Dive into the hidden corners of Final Fantasy XIV with our definitive guide to unlocking every optional dungeon across all expansions. Whether you’re seeking rare rewards, unique lore, or just a fresh challenge beyond the main story, discover where to find the NPCs, which side quests to complete, and how to access these secretive adventures on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Prepare to unlock new realms of excitement and deepen your journey through Eorzea like never before!
These dungeons are not to be confused with Variant Dungeons, like Aloalo Island, which are separate types of content. Here’s where to unlock all optional dungeons in FFXIV.
[Ed. note: This guide has been updated with the two Dawntrail optional dungeons and may contain spoilers to NPC names, quest names, and dungeon names at the very bottom of this page.]
Optional dungeons in FFXIV and High-level Dungeons roulette, explained
Optional dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) are side-content dungeons unlocked through specific side quests, often after completing the main story of each expansion. These dungeons are not mandatory but offer unique rewards such as minions, orchestrion rolls, and relic weapon components. Unlocking at least two dungeons from each level bracket (50, 60, 70, 80, 90) grants access to the High-level Dungeons Duty Roulette, which randomly places players into one of these previously capped-level dungeons. This roulette provides valuable experience and tomes, making it a useful tool for players seeking to level up or farm rewards efficiently. To participate, players must meet item level requirements and have completed the necessary dungeon unlock quests.
Unlocking at least two of any of the level 50-90 dungeons in the list below will also unlock the High-level Dungeons roulette. While most players don’t waste their time with running that roulette, it can still be useful if you’re desperate for tomes and EXP.
You don’t really need to do any of these, unless you want specific rewards, like minions, orchestrion rolls, or Triple Triad cards. (Even so, the minions and orchestrion rolls can be purchased via the marketboard if you don’t feel like grinding out a dungeon multiple times.)
A bulk of these early dungeons are also required to make your A Realm Reborn Zodiac relic weapon and your Heavensward Anima relic weapon.
Where to unlock all optional dungeons in FFXIV
To unlock all optional dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV, players must complete specific side quests given by NPCs scattered throughout the game world, often after finishing the main scenario quests of each expansion. These optional dungeons are not automatically unlocked through the main story and require seeking out blue quest markers with a plus sign to initiate their unlock quests. Each expansion, from A Realm Reborn to Endwalker, adds several optional dungeons that can be accessed by completing these side quests, which are typically found in key locations such as Rhalgr’s Reach, The Ruby Sea, or Limsa Lominsa. Unlocking these dungeons not only expands gameplay variety but also grants access to unique rewards and contributes to unlocking Duty Roulettes for higher-level content. For example, dungeons like The Swallow’s Compass or Saint Mocianne’s Arboretum require completing specific quests and clearing prerequisite dungeons. Players can find detailed lists of NPC locations, quests, and requirements to unlock every optional dungeon in comprehensive guides and community resources.
Most of the dungeons can be unlocked after completing the main story of each expansion, though some have specific requirements. You’ll need to seek out the usual blue quest markers with a plus sign on it, which will indicate that there’s content locked behind that side quest.
Below you can see a complete list of all the optional dungeons in FFXIV, along with the side quest needed to unlock them, where to find the NPCs, and other prerequisites they may have.
FFXIV optional dungeon list and unlock requirements
Most optional dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV are unlocked by completing specific side quests or after finishing the main story quests of each expansion. These dungeons are separate from the main scenario dungeons and often require players to seek out particular NPCs who offer the unlocking quests. While many optional dungeons become available upon reaching certain levels or story milestones, some have unique prerequisites, such as completing other dungeons or questlines. Unlocking these dungeons not only grants access to additional content but also contributes to unlocking Duty Roulette for various level brackets, offering rewards like tomes, minions, and relic weapon progression. A detailed list of these dungeons includes their unlock quests, NPC locations, and any special requirements needed to access them.
