Final Fantasy XIV - A Relic Reborn: The Chimera Trial Guide
Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) is a game filled with intricate lore, challenging content, and a vast array of trials. One such trial that has captivated players is A Relic Reborn: The Chimera, a pivotal part of the Relic Weapon questline introduced in A Realm Reborn. This trial stands as a testament to the game's rich design, offering players the chance to unlock their relic weapon—an iconic tool that evolves as you progress through various stages of the quest.
In this guide, we'll break down the essential aspects of the Chimera Trial, including the mechanics, strategy, and tips to ensure you and your party can successfully conquer this challenge.
Overview of the Trial
The Chimera Trial is a 4-player trial that serves as part of the Relic Reborn series for relic weapon acquisition. It is unlocked as part of the questline that starts with "A Relic Reborn: The Chimera". The trial itself is quite unique, as it features a multi-phase encounter with one of the more iconic beasts from the Final Fantasy series—the Chimera.
In this trial, players face off against a massive Chimera, a hybrid creature with the body of a lion, the head of a goat, and the tail of a snake. The Chimera's varied set of abilities and multiple forms of attack make it a dangerous foe, especially for less-experienced groups. However, with the right strategy and coordination, defeating the Chimera can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience.
Unlocking the Trial
To begin the A Relic Reborn: The Chimera questline, you must have completed the "A Relic Reborn" quest, which itself is part of the larger relic weapon acquisition series. Here's how to unlock the Chimera trial:
Reach Level 50: This is a requirement to undertake the Relic Reborn quests, including the Chimera trial.
Complete Main Story Quests: Before you can begin the relic weapon quest, you must complete the main scenario quest through A Realm Reborn up until the quest titled "The Ultimate Weapon".
Begin the Relic Weapon Questline: After reaching level 50, speak with Nashu in Ul'dah to initiate the relic weapon questline. She will direct you to the A Relic Reborn quest, and eventually, you will be sent to face the Chimera.
Once the quest is unlocked, you can queue for the Chimera Trial through the Duty Finder.
Trial Mechanics and Strategy
The Chimera Trial is a battle of endurance, strategy, and quick thinking. To succeed, you need to understand the various mechanics that the Chimera uses throughout the encounter. Below is a breakdown of its key phases and mechanics.
1. The Opening Phase: The Chimera's Roar
As the fight begins, the Chimera will roar and perform several basic attacks, including:
Claw Swipe: A simple frontal attack that deals moderate damage to all players in its path.
Tail Whip: This attack hits players behind the Chimera and can be avoided by positioning yourself correctly during the fight.
Poison Spit: The Chimera will occasionally target a random player and spit poison at them. The affected player must quickly move away from the group to avoid spreading poison to other players.
Strategy Tip: During this phase, position yourself behind the Chimera to avoid the Tail Whip and stay clear of the poison target. It is crucial to maintain good group positioning and communication.
2. The Chimera's Add Phase
At roughly 50% health, the Chimera will summon adds to the field. These adds are small, manageable creatures that need to be dealt with quickly. The Chimera itself will focus on the main tank, but the damage from the adds can quickly overwhelm the party if not handled efficiently.
Adds: The Chimera summons a series of adds that must be killed quickly to prevent them from overwhelming the group. These adds tend to have moderate health but can deal significant damage if left unchecked.
Acid Rain: During the add phase, the Chimera will occasionally cause Acid Rain to fall from the sky, dealing damage over time to any player caught underneath it. The rain will appear as a green puddle, and players need to move out of the affected areas.
Strategy Tip: DPS should quickly take out the adds while the tank holds the Chimera's aggro. Healers need to keep the group topped off, especially as players dodge the acid rain. Communication is key to avoiding unnecessary damage.
3. The Chimera's Head Phase
At 25% health, the Chimera enters its most dangerous phase, where it combines all of its abilities into a more chaotic attack pattern. The Chimera will swap between its heads—its lion head, goat head, and snake tail—each with its unique ability.
Lion Head: This phase involves high burst damage in the form of Fireballs aimed at players. The Chimera will lock onto a random player and target them with fire-based attacks that deal high damage if not dodged.
Goat Head: During this phase, the Chimera will Charge toward a random player and attempt to knock them back. This phase also includes Magnetism—a mechanic where theChimera's goat head causes certain players to be pulled toward it. Players must then move quickly to avoid being hit or overwhelmed by the pushback.
Strategy Tip: During the final phase, positioning becomes even more crucial. Players should focus on staying spread out to avoid fireball damage and be ready to move quickly when the goat head pulls them in. The healer must focus on keeping the tank alive, as this phase involves higher incoming damage.
General Tips for Success
While understanding the mechanics is important, execution and teamwork are the keys to victory. Here are some additional tips to help you succeed in the Chimera trial:
Communication: Always keep an open line of communication with your team. Calling out poison targets, acid rain zones, and add positions will ensure that everyone knows where to move and what to focus on.
Positioning: Proper positioning is crucial. Make sure the tank positions the Chimera facing away from the group to avoid the Tail Whip, and DPS should be mindful of their distance during the fireball attacks. Healers should be aware of any AoE damage and move players out of dangerous zones.
Add Management: The add phase can be chaotic if not handled properly. Assign a DPS to focus on adds, and make sure everyone else concentrates on the Chimera's health. Ignoring the adds could quickly lead to a wipe.
Conclusion
The Chimera Trial in Final Fantasy XIV is a challenging yet rewarding experience that tests a player's knowledge of mechanics, positioning, and teamwork. As part of the Relic Reborn series, it is a significant milestone for players looking to upgrade their relic weapon, and the Chimera itself is a memorable boss with its unique design and multi-phased encounter, you can get more FFXIV Gil or rewards.
By understanding the trial's mechanics, positioning, and strategic use of your team's abilities, you can successfully conquer this beast and move one step closer to obtaining your relic weapon. Good luck, adventurers—may your Chimera hunt be victorious!
MMOexp Final Fantasy XIV Team