Final Fantasy XIV Trials guide | All Trials Type Explained

friolt

10 hours ago

One of the best things in Final Fantasy XIV? Trials. Where you and seven other brave souls face off against bosses who take personal joy in stomping your plans flat. Whether it’s the Relic Reborn journey, the Big Bridge showdown, or one more Last Vow before the screen fades to black, there’s nothing quite like the mix of terror and reward—or lack thereof. Each Trial is a new chance to get pulverized, from the basics all the way up to Extreme, where dodging is an art, and mistakes are fatal.

But fear not! Here’s your final fantasy 14 trials guide—just follow these steps, and maybe you’ll survive:

Start your journey in the latest expansion for that easy trial experience.
Aim for the Relic Reborn trials, but don’t get too attached to the idea of winning.
Build patience at the Big Bridge, and don’t worry, falling happens to most players.
Complete your Last Vow and get ready for the next inevitable retry.

You may also interested in:

What are trials in the Final Fantasy 14? FFXIV TRIALS OVERVIEW

Welcome to Final Fantasy XIV Trials — a place where your hopes and dreams are shattered by pixelated gods who laugh at your pathetic attempts to dodge glowing circles. Think of Trials as the devs’ way of saying, What if we throw players against this impossible boss with mechanics even a mad scientist would think twice about? In these multi-phase nightmares, you’ll face beasts that make you wonder why you didn’t just stick to crafting. Got friends? Good — you’ll need at least four or eight souls ready to suffer with you. And if you’re diving into Extreme or Unreal Trials, bring your A-game (and maybe a therapist). Rewards? Sure, but they might not be worth the emotional toll.

Feature	Description
Participants	4 to 8 poor souls, depending on the trial level.
Difficulty Levels	Normal, Hard, Extreme trial, and Unreal trial — each sounding less possible than the last.
Boss Mechanics	Multi-phase, dodge-or-die scenarios, often with adds and insta-death moves.
Main Purpose	Story progression, if you survive, plus loot, tokens, and some rare items.
Rewards	Mostly tokens and vanity items, with rare mounts or crafting materials.
Extreme Trials	Unforgiving versions of Normal Trials, sometimes dropping exclusive weapons and mounts.
Unreal Trials	Revamped horrors from past trials, scaled up to remind you how bad you are at the game.
Duty Finder vs. Party Finder	Party Finder for serious players; Duty Finder for when you’re feeling lucky or need a quick way to despair.
Item Level Sync	Only for some trials; otherwise, your gear won’t save you from your own lack of skill.
Best Advice	Don’t try alone. Trust us. Bring friends, or go back to ocean fishing.

FF XIV Trials Types

FFXIV Trials are like a theme park of torture, split into delightful types to match your flavor of masochism. You’ve got your basic trials — where the boss just wants to see you sweat a little — and then the Extreme and Unreal versions that’ll crush your spirit and mock you with each glowing attack zone you fail to dodge. Whether you’re here for story, loot, or a good existential crisis, there’s a Trial for you. From the basic Normal and Hard to the absolutely deranged Extreme and Unreal, each Trial type has its own way of making you regret queuing up.

Trial Type	Description	Key Features
Normal Trials	Basic boss fights, relatively straightforward and forgiving.	Story-driven, 4 or 8 players, no significant item rewards but progresses main quests.
Hard Trials	Similar to Normal, but with a little extra spice.	8 players, unlocked through main quests or optional ones, mostly a warm-up for Extreme content.
Extreme Trials	The boss cranked up on caffeine, with stricter mechanics and lethal attacks.	8 players, requires skill, has enrage mechanics, and drops high-level weapons and rare mounts.
Unreal Trials	Revived bosses from past nightmares, scaled up to match current power levels.	Strict item level sync, exclusive to Faux Hollows minigame, rewards vanity items and glamour gear.
Story Trials	Integrated into the main story, these Trials allow you to pretend you’re progressing calmly.	4 or 8 players, mandatory for story progression, often has Duty Support with NPCs.
Chronicles Trials	Extra lore and fan service for masochists who just can’t get enough punishment.	High difficulty, optional, tied to Chronicles of a New Era quests, may include exclusive mounts.

