Final Fantasy 14 has lots of trials, that pit you and seven others against a boss. Most of them are unlocked by doing the game’s main scenario quests, but some of them are locked behind side quests.
The ones locked behind side quests still have substantial rewards, as a chunk of them do have “Extreme” versions, where you can earn mounts and other special loot upon clearing. Most expansions had an extra trial or two, while adding three fights as part of a lengthier side quest that expands heavily on the lore of characters or areas in the game. In Endwalker, the usual three trials was actually folded into the main scenario quests, so there’s only one optional trial.
Below, we list where to unlock the normal versions of all optional trials in FFXIV.
Where to unlock A Realm Reborn’s extra trials
There are three sets of side quests to do to unlock the optional trials for A Realm Reborn. There’s the ARR relic weapon, which has two trials behind it, the Hildebrand quests, which has three trials behind it, and then there’s Odin, who is just one trial and one side quest.
All of these quests require you to at least complete the main scenario quest “The Ultimate Weapon.”
Where to unlock ‘A Relic Reborn: The Chimera’ and ‘A Relic Reborn: The Hydra’
You can unlock it by starting the “The Weaponsmith of Legend” questline in Vesper Bay (Western Thanalan) from Nedrick Ironheart:
The quest that gives out the trials is the next quest, called “A Relic Reborn.” You will need to complete a few relic weapon steps (as the game will instruct you to) in order to get these trials.
Where to unlock ‘Battle on the Big Bridge,’ ‘The Dragon’s Neck,’ and ‘Battle in the Big Keep’
These three fights unlock from the Hildebrand quests, which starts with “The Rise and Fall of Gentlemen” in Ul’dah from Wymond:
You’ll have to do quite a few of these quests to get to the point where you unlock the trials, but I recommend doing all of the Hildebrand quests. It’s required to make your Endwalker relic weapon, and there’s additional trials in Stormblood and Endwalker that is also locked behind these quests.
This line of side quests unlocks the trials as follows:
- “The Three Collectors” — “Battle on the Big Bridge” (Gilgamesh)
- “The Coliseum Conundrum” — “The Dragon’s Neck” (Ultros and Typhon)
- “Her Last Vow” — “Battle in the Big Keep” (Gilgamesh, again)
Where to unlock ‘Urth’s Fount’
Odin is locked behind the quest “Fear and Odin in the Shroud,” which is given out by Scarlet in New Gridania:
Where to unlock Heavensward’s extra trials, the Warring Triad
After completing the main scenario quest “Heavensward,” you can talk to Torsefers in The Pillars (Ishgard) to start the side quest “Gods of Eld.”
After doing so, you’ll unlock a few quests — some which unlock the Extreme versions of the Heavensward story trials. The quest you’ll want to complete to unlock the Warring Triad is “When the Bough Wakes.”
This line of side quests unlocks the trials as follows:
- “When the Bough Wakes” — “Containment Bay S1T7” (Sephirot)
- “Balance unto All” — “Containment Bay P1T6” (Sophia)
- “The Last Pillar to Fall” — “Containment Bay Z1T9” (Zurvan)
Where to unlock Stormblood’s extra trials
There are a few extra trials in Stormblood. There’s the three trials locked behind “The Four Lords” side quest, a fight locked behind Hildebrand (as mentioned in the ARR section), and a Monster Hunter collaboration fight with Rathalos.
For all of theses fights, you will need to have at least the main scenario quest “Stormblood” completed.
Where to unlock ‘The Jade Stoa,’ ‘Hells’ Kier,’ and ‘The Wreath of Snakes’
After completing the main scenario quest “Hope on the Waves” (which is past “Stormblood”), you can unlock the Four Lords trials (though there are only three trials — you fight one of the lords during an instance as part of the side quests).
To start this side quest, you’ll need to talk to Soroban in The Ruby Sea to start the quest “An Auspicious Encounter:”
This quest actually will unlock an otherwise optional dungeon, “Hells’ Lid,” as well before you can unlock the trials. The line of side quests unlocks the trials as follows:
- “An Auspicious Encounter” — “The Jade Stoa” (Byakko)
- “The Fire-bird Down Below” — “Hells’ Kier” (Suzaku)
- “Surpassing the Samurai” — “The Wreath of Snakes” (Seiryu)
Where to unlock ‘The Great Hunt’
Talk to the Hearty Hunter in Kugane to start the quest “The New King on the Block:”
This quest will unlock Rathalos for you, as well as give you a cute Palico minion upon completion.
Where to unlock ‘Kugane Ohashi’
In order to unlock this Hildebrand trial, you have to complete all of the previous Hildebrand quests, starting from the one we list in our ARR section. They do not stand alone. If you’re caught up to Stormblood and don’t know where this expansion’s Hildebrand quests start, then you can start them from the “Conspicuously Inconspicuous Man” NPC in Kugane:
After completing quite a few of these quests, you’ll be able to unlock “Kugane Ohashi” from the quest “The Past is Never Past.”
Where to unlock Shadowbringers’ extra trials, the Sorrow of Werlyt Weapons
After completing the main scenario quest “Old Enemies, New Threats,” you can talk to the Resistance Officer in The Lochs to start the quest “Ruby Doomsday:”
This quest line will pit you against the weapons (inspired by the ones from Final Fantasy 7). The line of side quests unlocks the trials as follows:
- “Ruby Doomsday” — “Cinder Drift” (Ruby Weapon)
- “Blood of Emerald” — “Castrum Marinum” (Emerald Weapon)
- “Duty in the Sky with Diamond” — “The Cloud Deck” (Diamond Weapon)
Where to unlock Endwalker’s extra trial, the Gilded Araya
There is only one extra trial in Endwalker and it’s also part of the Hildebrand quests. Once again, you need to do all the aforementioned quests to unlock this, as well as the main scenario quest “Endwalker.” You can start the Endwalker Hildebrand quests from the “Excitable Youth” NPC in Radz-at-Han if you’ve caught up to that point:
After completing a few quests, the quest “Gentleman at Heart” will unlock “The Gilded Araya” trial.
If you’re just starting out in the massive 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’ll get your mount and which Grand Company you should join.
If you’re starting but are feeling overwhelmed, we have guides to help with picking a job and a guide that explains how long it may take to catch up to current content in FFXIV.
We also have guides on side content, like ocean fishing, relic weapons, and Island Sanctuary, for those who want to take a break from it all.
