Set to release in Patch 7.35 of the Dawntrail expansion, Pilgrim’s Traverse is the highly anticipated new Deep Dungeon experience in Final Fantasy XIV. As part of a patch cycle that also brings a new Alliance Raid, new Allied Society quests, and even Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures, this dungeon stands out as a core feature.
Situated in the ethereal, rolling hills of Il Mheg, this new system of challenges invites players to explore a realm of fairy magic, vibrant flora, and lurking dangers. Designed by Square Enix to be the most accessible yet challenging Deep Dungeon to date, it offers significant changes over its predecessors. This guide provides a detailed overview of what to expect from the ongoing development of this content.
Expected Release: Patch 7.35 is anticipated to launch in October 2025.
In This Guide, You’ll Learn:
- How to unlock Pilgrim’s Traverse in FFXIV Patch 7.35 and meet all entry requirements.
- The full dungeon structure – floor layouts, boss encounters, and checkpoint system.
- How to farm and upgrade Aetherpool Gear efficiently, plus how to unlock Phantom weapon glamours.
- Details on treasure coffers, traps, and finding the Accursed Hoard.
- All new features – Juniper Incense effects, Votives, and improved matchmaking.
- Consumables and preparation tips for both party runs and solo attempts.
- All rewards and achievements, including exclusive titles, mounts, and accessories.
- How to unlock and beat The Final Verse in both Normal and Quantum modes.
- Solo strategies and best job recommendations for clearing floors 1–100 deathless.
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How to Unlock Pilgrim’s Traverse in FFXIV
To begin your adventures into Pilgrim’s Traverse, you must first complete several prerequisite quests:
- Completion of the Main Scenario quests from the “Endwalker” expansion.
- Clearing Floor 50 of the Palace of the Dead.
Once these conditions are satisfied, you can enter the dungeon by speaking with the entry NPC located in Wolekdorf, Il Mheg. While the NPC’s name is currently unconfirmed (listed as “???” in official notes), they will manage the entry menu for the dungeon and all its related challenges.
No special Item Level (IL) is required to enter. You will automatically be equipped with exclusive Aetherpool Gear inside, allowing any Disciple of War or Magic to participate.
The entry process is straightforward:
- Select a Save Slot: Choose a save slot for either a solo/fixed party run or a matched party run.
- Select Entry Method: Choose “Enter with a Fixed Party” to go in alone or with a pre-formed group, or “Enter with a Matched Party” to be matched with other players via the Duty Finder.
Pilgrim’s Traverse Dungeon Structure & Progression
Pilgrim’s Traverse follows the established Deep Dungeon format but introduces several key enhancements designed to improve accessibility and replayability.
100 Floors, Boss Fights, and Floor 99 Encounter
The dungeon consists of 100 procedurally generated floors, with a boss encounter every 10 floors and an additional boss on Floor 99. All characters will begin at level 91 when starting on Floor 1, and with a higher magic level of 100 when starting on Floor 21. The main story quest for Pilgrim’s Traverse concludes after defeating the boss on Floor 30.
A significant change from previous Deep Dungeons is the introduction of more generous checkpoints. You can now save your progress and resume a run from floors 1, 21, 31, 51, and 71, reducing the penalty for a party wipe on later floors.
Matched Party vs Fixed Party Runs in Pilgrim’s Traverse (Patch 7.35)
Pilgrim’s Traverse can be undertaken solo or in a party of up to four players. In a major accessibility improvement, you can now use the Duty Finder’s matched party system to queue for all 100 floors, eliminating the need for a pre-formed “fixed party” for higher-level content. Communication is still key, so make good use of party chat and chat bubbles to coordinate.
FFXIV Aetherpool Gear Farming in Pilgrim’s Traverse
Your character’s strength inside the dungeon depends on the enhancement level of your Aetherpool Arm and Armor. This level increases (+1, +2, etc.) up to a cap of +99 by opening Silver Coffers.
- Efficient Aetherpool Farming Strategy – Floor 21–30 Reset Method: For a focused farming strategy, enter the dungeon on Floor 21 with a matched or fixed party. The goal is to clear through Floor 30 as quickly as possible, opening as many Silver Coffers as you can. Upon clearing the floorset, delete the save file and repeat the process.
