rounds the dungeon out using a unique lore-appropriate gimmick, and while it is the easiest boss fight, the mechanics are fun nonetheless.

Still, even Worqor Zormor has a lot to live up to compared to Dawntrail’s other dungeons. Despite its gorgeous purple and blue crystals and the party being forced to change direction multiple times, the dungeon is still one big hallway on a laundry list of mountains players have needed to climb over the last 10 years.

6 Origenics (Level 99)

Unique Map Design Held Back By Forcing Smaller Pulls

Origenics is basically what would happen if Resident Evil’s Umbrella were allowed to set up shop in FFXIV, and for that reason, it looks amazing. The MMO has always been happy to blend fantasy and sci-fi elements, but Origenics demonstrates how state-of-the-art the expansion intends to be. While its bosses don’t use that many unique mechanics, they are all science experiments with fun gimmicks in each fight.

There are terminals littered throughout Origenics that provide backstory on the laboratory and the organization that created it. Perhaps more importantly, it solves certain mysteries regarding
Dawntrail
’s major characters, and Trust NPCs will comment on those revelations after learning what the terminals have to say.

Despite its importance to the story and the wow factor of its aesthetics, Origenics suffers from one glaring issue with its map design: it forces players to pull small groups rather than from wall to wall. This may be intended to encourage them to investigate those terminals, but the result is a dungeon that feels slow and awkward.

5 Tender Valley (Level 100)

A Fun Dungeon With Fun Bosses

Tender Valley sits somewhere in the middle of Dawntrail’s list of dungeons. The desert dungeon isn’t quite as impactful as a few others, but it features unique bosses with fun mechanics. The first strikes comical poses between each attack, and the second boss seems to draw inspiration from Mario, given how it tosses bombs down tunnels only to launch them out of cannons situated on either side of the battlefield. The final boss is a giant worm wearing a bird outfit.

The desert of Shaaloani may be one of the best deserts created for FFXIV, and for that reason, traveling through Tender Valley is a relatively enjoyable jaunt. The majority of enemies fought in the dungeon are cactuar, which are often comical and classic enemies in the franchise.

That said, it is still just a desert, and Dawntrail introduced dungeons with far more engaging enemies that completely defy expectations. For this reason, Tender Valley struggles to compete with the expansion’s very best dungeons, even if it is loads of fun.

4 Vanguard (Level 97)

A Great Place To Farm Glamour Items

The Warrior of Light steamrolls into Vanguard shortly after the story takes an unexpected turn, and the party finds themselves at odds with tyrants armed with mysterious technology. As the main characters push into the compound, they are met with greater challenges from the dungeon’s techno-soldiers, along with several mechanics that are sure to leave them stunned.

Most players are likely to farm Vanguard more than any other dungeon for the high-tech armor it drops. That armor includes hip hoodies, shorts, and headphones, along with exoskeleton suits for tanks and physical DPS. As a bonus, most helmets cover Viera’s ears, which is a pleasant surprise given the difficulty it can be to find headwear that accommodates them.

Dungeons guarantee at least one item for the job gamers are actively playing while running the dungeon.
Since it is impossible to get duplicates so long as the items are still on their person, they should hold onto each piece until they have the complete set before transferring them to a glamour dresser.

3 The Strayborough Deadwalk (Level 100)

A Haunted Carnival With Challenging Bosses

The Strayborough Deadwalk is bound to frustrate many people at first blush, but this haunted carnival is easily one of the best dungeons released with the expansion. Equipped with dolls, ghosts, rides, and a haunted house, the Deadwalk is a delightfully nightmarish caricature of the expansion’s final map.

Final Fantasy XIV has featured several haunted dungeons through the years, but Deadwalk compares favorably in large part due to its whimsical charm. Apparitions ride carousels, chaperone patrons onto balloons, and hustle potential customers, all while challenging the party to deadly games. Even better, Final Fantasy 9’s “Court Jesters” track plays in the background.

Of course, The Strayborough Deadwalk also benefits from having three bosses, all boasting unique and challenging mechanics, as well as several normal enemy types to challenge healers and DPS. Things can quickly get out of hand if players aren’t paying attention, with the first boss turning teammates into mindless dolls and the last boss forcing party members to swap between being corporeal or incorporeal to accommodate various mechanics.

2 The Skydeep Cenote (Level 95)

Excellent Story, Difficult Bosses, And A Beautiful Map

The Skydeep Cenote has a lot going for it, but it can be easy to overlook due to the momentum of the story when it appears in the MSQ. In addition to being sandwiched between two major discoveries, it is yet another ruin the Warrior of Light has been expected to delve into. Yet, beneath what appears to be old hat is an amalgamation of great loot, fun boss mechanics, unique map design, and incredible music.

Skydeep’s bosses look amazing, but just an important: their mechanics are fresh and unique. While it is yet another ruin, deep within are pyramids and several beautiful tribal motifs – which is to say nothing of what the final chamber looks like.

When added to the grim discoveries made by the group before Skydeep, the dungeon’s theme, “Lost in the Deep,” strikes a deeply mournful note that resonates with the events taking place in the narrative. If players are genuinely paying attention, this dungeon and all that happens before, during, and after are truly unforgettable.

1 Alexandria (Level 100)

Final Fantasy 9’s Central Kingdom Reimagined

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail makes several references to FF9, and while fans can likely expect more references in future patches, Alexandria is among the very best so far. The dungeon features challenging bosses and great music and is set in FF9’s iconic town.

To begin with, the combat sequences in Alexandria are enough to keep anyone on their toes as they make their way to Dawntrail‘s final boss. The Warrior of Light needs to pay attention and act accordingly in order to handle mechanics that already trigger quickly. Those mechanics are easy enough to learn but could remain challenging for some players.

However, what makes this dungeon gold is its connection to the franchise as a whole. As many fans already know, FF9 was a love letter to classic JRPGs at a time when Square Enix intended to evolve their narrative style to keep up with the industry. Since many story beats from Dawntrail echo themes unearthed through the original saga, finding Alexandria not long into the MMO’s next chapter feels very much like the game’s very own fond farewell.