FF XIV normal trials overview

Normal Trials — the casual stroll of Final Fantasy XIV that quickly turns into a crash course on dodging death. These trials are deceptively simple: just an easy 4- or 8-player showdown against one enormous, angry boss who wants nothing more than to flatten you. These fights are mostly mandatory for story progression, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they’re a breeze. Normal Trials might sound chill, but you’ll be tasting floor more times than you’d like while you pray for merciful party members to carry you through.

Key Feature	Description
Party Size	4-8 players, depending on the trial.
Difficulty	Easy-ish, but don’t get cocky — you’ll still need to dodge and listen to that healer.
Purpose	Mainly story progression with some loot as a bonus.
Rewards	Minimal rewards; usually just experience, Gil, or the occasional token.
Unlock	Part of Main Scenario Quests, so you can’t avoid them — no matter how much you might want to.
Mechanics	Basic dodge-and-survive with some adds or phases sprinkled in to keep you on your toes.
Resets	No weekly restrictions, so feel free to wipe as many times as your pride can handle.

FF XIV Hard trials overview

Hard Trials in FFXIV are what happens when you want to feel like you’re doing something intense without actually signing your soul away to the grind of Extreme or Unreal content. Think of them as Normal Trials with a few extra sparkly mechanics and just enough pain to remind you that you’re still playing FFXIV. In these eight-player showdowns, you’ll face bosses that have been amped up slightly, testing your reaction speed and your ability to follow flashing indicators without walking directly into doom. They’re usually part of the main story or optional quests but don’t drop much loot, because, well, Square Enix knows you didn’t come here for the rewards.

Key Feature	Description
Party Size	8 players required — no exceptions, so don’t even think about solo glory.
Difficulty	Harder than Normal Trials, with a few extra mechanics
Purpose	Progression through story or side quests, a stepping stone for those wanting to flirt with danger.
Rewards	Generally limited; mostly experience and story progression with rare item drops on occasion.
Unlock	Found in Main Scenario and Feature Quests across expansions.
Mechanics	Bosses with multi-phase attacks and sometimes minor adds, but nothing truly life-shattering.
Replay Value	No weekly restrictions, so you’re free to go at it again if you didn’t get enough punishment.

FF XIV Extreme trials overview

Extreme Trials in FFXIV are where fun goes to die and frustration comes to thrive. These aren’t your average just show up trials. Extreme Trials take every annoying mechanic from the Normal and Hard Trials and turn them into life-or-death decisions. The devs want you to dodge, dance, and maybe even beg a little to survive. Each trial has a ridiculous enrage timer and requires almost perfect execution, or you’re sent straight back to Mor Dhona. With rare mounts, exclusive weapons, and crafting materials, the loot is tempting, but don’t expect to roll a winning number. This is high-difficulty content designed to remind you how little you actually know about ultimate power & ultimate weapon for more trials.

Key Feature	Description
Party Size	8 players only — you’ll need every one of them (trust me).
Difficulty	Cranked to the max; you’re expected to die a lot before you even think about winning.
Purpose	Exclusive mounts, rare items, and the thrill of suffering for hours to get that one clear.
Rewards	High-level weapons, rare mounts, special crafting materials — but only if you survive long enough to roll.
Unlock	Usually requires completing Normal/Hard trials and special unlock quests across expansions.
Mechanics	Multi-phase fights with brutal enrage timers, near-lethal adds, and zero forgiveness for mistakes.
Enrage Timer	Yes, there’s a timer — and yes, it’s there to ensure you stay terrified and focused.

FF XIV unreal trials overview

Unreal Trials in FFXIV are where nostalgia meets trauma — familiar Extreme Trials from your past, resurrected just to remind you how awful you once were (and maybe still are). Each patch brings a new Unreal Trial, which is really just an old boss with a fresh coat of difficulty. With your gear synced down to max out the suffering, Unreal Trials are a twisted way to relive your mistakes and fight once-vanquished foes who’ve had some serious upgrades. Rewards? Sure, if you call a chance at playing a minigame and the honor of finally winning something meaningful. But let’s be real: Unreal Trials exist to let you die gloriously, with a sprinkle of humiliation.