- Illumed Aetherpool Glass Fragments & Phantom Weapons Glamours: You can exchange your Aetherpool levels for cosmetic weapons, often called Phantom Weapons by the community. By trading 10 levels from both your Arm and Armour, you receive an Illumed Aetherpool Glass Fragment. Three of these fragments can be exchanged for an i750 weapon glamour, and that weapon plus an additional six fragments can be traded for an i755 version, reflecting the appearance of low-level and high-level Aetherpool arms, respectively.
Treasure Coffers, Traps, and the Accursed Hoard in Pilgrim’s Traverse
Bronze, Silver, and Gold Coffer Loot Tables & Effects
The floors of this veritable treasure dungeon are littered with invisible traps. It is generally safer to move along the edges of rooms rather than through the center. Treasure coffers are also scattered throughout, each with distinct contents.
| Coffer Type | Primary Contents |
| Bronze | Consumable items, such as Pilgrim’s Potions. May rarely contain an Illumed Aetherpool Glass Fragment. |
| Silver | Aetherpool Arm/Armor enhancements (+1). May also contain a Juniper Incense. |
| Gold | Pomanders. |
How to Find the Accursed Hoard & Possible Rewards (Patch 7.35)
Hidden on certain floors is the Accursed Hoard. It is invisible until a Pomander of Intuition is used, which will display its location with a pillar of light. Upon exiting the dungeon, this hoard can be appraised by an NPC to receive a random reward, which can include powerful materia, new minions, and even the valuable “Offerings” used for the Quantum Mode endgame challenge.
New Mechanics in Pilgrim’s Traverse (Patch 7.35)
Pomanders and Juniper Incense Effects – Feo Ul Summons & Floor Clears
Pomanders are consumable items obtained from Gold Coffers. This dungeon also introduces Juniper Incense, a new type of powerful item found in Silver Coffers that summons the fae, Feo Ul, to provide assistance:
- Juniper Incense I: Summons Feo Ul, who applies buffs to the player and fights alongside them for a limited time.
- Juniper Incense II: Summons Feo Ul, who instantly defeats all enemies on the current floor.
- Juniper Incense III: Greatly increases the player’s maximum HP.
Votives – Random Buffs and Debuffs by Floor Range
These interactive objects, when activated, bestow a random effect on your party when you enter the next floor.
- On floors 1-30, all Votive effects are beneficial.
- On floors 31 and higher, Votive effects can be either beneficial or detrimental, making them a strategic gamble.
Pilgrim’s Traverse Challenge Log Objectives & Weekly Rewards
Weekly objectives will be available for Pilgrim’s Traverse, rewarding players for clearing certain floors.
| Task | Reward |
| Clear Floor 20 | Luminous Oil x7 |
| Clear Floor 30 | Piece of the Blessed Hoard x2 |
| Clear Floor 50 | Luminous Oil x8 |
| Clear Floor 70 | Piece of the Blessed Hoard x3 |
| Clear Floor 100 | Luminous Oil x10 |
Best Consumables & Preparation for Pilgrim’s Traverse (FFXIV Deep Dungeon)
Pilgrim’s Potions – Healing Over Time on 15s Cooldown
These special healing items provide a 30-second health regeneration effect on a short 15-second cooldown, an invaluable ability for survival, especially in solo runs.
- Obtaining and Farming: Twenty Pilgrim’s Potions can be purchased with one Illumed Aetherpool Glass Fragment. These fragments are a rare drop from Bronze Coffers and a guaranteed drop from the Floor 30 boss. To farm them efficiently, use the Floor 21-30 clear strategy. It is recommended to have at least 200 Pilgrim’s Potions before attempting a serious solo run.
Best Food and Potions for Vitality and Damage Buffs
Bringing your own food and potions is highly recommended.
- Food: Use the highest item level food available for the maximum Vitality bonus.
- Potions: High-quality healing potions are recommended. Damage-increasing tinctures can also be used, but be aware that they share a long recast timer with healing potions.
Pilgrim’s Traverse Rewards, Titles & Achievements (Patch 7.35)
Titles and Achievements
Clearing sets of floors rewards players with gil, experience, and tomestones. Additionally, several exclusive titles can be earned. Some speculate the titles might be a living memory of the content, similar to the Echoes of Vana’diel raid, which evokes the history of San d’Oria.
- One title for clearing Floor 30.
- One title for clearing Floor 100.
- One title (and an associated mount) for speaking to a specific NPC while wearing a set of four purchasable accessories.