Dungeon |
Level |
Unlock quest |
Quest NPC |
NPC location |
Other requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halatali | 20 | Hallo Halatali | Nedrick Ironheart | Western Thanalan (12, 14.3) | None |
| The Sunken Temple of Qarn | 35 | Braving New Depths | Nedrick Ironheart | Western Thanalan (12, 14.3) | None |
| Cutter’s Cry | 38 | Dishonor Before Death | Sibold | Ul’dah – Steps of Thal (14, 10.1) | None |
| Dzemael Darkhold | 44 | Fort of Fear | Carrilaut | Coerthas Central Highlands (24.7, 28.8) | None |
| The Aurum Vale | 47 | Going for Gold | Nedrick Ironheart | Western Thanalan (12, 14.3) | None |
| The Wanderer’s Palace | 50 | Trauma Queen | Allene | Western Thanalan (11.5, 13.9) | Requires “Black Wolf’s Ultimatum” MSQ cleared |
| Amdapor Keep | 50 | Ghosts of Amdapor | Nedrick Ironheart | Western Thanalan (12, 14.3) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Pharos Sirius | 50 | Sirius Business | Diamanda | Western La Noscea (26.5, 26.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Copperbell Mines (Hard) | 50 | Out of Sight, Out of Mine | Hugubert | Mor Dhona (22, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Haukke Manor (Hard) | 50 | Maniac Manor | Lauriane | Mor Dhona (22.1, 8.6) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| The Lost City of Amdapor | 50 | One Night in Amdapor | E-Sumi-Yan | Old Gridania (6, 10.6) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Halatali (Hard) | 50 | This Time’s for Fun | Hugubert | Mor Dhona (22, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Brayfox’s Longstop (Hard) | 50 | Curds and Slay | Bloezoeng | Mor Dhona (22.1, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Hullbreaker Isle | 50 | King of the Hull | Bloezoeng | Mor Dhona (22.1, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| The Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard) | 50 | Corpse Gloom | Paiyo Reiyo | Ul’dah – Steps of Nald (12.2, 8.1) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| The Stone Vigil (Hard) | 50 | Blood for Stone | Faillicie | Mor Dhona (21.9, 8.4) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| Sastasha (Hard) | 50 | It’s Definitely Pirates | Bloezoeng | Mor Dhona (22.1, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared |
| The Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard) | 50 | The Wrath of Qarn | Hugubert | Mor Dhona (22, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared and “The Sunken Temple of Qarn” completed |
| The Wanderer’s Palace (Hard) | 50 | Not Easy Being Green | Bloezoeng | Mor Dhona (22.1, 8.7) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared and “The Wanderer’s Palace” completed |
| Amdapor Keep (Hard) | 50 | For Keep’s Sake | Lauriane | Mor Dhona (22.1, 8.6) | Requires “The Ultimate Weapon” MSQ cleared and “Amdapor Keep” completed |
| The Dusk Vigil | 51 | For All the Nights to Come | Wealdtheow | Coerthas Western Highlands (16.9, 22.8) | Requires Heavensward expansion and “Sounding Out the Amphitheatre” MSQ cleared |
| Neverreap | 60 | Reap What You Sow | Sanu Vanu | The Sea of Clouds (11.7, 14.9) | Requires Heavensward expansion and “Heavensward” MSQ cleared |
| The Fractal Continuum | 60 | Do It for Gilly | Notrelchamps | Ishgard – The Pillars (14.6, 12.2) | Requires Heavensward expansion and “Heavensward” MSQ cleared |
| Saint Mocianne’s Arboretum | 60 | An Overgrown Ambition | Tetchy Treasure Hunter | The Dravanian Hinterlands (12.3, 19.6) | Requires Heavensward expansion and “Heavensward” MSQ cleared |
| Pharos Sirius (Hard) | 60 | Things Are Getting Sirius | Trachraet | Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (12.7, 12.8) | Requires Heavensward expansion, “Heavensward” MSQ cleared, and Pharos Sirius completed |
| The Lost City of Amdapor (Hard) | 60 | One More Night in Amdapor | E-Sumi-Yan | Old Gridania (6, 10.6) | Requires Heavensward expansion, “Heavensward” MSQ cleared, and The Lost City of Amdapor completed |
| Hullbreaker Isle (Hard) | 60 | Storming the Hull | Denston | Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks (11, 10.4) | Requires Heavensward expansion, “Heavensward” MSQ cleared, and Hullbreaker Isle completed |
| The Great Gubal Library (Hard) | 60 | Let Me Gubal That for You | Midnight Dew | Idyllshire (5.5, 6.6) | Requires Heavensward expansion and “Heavensward” MSQ cleared |
