Arcadion is a new raid series released in the Dawntrail expansion for Final Fantasy XIV. Here’s what we know about the new raid so far, including the release window, what to expect, and how to prepare for its Savage difficulty level.
Final Fantasy XIV has just released the new major expansion Dawntrail. As usual, the update includes a new raid, this time called Arcadion. These raids are a series of battles that can be participated in by eight players, featuring both story and Savage difficulty levels where the best loot in the game is found.
Want to learn more about the upcoming raid? We’ve got you covered.
FFXIV Arcadion Release Window
The specific date is currently unknown. when Arcadion will be released. However, we do know that the normal version of the raid will be in patch 7.01, and the Savage difficulty level will drop with patch 7.05.
Based on the latest information, we should expect the raids to be released sometime in mid to late July and shortly after that the difficulty level «Savage» will decrease.
FFXIV Arcadion What to Expect
Raids in Final Fantasy XIV typically consist of three series of four battles, totaling twelve for the entire expansion. It’s likely that Arcadion will follow suit, with a new series released in patches 7.2 and 7.4, concluding the story.
Players can expect to encounter a boss in each battle. Typically, once you load into a raid in Final Fantasy XIV, you immediately start with a boss, no need to explore or progress to reach the end goal.
However, this doesn’t mean that Arcadion will remain the same as before. Developers are always looking for ways to introduce innovations into the raid process.
FFXIV Arcadion How to Prepare for Savage
The «Savage» difficulty level in Arcadion will challenge even the best players of Final Fantasy XIV. However, some of the best rewards of the expansion will be associated with it, meaning that if you want to get the best gear available in the MMO, you need to prepare to battle multiple hidden bosses inside.
Here are a few tips and recommendations to get you started.
Know Your Role or Class
One of the best things you can do before jumping into any Savage content level is to know your role or class. This may involve understanding what your job does, what your abilities are, or even checking what traits may have changed with the new levels we received in Dawntrail. This ensures that you are ready for optimal gameplay when facing the raids.
Find a Static
A static is a group of Final Fantasy XIV players who have agreed to come together to form a team. Think of it as a permanent raid group for a specified period of time. This is important as you’ll need a full group of eight people to start the raid.
A static is not mandatory, you can always use the Party Finder to find players for the raid. However, a static allows you to be more consistent and progress in battle with a group of players you know and consider friends.
Clear the Extremes
Extreme trials are available at the time of writing and offer excellent gear that will help you increase your item level, so you can perform better in raids. Moreover, they are a great introduction to more challenging content in Final Fantasy XIV, making them a good transition to Savage raids.
Know Your Best in Slot
Your BiS or Best in Slot for Final Fantasy XIV refers to the gear pieces you need to acquire to have optimal stats for your class. Gear pieces in Final Fantasy XIV come with different stats, some of which may be useless for your class. This means you will need to find alternative with similar item level to use instead.
Discords like The Balance often have mentors and other resources you can use to determine your best in slot and then start working on getting what you need.
Meld Your Gear
Melding is another important aspect of gear in Final Fantasy XIV. Melding refers to the process of equipping additional materia to gear pieces to give them enhancements to their stats. Melding and knowing which stats to use are quite complex, so using resources like The Balance or others may be ideal.
You can unlock the ability to meld items by completing the «Soul of the Crafter» quest found in the Crystarium in the Tempest. You will also need a crafter profession at the same level as the item to be able to meld it.
Additionally, you can use the services of NPC Materia Melder, found in most major cities, who will meld your gear for a certain fee.
