Trial of the Magians

[0nionKn1ght]

Greetings!

I have been looking into some sexy new daggers for my Thief, who is close to dinging 99 after a marathon gaming session on Monday (went from 30-85 in only a few hours, and capped up my dagger skill on Tonberry's farming my Thief's Knife, as a 2 for 1 offer) and the TotM daggers really stand out to me, however...

....are they REALLY that much work to get?

I was looking at the Twashtar, and it's stats are moderately nice, with a weapon skill built in, but it appears to require a tonne of NM camping x3, at the start of the trials, which is really off putting. Am I reading these things wrong, or are they really this much work to obtain? According to my research I will need to do the following:

Kill Nocuous Weapon (1-6 hour respawn NM) x3
Kill Black Triple Stars (1-6 hour respawn NM) x3
Kill Serra (1-6 hour respawn NM) x3
Kill Bugbear Strongman x4
Kill La Velue x4
Kill Hovering Hotpot x4
Kill Yacumama x6
Kill Feuerunke x6
Kill Tammuz x8
Collect Glavoid Shells x50
Collect Itzpapalotl's Scale x50
Collect Orthru's Claw x75
Collect Heavy Metal Plate x1500
Collect Riftdross x3060

Thats alot of work O_O!

I have the pop item for the Triplus Dagger which im hoping will tide me over while I grind out this stuff, but there must be a quicker way... right? I can understand 1x of each NM kill, but 3 is torture :(

EDIT: Corrected my myriad of mistakes :D

[Tamoa]

Twashtar is an empyrean weapon, with more or less the same requirements as all the other empyrean weapons. However, none of them require kills in specific conditions, it's all X amount of a specific nm. Is it worth it? It's worth it if you really want one, but Twashtar itself isn't the most amazing of weapons.

You say you have the pop item for the Lux dagger - are you talking about Lux Pugio? Because there is no pop item involved there, it drops from Qilin, a T3 voidwatch fight (zilart path). But on the other hand, it's a decent dagger with a reasonably high drop rate and worth using if you don't want to grind through a magian trial.

There's also the Aluh Jambiah which you can buy off the AH, but it's fairly expensive, at least on my server.

Edit: if you think 3 of each nm is torture, then I would suggest forgetting about Twashtar, because the real fun begins when you need 50 Glavoid shells. :P

[Demon6324236]

You are reading it wrong. Twashtar itself does require many kills of NMs(Peeler (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Peeler)>2 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_2)>3 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_3)>4 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_4)>5 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_5)>6 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_6)>7 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_7)>8 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_8)>9 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_9)>1092 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_1092)>1093 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_1093)>1886 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_1886)>2283 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_2283)>2716 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_2716)>3179 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_3179)>3592 (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Trial_3592)),however the hundreds of kills you refer to are likely items or the trials for the other weapons. I will explain more when I wake if others haven't by then but for now I am to tired to type out another long response, sorry. ;;

[0nionKn1ght]

Seems I got my trials a little confused, and I meant the Triplus Dagger pop. Was up very late last night trying to get that Northern Paper, which took longer than farming a THF Knife Pop, so my brain is a little addled right now :( - Sorry for the confusion though :D

[Tamoa]

Oh I see, lol. Well, the NQ dagger from Qilin is still a decent option :P

[0nionKn1ght]

Oh I see, lol. Well, the NQ dagger from Qilin is still a decent option :P


Yeah the Lux Pugio or something if im not mistaken. I mean im all for a little grind in my MMo, but this is verging on the cruel >_<!

[Vivivivi]

You're not reading it wrong, those are in fact the requirements. I have made one myself (level 85 so far where you get the weapon skill), and with the exception of black triple stars, it's really not that difficult to do up until you get to Glavoid. Thankfully other players are often times camping the same NMs you are for the same or different trials and you can team up. I highly recommend off handing a weapon you can skill up on when you're camping, or bring along crafting materials to pass the time, because until you get to the VNM stages, it can be incredibly boring.

For the Abyssea part, I also highly recommend joining, or creating a linkshell group of 4-6 people who are also working on empyreans. It goes much faster when you can make 4-6 pops at once, and as a side bonus the other group members can take the +2 items from the persons empyrean NM, also making it worthwhile for them.

While Twashtar isn't the best of all empyreans, it's still a great weapon, and one of the few that can be used by three jobs (one of the reasons I made it my first). Also keep in mind you don't need to take it to 99 for it to be useful, even left at 85 it's still a very very good weapon.

