Criterion Dungeon Guide for Refuge of the Wise
Welcome to our guide to Criterion Dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV. This page in particular outlines the mechanics for the first mob pack of the dungeon on both Normal and Savage modes.
Mob Group 1: Refuge of the Wise
Prior to facing the first boss, you will first have to battle your way through a few different trash mobs. Unlike regular dungeons, these mobs hit hard onto the main threat and have quick response mechanics that could result in death if failed. It's recommended taking these trash monsters one by one until you feel comfortable with the fight.
Aqueduct Belladonna
The first monster we pull is the Aqueduct Belladonna. Take care and pull this monster back into the spawn area, else you might risk pulling another patrolling enemy.
The Belladonna has a few mechanics to worry about:
- Atropine Spore is an AoE donut around the Belladonna. Stack under their hitbox to dodge the AoE.
- Deracinator is a tankbuster thrown at the highest emnity. Take care to spread out as this buster does cleave around the tank.
- Frond Affront is a gaze mechanic. Turn your character away from the Belladonna while they're casting this to dodge it.
Aqueduct Kaluk
The second monster we pull is the Aqueduct Kaluk. This patrolling treent uses extremely fast indicators for it's mechanics, so preposition to avoid them by looking at it's cast names rather than reacting to the ground AoE.
The Kaluk will use the following mechanics:
- Left/Right sweep cleaves the correlating side of the treent. Take care that the cleave is slightly slanted at the front. Preposition yourself to dodge this as they're casting the mechanic.
- Creeping Ivy targets a random player with a frontal cone AoE. Move to the ent's flank or rear to dodge this cone.
Next are the two enclaves. Which one you do first does not matter. I recommend taking whichever is closest to you at the current time.
Aqueduct Udumbara Enclave
The first enclave we will cover is the one from the Udumbara. This monster is accompanied by two Aqueduct Saprias. Rather than AoEing, it is recommended groups use single target burst on the Udumbara to reduce the amount of mechanics thrown at your group.
The enclave will use the following mechanics:
- Honeyed Left/Right/Front will cleave on the corrosponding side of the Udumbara. Take care as this cleave is slanted by 45 degrees.
- Bloody Caress are frontal AoE's cast by the Saprias.
Aqueduct Dryad Enclave
The second enclave we will cover is the one from the Dryad. This monster is accompanied by two Aqueduct Odqans. Rather than AoEing, it is recommended groups use single target burst on the Dryad to reduce the amount of mechanics thrown at your group.
The enclave will use the following mechanics:
- Arboreal Storm is an AoE placed underneath the Dryad. Simply move out of melee range to dodge this.
- Uproot is cast by the Odquans and does a small AoE underneath them.
- Acorn bomb and Gelid Gale throws an AoE puddle underneath a random player.
Changelog
- 26 Oct. 2022: Guide added.
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Juliacare has been playing FFXIV since Heavensward focusing solely on casters, until Shadowbringers when they decided to add physical ranged into their line up. Since then they have been aiding in theorycrafting for physical ranged and Summoner, becoming a Machinist Mentor in The Balance Discord and uploading video job guides to their Youtube Channel.
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