FFXIV Dawntrail Arcadion raids: release window, what to expect, how to prepare – Dexerto

Arcadion is the new raid series releasing in Final Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail expansion. Here’s what we know so far about the new raid, including its release window, what to expect, and how to prepare for the Savage difficulty.

Final Fantasy XIV has just released its new major expansion, Dawntrail. As usual, the update comes with a new raid, this time called Arcadion. These raids are a series of battles that up to eight players can participate in, featuring a story mode and a Savage difficulty setting that offers some of the best loot in the game.

Want to know more about the upcoming raid? We’ve got you covered.

FFXIV Arcadion release window

We have not received a concrete date yet about when the Arcadion itself will be released. However, we do know that the normal version of the raid will launch in Patch 7.01, with the Savage difficulty dropping with Patch 7.05.

The last, we should release the raids sometime mid to late Julyafter which the Savage difficulty was reduced shortly thereafter.

FFXIV Arcadion What to Expect

Final Fantasy XIV raids typically come in three series of four battles, for a total of twelve across the expansion. Arcadion will likely be no different, with a new series arriving in Patch 7.2 and Patch 7.4 to wrap up the story.

Players should expect to face a boss in every battle. Generally, when you load into a raid in Final Fantasy XIV, you’ll immediately start with a boss, with no exploration or traversal required to reach the end goal.

However, that doesn’t mean Arcadion will remain the same as it was in the past. The devs are always looking for ways to innovate the raiding experience.

FFXIV Arcadion How to Prepare for Savage

Arcadion’s Savage difficulty will challenge even the best Final Fantasy XIV players. However, some of the expansion’s best loot will be tied up behind it, meaning that if you want some of the best gear available in the MMO, you’ll need to be prepared to take on the many bosses lurking within.

Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started.

Know your role or class

One of the best things you can do before diving into Savage difficulty content is to know your role or class. Whether that means knowing what your job is, what your skills are, or even checking out what stats might have changed with the new levels we got in Dawntrail. Doing so will prepare you to perform at your best when you hit the raids.

Find a static

A static is a group of Final Fantasy XIV players who agree to team up together. Think of it as a permanent raid group for as long as you specify. This is important, because you’ll need a full group of eight to start the raid.

A static isn’t necessary, you can always use the Party Finder to find players to raid with. However, a static will ensure you are more consistent and can get through the fight with a group of players you know and treat as friends.

Clear away the extremes

The Extreme Trials are both currently available at the time of writing and offer some great gear that will help you level up your item levels so you can perform better in raids. Not only that, but they’re also a great introduction to the harder content in Final Fantasy XIV, making them a nice transition into Savage Raids.

Know your best bet

Your BiS or best in slot for Final Fantasy XIV refers to the pieces of equipment you need to obtain in order to have the optimal substats for your class. Equipment pieces in Final Fantasy XIV come with a variety of substats, some of which may not be useful to your class. This means you’ll want to find another one of a similar item tier to use instead.

Discords like The Balance often offer mentors and other resources that you can use to get the most out of yourself in slots, and from there you can get what you need.

Report your equipment

Melding is another important aspect of gearing in Final Fantasy XIV. Melding refers to the process of assigning bonus Materia to pieces of gear to give them boosts to their substats. Melding and knowing which substats to use is quite complicated, so using Balance or other resources can be ideal here.

You can unlock the ability to Meld items by completing the quest Awaken the Spirit, found at The Bonfire in Central Thanalan. You must also have a crafter job at the same level as the item in order to Meld it.

You can also choose to use the Materia Melder NPCs available in most major cities, who can fuse your gear for a fee.