- A special title for clearing all 100 floors solo, starting from Floor 1, with no recorded deaths.
The Final Verse: A New Endgame Challenge
Upon reaching Floor 99 and defeating its boss, a new, separate duty called “The Final Verse” becomes accessible. This trial is a major part of the endgame loop.
- Normal Mode: A 1-4 player instance where you can practice against the final boss.
- Quantum Mode: A highly challenging, scalable-difficulty version of the boss fight for a fixed party of four. To initiate this mode, you must use “Offerings”—tradable items found within the Accursed Hoard or obtained from a quest. A minimum of 15 and a maximum of 40 Offerings can be used to power up the boss. Offerings are only consumed upon a successful clear, encouraging experimentation.
| Offering Type | Effect on Boss |
| Sacramental Spirits | Increases Maximum HP |
| Spices | Increases Physical Damage |
| Grains | Increases Fire Damage |
| Light | Increases Light Damage |
| Lilies | Increases Dark Damage |
Defeating the boss with all 40 Offerings active will grant a unique achievement and title. The difficulty is said to be on par with other high-end duties like an Unreal Trial (such as the Wreath of Snakes Unreal) or a Savage-tier Alliance Raid.
Soloing Pilgrim’s Traverse in FFXIV
Clearing the dungeon alone from beginning to end is a significant achievement that rewards a rare title. This feat relies entirely on individual skill and preparation. The 100-floor journey can feel as long and arduous as a solo drive down the Pacific Coast Highway.
Success here is about personal accomplishment, unlike the team-based strategy of Crystalline Conflict PvP on a map like The Bayside Battleground, and it does not affect your standing in ranked matches.
Best Jobs for Soloing Pilgrim’s Traverse
Certain jobs may find more success than others.
- High Damage & Self-Sufficiency: Jobs with consistent high damage and self-healing, like Samurai, can progress quickly.
- Kiting & Burst: Ranged jobs that excel at dealing damage while moving, such as Machinist and Summoner, can safely handle dangerous enemies.
- Balanced Kits: A job like Red Mage or even White Mage offers a versatile toolkit with good damage, emergency healing, and crowd control.
- High Difficulty: Jobs with lower personal damage output, such as Astrologian, may face a significant challenge and will need to make masterful use of pomanders and dungeon mechanics to succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Pilgrim’s Traverse release in FFXIV?
Pilgrim’s Traverse will launch in Patch 7.35, part of the Dawntrail expansion’s post-release content schedule. While Square Enix hasn’t given an exact date, current projections put it in October 2025. It will release alongside other major 7.3x content such as a new Alliance Raid, new Allied Society quests, and another chapter of Further Hildibrand Adventures.
Where is Pilgrim’s Traverse located?
This Deep Dungeon is located in Il Mheg, a whimsical and dangerous realm ruled by fae. Known for its rolling green hills, crystal lakes, and surreal magical flora, Il Mheg provides a starkly different aesthetic from prior deep dungeons like Palace of the Dead or Heaven-on-High. The entrance is specifically in the settlement of Wolekdorf.
How do I unlock Pilgrim’s Traverse?
To unlock Pilgrim’s Traverse, you must:
- Finish the full Endwalker Main Scenario Questline.
- Clear Floor 50 of Palace of the Dead at least once.
Once those are done, speak to the entry NPC in Wolekdorf, Il Mheg. The NPC’s name is currently listed as “???” in the official notes, so it may be revealed in the patch. After speaking to them, you can select your save slot and choose either fixed-party or matched-party entry.
Do I need a certain item level to enter?
No — Pilgrim’s Traverse ignores your outside equipment’s item level. Once inside, all jobs are equipped with Aetherpool Arm and Armor, a special scaling gear set that starts at a fixed strength and can be upgraded up to +99. This means any Disciple of War or Magic can join, regardless of their external gear.
How many floors are in Pilgrim’s Traverse?
There are 100 procedurally generated floors, each with random room layouts, enemies, and traps. Bosses appear every 10 floors, and an extra “final” boss is fought on Floor 99. The main story content wraps up at Floor 30, but the higher floors are designed as optional challenge content.
Where are the checkpoint saves in Pilgrim’s Traverse?
Pilgrim’s Traverse allows progress to be saved and resumed from Floors 1, 21, 31, 51, and 71. These checkpoints are permanent once unlocked for that save file. If your party wipes, you can restart from your highest unlocked checkpoint rather than starting back at Floor 1.