[0nionKn1ght]

You're not reading it wrong, those are in fact the requirements. I have made one myself (level 85 so far where you get the weapon skill), and with the exception of black triple stars, it's really not that difficult to do up until you get to Glavoid. Thankfully other players are often times camping the same NMs you are for the same or different trials and you can team up. I highly recommend off handing a weapon you can skill up on when you're camping, or bring along crafting materials to pass the time, because until you get to the VNM stages, it can be incredibly boring.

For the Abyssea part, I also highly recommend joining, or creating a linkshell group of 4-6 people who are also working on empyreans. It goes much faster when you can make 4-6 pops at once, and as a side bonus the other group members can take the +2 items from the persons empyrean NM, also making it worthwhile for them.

While Twashtar isn't the best of all empyreans, it's still a great weapon, and one of the few that can be used by three jobs (one of the reasons I made it my first). Also keep in mind you don't need to take it to 99 for it to be useful, even left at 85 it's still a very very good weapon.

Thanks, that kind of motivated me actually. I mainly just want the WS, im guessing the aftermath comes with it, or does it only work at 99?

[Vivivivi]

Aftermath comes when you get the weapon skill (level 85 stage). Afterglow is the one that only comes at level 99-stage2

[0nionKn1ght]

They really don't like to make things simple do they >_<

[Rezeak]

The 90 Twashtar

Doesn't need these

Collect Heavy Metal Plate x1500
Collect Riftdross x3060

and it's a very good weapons

Well u don't need 3000 riftdross anyway for the 99

Btw what a lot of THFs have done is this

90 Twashtar then made a 95 Mandau for the same cost and the 90->95 upgrade.
imo 90 Twashtar+95 Mandau >>>> 1 99 Twashtar

[0nionKn1ght]

So 3 hours down at the Mage Gate, killing Boggarts, no pop, and no kills on the NM yet. A bot is standing here that im enjoying winding up, by pulling random boggarts behind it to make it engage, but it doesn't turn so that keeps it occupied :)

This trial has not even begun and it's already drving me crazy, and I haven't even got to Black Triple Stars yet, which may make me cry blood.

[Zerich]

You should honestly just quit on your trials if the first pop NM is effecting you so negatively.
It only gets more frustrating with each new trial.

And the WoE isn't worth a Copper Ore, tbh.

[0nionKn1ght]

You should honestly just quit on your trials if the first pop NM is effecting you so negatively.
It only gets more frustrating with each new trial.

And the WoE isn't worth a Copper Ore, tbh.

Um, giving up on hard or frustrating things would mean I never even moved out of Windurst on day 1 back at release. It's these trials that we have to overcome, and im sure in time I will get to a stage where I am happy with the dagger I have gotten to.

I don't understand the mentality of "If you aren't enjoying it quit and run away", when everything in this game is some kind of uphill struggle to a usually just reward. We are playing the same game right?

[Zerich]

Um, giving up on hard or frustrating things would mean I never even moved out of Windurst on day 1 back at release. It's these trials that we have to overcome, and im sure in time I will get to a stage where I am happy with the dagger I have gotten to.

I don't understand the mentality of "If you aren't enjoying it quit and run away", when everything in this game is some kind of uphill struggle to a usually just reward. We are playing the same game right?

You made a thread on how overwhelming they are.
I misinterpreted your tone.

The lotto NMs are easy, just have BST or RNG subjob and keep yourself occupied while doing them.
GL.

[Jackstin]

There's nothing wrong with playing games for fun. Don't forget you're not actually being rewarded. This is just a videogame, the Twashtar doesn't exist anywhere except your mind.

Having said that I think a healthy target is a good thing. The pleasure that can be got by achieving something great can easily overcome the pain of actually getting said item, and there's nothing wrong with that. It depends on whether the individual thinks it is worth while.

From my perspective you seem like the kind of guy who is actually going to enjoy the magian journey once you get into it, and there are so many who do. I think the previous poster was thinking you were one of the many people in this game who go for relics and empyrean due to an unhealthy addiction.

[Infidi]

Lol have fun in black triple stars. I did for my occasionly attacks 2-4 dagger and took me a week to get all the kills. I'm sure I was just unlucky, but he only pops at night and a small time frame to claim and kill so pretty annoying . :D

[Modoru]

Screw Twashtar, I'm making a Mandau.

