Who’s ready for the ultimate FF XIV trial? The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden is here, and it’s no simple task. This high-level trial brings a unique set of challenges, so to pass them you need: ffxiv the minstrel’s ballad sphene’s burden trial guide, where you will learn about:
- FF XIV’s toughest trial yet: The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden
- master tethers, AOE attacks, and platform movement
- Level 100 and Item Level 710 needed
- 8 players: 2 tanks, 2 healers, 4 DPS
- Prove your skill — conquer the trial and show off in Eorzea
In this trial, positioning, timing, and teamwork are everything. You’ll need to master mechanics like tethers, AOE attacks, and platform movement to succeed. With a strong party and the right strategy, you can conquer this trial and earn rare mounts, powerful gear, and achievements that show off your hard work.
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FF XIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden Trial | Overview
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden is a high-level (level 100) extreme trial in Final Fantasy XIV, introduced with Patch 7.1. It’s known for its challenging gameplay and unique mechanics designed for experienced players. Here’s a quick overview of the trial’s key elements:
| Feature | Details |
| Level Requirement | Level 100 |
| Item Level Requirement | Item Level 710 |
| Difficulty | Extreme |
| Party Size | Full Party (8 players) — 2 Tanks, 2 Healers, 4 DPS |
| Time Limit | 60 minutes |
| Location | Interphos, Unlost World |
| Required Quest | How the West Was Sung |
| Unlock Method | Available in Patch 7.1, unlocked through the wandering minstrel |
| Tomestone Rewards | Allagan Tomestone of Aesthetics (20) and Allagan Tomestone of Heliometry (10) |
| Access | Found via Duty Finder or Raid Finder (Trials) |
| Falling Hazard | Players can fall off the arena and face instant defeat |
| Lore | Face off against Queen Eternal, a recreated queen aiming to preserve memories at all costs |
FF XIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden Trial | attunement
To access the Sphene’s Burden Trial in FFXIV, players need to complete a special unlock quest and be at the required level. This process is simple but specific, as outlined below:
| Step | Instruction |
| Quest Name | How the West Was Sung |
| Quest Giver | Wandering Minstrel |
| Location | Tuliyollal (X:11.2, Y:14.7) |
| Level Requirement | Level 100 |
| Required Quest | Complete the Main Scenario Quest from the Dawntrail expansion |
| Completion Method | Speak to the Wandering Minstrel to accept and instantly complete the quest |
| Unlocks | The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden (Extreme Trial) |
| Repeat Requirements | Players must revisit the Wandering Minstrel after completing prerequisites for other trials |
Key Points for Attunement:
- Required Level and Quest — Players must reach level 100 and finish the Dawntrail main story questline.
- Simple Completion — No actions are required beyond talking to the Wandering Minstrel to unlock the trial.
- Trial Access — After the attunement, the trial is available in Duty Finder under extreme difficulty trials.
- Wandering Minstrel’s Role — To unlock future extreme trials, players will return to the Wandering Minstrel.
This attunement allows players to take on the extreme difficulty challenge of Sphene’s Burden and prepare for the rewarding weapons and materials that await them in this trial.
FF XIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden Trial | Raid composition
In Sphene’s Burden, the trial requires an 8-man party with specific roles for optimal success. Here’s a breakdown of the raid composition and the recommended jobs for each role to handle this extreme difficulty challenge effectively:
| Role | Slots | Recommended Jobs |
| Tank | 2 | Warrior, Dark Knight |
| Healer | 2 | White Mage, Scholar |
| Melee DPS | 2 | Samurai, Dragoon |
| Ranged DPS | 1 | Bard |
| Magic DPS | 1 | Black Mage |
FF XIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden Trial | Battle tactics
This guide helps players in FFXIV with Sphene’s Burden Trial. Follow these simple steps to survive each part of the battle.