Key Feature	Description
Party Size	8 players — because you’ll need the whole crew to share in the pain.
Difficulty	Harder than Extreme, thanks to forced item level sync and strict requirements — perfect for masochists.
Purpose	An authentic old-school challenge, plus a minigame prize attempt if you survive.
Rewards	Access to Faux Hollows minigame for currency to unlock mounts, minions, and glam items.
Unlock	Available per major patch through Fantastic Mr. Faux quest; rotates with each patch update.
Mechanics	Same old mechanics but harder, and a reminder of why you didn’t miss this boss in the first place.
Party Finder Culture	Standard in North American and European data centers; mostly to ensure everyone suffers together.

FF XIV Trials Achievements

FFXIV Trial Achievements are proof that you’ve willingly suffered through thousands of Trials for points and bragging rights — and maybe a shiny title if you’re lucky. Imagine looking at a list that says, Complete 10,000 Trials and thinking, Yeah, sounds like a good way to spend my time. For every big boss you conquer, like Nidhogg or Thordan, you inch closer to that Dungeon Master status. But here’s the kicker: your reward is mostly points, a title, and maybe a few pity cheers from other players who wonder why you haven’t stepped outside in years. Welcome to the grind — where the only real achievement is keeping your sanity intact.

Achievement	Points	Task	Reward
To the Dungeons I	5	Complete 5 unique dungeon/trials	–
To the Dungeons II	10	Complete 10 unique dungeon/trials	–
To the Dungeons III	20	Complete 20 unique dungeon/trials	–
To the Dungeons IV	20	Complete 30 unique dungeon/trials	–
To the Dungeons V	20	Complete 40 unique dungeon/trials	–
To the Dungeons VI	20	Complete 50 unique dungeon/trials	–
Dungeon Siege I	5	Complete 10 dungeon/trials	–
Dungeon Siege II	5	Complete 30 dungeon/trials	–
Dungeon Siege III	5	Complete 100 dungeon/trials	–
Dungeon Siege IV	10	Complete 300 dungeon/trials	Dungeon Master title
Dungeon Master	20	Complete 1,000 dungeon/trials	–
Lifer I	20	Complete 2,000 dungeon/trials	–
Lifer II	20	Complete 5,000 dungeon/trials	–
Lifer III	20	Complete 10,000 dungeon/trials	–

FF XIV A Realm Reborn High-end Trials

These trials are where nightmares like Ultima Weapon, Garuda, and Shiva show up to show you exactly how fragile your sense of accomplishment is. Think you’ve mastered dodging? Try it again with Garuda’s winds tossing you around, or Leviathan turning the whole arena into a water park from hell. These trials are where you’ll realize your equipment doesn’t save you; skill does (or lack thereof). And if you actually survive, you’re rewarded with some Allagan Tomestones and loot that’s mostly good for looking shiny while you crawl away, exhausted.

Trial Name	Level	iLevel	Party Size	Boss	Loot Item Level	Tomestones Reward	Unlock Quest
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Ultima’s Bane	50	61	8	Ultima Weapon	80	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: The Ultimate Ballad
The Howling Eye (Extreme)	50	65	8	Garuda	90	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Gale-force Warning
The Navel (Extreme)	50	67	8	Titan	90	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Quake Me Up Before You O’Ghomoro
The Bowl of Embers (Extreme)	50	70	8	Ifrit	90	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Ifrit Ain’t Broke
Thornmarch (Extreme)	50	80	8	Good King Moggle Mog XII	100	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: The King Lives
The Whorleater (Extreme)	50	80	8	Leviathan	95	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Whorl of a Time
The Striking Tree (Extreme)	50	85	8	Ramuh	100	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Judgment Bolts and Lightning
The Akh Afah Amphitheatre (Extreme)	50	95	8	Shiva	110	22 Poetics	Feature Quest: Drop Dead Shiva

FF XIV Heavensward High-end Trials

These Trials bring out Heavensward’s nastiest, from the flying turtle Bismarck to the demigod Ravana, each with their own special way of making you question your life choices. The devs have made sure you’ll need every ounce of skill (and maybe a few gallons of holy water) to survive these fights. Each boss is powered up to remind you that loot rolls are earned with sweat and sacrifice — mostly yours. Expect to be tossed, smashed, and burned repeatedly, all in the name of loot, glory, and a healthy amount of trauma.