[Vivik]

I think the previous poster was thinking you were one of the many people in this game who go for relics and empyrean due to an unhealthy addiction.

What a load of crap. I work full time, have three kids and managed to get couple Empys with my wife, friends, and a couple Alts in my spare time. Just because you're not willing to put in the effort does not make it an "unhealthy addiction". My OAT lance was much more time consuming than any Empy I have done.

Also, telling someone they are not being rewarded and then saying there is pleasure to be had doing magian weapons makes no sense at all. The reward is the pleasure of completing it.

[Modoru]

What a load of crap. I work full time, have three kids and managed to get couple Empys duo with my wife, friends, and a couple Alts in my spare time. Just because you're not willing to put in the effort does not make it an "unhealthy addiction". My OAT lance was much more time consuming than any Empy I have done.

Also, telling someone they are not being rewarded and then saying there is pleasure to be had doing magian weapons makes no sense at all. The reward is the pleasure of completing it.

Not everyone's gifted with duo/trio buddies.

[Komori]

If it makes you feel better, I have no empys myself yet because of the long list of NMs but recently I buckled down and camped all of the lottery spawns for my Almace and am on VNM (Capicornus and Tammuz).

I'm doing an Almace first (:

[Zerich]

Not everyone's gifted with duo/trio buddies.

Dual-boxing is so hard.

[Modoru]

Dual-boxing is so hard.
Yes, because everyone pays for two accounts and levels them both[or alternatively has an extra account at their disposal]. Troll harder.

[Zerich]

Yes, because everyone pays for two accounts and levels them both. Troll harder.

Not trolling, just pointing out how many people have efficiently and quickly completed their empyrean weapons.

You make the conscious choice to not have a dual-box to hit a cure/haste macro on.

[Modoru]

I figure it shouldn't have to be a choice "not to have" a dual-box, because, as much as I understand where the benefit lies in it for "me" [or the player following the empyrean] and not the "others" [anyone helping], it shouldn't be expected of me to be playing [and therefore, paying] two characters at a time for the sake of a weapon.

PS. I'm not very coherent when I haven't slept, so I don't even know if I'm making sense.

[Zerich]

I figure it shouldn't have to be a choice "not to have" a dual-box, because, as much as I understand where the benefit lies in it for "me" [or the player following the empyrean] and not the "others" [anyone helping], it shouldn't be expected of me to be playing [and therefore, paying] two characters at a time for the sake of a weapon.

PS. I'm not very coherent when I haven't slept, so I don't even know if I'm making sense.

Then you are choosing to rely on that +1~2 people to make your weapon.
You're just starting an argument for the sake of arguing under the mask of your level 1 character.
Are you scared that what you say might be held to a credibility?

[Valonquar]

Just do a lil at a time. Unless you have an extraordinary amount of gil and time, trying to focus solely on it will drive you mad. I've been soloing the KIs for popping Glavoid, and then getting help from a friend for farming the shells. I usually end up with a Chloris pop too doing this and offer up the drops from that as a bonus for helping out. I'm about halfway through glavoid, but it's been a long time, full of other distractions, like leveling all the other jobs to 99, finishing off at least+1 empy gear for all of them, and Voidwatch.
Getting an empy weapon can be as frustrating or easy as you make it.

[Modoru]

Actually this is my only character, I just set it to RDM 'cause it's a job I don't play. :c
I'm not hiding anything, I swear~, you can look me up on ffxiah haha
And no, I'm not trying to argue for the sake of it, I just don't believe that "choosing not to dual-box" is an excuse for those that have only one account. s: It's not that it's specifically *difficult* to dualbox, but a lot of people don't dedicate enough time to the game to validate bringing up a second character [easy as it may be nowadays], or have the resources of having people willing to dedicate time to building their empyrean.

Therefore, I don't think "I have alts, a wife, and friends helping me make various emps" versus "I just started this solo for the first time" is a valid counterargument? is this making sense?

[Zerich]

Actually this is my only character, I just set it to RDM 'cause it's a job I don't play. :c
I'm not hiding anything, I swear~, you can look me up on ffxiah haha
And no, I'm not trying to argue for the sake of it, I just don't believe that "choosing not to dual-box" is an excuse for those that have only one account. s: It's not that it's specifically *difficult* to dualbox, but a lot of people don't dedicate enough time to the game to validate bringing up a second character [easy as it may be nowadays], or have the resources of having people willing to dedicate time to building their empyrean.

