Which Dungeons and Trials Are Mandatory As Of 2020?

[MrThinker]

And, I goofed. I just realized I made a mistake, it was not Halatali that was made compulsory for the main scenario in ARR, but the Sunken Temple of Qarn (the main story quest that involves it requires you to get a key item from it, that is automatically gained upon completing the dungeon). Halatali therefore remains completely optional. I'm so sorry for that mixup.

Regarding Qarn, I heard the quest making it mandatory was removed in the revamp. So I think now it's 100% optional again.

[Darthzilla]

I hope they are both still optional. Is there anywhere I can double check to make sure?



Is there a good online guide source that is up to date with all the changes?

[MistakeNot]

Hi, I'm a returning player and there have been a lot of changes since I played last. I made a post about this a few years ago and I need help creating an up to date list of all Dungeons and Trials you HAVE to complete at a minimum to finish the story line.

Why am I asking for help with this? I'm not a fan of dungeons, in fact, I find them very unfun so I'd like to do as few of them as I absolutely have to.
(If you find them super fun and easy, more power to you, but I really don't. )

Is this list still current? And how many Trials are required and where do they fit in? If you can, start at the beginning because I've had to start over to relearn how to play with all the changes. There are other players out there who also dislike doing the Dungeons and Trials so this might be of interest to them too.

You don't actually need to know in advance which dungeons are mandatory and which are not. Just go through the MSQ. When the MSQ says you need to do a dungeon or trial - well, then you have to do it. If you at some point find an MSQ quest that says you need to do dungeon X or trial Y before picking up that quest, then you have to do that dungeon or trial.
And then just don't do any of the other dungeons or trials.

In short, if you have absolutely have to do a dungeon or trial the game will tell you so when you get that far.

[Darthzilla]

@MistakeNot It's kind of nice to see it planned out so I can see how many more of them I have left to get through and check off the ones I've completed, you know? Plus I don't want to accidentally do one I don't have to either.

[Hasrat]

Can always just scan through the lists of quests to see what they unlock for what is mandatory to clear.

[Darthzilla]

Can always just scan through the lists of quests to see what they unlock for what is mandatory to clear.

Oh! That helps too! Nice, thank you.

[MrThinker]

Oh! That helps too! Nice, thank you.

Alternatively, here is the list of all Mandatory Group Instances for 2.0-2.55 as of patch 5.3:

A Realm Reborn

1. Sastasha
2. The Tam-Tara Deepcroft
3. Copperbell Mines
4. The Bowel of Embers
5. The Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak
6. Haukke Manor
7. Brayflox’s Longstop
8. The Navel
9. The Stone Vigil
10. The Howling Eye
11. Cape Westwind
12. Castrum Meridianum
13. The Praetorium
14. The Bowel of Embers (Hard)*
15. The Howling Eye (Hard)*
16. The Navel (Hard)*+
17. Thornmarch (Hard)
18. The Whorleater (Hard)
19. The Striking Tree (Hard)
20. Snowcloak
21. Akh Afah Amphitheatre (Hard)
22. The Keeper of the Lake
23. The Chrysalis
24. The Steps of Faith
25. Labyrinth of the Ancients*
26. Syrcus Tower*
27. The World of Darkness*

Trial
Alliance dungeon
* Introduced optionally but required for story progression at a certain point
+ Story is going to make you do this again some time later

[Brightamethyst]

From 2.0 to current:
Required dungeons - 37
Required trials - 25
Required alliance raids - 3


The nine Shadowbringers dungeons can be done with Trusts (NPCs that take the place of other players) but for all the rest you'll need to party up.

[Frizze]

So your list was more or less complete up to the end of 3.0. As was already mentioned, the Crystal Tower alliance raid series was added to the list this patch. You cant advance the story into the final patch of 2.x without having completed them, but you can start them as soon as you finish Ultima Weapon(if you were already past this point, it wont let you start the most recent patch without having them finished). So add Labyrinth of the Ancients, Syrcus Tower, and World of Darkness somewhere between Praetorium and Cryssalis. As for the list from 3.1 onward...

The Antitower(D) - patch 3.2
Sohr Khai(D) - patch 3.3
Final Steps of Faith(T) - patch 3.3
Xelphatol(D) - patch 3.4 Special note: There is a required re-fight of Navel(hard) around here as well
Baelsar's Wall(D) - patch 3.5
Sirensong Sea(D) - patch 4.0
Pool of Tribute(T) - patch 4.0
Bardem's Mettle(D) - patch 4.0
Doma Castle(D) - patch 4.0
Emanation(T) - patch 4.0
Castrum Abania(D) - patch 4.0
Ala Mhigo(D) - patch 4.0
Royal Menagerie(T) - patch 4.0
Drowned City of Skalla(D) - patch 4.1
Castrum Fluminis(T) - patch 4.3
The Burn(D) - patch 4.4
Ghimlyt Dark(D) - patch 4.5
Holminster Switch(D) - patch 5.0 Special note: starting from this dungeon the NPC trust system is available and story dungeons no longer require groups(trials still require group though)
Dohn Mheg(D) - patch 5.0
Dancing Plague(T) - patch 5.0
Qitana Ravel(D) - patch 5.0
Malikah's Well(D) - patch 5.0
Mt. Gulg(D) - patch 5.0
Crown of the Immaculate(T) - patch 5.0
Amaurot(D) - patch 5.0
Dying Grasp(T) - patch 5.0
Grand Cosmos(D) - patch 5.1
Anamnesis Anyder(D) - patch 5.2
Heroes' Gauntlet(D) - patch 5.3
Seat of Sacrifice(T) - patch 5.3

Not listed are 18 optional dungeons(or the 13 more optional lvl 50 dungeons you didnt list), 15 optional trials, or any of the optional raids. I went with patch numbers rather then quest names as it seemed less spoilery.

[Darthzilla]

@MrThinker I've added that list to my list at home. Thanks so much, I really appreciate it!

@Brightamethyst I read about the NPC trusts and I think that will be a help, esp as a DPS wit typically long queue times. I'm looking forward to trying them out.

@Frizze Thank you for the list of the current content, I'll add that to my list as well!


Thank you all very much for your help and for taking the time to correct and add to the list.

I ran through Satasha last night on my new Thaum, I'm pretty out of practice but got through it ok (not so bad that the others hated me anyway). The random group I was with was pretty relaxed. I want to say that FFXIV still has the nicest and most helpful player base I've ever run across. Thank you.
P.S. Feeling a little salty about them removing the cross class heal spell ability from Blk Mage.