| Sohm Al (Hard) | 60 | The Fires of Sohm Al | Gossamer Moogle | Idyllshire (4.6, 8.4) | Requires Heavensward expansion and “Heavensward” MSQ cleared |
| Shisui of the Violet Tides | 63 | The Palace of Lost Souls | Kurenai | The Ruby Sea (20.2, 20.1) | Requires Stormblood expansion and “Forever and Ever Apart” MSQ cleared |
| Kugane Castle | 70 | King of the Castle | East Aldenard Trading Company Associate | Kugane (13.9, 13.3) | Requires Stormblood expansion and “Stormblood” MSQ cleared |
| The Temple of the Fist | 70 | To Kill a Coeurl | Ortwin | Rhalgr’s Reach (12.9, 12.8) | Requires Stormblood expansion and “Stormblood” MSQ cleared |
| Hells’ Lid | 70 | An Auspicious Encounter | Soroban | The Ruby Sea (5.7, 15.8) | Requires Stormblood expansion and “Hope on the Waves” MSQ cleared |
| The Fractal Continuum (Hard) | 70 | An Unwanted Truth | Philiot | Rhalgr’s Reach (13.2, 12.2) | Requires Stormblood expansion and “Stormblood” MSQ cleared |
| The Swallow’s Compass | 70 | Tortoise in Time | Bunchin | The Ruby Sea (27.8, 16.4) | Requires Stormblood expansion and “An Auspicious Encounter” side quest cleared |
| Saint Mocianne’s Arboretum (Hard) | 70 | Secret of the Ooze | Sawney | Rhalgr’s Reach (11.7, 11.9) | Requires Stormblood expansion, “Stormblood” MSQ cleared, and Saint Mocianne’s Arboretum completed |
| The Twinning | 80 | By the Time You Hear This | Bethana | The Crystarium (8.5, 10.9) | Requires Shadowbringers expansion and “Shadowbringers” MSQ cleared |
| Akadaemia Anyder | 80 | Akadaemia Anyder | Overwrought Ondo | Eulmore (12.9, 12.4) | Requires Shadowbringers expansion and “Shadowbringers” MSQ cleared |
| Smileton | 90 | Cutting the Cheese | Panic-stricken Loporrit | Old Sharlayan (11.7, 11.4) | Requires Endwalker expansion and “Endwalker” MSQ cleared |
| The Stigma Dreamscape | 90 | Where No Loporrit Has Gone Before | Jammingway | Old Sharlayan (11, 13.7) | Requires Endwalker expansion and “Endwalker” MSQ cleared |
| Tender Valley | 100 | It Belongs in a Museum | Zeycihan | Tuliyollal (13.9, 12.4) | Requires Dawntrail expansion and “Dawntrail” MSQ cleared |
| Strayborough Deadwalk | 100 | Something Stray in the Neighborhood | Nostalgia | Solution Nine (18.4, 18.1) | Requires Dawntrail expansion and “Dawntrail” MSQ cleared |
If you’re just starting out in the massive world of Final Fantasy 14, we have tons of guides to help you. We have a beginner’s guide to get you started, along with guides detailing when you’ll get your mount and which Grand Company you should join.
Where are the hidden side quests to unlock all FFXIV dungeons
The hidden side quests to unlock all optional dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV are scattered throughout the game’s expansions and often involve specific NPCs and blue (side) quests distinct from the main story. Many dungeons unlock through side quests tied to each expansion, such as quests in areas like Tuliyollal for the Dawntrail expansion, where you interact with NPCs like the Wing of Protection Scout. While the main story quest (MSQ) unlocks many dungeons, some require completing these optional side quests, which are sometimes marked as blue quests and can appear as random side missions at higher levels (e.g., level 90 dungeons). To find these quests, players typically need to explore new zones introduced in expansions, speak with key NPCs, and complete the associated side quest chains that lead to dungeon access.
Where can I find the NPCs that start side quests for hidden dungeons
The NPCs that start side quests for unlocking hidden dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV are typically found in specific zones related to each dungeon. According to a detailed guide, these NPCs are located near the entrances or key areas of the dungeons they unlock, often in towns or outposts within the relevant expansion zones. For example, to unlock certain optional dungeons, you must speak with NPCs who give blue (side) quests in areas introduced in expansions like Dawntrail or Endwalker. These NPCs usually stand out by offering side quests marked on your map, and completing their quest chains will grant access to the hidden dungeons. To find them, explore new regions thoroughly and check for side quests from NPCs near dungeon entrances or major hubs.
