Ready to claim the ultimate weapon in Dawntrail? Unlocking the Phantom relic in Final Fantasy XIV is a journey of perseverance-blending fateful encounters, hidden challenges, and a dash of old-school grind-but every step brings you closer to wielding one of the most coveted arms in Eorzea.
Just like other relics, the Phantom relic is no joke and it requires quite a bit of play either in the Occult Crescent (the Dawntrail field operation) or some FATE grinding in the expansion’s zones.
Below we explain what FFXIV relic weapons are and how to start your Dawntrail relic weapon.
Relic weapons, explained
Relic weapons in Final Fantasy XIV are unique, job-specific weapons that become the best-in-slot options for each expansion as players complete a series of quests and upgrades, often involving significant time investment and various forms of content like FATEs, dungeons, and special field operations. Introduced in every expansion, relic weapons stand out not only for their power but also for their distinctive visual effects and prestige. In Dawntrail, the latest relic weapons are known as Phantom Weapons, and their upgrade process ties into the new Occult Crescent field operation as well as broader expansion content, offering flexibility in how players choose to progress through the relic questline.
Relic weapons are unique weapons for each job that need to be upgraded by following a series of quests. The end result? The best weapon in the Dawntrail expansion – though since all the steps aren’t out yet, you won’t be able to get there just quite yet.
If this is your first relic weapon, know that you have quite the grind ahead of you, but also this stuff drops in patches, so you can do it as it releases to lessen the grind. (Or maybe you’re reading this guide years in the future and you’re gonna do it all at once!)
This weapon series involves the Occult Crescent, the field operation duty for Dawntrail, though you can complete your weapon by other means, if you hate field ops.
Step 1: How to get your Phantom weapon
To begin your journey toward obtaining the Phantom relic weapon in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, you must first complete the main scenario questline through Dawntrail and unlock the Occult Crescent by progressing through the quest “One Last Hurrah” in Tuliyollal. Continue the storyline until you reach “Unfamiliar Territory,” which grants you access to the South Horn of the Occult Crescent and unlocks the Phantom Village as your main hub for relic weapon quests. In Phantom Village, speak to Lydirceil to start the quest “Arcane Artistry,” then work with Gerolt to collect three of each of the six types of demiatma-these are acquired by completing FATEs or critical encounters both in the South Horn and across several Dawntrail zones, including Urqopacha, Kozama’uka, Yak T’el, Shaaloani, Heritage Found, and Living Memory. Once you have all 18 demiatma, deliver them to Gerolt to receive your Phantom Penumbrae relic weapon.
This first step was added in patch 7.25 and the weapon is item level 745. All of these weapons are pretty unique in design, so if you don’t know which one you want to make, here’s a pretty nice video showing off all the weapons.
To get your first weapon:
- Complete the “Dawntrail” main scenario quest.
- Unlock the Occult Crescent hub by completing the quest line that starts with “One Last Hurrah” in Tulliyolal.
- Keep completing the quests until you finish “Unfamiliar Territory.” (You can go further than this, as continuing this quest will be required to participate in the Occult Crescent, but you don’t have to do more than this for the relic weapon.)
- Talk to Lydirceil in the Phantom Village to start the quest “Arcane Artistry.”
- Obtainthree of each of the six different types of demiatma – obtained either by completing FATEs and critical encounters in the Occult Crescentor by completing FATEs in the Dawntrail zones.
- Turn in the 18 demiatma to Gerolt.
- Accept the quest “Forging the Phantasmal” as the job you want the weapon for.
- Buy three Arcanite for 500 Allagan Tomestones of Heliometry each from Ermina in the Phantom Village (1,500 tomes total).
- Turn in the Arcanite to Dodokkuli.
It takes quite a few critical encounters to get a single demiatma drop, so don’t expect to just get one from each you complete. You’ll know when you get one as a pop-up will appear on your screen noting that you got a demiatma. After doing around 20 critical encounters, I walked away with about three demiatma, so it has a pretty brutal drop rate.
For subsequent weapons, you will only need to effectively repeat step eight and nine. You can buy three more Arcanite and trade them straight to Dodokkuli as a merchant – there’s no quest to do so. You will not need to grind out any more demiatmas, thank Hydaelyn.
