FFXIV Dawntrail Arcadion raid: release window, what to expect, how to prepare

Arcadion is a new raid series that is released in Final Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail expansion. Here’s what we know so far about the new raid, including the release window, what to expect and how to prepare for its Savage difficulty.

Final Fantasy XIV has just released a major new expansion, Dawntrail. As usual, the update comes with a new raid, this time called Arcadion. These raids are a series of battles for up to eight players, featuring a story and Savage difficulty that features some of the best loot in the game.

Want to know more about the upcoming raid? We’ve got you covered.

FFXIV Arcadion release window

We don’t know the exact date yet about when Arcadion itself will be released. However, we do know that the normal version of the raid will launch in Patch 7.01, with the Savage difficulty dropping with Patch 7.05.

At the latest we should have raids launched sometime around mid to late julywith the Savage difficulty dropping shortly thereafter.

FFXIV Arcadion what to expect

Final Fantasy XIV raids generally come in three series of four fights, for a total of twelve across the entire expansion. Arcadion is likely to be no different, with the new series released in Patch 7.2 and Patch 7.4 wrapping up the story.

Players should expect to face a boss in every fight. In general, once you load into a raid in Final Fantasy XIV, you’ll immediately start the boss without having to explore or traverse to reach the final destination.

However, this does not mean that Arcadion will remain the same as in the past. Developers are always looking for ways to innovate the raiding experience.

FFXIV Arcadion how to prepare for Savage

Arcadion’s Savage difficulty will challenge even the best Final Fantasy XIV players. However, some of the best loot from the expansion will be bundled behind it, meaning if you want some of the best gear available in the MMO, you’ll need to be prepared to take on the many bosses lurking within.

Here are some tips and tricks to get you started.

Know your role or class

One of the best things you can do before jumping into any Savage content on difficulty is to know what your role or class is. Whether that means knowing what your job is, what your abilities do, or even finding out what traits might have changed with the new levels we got in Dawntrail. This will ensure that you are ready to perform at your best when you face raids.

Find the static

Statik is a group of Final Fantasy XIV players who agree to get together and form a team. Think of it as a permanent raid party for as long as you specify. This is important because you will need a full party of eight to start the raid.

Stats are not necessary, you can always use the Party Finder to find players to raid with. However, Statics allows you to be more consistent and progress in combat with a group of players you’ve come to know and treat as your friends.

Delete the extremes

The Extreme Trials are currently available at the time of writing and offer great gear to help you level up your items so you can raid better. Not only that, but they’re a great introduction to the harder content in Final Fantasy XIV, making it a good follow-up for Savage raids.

Discover the best in slots

Your BiS or best in slot for Final Fantasy XIV means the pieces of gear you should get to have optimal sub-stats for your class. Equipment pieces in Final Fantasy XIV come with different sub-stats, some of which may not be useful for your class. This means you’ll want to find another item with a similar level instead.

Discords like The Balance often have mentors and other resources that you can use to find out what’s best in a slot and get what you need from there.

Melt your gear

Melding is another important aspect of gear in Final Fantasy XIV. Melding refers to the process in which you equip bonus Materia with pieces of equipment to give them boosts to their sub-stats. Melding and knowing what substances to use is quite complicated, so using Balance or other sources can be ideal here.

You can unlock the item crafting ability by completing the Awaken the Spirit quest located at The Bonfire in Central Thanalan. You will also need to have a crafting of the same level as the item in order to combine it.

Alternatively, you can use the NPC Materia Melder available in most major cities who will meld your equipment for a fee.