Summary
Final Fantasy 14is knownfor its extensive storyline, which has told many epic and captivating tales. Much of that is reflected in the MSQ, which will see players go through various content such as solo duties, dungeons, and Trials as part of their quest. However, neither the story nor group content is limited to the main quest, as the game includes many chains of side quests with unique story arcs and content for players to explore.
Normal Raidsare one such type of content. They are similar to trials presented in the MSQ in that each encounter in a Raid is a single boss fight with 8 players who take part in the battle. However, Normal Raids are considered more difficult than Trials, and their stories are separate from the main quest. They usually emerge from threads introduced during the main story and later develop into their own side arcs. However, while Normal Raids are all worth doing, some of them stand above the others.
5Stormblood: Omega
A Trial Between Dimensions
Omegais a series of Raids introduced inStormblood,which later got an Ultimate version inEndwalker. It focuses on the characters from Garlond Ironworks and their quest to catch Omega, and alien mechanism that helped minimize damage from Shinryu at the end ofHeavensward. Those characters include Cid, Biggs, Wedge, and the group’s new consultant and former enemy, Nero. The story provides insight into the friendship between those characters andOmega’s gradual evolution, as it attempts to understand the Warrior of Light and discern the reason for their strength. While the story presents some interesting moments and character interactions, it suffers from a very formulaic premise and linear progression. There won’t be many surprises along the way.
The fights themselves present a lot of diverse encounters. Most of those are returning characters from otherFinal Fantasygames, such as Exdeath or Kefka. Each presents a unique challenge that induces a nostalgic reaction from long-timeFFplayers. However, the weight of most of those encounters is diminished for people who have not played previous entries, and as a result, those encounters might feel random and unconnected to the rest ofFFXIV’ssetting. However, the third tier provides a satisfying conclusion, whether one has played those previous entries or not.
4Shadowbringers: Eden
Bringing Hope Into A Dying World
Shadowbringerspresented a raid series namedEden, the story of which develops over multiple patches. It is closely interconnected to the main quest of the expansion, focusing on building afuture for the First, the world flooded by light. Players will meet familiar characters, such as Thancred and Ryne, but also be introduced to new characters; Gaia and Mitron,both reincarnated Ascianswho were lovers in the past but were separated after Gaia lost her memories. The story culminates in a conflict, as Mitron tries to reinstate Gaia’s memories while Gaia resists as she tries to form a new identity separate from the Ascians.
Most of the encounters that this Raid presents are homages to olderFFXIVencounters, such as Ifrit, Leviathan, or Shiva. While this might make some encounters feel unoriginal, each brings something new, allowing players to view old enemies in a new light. The final tier of the Raid in particular presents unique encounters, such as the Shadowkewper and a twisted fusion between Thancred and Ran’jit. Despite some repeated bosses, Eden presents a unique and novel gameplay experience that can accurately be described as a visual spectacle.
3Endwalker: Pandaemonium
The Past Of The Unsundered
The most recently introduced Raid so far isPandaemonium, the raid ofEndwalker. Since its announcement, speculation has been sparked due to it being tied to Lahabrea, one of the Unsundered Ascians. After the revelations ofEndwalker’sstory, and the ability to travel to the past, the Raid’s premise began to make more sense. In its story, the Warrior of Light travels back in time to investigate a mysterious Crystal found by researchers in the present. This leads the Warrior to encounter Elidibus and Lahabrea - characters they battled during their journey - and meet them in a time before tragedy struck,similar to Emet-Selch in the main scenario ofEndwalker.
This leads the Warrior to discover the dramatic reality of Lahabrea’s family and the derangement of his wife, Athena. Encounters in this tier vary, with this being an original series focused onFFXIV’ssetting and lore. The enemies include creations of the ancients, mutated wardens known as Hemitheos, and reincarnations of Lahabrea (Hephaistos) and Athena themselves. This creates a diverse and exciting series that allows players to learn more about characters presented in the MSQ, and meet some new faces as well.
2A Realm Reborn: Coils Of Bahamut
Laying Ghosts Of The Past To Rest
The normal raid inA Realm Rebornis about paying homage to the past and laying the groundwork for the future. Due to 1.0 meeting a swift end as it was shut down, some characters' arcs remained unresolved or concluded too swiftly. TheCoils of Bahamutseries focuses on the story of Alphinaud and Alisaie Leveilleur, the elezen twins and grandchildren of Louisoix Leveilleur, the man who shielded the realm from a calamity. The twins find his lingering echo, as well asthose of Bahamutand Garlean Legatus Nael van Darnus. All of them can bring danger to the realm, so the twins and the Warrior of Light are tasked with destroying them.
Along with a fascinating story, there are multiple enemies to face. Encounters vary, ranging from Allagan’s defense mechanisms to echoes of people of the past like Nael van Darnus or dragons like Twintania. The Raid’s decor also demonstrates the peak of Allagan technology, creating a unique and novel setting that contrasts with traditional fantasy, surpassing even the Garleans Empire in how advanced it is. Overall, it creates a difficult and impressive Raid series, tying up loose ends from 1.0 and paving the way for the future of both the setting and the game.
1Heavensward: Alexander
The Wrinkle In Time
The Raid chain ofAlexander,presented inHeavensward,presents arguably the best raiding experience in the game. The story of this Raid is mostly unconnected to the main scenario quest and presents an arc of its own, introducing new characters such as Mide. It begins as a mystery, with the Warrior of Light investigating a colossal Primal that emerged in the Hinterlands. Later on, this story leads to unexpected twists, such as presenting a time loop and how it affects the Primal Alexander and Ascian involvement. This leads to some dramatic revelations, and serves as a functioning story in its own right.
All encounters follow a similar style, with each battle occurring within Alexander. However, the raid still allows for variety between its bosses. There are various mechanical defense systems within the Primal. Still, there are some rebellious goblin engineers that the player will have to face, as well as abominations such as the Living Liquid. Overall, the fights are unique but interconnected, allowing for realistic progression with an epic culmination during the final battle against Alexander Prime as the players are forced to go up against time itself.
