Variant and Criterion Dungeon Guide for FFXIV

Introduced in Patch 6.25, Variant and Criterion (V/C) Dungeons are four player content that breaks the mould of a regular FFXIV dungeon layout. Variant dungeons are characterized by branching paths and is exploration-focused, while Criterion dungeons place a greater emphasis on difficult combat. Dawntrail Patch 7.45 then further overhauled this system, leaving Variant the same but changing how Criterion works.

Variant Dungeons are dungeons with variable routes and choices (hence the name). The dungeon is intended for a party of one to four players, and enemy strength is scaled based on the number of players present. There are no role or action restrictions, and players can change job to fit the needs of the party. Variant dungeons place an emphasis on exploration, with branching paths throughout the dungeon. The layout, boss mechanics, and rewards will change based on the actions the player(s) take throughout the dungeon. In addition, certain character attributes will be increased to compensate between certain roles.

As Variant Dungeons have no restrictions on party size, special actions can be selected in order to help perform the standard roles of tank, healer, and DPS. Two of these can be selected from the V&C Dungeon Finder menu, and can be changed even while inside the dungeon. Note that certain actions have role restrictions. Patch 7.45 introduced a new Variant Action, Variant Eagle Eye Shot. Below is a list of all Variant Actions.

In Endwalker, the next step after Variant was the Criterion version of the dungeon, which remixed the Variant into a linear classic-style dungeon with three bosses and a couple mob packs between. Unlike Variant Dungeons, Criterion Dungeons have set role restrictions and action restrictions. It requires a pre-made light party consisting of one Tank, one Healer, and two DPS. Players all have one charge of the Variant Raise II duty action, which resurrects a target in a weakened state - no other resurrection abilities can be used. Just like in Variant Dungeons, party members will gain a bonus to outgoing damage based on the composition of the party in order to compensate for role disparities.

Endwalker Criterion Dungeons have an additional Savage difficulty, which adds more difficult restrictions including no revives at all, and a fail-state condition upon wiping or upon taking too long to complete the dungeon. Enemies in the Savage difficulty do significantly more damage, often completely one-shotting players if a mechanic is failed. Otherwise, however, Savage features the exact same mechanics as the Criterion version of the dungeon.

Click the buttons below to be taken to the guides for each segment of the first Endwalker Criterion Dungeon, Aother Sil'dih Subteranne

Patch 7.45 overhauled the V/C dungeon system, replacing the previous Criterion and Criterion Savage difficulties with Variant (Advanced) and Criterion difficulties. Variant (Advanced), called Advanced from here on, Replaces the previous Criterion difficulty as the new middle ground of the V/C dungeon, while Criterion replaces the previous Criterion (Savage) difficulty as the hardest of the three modes. The Variant mode remains the same as it did from Endwalker.

Advanced is the new middle ground content in the V/C system overhaul. In this mode, players will face the unique final bosses from each of the routes from the Variant mode. The bosses have new mechanics and more HP. This content can be accessed by parties of 2-4 players, with no restrictions on roles. Boss HP will scale based on the number of players present. The party also has access to the same Variant Actions that were available in the Variant version of the dungeon. In this mode, the players decide which boss or bosses they wish to challenge, in any order. After defeating each boss, the party will get a prompt asking if they want to continue to another boss, or end the duty there. If players defeat all three bosses in the same instance, they are given bonus rewards.

The final difficulty of the new V/C overhaul is called Criterion. This difficulty is intended to replace the previous Criterion (Savage) difficulty, but is not as difficult as the Criterion (Savage) was. In this mode, players must face the three bosses from Advanced in a boss rush style encounter. The party cannot pick the order to fight the bosses, and must defeat all three bosses in the same instance to receive rewards. The bosses have new mechanics that are unique to this mode, and are more difficult than previous versions of the encounter. In this mode, resurrection restrictions are in play similar to the Endwalker Criterion mode. Each player gets one charge of Variant Raise II, which refreshes upon wiping or after defeating a boss. Healers, RDM, and SMN are unable to use their class resurrection.