If there was one thing that was desperately missing fromFinal Fantasy XIV: Endwalker, it was the Exploration Zones, or Field Operations. These are massive grinds, but these seemingly infinite grinds are exactly what the last expansion truly needed, as the Relic weapon quests felt uninspired and there was just a severe lack of things to do in the endgame. Thankfully, that has changed withDawntrail. While we missed out on Field Operations back in Endwalker, the Japanese studio has brought back the very popular mode in the latest expansion in a big way.
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What are Field Operations?
Field Operations started all the way back in Heavensward with Diadem, which was unfortunately a massive failure. They even had to repurpose the zone into a gathering section for the Ishgard Restoration. Thankfully, Square Enix improved upon the formula and came out with Eureka, which, while divisive at first, remains one of the most fun aspects of the game. This eventually moved onto Bozja which, while an improvement, didn’t quite grab the community the same as Eureka did.
Ever since Stormblood, Field Operations were meant to be fun and experimental content, being able to do things with each job you normally wouldn’t. For example, in Shadowbringer’s Bozja, you could turn the White Mage job into one of the most powerful DPS in the game, and increase the speed of a class like Monk, which is already notoriously fast-paced, to have the lowest skill cooldowns possible. It was a fun and creative way to play with your jobs.
Field Operations are meant to be mass-scale content where tons of players can participate together in challenging activities. It’s not only that, though, as it’s a good way to obtain Relic Weapons. These were originally the glamorous weapons you’d show off to your friends as it was a grind to get them. Now, of course, it’s Ultimate weapons that have taken their place in terms of portraying your status, but these still act as visually appealing weapons that could be used as a good way to get powerful weapons outside of doing the standard raids.
How to Unlock Occult Crescent?
The first thing you need to know is that you will need to have completed the entirety of the Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail storyline. This is the main story we’re talking about, with the post-release patches not being a necessity. Instead, all you need to do is complete the final mission “Dawntrail” from the 7.0 patch.
After that, you will find our ever-beloved Ketenramm on the docks inTuliyollal (X: 17.1 Y: 11.8). Talk to him and you will receive the “One Last Hurrah” side quest. This will take you on a journey to Shades’ Triangle via a nearby ferryman, where you’ll need to complete a couple of small quests to learn more about the new island you’ve found yourself on.
In the Occult Crescent, you’ll be able to participate in various activities and take down world bosses in the typical Field Operations fashion. All of this is to facilitate a unique sidestory questline, all while leveling up a Relic weapon. While there’s a little bit of FOMO attached to it, especially because Eureka and Bozja aren’t quite what they once were in terms of population and popularity, these two Field Operations still hold a dedicated fan base, and Occult Crescent will no doubt have the same.
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Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail
