How to get ready for FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers

Prepare yourself for the incoming expansion - and find out how to get early access!
By Duncan Heaney

We’re just a few days away from the launch of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers (unless you’re reading this after July 2, 2019 in which case… why aren’t you playing Shadowbringers right now!?).

The new expansion has a veritable mountain of new content, piling on new jobs like the Gunbreaker and Dancer, new races, new areas to explore and, of course, a host of new quests and characters to discover.

It’s a big one then - and you may be wondering: ‘What do I need to do be ready for Shadowbringers’?

Well, allow us to lay it out:

Play to the end of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood’s main scenario

Firstly, you need to have a level 70 Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic character, and have completed the main scenario of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Stormblood.

The final main scenario quests for the second expansion were released back in March, and they revealed the shocking conclusion to the Stormblood scenario.

Not only that, but the patch set the stage for FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers, which sees you become the Warrior of Darkness, and set off on an epic quest to push back an overwhelming flood of light threatening to obliterate the First.


If necessary, get up to speed with a Tales of Adventure item

Of course, it’s possible you’ve yet to reach the start of the Stormblood expansion, let alone the end. After all, new players are joining FINAL FANTASY XIV Online all the time - particularly with the recent free Heavensward promotion.

You could play through the full scenario - and have a lot of fun doing it - but if you do want to jump right into Shadowbringers on launch day, you should pick up a Tales of Adventure item.

These can boost your progression all the way up to the start of Stormblood, thus saving you a lot of time and putting you much closer to the latest adventure.

Even better, the Tales of Adventure items are currently on sale, with as much as 60% off. The sale ends on Thursday 27 June 2019, so if you do want the boost, now’s a great time to get one.

Design a Viera or Hrothgar character

One of the things I’m personally most excited for in Shadowbringers is the ability to play as a big, burly Hrothgar. But if you’re more of a Viera person - hey, I get it. Ever since the long-eared warriors burst onto the scene in the Ivalice titles, the community’s been desperate to see them in Hydaelyn - and the wait’s now over!

Either way, you don’t have to wait until Shadowbringers launches to make your character - the recently-released Benchmark tool features a comprehensive character creator.

Download it and not only can you create your character right now, you’ll be able to carry them into the game.

You can get the tool here: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/benchmark/


Check out The Lodestone… if you haven’t already

If you’re a long-term FINAL FANTASY XIV Online fan, you’re probably familiar with The Lodestone already. But we thought we should highlight it, just in case.

The website gives you all the information you could ever want about FINAL FANTASY XIV Online and its expansions. Just this morning, for example, the premilinary patch notes for Shadowbringers were posted, so you can read all about the myriad tweaks and features coming to the game .

Not only that, you’ll also be able to check out the Community Wall, featuring posts and blogs from players from all over the world. There’s also a comprehensive Help & Support section - so if you have a question about the game, it’s very possible that the answer’s available here.

Preorder for early access… this week!

While FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers doesn’t officially emerge into the light until July 2, 2019, there is a way to get in a few days earlier: pre-order.

Anyone who preorders the expansion gets early access and will be able to play from June 28, 2019. That’s Friday this very week!

That’s the full experience mind you - not a sneak peek or a demo. So if you’re desperate to leap into the First and start exploring as soon as possible, that’s the way to do it.

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