Trial Name	Level	iLevel	Party Size	Boss	Loot Item Level	Tomestones Reward	Unlock Quest
The Limitless Blue (Extreme)	60	165	8	Bismarck	175	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: The Diabolical Bismarck
Thok ast Thok (Extreme)	60	175	8	Ravana	190	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: Thok Around the Clock
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Thordan’s Reign	60	190	8	King Thordan	205	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Thordan’s Reign
Containment Bay S1T7 (Extreme)	60	205	8	Sephirot	220	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: A Fiendish Likeness
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Nidhogg’s Rage	60	220	8	Nidhogg	235	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Nidhogg’s Rage
Containment Bay P1T6 (Extreme)	60	235	8	Sophia	255	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: A Deific Simulacrum
Containment Bay Z1T9 (Extreme)	60	250	8	Zurvan	265	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: A Demonic Duplicate

FF XIV Stormblood High-end Trials

In FFXIV’s Stormblood High-End Trials, you’ll face everything from dragons to giant samurai spirits, all determined to crush your confidence and your item level. These Trials take you on a worldwide tour of pain: from fighting Tsukuyomi under the moonlight to facing the giant monster hunter Rathalos. Stormblood introduces not just tougher bosses but also wild mechanics that keep you guessing. And remember, there’s no mercy from Shinryu or Suzaku, only the hope that your healer’s reflexes are better than your own. Each Trial is its own unique brand of chaos — where loot is the lure, and defeat is the main course.

Trial Name	Level	iLevel	Party Size	Boss	Tomestones Reward	Unlock Quest
The Pool of Tribute	63	–	8	Susano	–	Main Scenario Quest: The Lord of the Revel
Emanation	67	–	8	Lakshmi	–	Main Scenario Quest: The Lady of Bliss
The Royal Menagerie	70	280	8	Shinryu	12 Poetics	Main Scenario Quest: Stormblood
The Jade Stoa	70	325	8	Byakko	12 Poetics	Feature Quest: An Auspicious Encounter
Castrum Fluminis	70	335	8	Tsukuyomi	12 Poetics	Main Scenario Quest: The Primary Agreement
The Great Hunt	70	320	8	Rathalos	10 Poetics	Feature Quest: The New King on the Block
Hells’ Kier	70	355	8	Suzaku	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: The Fire-bird Down Below
The Wreath of Snakes	70	365	8	Seiryu	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: Surpassing the Samurai
Kugane Ohashi	70	365	8	Yojimbo	10 Poetics	Feature Quest: The Past Is Never Past

Every Trial here is an extreme test in its own right, daring you to hold onto your sanity as well as your health bar. Whether it’s Susano’s thunderous attacks or Yojimbo’s wild sword throws, this expansion’s bosses are nothing short of merciless.

FF XIV Shadowbringers High-end Trials

In FFXIV’s Shadowbringers High-End Trials, you’ll face everything from soul-crushing fairies to weaponized nightmares with bad attitudes. These trials are where the Shadowbringers bosses unleash their extreme side, turning your everyday boss fight into a deadly game of Guess the Mechanic or Die. You’ll face the Emerald, Ruby, and Diamond Weapons, plus the fury of Titania, Hades, and a Warrior of Light who’s clearly holding a grudge. These fights are a one-way ticket to frustration, with mechanics designed to make you feel like a hero and a fool, all at once. If you survive, you’ll earn tomestones and gear that screams, I was dumb enough to try this!

Trial Name	Level	iLevel	Party Size	Boss	Loot Item Level	Tomestones Reward	Unlock Quest
Castrum Marinum (Extreme)	80	500	8	The Emerald Weapon	515	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: Weapon of Choice
Cinder Drift (Extreme)	80	470	8	The Ruby Weapon	485	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: Weapon of Choice
Memoria Misera (Extreme)	80	470	8	Varis yae Galvus	480	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: The Bozja Incident
The Cloud Deck (Extreme)	80	510	8	The Diamond Weapon	525	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: Weapon of Choice
The Crown of the Immaculate (Extreme)	80	430	8	Innocence	450	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: Minstrel from Another Mother
The Dancing Plague (Extreme)	80	430	8	Titania	450	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: Minstrel from Another Mother
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Hades’s Elegy	80	450	8	Hades	465	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: Minstrel from Another Mother
The Seat of Sacrifice (Extreme)	80	480	8	Warrior of Light	495	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: Minstrel from Another Mother

Each Trial is a twisted gauntlet that tests your patience and your party’s willingness to revive you. From dodging Titania’s fairy dust to trying not to get vaporized by the Warrior of Light, these trials are here to remind you that being a hero is a full-time job — and one with terrible job security.