The demiatma drops from specific areas in the Occult Crescent and from specific maps. Based on our experience, as well as some crowdsourced information, here’s where to find the specific demiatma:
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To obtain the Dawntrail (Phantom) relic weapon in Final Fantasy XIV, begin by completing the main scenario quests up to the Dawntrail story’s end. Next, unlock the Occult Crescent hub by progressing through the questline starting with “One Last Hurrah” in Tuliyollal, and continue until you reach “Unfamiliar Territory.” Head to Phantom Village and speak with Lydirceil to start the quest “Arcane Artistry.” You’ll then need to collect three of each of the six unique Demiatma, which drop from FATEs in various Dawntrail zones or from critical encounters in the Occult Crescent exploratory zone. Once you gather all 18 Demiatma, deliver them to Gerolt to receive your first Phantom relic weapon.
Demiatma |
Occult Crescent |
Dawntrail zone |
|---|---|---|
| Azurite (periwinkle) | Southeastern area (“Crawling Death”, “Scourge of the Mind”, and “The Unbridled” CEs, “A Prying Eye”, “The Golden Guardian” and “Rough Waters” FATEs) | Urqopacha |
| Verdigris (blue) | Southwestern area (“Calamity Bound” CE, “A Delicate Balance”, “Pleading Pots”, and “Sworn to Soil” FATEs) | Kozama’uka |
| Malachite (green) | Central western area (“Flame of Dusk”, “Trial by Claw”, and “From Times Bygone” CEs, “An Unending Duty” FATE) | Yak T’el |
| Realgar (orange) | Northwestern area (“Shark Attack”, “With Extreme Prejudice”, and “Cursed Concern” CEs, “The Winged Terror” and “Brain Drain” FATEs) | Shaaloani |
| Caput Mortuum (magenta) | Eastern ruins area (“Company of Stone”, “On the Hunt”, and “Eternal Watch” CEs, “Serving Darkness” FATE) | Heritage Found |
| Orpiment (yellow) | Northeast and central areas (“Noise Complaint” and “The Black Regiment” CEs, “Persistent Pots”, “King of the Crescent”, and “Fatal Allure” FATEs) | Living Memory |
Note that in the aforementioned crowdsourced info, there are a few players noting that it’s possible to get other colors of demiatma from outside of their “native” area listed above. We didn’t have this happen for us, but we’re not ruling out that possibility.
That’s all there is for now, but we can expect more relic weapon steps to roll out in later patches, alongside additions to the Occult Crescent.
If that didn’t satisfy your itch, we have guides on how to make the previous relic weapons, too: Resistance (Shadowbringers), Eureka (Stormblood), Anima (Heavensward), and Zodiac (A Realm Reborn). We also have a guide for the Manderville (Endwalker) relic, but that is literally just a tome dump alongside a straight-forward quest, so that may not scratch the grinding itch you got.
Want to discover the secret steps to unlock Dawntrail’s ultimate relic weapon in FFXIV
Unveil the hidden path to Dawntrail’s legendary Phantom relic weapon in Final Fantasy XIV-where your journey begins with mastering the Occult Crescent and unraveling a quest chain steeped in mystery and challenge, leading you to wield the expansion’s most formidable arms.
What are the hidden strategies to speed up collecting demiatma in Dawntrail
Collecting demiatma for the Phantom relic weapon in Dawntrail is a challenge due to low drop rates, but several strategies can help you maximize your efficiency:
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Target Specific Zones or Map Regions:
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Each type of demiatma is tied to specific zones or colored regions within the Occult Crescent. Focus your FATE and Critical Engagement farming in the exact areas that drop the demiatma you still need, rather than spreading your effort across all regions.
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For example, Verdigris Demiatma is best farmed in Kozama’uka or the southwest area of the South Horn, while Azurite Demiatma is found in Urqopacha or the southeast section.
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Mix and Match Farming Methods:
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You can combine both Occult Crescent and overworld zone FATEs for demiatma drops. If one area is crowded or quiet, switch to the other to keep your progress steady.
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Prioritize Critical Encounters:
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Critical Encounters (CEs) in the Occult Crescent may have a slightly better drop rate than regular FATEs, so prioritize these when they spawn.
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Use Party Sync Mode:
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If you’re farming with friends, use Party Sync Mode for an XP boost and to ensure everyone contributes equally. While this doesn’t directly increase demiatma drops, it keeps the party efficient and motivated.
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Track Your Progress:
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Use a checklist or map overlay to monitor which demiatma types you have already collected. This helps you avoid unnecessary farming and keeps you focused on missing pieces.
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Stay Persistent and Patient:
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The drop rate is low, so expect to spend several hours per type. This is a one-time grind per player, so future weapons will be easier to obtain.
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By focusing on specific regions, mixing farming methods, and prioritizing Critical Encounters, you can streamline your demiatma collection and speed up your Phantom relic weapon journey.