What is the starting level inside Pilgrim’s Traverse?
When entering Floor 1, you’ll start at level 91. If you begin from Floor 21, you start at level 100 — the cap for the dungeon’s internal leveling system. Levels inside are independent from your outside job level and are gained by defeating enemies.
What’s new about matchmaking in Patch 7.35’s Deep Dungeon?
Unlike previous Deep Dungeons, Pilgrim’s Traverse allows Duty Finder matchmaking for all floors, including high floors beyond 50. This means you no longer need a fixed pre-formed group to challenge upper levels, making the content far more accessible to casual players.
How do I upgrade Aetherpool Gear in Pilgrim’s Traverse?
Your Aetherpool Arm and Armor can be upgraded to a maximum of +99 each. Upgrades come from opening Silver Coffers inside the dungeon, which may grant +1 or +2 to either or both pieces. The higher your Aetherpool level, the stronger your damage and defense.
What’s the fastest way to farm Aetherpool levels?
The most efficient method is the Floor 21–30 reset method:
- Start at Floor 21 using a matched or fixed party.
- Open every Silver Coffer you see.
- Clear Floor 30, then delete your save file.
- Repeat until your Aetherpool is close to +99/+99.
This works because Floor 21 starts you at full level 100 with enemies that drop good upgrade rates.
What are Illumed Aetherpool Glass Fragments used for?
These are special trade-in items earned by sacrificing Aetherpool levels (10 Arm + 10 Armor = 1 Fragment).
- 3 Fragments = an i750 Phantom Weapon glamour.
- Phantom Weapon + 6 more Fragments = upgraded i755 glamour.
These are cosmetic only, letting you keep the look of deep dungeon weapons outside.
What’s inside Bronze, Silver, and Gold Coffers?
- Bronze: Consumables like Pilgrim’s Potions, rare Illumed Fragments.
- Silver: Aetherpool upgrades, Juniper Incense.
- Gold: Pomanders, which grant temporary buffs like Strength, Steel, or Safety.
What is the Accursed Hoard?
The Accursed Hoard is hidden treasure buried on certain floors. Use a Pomander of Intuition to reveal its location with a pillar of light. After leaving the dungeon, appraise it to receive random loot — this can include materia, minions, mounts, and valuable Offerings for the Quantum Mode boss.
What does Juniper Incense do?
Juniper Incense summons the fae Feo Ul for powerful effects:
- Incense I: Feo Ul fights alongside you and grants buffs.
- Incense II: Feo Ul instantly wipes all enemies on the current floor.
- Incense III: Dramatically boosts your maximum HP for survival.
What are Votives in Pilgrim’s Traverse?
Votives are glowing floor objects. Activating one gives a random effect on the next floor:
- Floors 1–30: Always beneficial.
- Floors 31+: Could be a boon (regen, damage up) or a bane (map hidden, more traps).
What are the Pilgrim’s Traverse challenge log rewards?
Each week you can earn:
- Floor 20: Luminous Oil x7
- Floor 30: Pieces of the Blessed Hoard x2
- Floor 50: Luminous Oil x8
- Floor 70: Pieces of the Blessed Hoard x3
- Floor 100: Luminous Oil x10
These currencies are used for mounts, accessories, and other rewards.
How do I get Pilgrim’s Potions?
Trade 1 Illumed Fragment for 20 Pilgrim’s Potions. They’re a HoT heal (30s regen, 15s cooldown) and drop from Bronze Coffers or are guaranteed from the Floor 30 boss. Many solo players stockpile 200+ before serious attempts.
What is The Final Verse?
This is a separate trial unlocked after clearing Floor 99’s boss.
- Normal Mode: 1–4 player fight against the final boss for practice.
- Quantum Mode: A hard version where you buff the boss with Offerings for greater challenge and rewards.
How does Quantum Mode work?
You can use 15–40 Offerings (five types) before the fight. More Offerings = higher difficulty and better loot. They’re only consumed if you win, so you can experiment without losing them on wipes.
What’s the best job for soloing Pilgrim’s Traverse?
- Samurai: Top DPS and self-healing for efficient clears.
- Machinist/Summoner: Ranged damage while kiting dangerous foes.
- Red Mage: Balanced damage, emergency healing, and crowd control.
Lower-DPS jobs like Astrologian are possible but much harder due to time limits.