Therefore, I don't think "I have alts, a wife, and friends helping me make various emps" versus "I just started this solo for the first time" is a valid counterargument? is this making sense?

Now I understand you. Don't worry, you're making sense. On my second cup of coffee, myself. xD

I guess I stated it a bit too aggressive, and I apologize, but empys only give out the amount of effort that's put into making them. Not saying a player is bad if they make an empy without a dual-box, just pointing out that it is very possible to solo one without much stress (sans the final voidwalker NMs).

[Tamoa]

I don't dual box either - up until very recently I was relying on a pc that would have exploded if I tried. But more importantly, I have absolutely no wish to level and equip another character. I am blessed with some rather amazing friends though, who have helped me get 5 empyreans and one relic.

The empyrean starting trials aren't that bad, honestly. Like some have already mentioned - keep yourself occupied between nm windows, and rng or bst sub makes things easier aswell.

[Modoru]

My, that's lucky. I'm starting to force myself to do Dynamis every day someway, somehow. Even with my gimp thf~.

[Jackstin]

What a load of crap. I work full time, have three kids and managed to get couple Empys with my wife, friends, and a couple Alts in my spare time. Just because you're not willing to put in the effort does not make it an "unhealthy addiction". My OAT lance was much more time consuming than any Empy I have done.

Also, telling someone they are not being rewarded and then saying there is pleasure to be had doing magian weapons makes no sense at all. The reward is the pleasure of completing it.

What? I said there were both people who got Empys who enioyed it, and people who do it because they have videogame addiction.

[0nionKn1ght]

My biggest problem I see on the horizon is that Guild Wars II is on it's way next month. While I am really loving being back in Vana'diel, the game has a lot of temptation for me, mainly as there is no monthly fee. I hope the effort I put in now won't be just for nothing as I desert this game again :S - In short, I hope GW2 sucks :D

[Vivivivi]

Empyrean lottery NMs sometimes come right down to luck too keep in mind. Some of them do have minimum respawn timers of an hour~ but some can pop back to back- I've seen it. I went 3/29 in game nights on Black Triple Stars, but I've also had a friend see the rare-but-possible 2 pops in a single in game night. He also logged off right there and when he logged back in, the next in game night it popped again.

One thing I forgot to mention that is fun about doing these trials is teaming up with people you didn't know previously. I made some nice in-game friends doing empyrean trials, and even though you might be complaining to each other about the NM not popping there is a sense of camaraderie you gain.

With the above said, Empyreans just aren't for everyone, they require a certain amount of persistence and dedication to obtain, and there are some very nice alternatives for the more casual player such as the magian weapons.

My recommendation is to try to make it through the Boggart, and when you get to Black Triple Stars you'll know if continuing is for you or not :) Good luck!

[0nionKn1ght]

http://i50.tinypic.com/2ptdnib.jpg

and so it begins...

and I have to say, the fact that it gives me a little update when the kill is done is a huge bonus from what FFXI used to do, in that it would just expect you to remember it :) - Logged in on my lunch break at work, 1 round of PH kills and it popped up, so joined up with 2 JP players, both happy to team up for this. It's not SO bad when it means you can group up for it.

[Tamoa]

One thing I forgot to mention that is fun about doing these trials is teaming up with people you didn't know previously. I made some nice in-game friends doing empyrean trials, and even though you might be complaining to each other about the NM not popping there is a sense of camaraderie you gain.


This is very true. :)


Also - Modoru, yes it's lucky - or rather I'm lucky, I feel blessed for having such great friends, they are making this game all the more enjoyable for me.

[0nionKn1ght]

Muhahaha! Logged in, same guy I was with earlier is there, 15 minute break at work just logged in by chance, and up popped the NM! 2/3!

All smiles now but Black Triple Stars is up next, however that thing can pop only at night, and the respawn is quite easy to track with /BST, however in 10 years playing, I have not once ever seen that NM >_< - Can't say I have ever looked for it though :D

[Camiie]

Black Triple Stars really puts the Notorious in Notorious Monster. He's gonna be a pain, trust me. That being said, while the Empyrean process can be annoying at times, and anything that goes through Abyssea-Tahrongi is going to be even more annoying than usual, it's about as truly balanced as high-end content gets in FFXI. You don't have to be rich, you don't really have to compete with anyone, and you can kinda do it on your own time (unless the NM you need has just died or just won't pop). Well, that's until you get your weapon to level 90. After that the whole thing flies off the rails, but you at least have a top-notch weapon at that point.

