Should it really be this difficult?

[OronaminC]

I've attempted Thornmarch extreme, Garuda extreme, and Ultimate Ballad numerous times and have yet to complete any of them. I know it doesn't help my chances any by using the Duty Finder but I'm a very awkward human being that has a hard time speaking to random people in chat so I can't think of any other way to approach these trials. But even still, are these trials really that hard that a group put together by the Duty Finder can't beat them?

[Ashkendor]

I haven't been to Thornmarch Extreme, but the problem you run into in DF parties for both Garuda EX and Ultima HM is that there's a hard DPS check in the form of an unavoidable full raid wipe. Too many of your DPS derp and bite it, you aren't making those DPS checks. Ultima HM's Ifrit phase is notorious for killing DPS and healers alike, and don't even get me started on the amount of crap that can kill you in Garuda... I've beaten Ultima HM in DF, but only after several tries. Garuda EX took a lot of doing for me to clear. Like, weeks of trying. x_x

The best I can advise is to try to find a couple of close friends or FC mates and put up a party finder for it. My first win in both of these trials was in a party built entirely from my FC and a linkshell that I'm in.

[Remilia_Nightfall]

Unfortunately, "difficult" is a subjective term.

I agree with what Wyntir said, tho - most of the time we define "difficult" something that just "requires awareness and knowledge". This is good, as in a game (EVERY game) you should have a fairly big chance to "lose" if you don't learn how to play properly. And this is such a case.

[Aika_Nakamura]

Garuda Extreme proved to be rather painful for myself. Granted, I attempted with a melee DPS and essentially regretted life after that (no, seriously, tornadoes are your enemy).

As for Ultima's Bane, I don't know where your struggle is.
I had a couple of wipes and it actually ended up being my fault that we didn't get by Ultima (e.g., I limit broke on the second phase, I didn't limit break at all, I essentially failed so hard that my family would probably be shamed, but this was as a tank), but otherwise I have very little problems with Ultima if people just understand to get together and spread the damage.

[Moqi]

From personal experience:
Ultima HM is not that hard, but people get lost when the orbs come. I've wiped soooo many times at that point, which is ridiculous because the fight's almost over.
Garuda EX: Dps checks.
Moggle EX: There are many factors. Dps accidentally kill an enemy/don't stop WHM and BLM, Healers don't Esuna debuffs during combos... but sometimes it's just bad luck. If the wrong Mog gets the buffs, it becomes incredibly more complicated. When Mog rain can OHKO even with stoneskin on, it's a mess.

[Garlyle]

Ultima HM (Really, more like Ultima EX - since l50 content is the "hard" version of fights anyway) is a dodging/coordination check. It's fairly easy, but few people skilled enough to do it will actually bother to do it because its rewards are so low-value.

Garuda EX, rather than the DPS checks I'm hearing from others, is more of a tank check in my opinion - the tanks' abilities to manage the adds, take control of positioning, etc., is really, really important, and it's the first fight that really requires that from tanks to boot. It's not a terribly hard fight, but it's the first EX Primal and many players aren't actually as ready for it as they think they are. (There are DPS checks, yes, but I usually don't see groups have problems with them until Titan)

Thornmarch EX is a nightmare. I know many people well into second coil who refuse to touch the fight again, largely because there's so many variables in what goes on that people really do need a full understanding of the fight in order to have a chance. I do know someone who got a clear via Duty Finder, but all I really have to say is 'good luck'.

[givemeraptors]

"I hate this fight somewhere deep in my soul."
-- random DPS on my first Thornmarch EX clear

The reason people hate this Trial is because there are checks for every role that when missed = instant wipe and they happen repeatedly and at a fairly high frequency throughout the entirety of the fight.
Tank doesn't position King correctly = dead.
Healers don't remove debuffs = dead.
DPS don't stop Flare or Holy (or heavens forbid kill a moogle early) = dead.
Then there's the fairly strict DPS check at the end (getting him down to 0.01% and wiping = priceless)

Then on a more personal side, that fight is utter HELL as a SMN..., trying to control your DoTs + your pet ;_;

[AlexPayne]

If it has "Extreme" in the name, it's probably going to be difficult.

[Vladislav]

I've attempted Thornmarch extreme, Garuda extreme, and Ultimate Ballad numerous times and have yet to complete any of them. I know it doesn't help my chances any by using the Duty Finder but I'm a very awkward human being that has a hard time speaking to random people in chat so I can't think of any other way to approach these trials. But even still, are these trials really that hard that a group put together by the Duty Finder can't beat them?

Every Ex can be killed in DF , it frustating and may take up to few "days" to take each , but actually if you got good understanding of mechanics (you know you got , when DF ppl's die on same stuff and you not lol ) can join or make PF . I done all 5 trials + ultima wins in DF (Ultima even before echo) , so if want go hard DF way - feel free and you may get in that win PT

[Estellios]

Thornmarch was actually the easiest primal EX for my FC and alongside leviathan is probably the only one every one of us likes. A big part of it is realizing that combos happen whenever the king speaks and that everyone really only has to focus on a few things individually. There is also the fact that the DPS check is only at the end and works differently in that it can be extremely generous as long as your DPS can control themselves throughout the rest of the fight.

Garuda EX can blow if your tanks are bad or your DPS don't pay attention. It also doesn't help that a lot of people do it in such a way that insta-kills melee or tanks that aren't used to the fight.

Ultima is only annoying when people don't pay attention to stuff going on around them or if they get scared of running into the orbs. I have found it helps to mark someone and make sure everyone follows them for the orbs.