Guide to Occult Crescent: South Horn
Learn everything we know about the Field Operation Occult Crescent: south horn. Learn about mechanics present in south horn, rewards and more!
Occult Crescent, South Horn
Occult Crescent, South Horn is the first area of Occult Crescent released in patch 7.25. It is also tied to the first of four stages for the Dawntrail Phantom Relic Weapons, and can be unlocked by accepting the quest One Last Hurrah.
The South Horn is still being explored and uncovered by players around the world. Aspects of this guide will be updated regularly and information will change as players learn and understand more about the content.

The South Horn is a vast area filled with ruins and secrets, occupied by dangerous monsters. Players must explore this uncharted island together in instances of up to 72 players, share information about Occult Records, and party up to grow stronger as a group and take on powerful foes.
How Do I Begin The Story In The South Horn?
Upon arriving for the first time, the player will find themselves in the Base Camp at the northeastern corner of the map. After talking to Ketenramm and Archive, the player will be tasked with defeating three different enemies near the base camp. Afterwards, simply return to the camp and complete the quest.

How Can I Level Up In The South Horn?
The best way to increase your Knowledge level is to either join or create a gold farm party and chain mobs kills together in order to get EXP bonuses alongside gold currency, or you can take part in FATEs and Critical Encounters in order to get EXP and silver currency. Either method is viable, and as there is no Knowledge level requirement for progressing, players are free to take their time. These methods are also the best way to raise the level of a Phantom Job.
How Do I Progress My Relic in The South Horn?
Once you have progressed the quest Arcane Artistry to a certain step, you are able to obtain Demiatmas from FATEs in Dawntrail areas, as well as FATEs and Critical Encounters in The South Horn. These are not common drops, so some time will be required. You need at least three of each unique Demiatmas in order to progress the relic to the next step. For more information, consult the Phantom Relics guide.
How Do I Continue The Story in The South Horn?
The story in The South Horn will continue upon locating certain Occult Records around the map. The map below shows the location of all Occult Records, with field-interactable ones marked in red and Critical Encounters and FATEs marked in blue.

- The first quest requires Record 7.
- The second quest requires records 9, 13, and 15.
- The third quest requires Record 19.
Additionally, the third quest required the completion of the Critical Encounter Calamity Bound. This CE is spawned by killing the level 20 Crescent Inkstain enemies in the southwestern corner of the map, near the Occult Cloister.
What else is there to do in The South Horn?
Outside of Records, FATEs and CEs, players can also encounter Magic Pots, random treasure coffers placed throughout the area, and Fortune Carrots.
Additionally, The Forked Tower large-scale raid is available once the third quest has been completed. A page on this raid will be available once it has been completed and documented.
What Rewards Are Available in The South Horn?
Alongside the rewards from random coffers, Magic Pots, and Fortune Carrots, players will also be able to earn Silver and Gold currency by taking part in FATEs and CEs or chaining mob kills together respectively. These can be spent on gear that gives bonuses inside Occult Crescent areas, and this gear can be upgraded with items obtained from chests, bought with currency, or found inside Forked Tower.
Changelog
- 06 Jun. 2025: Guide Updated.
- 04 Jun. 2025: Guide Updated.
- 30 May 2025: Guide Updated.
- 28 May 2025: Guide Updated.
- 27 May 2025: Guide Added.
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Stella is a long-time FFXIV player who started in 2018, and has become a Mentor for The Balance in the years since. She enjoys large-scale content such as Eureka and Save the Queen areas and raids, and can be found on Twitter, Youtube and Twitch, as well as Discord (EshEhdAfah). After several previous tiers of raiding casually, she has cleared Anabaseios Savage week 1, completed four out of five Ultimate raids, and taken to challenging herself by using unorthodox, high-speed builds for certain jobs in older ultimates in Party Finder.
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