[Tamoa]

Lol, I started sword trial myself the other day, towards Almace. And that damn dhalmel nm drove me nuts the one time I've camped it. Wiki is just confusing the hell out of me, and it didn't help that people in the zone randomly killed dhalmels, totally f**king up my widescan list. 1/3 so far :( I'll get it done though!

[Komori]

I had the same issue with Ishtar D:

[0nionKn1ght]

I had the same issue with Ishtar D:

Hah I camped him once, for 6 hours, without realising I was in the wrong zone, as I was in Buburimu Peninsula, and for some reason every time I checked the wiki, I was seeing in my mind the map for the Peninsula.

Camping NM's really can send your brain to mush sometimes.

[Demon6324236]

The NM made my Almace & Double Attack sword both a pain to start, oh how I hate that NM ><

[Tamoa]

Well isn't this encouraging... :( :( :(

Lol, I will get it done though, but I'm not in any hurry so I'll get to camping when I feel like it.

[Demon6324236]

Well isn't this encouraging... :( :( :(

Lol, I will get it done though, but I'm not in any hurry so I'll get to camping when I feel like it.

Don't worry, you get a make up NM with the extreme ease of Drooling Daisy (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Drooling_Daisy), might even get a Simurgh (http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/Simurgh) out of it ^_^;

[Smeggles]

I don't mean to shoot you down or anything, but if you are making it for THF.... don't.

Twashtar is amazing for dancers, but for theif its a waste of time. Make a couple of STR Thokcha's and then work on your Mandau, you will not believe this dagger. Rudra's is ok, but is very ordinary unstacked for THF (stacked it does ok).

[Camiie]

If the idea of making 2 STR/Attack daggers makes you want to pull your hair out there's also this on the AH:
http://www.ffxiah.com/item/16500/aluh-jambiya

[Tamoa]

Problem with STR magian weapons is needing fire weather which is very rare, or firesday obviously - but the worst thing is they can get really expensive because of the price of flame geodes.

[0nionKn1ght]

Just gonna say it now. To hell with Black Triple Stars. To hell with you.

In 10 years playing, I have never met a more annoying solo camp NM.

Watching that son of a fridge spawn 10 seconds before daytime came, way off in the distance, and Flee being on cooldown was enough to get a rage log from me today :S

[0nionKn1ght]

2 Black Triple Stars kills in 1 night! 1 more to go! Took a few weeks out of this as this NM is horrifying, but now I learned how to spot the PH's on Widescan, it's a doddle.

[0nionKn1ght]

Serra and Strongman completed in 2 days! Loving Strongman as I got 3 pops in a row (14 mins apart).

Next up, the Tiger, but Glavoid looms ever closer >_<!

[Luvbunny]

Yeah good luck on glavoid :) You may as well do itza now while you are waiting for the rest since itza is ridiculously easy to finish.

[Nawesemo]

Glavoid..... Lol. Disgourge.... Uggghhhhh. Find a friend to stun disgourge and hes a panzzzy, it took a fight or two, but once you learn to turn at the right time, and don't cure him after he tp's by hitting him, you can leave the drummer at home, but I'm lookin to stun em on account of the wifes habit to watch t.v during the most stressful times for me as her support...... Guess why "she" wants one..... Fml. Glavoid 6/50. God make this end. (After a ukon, x2 twashers , I don't want to drag the shell back out to tahgori, if they asked me, .... I can't say I would..... This mob is hell), .....now say they make the kills share-able, like prior trials, or make this guy less dependant on lotto spawns, he wouldn't be so bad.... Love ya S.E. /sarcasm

[Meyi]

Worst part about Glavoid is collecting all of the Key Items. The actual fight itself isn't too bad. (Same goes with Chloris).

[Komori]

8 helms and 44 skins left for the Almace!

[Demon6324236]

Worst part about Glavoid is collecting all of the Key Items. The actual fight itself isn't too bad. (Same goes with Chloris).

Thats because they were stupid with it and made them take the most KIs of any NM, imagine if making Ukon or Vere was as simple as doing Fistul, where you just get a NM and hold it in a spot for 10~15minutes then kill a big easy slime...