One of the rewards that can be obtained in Monster Hunter: World from the crossover event with Final Fantasy XIV is the armor of a Dragoon and the glaive Gae Bolg. What these two items are and where they come from, you can find out here.
In developing the crossover event, the developers of both games paid great attention to detail. The monsters should not feel out of place in their new environment, while still remaining true to their original substance.
The developers of Final Fantasy XIV decided to hand over the monster Behemoth and the Dragoon armor to Monster Hunter: World. But what exactly is a Dragoon?
Once upon a time, a Dragoon
The concept of a Dragoon in the Final Fantasy games has evolved over the years. It began with Final Fantasy II and the character Ricard Highwind (also Garreth), who was the last surviving Dragoon of the city of Deist.
However, the character Kain Highwind from FFIV is considered the prototype of the classic Dragoons, whose armor also served as a model for all other Dragoons in the series.
What is special about the Dragoons? As the name suggests, Dragoons in Final Fantasy have always had a close connection to dragons. They are known for either riding dragons or having smaller dragons as companions, as was the case in FFXI. The armor of the Dragoons has also been designed to remind the player of a dragon – with many scales and spikes.
When choosing their weapon, Dragoons prefer spears or lances, which allow them to execute their iconic ability “Jump.” The Dragoon can jump extremely high into the sky and then dive down in a strong attack on their opponents.
The Dragoon armor used in Monster Hunter: World is known as “Artifact Armor” and the weapon is the Gae Bolg, the relic weapon of the Dragoons.
The role of Dragoons in Final Fantasy XIV
In FFXIV, the Dragoons deviated slightly from the normal pattern of dragon riders and friends. The story of the Heavensward expansion tells of a 1,000-year-long war between the dragon race and the nation of Ishgard, where the Dragoons are regarded as elite fighters.
The Dragoons and dragons are bitter enemies in the scenario. However, as the story unfolds, it turns out that not everything is as simple as it appears at first glance.
Why Dragoon specifically? FFXIV features many interesting and cool-looking jobs.
In their decision, the developers considered lore and gameplay, both important aspects of Monster Hunter: World.
- The Elder Dragons play a significant role in MHW, and the Dragoons have a strong affinity with dragons.
- Dragoons are well-suited for aerial combat and fighting on monster backs thanks to their jumps. It’s a gameplay mechanic that connects them with the glaive in MHW.
Additionally, Dragoons have a higher recognition and nostalgia value for fans of the series than almost any other class from Final Fantasy games.
This is what the monster Behemoth looks like from Final Fantasy XIV in Monster Hunter: World:
Watch the first gameplay video of Behemoth in Monster Hunter: World
