Final Fantasy XIV: Complete Guide to Phantom Weapons
In the ever-expanding world of Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV), players are constantly treated to new content, exciting adventures, and fresh mechanics to keep them engaged. One of the most recent additions to the game's treasure trove of activities is the Phantom Weapon series. Introduced in Patch 6.2, Phantom Weapons are a new set of unique, collectible weapons tied to an intriguing narrative involving Void Magic, the Void Ark, and the mysterious secrets of the world.
For players who love tackling challenging content, seeking rare collectibles, and getting their hands on stylish gear, Phantom Weapons provide an engaging new grind. This guide aims to break down the entire process for obtaining and upgrading Phantom Weapons, offering insight into how these weapons tie into the lore and how to approach them for maximum efficiency.
What Are Phantom Weapons?
Phantom Weapons are a set of legendary weapons that players can obtain and upgrade throughout the course of their journey in FFXIV. Unlike typical crafted or raid weapons, Phantom Weapons are part of an ongoing questline that requires both dedication and skill.
The story behind these weapons is deeply rooted in the Void, a mysterious and chaotic realm. As the player progresses through the main story, they will learn about the connection between the Phantom Weapons and Void magic, which plays a significant role in their acquisition and upgrades. These weapons are linked to Void-Touched Souls, entities that are shrouded in mystery and dark magic. Players will be tasked with uncovering the secrets of these weapons and gradually enhancing their power.
How to Start the Phantom Weapon Questline
To begin your adventure in obtaining your Phantom Weapon, you need to follow the Phantom Weapon questline which starts with the Phantom Roll quest. This quest is unlocked after progressing through Patch 6.2, which introduces the necessary content related to the Void. The quest will be available in the Newfound Adventure section of your main Story Journal.
Step 1: Progressing through Patch 6.2 Content
First, ensure that you have progressed through the content in Patch 6.2. This includes completing earlier quests related to the Void Ark, which will serve as a foundation for the Phantom Weapon storyline. Players should be around level 90 and have completed main scenario quests in Endwalker to access these quests.
Step 2: Speak to the NPC for the Phantom Roll Quest
Once you meet the requirements, head over to the Phantom Weapons NPC in Radz-at-Han, a bustling hub in the Saverian Desert. This NPC will offer you the Phantom Roll quest, which kicks off your journey toward unlocking your Phantom Weapon. As you go along with this quest, you'll get further instructions on what you need to do next.
The Phases of Phantom Weapon Upgrades
The process of upgrading a Phantom Weapon is far from simple. It consists of several stages, each requiring specific steps and materials. Below is a breakdown of each stage in the upgrade process:
1. Acquiring the Base Phantom Weapon
The first step is to obtain the base version of your Phantom Weapon. The questline will direct you to obtain a Phantom Weapon Blueprint. This blueprint requires the completion of a few fate-based objectives in the game world, and players will need to participate in high-level group content.
Fate Runs and Weekly Challenges: As part of the questline, you will participate in weekly activities such as Fate runs, Alliance Raids, and high-level dungeons to obtain materials needed to craft your weapon.
Void Essence: Players will also be required to collect Void Essence from specific Void-related enemies scattered around the map. These rare materials are often dropped by Void-Infused mobs, which are high-level and located in challenging areas.
2. Phantom Weapon Blueprint
After collecting the necessary Void Essence and other materials, you will be tasked with turning the Phantom Weapon Blueprint into a physical weapon. This involves crafting your weapon with the help of a special artisan found in Radz-at-Han. This crafting process is intricate and involves high-level crafting skills to succeed.
3. Phase 1: Phantom Weapon Completion
Once the Phantom Weapon Blueprint is completed, the weapon is still in its unupgraded form. Players can equip the Phantom Weapon at this stage, but it will have basic stats. This is where the fun begins as you prepare for the next set of upgrades.
Initial Stats: The first weapon's stats will be decent, but certainly not top-tier. It serves as the foundation for the later upgrades.
Appearance: At this stage, the weapon will have a basic aesthetic, without any of the dramatic visual effects that come with later upgrades.
4. Phantom Weapon Enhancement Phases
The Phantom Weapon can be upgraded through several enhancement phases, each unlocking additional combat power and visual aesthetics.
Stage 1 - Void-Infused Weapon: The first enhancement will involve infusing the weapon with Void Energy. This will increase your stats, making the weapon more useful in high-level content.
Stage 2 - Empowered Weapon: The next step requires gathering special materials dropped from Void-Touched bosses in the Void Ark or other endgame content. As you complete these encounters, your weapon will become Empowered, allowing you to tackle harder challenges.
Stage 3 - Final Form: The final form of the Phantom Weapon will be a glowing, majestic relic that radiates Void power. This form will also come with enhanced stats, making the weapon top-tier in terms of damage and utility.
Phantom Weapon Materials and Farming Locations
To complete each phase of the Phantom Weapon upgrades, players will need to gather a variety of rare materials. These items are scattered across the world, often requiring players to engage in difficult raids, high-level dungeons, and special timed Fates.
1. Void Essence and Void Materials
Void Essence is required at multiple stages of the weapon upgrade process. These items can drop from Void-Touched mobs found across the Saversian Desert and Void Ark zones.
Void Crystals: These can be gathered by engaging in high-level dungeon runs or defeating powerful Void bosses.
2. Dungeon Runs and Raids
Void-Touched Dungeons: Certain dungeons related to Void-themed content will be critical for gathering Phantom Weapon materials.
Void Ark: The Void Ark raid will be a key activity for obtaining the rare crafting materials needed for your Phantom Weapon upgrades. Players should plan on running these raids multiple times to collect the necessary drops.
3. Weekly Challenges
Weekly Reset Materials: Each week, players can earn Void Essences and other upgrade materials through weekly reset challenges. These challenges often involve running high-difficulty content such as Alliance Raids, Trial Runs, and PvP events.
The Role of Phantom Weapons in Endgame Content
Phantom Weapons are more than just tools-they are part of a broader endgame progression system that emphasizes challenge, exploration, and team-based gameplay. As you upgrade your Phantom Weapon, it will increase in power, making it a viable option for tackling high-end Raid content and Savage Trials.
Solo Play and Group Content
While Phantom Weapons are designed for group content, they can also be used in solo content such as leveling dungeons, trials, and Fate-based objectives. However, their true potential shines when paired with a group of adventurers in endgame activities.
The Phantom Weapon Grind
The Phantom Weapon series is an exciting addition to Final Fantasy XIV, combining compelling lore, challenging content, and powerful rewards. The journey to upgrade your Phantom Weapon is not an easy one, but the satisfaction of wielding an incredibly powerful weapon with a unique design makes it worth the effort. You can buy cheap Final Fantasy XIV Gil from MMOexp.com, improve the weapon.
From the Phantom Roll questline to the final weapon upgrade, players will experience a journey of discovery, crafting, and combat. The Phantom Weapon not only provides tangible rewards but also enhances the exploration and cooperative play aspects of the game. Whether you're after the weapon's power, its aesthetic beauty, or the challenge itself, the Phantom Weapon series will surely provide hours of enjoyment for dedicated players.
MMOexp Final Fantasy XIV Team