FF XIV Endwalker High-end Trials

In FFXIV’s Endwalker High-End Trials, the bosses are bigger, the mechanics are nastier, and your pride is sure to be shattered. These Trials are packed with god-like foes like Zodiark, Hydaelyn, and the melodramatic Endsinger. Each boss feels like they went to villain school to specialize in Making Players Miserable. Here, Endwalker pulls out all the stops with Barbariccia’s stormy attacks, Golbez’s dark magic, and Zeromus’s unforgiving mechanics. You thought you were tough? Think again. These trials push your group to the limit and beyond, forcing even the most battle-hardened players to question why they signed up for this.

Trial Name	Level	iLevel	Party Size	Boss	Loot Item Level	Tomestones Reward	Unlock Quest
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Zodiark’s Fall	90	560	8	Zodiark	580	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Hydaelyn’s Call	90	560	8	Hydaelyn	580	15 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Endsinger’s Aria	90	580	8	The Endsinger	595	20 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel
Storm’s Crown (Extreme)	90	600	8	Barbariccia	615	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel
Mount Ordeals (Extreme)	90	610	8	Rubicante	625	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel
The Voidcast Dais (Extreme)	90	630	8	Golbez	645	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel
The Abyssal Fracture (Extreme)	90	640	8	Zeromus	655	25 Poetics	Feature Quest: I Wandered Sharlayan as a Minstrel

These Trials are a brutal checklist of everything that could go wrong in a boss fight — and you signed up for it. Expect to see more floor than sky, beg for a healer’s mercy, and come away with a sense of victory… if you’re lucky enough to survive.

FF XIV Dawntrail High-end Trials

Each Trial, from facing the fiery Valigarmanda to challenging the resurrected Queen Eternal, is designed to make you doubt every decision that led you here. Extreme doesn’t even cover it. Expect to be thrown across arenas, barely dodge lethal AOE attacks, and pray for your healer’s mana pool. Your reward? Glory, some fancy loot, and the chance to tell everyone, Yes, I survived that.

Trial Name	Level	iLevel	Party Size	Boss	Loot Item Level	Tomestones Reward	Unlock Quest
Worqor Lar Dor (Extreme)	100	690	8	Valigarmanda	710	15 Aesthetics, 8 Heliometry	Feature Quest: How the West Was Sung
Everkeep (Extreme)	100	690	8	Zoraal Ja	710	15 Aesthetics, 8 Heliometry	Feature Quest: How the West Was Sung
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Sphene’s Burden	100	710	8	Queen Eternal	725	20 Aesthetics, 10 Heliometry	Feature Quest: How the West Was Sung
The Jade Stoa (Unreal)	100	690	8	Byakko	695 (Synced)	20 Aesthetics, 10 Heliometry	Feature Quest: Fantastic Mr. Faux

These Trials are a rollercoaster of misery, triumph, and loot. Whether you’re testing your patience against Valigarmanda’s flame attacks or dodging the Queen Eternal’s relentless AOE, each battle is a lesson in humility. If you complete it, the loot and tomestones await — but remember, nothing about these Trials is designed to be kind.

Conclusion

In Final Fantasy 14, Trials are not just simple boss fights; they’re a relentless test of your patience, reflexes, and sometimes your sanity. Most Trials throw you into extreme fights across the game’s world, from the Waking Sands to the Singularity Reactor. Whether you’re in Western Thanalan or the Ruby Sea, every Trial has its own unique way of reminding you that being a solo player here isn’t really an option.

From relic weapon steps to the Final Steps of Faith, each battle pushes most players to their limits. Trials evolve across expansions, getting tougher and more complex. Some Trials, like the fight at Dragon’s Neck or the climb up the Big Keep, are more than battles—they’re statements from Square Enix saying, Good luck, you’ll need it.

For those who make it through the big moments, whether by the skin of their teeth or after countless retries, there’s a sense of triumph that only these high-stakes encounters can deliver.