Embark on a stellar journey in Final Fantasy XIV’s latest lifestyle content, Cosmic Exploration, where crafting and gathering take center stage on the moon! Unlock this exciting adventure by completing the Endwalker main story and reaching level 10 in any crafting or gathering class, then join Namingway in Old Sharlayan to begin “A Cosmic Homecoming.” Explore the Sinus Ardorum region, contribute to your server’s development, and earn unique rewards like the Star Crew glamour set, mounts, minions, and exclusive orchestrion rolls. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a curious newcomer, Cosmic Exploration offers a fresh, cooperative way to level up and collect dazzling items beyond traditional combat.
Once you load into the zone, it can be overwhelming, as you’re shoved into a new UI with many support menus. While using shout chat to ask your fellow Warriors of Light for help will get you far, we’ve compiled everything you need to know before starting Cosmic Exploration so you don’t have to embarrass yourself in chat.
Below, we explain what FFXIV’s Cosmic Exploration is, how it works, how to unlock it, and what the notable rewards are.
What is Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV?
Cosmic Exploration in Final Fantasy XIV is a lifestyle content introduced in patch 7.21 of the Dawntrail expansion that focuses on crafting and gathering activities in a unique instanced zone on the moon. Players work together on their server to complete missions, participate in FATE-like events called Mech Ops and Red Alerts, and develop the exploration area by upgrading facilities and unlocking new features. It serves as a leveling method for crafting and gathering classes starting at level 10, with players upgrading a special relic tool called the Cosmic Tool as they progress. Unlike other areas, mounts are not allowed, but players gain enhanced sprint abilities and duty actions to aid mobility. Cosmic Exploration blends elements of Ishgard Restoration and field operations like Bozja, emphasizing cooperation and progression within a server-wide community.
Cosmic Exploration is almost a mix of a field operation (like Bozja or Eureka) with Ishgard Restoration. You’ll be sent off to an instance with many other players and you’ll get access to a bunch of specialized tools and missions.
The missions in this work a lot like leves, if you’ve done those. They’re individual quests that require manual activation via your “Stellar Missions” tab. If you’re a crafter, you’ll need to craft a few items of a certain quality, and if you’re a gatherer, you’ll need to go gather items from nodes marked on the map. You’ll get Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits, as well as research points for each one you complete.
Participating in these missions gives you what is functionally a job-specific EXP for Cosmic Exploration, allowing you to rank up your “Cosmic Research” for each job. The higher your research level, the better tools you’ll get access to – some of which will buff the rewards you get from doing missions.
There’s also “Stellar Successes” which are just achievements. You’ll complete these as you take on missions and whatnot, and this gives out both Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits.
There are also FATE-like things that spawn around the map, referred to as “Critical Missions,” as well as “Mech Ops,” the latter which requires you to buy a mech pilot’s license for 1,000 Cosmocredits – but you can participate as “ground support” even if you don’t pilot a mech.
Unfortunately there are limitations: You can only participate in Cosmic Exploration on your homeworld, so you cannot group up with any friends you have across other worlds. Sad. You also can’t use mounts in Cosmic Exploration, but you do have a beefed-up specialized Sprint skill to help you get around.
As the people in your world progress and build up your base, you’ll have access to new features, like a transport system so you don’t have to sprint around to all the various locations.
The short version here is to pick a crafter/gatherer you like (or need to level) and spam Stellar Missions until Critical Missions appear. Complete the Critical Missions and then go back to doing Stellar Missions to load up on currency and Cosmic Research.
Where to unlock Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV
To unlock Cosmic Exploration in Final Fantasy XIV, players must first complete the main story quest “Endwalker.” Afterward, they need to have at least one crafting or gathering class at level 10. Once these requirements are met, head to Old Sharlayan and speak with the Loporrit named Namingway at coordinates (X:12.6, Y:13.6) to start the quest “A Cosmic Homecoming.” This quest will introduce you to the Cosmic Exploration content and grant you access to the Sinus Ardorum area on the moon, where you can begin participating in missions and activities unique to this lifestyle content.
To unlock Cosmic Exploration, you’ll need to talk to Namingway in Old Sharlayan in the location below to start the quest “A Cosmic Homecoming.” You’ll need at least one crafter or gatherer job at level 10 and the “Endwalker” main story quest complete.
Once you finish the quest, you’ll be able to freely travel to Sinus Andorum via Drivingway in Bestways Burrow to participate in Cosmic Exploration.
What are the big rewards for Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV?
Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV offers a range of exciting and valuable rewards that make the lunar adventures highly rewarding. Players can earn Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits through various missions, which are then exchanged for unique items such as the iconic “Vacuum Suit” mount, the “Micro Rover” minion, and special eyewear like “Tinted Sunglasses.” Additionally, there are glamorous sets like the “Star Crew” and the rare “Cosmosuit,” along with exclusive emotes and adventurer plate customizations. Some rewards, including rare mounts and titles, are tied to achievements or specific mission roles, while others come from the Cosmic Fortune roulette mini-game, offering a chance at highly coveted items. These rewards not only enhance the visual appeal and prestige of characters but also provide opportunities for profit through the market board.
There are a few notable rewards you can get for participating in Cosmic Exploration in exchange for trading Cosmocredits:
- The “Star Crew” glamour set
- “Reading Glasses” eyewear
- “Bearing Insult” (rage) emote
- Cosmic Exploration Framer’s Kit
- “Hey, Cid!” Orchestrion Roll
- “The Airship” Orchestrion Roll
You can also trade 1,000 Lunar credits for a cosmic fortune, which has a chance to give you the following:
- The “Vacuum Suit” mount
- The “Micro Rover” minion
- “Tinted Sunglasses” eyewear
- “Close in the Distance (Instrumental)” Orchestrion Roll
- “Echoes in the Distance” Orchestrion Roll
- “Stargazers” Orchestrion Roll
- “Visage Capture” (selfie) emote
- The “Cosmosuit” glamour set
- The “Loparasol” umbrella fashion accessory
What secrets does Cosmic Exploration hold beyond the rewards
Beyond its enticing rewards, Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV offers several intriguing secrets and gameplay layers that deepen the experience. One key element is the “Mech Ops” missions-special FATE-like events where players can apply to pilot mechs or participate as ground support, adding a dynamic, cooperative combat twist to the primarily crafting and gathering content. Mech Ops grant unique rewards, including Big Bang tickets used in the Cosmic Fortune roulette, which offers rare and valuable prizes, some exclusive to these spins.
The content also features Critical Missions that appear randomly like FATEs, allowing players to choose which crafting or gathering class to use, encouraging strategic job selection and cooperation. Achieving a Gold Star rating on missions significantly boosts rewards, incentivizing skillful play and optimization.
Cosmic Exploration tracks progress through Stellar Successes, which provide daily and overall achievements, rewarding players with Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits used to purchase items or spin the Cosmic Fortune wheel. This system fosters continuous engagement by offering both short-term and long-term goals.
Additionally, server-wide development of the moon base unlocks new features such as a transport system that reduces travel time, enhancing quality of life and community involvement. Players who contribute the most earn the permanent Star Contributor status, granting a hologram display, name recognition, and special visual effects, creating a lasting social prestige within the zone.
Finally, the content encourages players to focus on a favorite crafting or gathering job to maximize research and tool upgrades, which in turn enhance mission rewards and progression, adding a layer of RPG-style character development to lifestyle gameplay.
What hidden benefits or secrets might unlock as I progress in Cosmic Exploration
As you progress in Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV, several hidden benefits and secrets gradually unlock, enriching the gameplay experience beyond the obvious rewards:
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Cosmic Tools Upgrades: Each crafting or gathering class has a unique Cosmic Tool that starts at level 10 and can be upgraded through completing missions. These tools eventually become the strongest available for their respective classes, enhancing your efficiency and mission rewards as you progress.
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Mech Ops Participation and Rewards: By spending Lunar Credits, you can apply to pilot mechs in special FATE-like Mech Ops missions, which offer unique gameplay and grant Big Bang tickets. These tickets can be used in the Cosmic Fortune roulette for rare and valuable prizes, including a rare chance to obtain an exclusive mount.
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Cosmic Fortune Roulette: Spending Lunar Credits or using Big Bang tickets earned from Mech Ops lets you spin for exclusive items such as glamour sets, mounts, minions, and orchestrion rolls. Occasionally, special wheels with better odds or guaranteed prizes appear, adding a gambling element to reward acquisition.
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Stellar Successes and Achievements: Completing missions and earning Gold Star rankings contribute to Stellar Successes, which provide daily and overall rewards in Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits. These currencies are essential for unlocking more items and upgrades, encouraging consistent engagement.
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Server-Wide Moon Base Development: As players on your homeworld contribute to the moon base’s development, new features unlock, such as a transport system that reduces travel time within Sinus Ardorum. Top contributors earn permanent Star Contributor status, granting social prestige with unique holograms and name effects.
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Critical Missions and Strategic Class Use: Random Critical Missions appear like FATEs, allowing you to choose which crafting or gathering class to use, adding a strategic layer to progression and encouraging mastery of multiple jobs.
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Enhanced Mobility: Although mounts are not allowed in the zone, players gain access to an enhanced Sprint skill, which improves movement speed and quality of life during exploration.
These hidden layers of progression and gameplay variety make Cosmic Exploration a rich and evolving lifestyle experience that rewards dedication, strategy, and community participation.
