As mentioned previously in Final Fantasy XIV, we’re getting a new Variant and Criterion Dungeon called The Merchant’s Tale. It reminds me of another game I’ve seen before 🗝️👑💕. Let’s jump into the details (literally!), as this storybook has much to offer. In addition to the new dungeon, starting in Patch 7.4, the feature’s overall duty structure will be adjusted.
What are Variant and Criterion Dungeons Again?
If you don’t recall the basics of how Variant and Criterion Dungeons work, feel free to check out the guide on Icy Veins. You can also watch the Live Letter at this timestamp provided (01:44:49). The slides have text in English, so be sure to review before reading on!
In summary, these dungeons provide various levels of difficulty of the same story content. So if you’re more of a story enjoyer, Variant Dungeons allow you to explore with NPCs and fight enemies at your own pace. You can also explore different routes that lead to various endings.
Criterion Dungeons, on the other hand, provide raiders with a harder challenge: the bosses have extra mechanics to solve, and you must complete all bosses before time runs out.
And finally, Criterion (Savage) proves to be the most difficult challenge of all: it’s the same as the Criterion Dungeon mode, but you cannot afford any deaths. If anyone dies in combat, they stay permanently down until the duty resets.
Your party must play perfectly in order to pass the strenuous trials, and it may take several attempts before clearing. Talk about stressful!
What are the Variant Dungeon Changes in Patch 7.4?
Patch 7.4 introduces Variant Dungeons (Advanced), where there is no exploration nor normal enemies to encounter. You can also fight the three bosses in any order you like. Compared to the average Variant Dungeon, what’s the point of this change? Doesn’t this make the completing the duty less of a challenge?
Well, a good reason to try Variant Dungeons (Advanced) is so you can practice specific bosses individually. You might only have a few mechanics you struggle with, so this helps ensure you don’t waste time with other bosses.
Once you’re done practicing, you can choose to stop there, or keep going. Each boss has their own exclusive rewards, but if you defeat all three bosses in the same run, you’ll unlock a hidden room with extra rewards.
In addition, Variant Dungeons (Advanced) can only be queued with 2 to 4 players at a time. You cannot enter by yourself, and the duty difficulty will also adjust accordingly. As per usual, you’ll also have access to duty-specific actions. See the full summary here:
Wait, So Does This Affect Criterion Dungeons Too?
Notably, one of the biggest changes to Criterion Dungeons is that The Merchant’s Tale will not feature normal enemies nor exploration. This means those nasty Wind Sprites who can one-shot you? Gone. The trees with twigs for tank-busters? Don’t exist. In The Merchant’s Tale, you’ll only have to encounter three bosses in order, back-to-back.
Since you only have to fight bosses in The Merchant’s Tale, running the Variant Dungeon (Advanced) mode will surely prove beneficial! You can just practice the bosses, in any order, without having to spend time exploring. In addition, you must queue with other people, so why not practice the difficult mechanics together?
Otherwise, The Merchant’s Tale has the same fundamentals as past Criterion Dungeons: you cannot raise until the duty resets, and you’ll also face more challenging versions of the Variant Dungeon bosses.
It’s been a while since we got a new addition to Variant and Criterion Dungeons! I’m personally excited to explore around, fight bosses in any order I like, and obtain the featured luxurious glamour sets. What kind of Criterion Dungeon changes do you want to see?
The Merchant’s Tale will surely prove just as difficult as the previous dungeons from Endwalker, so get ready!