Important note: The following information in this guide, FFXIV: Sphene’s Burden Trial, is based on notations from the World’s First stream on Twitch. We recommend you review this section again once we finalize the guide instructions.
| Section | Strategy |
| Basic Bridge Positioning | First Cross — South Bridge: DPS players always go here. North Bridge: Support players always go here. |
| After Icicles | Horizontal and Vertical Crosses — Horizontal players cross first, then vertical players. If you are closer to the middle, cross first. If you are on the outer edges, cross second. |
| Royal Domain (AOE Attack) | Strong AOE Attack — Prepare to use damage reduction skills and heal when needed. |
| Vertical/Horizontal Conga Line | Formation — Form a line in the correct direction (vertical or horizontal) and move together. |
| Platform Mechanics | Going Down/Up on Platforms — Follow instructions to jump down or move up on platforms when needed. L Formation — Follow an L shape to avoid dangerous spots or get into position for other mechanics. |
| Tether Mechanics | Tether — Follow the color or specific target of your tether. Cross accordingly. Healers and Tanks — Healers focus on healing; tanks may have special tethers or tasks for reducing damage. |
| Final Phase Tips | Positioning — Stay in the correct position to avoid clashing with other players. Sprint/Quick Movement — Use sprint to move to safe spots quickly. Damage Control — Focus on reducing the boss’s health efficiently. |
FF XIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden Trial | Loot table
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden is an extreme trial that rewards players with exclusive items and loot, ideal for those progressing in Final Fantasy XIV’s high-level content. This loot includes tomestones, unique mounts, and crafted materials — perfect for both experienced players and free trial players expanding their characters and unlocking more content in the game. The rewards enhance progression, provide glamour options, and add rare collectibles to your inventory. Below is a full loot table detailing what can be earned:
| Item Type | Reward Item | Details |
| Tomestones | Allagan Tomestone of Aesthetics | 20 per completion |
| Tomestones | Allagan Tomestone of Heliometry | 10 per completion |
| Exclusive Weapon | Sphene’s Burden-themed Weapons | Unique weapon skins for each class |
| Crafting Materials | High-grade crafting materials | Useful for crafting high-level gear |
| Mount | Queen Eternal’s Loyal Chocobo | Rare mount drop with a unique look |
| Orchestrion Roll | Queen’s Elegy | Unlocks music from the trial in housing |
| Achievements | The Burden Bearer Achievement | For first completion of the trial |
| Glamour Gear | Queen Eternal’s Attire Pieces | Unique appearance items for characters |
Loot Highlights:
- Tomestones — Earned in both normal trials and extreme trials, these can be exchanged at the market board or with vendors for top-tier gear.
- Exclusive Weapons and Glamour Gear — These rare Sphene’s Burden-themed items let players add style and distinction to their characters.
- Rare Mounts and Music — Queen Eternal’s Loyal Chocobo and the orchestrion roll are exclusive collectibles that set players apart.
This loot is designed for high-level players looking to progress their characters and gain items that showcase their accomplishments in FFXIV’s ever-expanding world.
FF XIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden Trial | conclusion
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden is a tough extreme trial in FFXIV, offering a great challenge for experienced players. To join, players must reach level 100, complete the unlock quest, and form parties of 8 through the Party Finder or Duty Finder. This battle is part of the vast “Realm Reborn” world Square Enix created, where players take advantage of quests to expand their characters and experience new content.
Sphene’s Burden, like many trials, involves unique combat strategies and teamwork, requiring precise positioning and management of mechanics like tethers. This guide and future content updates will help new players and veterans alike log in and play efficiently to conquer these challenges. Whether you’re seeking exclusive mounts, tomestones, unique gear, or materials, the rewards enhance your character’s progression and expand your inventory, providing both fun and a sense of achievement.
This extreme trial is a perfect example of FFXIV’s wide array of content—encompassing chocobo racing, main scenario quests, and the far East-inspired settings introduced in the Stormblood expansion. Here, players can experience combat using a limited job like Blue Mage, fight as a team in their own realm, or even bring their character into the full game’s community, including the new Xbox Series players.