Dungeons are one of the many group contents in the MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. There are currently a large number of dungeons, some of which are optional. We will show you here how to unlock all of them.
What is this about? Since the release of the base game “A Realm Reborn,” there are 38 optional dungeons in FFXIV that you unlock through side quests. Some of these quests are well hidden, but with our guide, you will find them all quickly.
To jump directly to the unlock quests of the dungeons and their locations, you can use the “Content” function above.
This is how dungeons work
What are dungeons? Dungeons are an instanced group content in Final Fantasy XIV for 4 players. A group consists of 1 healer, 1 tank, and 2 damage dealers (DDs). Dungeons can only be entered at a certain level and must be unlocked through quests.
A dungeon is structured so that you and your group carve your way past groups of enemies, fight mini-bosses, and then defeat an end boss at the end to complete the dungeon.
Each dungeon has a specific level range for which it is designed. Players at a lower level cannot enter the dungeon, and players who are at a higher level than the level range will be scaled down to the highest accessible level along with their gear.
How do I unlock the dungeons? To unlock an optional dungeon, you need to accept a specific quest. The quests that allow you to unlock something in the game are differentiated by their color from regular quests: The quest icon is blue filled and has a “+” integrated into the symbol. The quests are not difficult. Most of the time, you just need to walk to a specific place.
What rewards are there? In dungeons, players receive rewards in the form of equipment, experience points, some money, and from dungeons for level 50, Allagan stones.
The rewards are distributed throughout the entire dungeon. For example, after each mini-boss, you will receive a treasure chest that you can open. Additionally, you can find chests with equipment, materia, or other items distributed throughout the dungeon. There is a final treasure chest after defeating the end boss.
More useful information:
- All dungeons that are not from the current expansion can be played “unsynched”. This means that you can play at your current level and with your current equipment. This greatly simplifies the dungeon.
- If a player from your group completes a dungeon for the first time, you will receive an additional reward in the form of a lot of bonus XP and Allagan stones.
Optional Dungeons under Level 50 in “A Realm Reborn”
A Realm Reborn features the largest number of optional dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV. There are 5 dungeons for players under level 50 and a total of 15 optional dungeons for players at level 50.
The dungeons under level 50 are recommended for leveling. You receive an EXP bonus upon the first completion of a dungeon. Additionally, the optional dungeons fill the “level gaps” between the mandatory dungeons. After leveling in Haukke Manor, you can directly transition to the Temple of Qarn, as it provides the best EXP for your level.
Halatali
- Unlock Quest: The Forgotten Place
- Quest Giver: Nedrick Ironheart
- Location: Western Thanalan (X: 12.0 / Y: 14.3)
- Level: 20
- Prerequisite Quest: The Trap Snaps Shut
- In-Game Description: To better train the gladiators, the operating company of the Ul’dah Coliseum established this training ground, where monsters specifically bred for arena battle were raised. However, after the calamity, Halatali was abandoned, and it was assumed that the monsters within must have starved long ago. Yet, the expedition team that went to check five years later found there bloodthirsty beasts that had emerged victorious from a long and relentless struggle for survival.
Sunken Temple of Qarn
- Unlock Quest: Hunters of the Sunken Temple
- Quest Giver: Nedrick Ironheart
- Location: Western Thanalan (X: 12.0 / Y: 14.3)
- Level: 35
- Prerequisite Quest: None
- In-Game Description: South Thanalan, burned by the blazing sun: To the east lie the half-buried temple ruins of Qarn, slowly decaying. The kings of Belah’dia, the city upon whose ruins Ul’dah was to be built, prayed to the sun goddess Azeyma, and this temple was erected in her honor, hiding a special secret. To deter looters, the facility was equipped with a series of deadly traps …
Saw’s Cry
- Unlock Quest: The Tragedy of Saw’s Cry
- Quest Giver: Sibold
- Location: Thal’s Crossroads (X: 14.0 / Y: 10.1)
- Level: 38
- Prerequisite Quest: None
- In-Game Description: At the edge of a logging path toward Coerthas lies a cave where many unsuspecting souls have sought refuge from the scorching midday heat. They never returned; legend has it that their disappearance is due to a three-headed beast, the Chimera. Their cries were said to be heard from afar, and thus the place of doom was named Saw’s Cry. The Blacklight Riders, once Eorzea’s strongest mercenaries, are said to have defeated the monster – yet we know of no survivor who has ever proclaimed the victory…
The Dzemael Keep
- Unlock Quest: The Dzemael Keep
- Quest Giver: Carrilaut
- Location: Central Highlands of Coerthas (X: 24.7 / Y: 28.8)
- Level: 44
- Prerequisite Quest: None
- In-Game Description: House Dzemael, a significant part of the high knightly nobility of Ishgard, once began to convert a naturally formed cave into an underground keep for protection against dragons. However, the appearance of a large number of non-commissioned fighters brought construction to a halt, and shortly after, the Garlean managed to breach the keep. Today, the Garlean have vanished without a trace, but various demonic creatures use the structure as a breeding ground. Until they are driven out, the continuation of construction work is out of the question.
Gold Mine
- Unlocking Quest: Gold from the Gold Mine
- Quest Giver: Nedrick Ironheart
- Location: Western Thanalan (X: 12.0 / Y: 14.3)
- Level: 47
- Prerequisite Quest: None
- In-Game Description: A mysterious mist rises from the golden shimmering marshes, making the entire Gold Mine sparkle mystically. However, this mist is caused by a reaction of sulfur in the rock with the precious Mithril ore, which once attracted miners from across the realm – a life-threatening toxic gas that chokes the breath and burns the skin. Though many seek Mithril here, some also search for the remnants of the victims of the toxic Gold Bile. However, few are seen returning…
On the next page, we will continue with ARR Dungeons for level 50.
