The Level 60 Normal-difficulty dungeon Aetherochemical Research Facility can be unlocked by accepting the Level 60 Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) “Heavensward” from the Guidance Node in Azys Lla (X:16.0, Y:22.0).
This dungeon is part of the Heavensward expansion, so you’ll need to have completed all of the MSQs in the previous expansion, A Realm Reborn.
Let’s go through the unlock requirements + all boss mechanics in detail below:
Detailed Unlocking Guide
The Aetherochemical Research Facility is locked behind the final Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) of patch 3.0 of the Heavensward expansion.
Before the “Heavensward” MSQ can be unlocked, you must complete every MSQ leading up to it, including all the MSQs from the A Realm Reborn (ARR) expansion.
Once you’ve finished that, head to the Guidance Node in Azys Lla (X:16.0, Y:22.0) and accept the quest.
During this part of the story, you are chasing Archbishop Thordan and his knights through the center of Azys Lla in hopes of foiling his plan of becoming god-king.
As you follow the Guidance Node deeper into the facility (X:21.2, Y:22.4), Garlean allies of Thordan will attempt to stop you. Defeat the 1st Maniple troops that appear before talking to the Guidance Node once again. After another quick cutscene, the Aetherochemical Research Facility will be unlocked.
This dungeon requires at least a Level 60 Disciple of War or Magic job and an average item level of 142 to enter.
Note that this dungeon does not have any treasure chests, but it has increased Allagan Tomestone of Poetics rewards. It also has four bosses that you need to defeat.
Boss #1: Regula van Hydrus
Mechanics:
- Bastardbluss: A cleaving tankbuster on the primary target. Face the tank away from the boss at all times.
- Judgment: The boss will target a random player with a five-second stun. Once the stun wears off, the marked player will be hit with a non-telegraphed AoE. Move away from the affected player.
- Magitek Slug: The boss will summon non-targetable magitek machines that use line AoEs.
- Magitek Turret: These turrets are targetable and will tether a random player, dealing constant damage. Have the tank stand on top of the tether to soak the incoming damage. Destroy these turrets as soon as possible
- Self-detonate (Magitek Turret): A room-wide AoE attack that deals high damage. This can wipe your party, so make sure all turrets are killed immediately
- Aetherochemical Grenado: A targeted circle AoE on random players.
- Magitek Spread: A 270-degree room-wide AoE attack with knockback. Move directly behind the boss to avoid.
Rewards
- 15 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
Boss #2: Harmachis
Mechanics:
- Weighing of the Heart: The boss will transform into one of three “Anti” forms: a Cobra, Naga, or Machina. The boss will use different attacks based on its current form.
- Cthonic Hush: A non-telegraphed frontal cleave attack that applies a 30-second “Poison” debuff. Move behind the boss and dispel the debuff as necessary.
- Ka: A 45-degree frontal cone AoE.
- Riddle of the Sphinx: A targeted AoE on a random player.
- Steel Scales (Cobra): The boss will buff itself with “Damage Up.” Buff
- Hood Swing (Cobra): A non-telegraphed frontal cleave immediately after “Steel Scales.” Move behind the boss to avoid.
- Petrifaction (Naga): A room-wide AoE attack that applies a 10-second “Petrifaction” debuff to anyone looking at the boss when the cast goes off. Face your character away from the boss.
- Circle of Flames (Naga): An instant-cast circle AoE on random players that happens consecutively. Spread away from the center to avoid overlapping damage.
- Inertia Stream + Ballistic Missile (Machina): The boss will bind a random player and target them with an instant-KO missile. Have one player stack inside the targeted player’s marker to mitigate the attack. Having more than one player stacking with the player will not mitigate the damage.
- Gaseous Bomb (Machina): An instant-cast frontal cone AoE toward a random player. Spread out to avoid extra damage.
Rewards
- 30 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
Boss #3: Lahabrea and Igeyorhm
Phase 1: Igeyorhm
While both ascians are targetable to start, Igeyorhm will always be your first opponent. Lahabrea will teleport around the room and use line AoEs to assist Igeyorhm. At 50% HP, Lahabrea will switch with Igeyorhm.
- Dark Orb: A targeted tankbuster on the primary target. Use mitigation skills and heal through the attack.
- Sea of Pitch: The boss will target multiple players with purple puddles that explode after some time. Stack near each other to bait the puddles, then move out before it explodes.
- End of Days (Lahabrea): A wide line attack that applies a stacking “Suppuration” debuff (stacks up to five). This debuff will reduce a player’s maximum HP and increase the damage they take.
- Blizzard Sphere + Fire Sphere (Lahabrea): An outer “Blizzard Sphere” pattern will appear and explode after some time. Then, an inner “Fire Sphere” pattern will soon follow.
- Shadowflare: A room-wide AoE attack. Mitigate and heal through the damage.
- Dark Blizzard II and Dark Fire II (Lahabrea): Multiple AoE circles will appear on the ground. Avoid as necessary.
Phase 2: Lahabrea
This phase will repeat most of the same mechanics from the previous phase except for the “Blizzard Sphere + Fire Sphere” combo. The encounter will “end” once Lahabrea reaches 50% HP.
- Permafrost: Igeyorhm will turn the floor into slippery ice, applying a “Thin Ice” effect on everyone. Moving around during this time will cause you to slip around the arena. Stay in one place unless it’s necessary.
Rewards
- 45 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
Boss #4: Ascian Prime
After getting Lahabrea down to 50% HP, a cutscene will appear showing both ascians merging into one.
Mechanics:
- Height of Chaos: A cleaving tankbuster on the primary target. Use mitigation skills and heal through the attack.
- Ancient Eruption: Random players will be targeted with circle AoEs. Move out as necessary.
- Shadowflare: A room-wide AoE attack. Mitigate and heal through the damage.
- Ancient Circle: Up to two players will be targeted with large donut AoEs. Have everyone stack in the center to avoid getting clipped.
- Blizzardsphere + Firesphere: The boss will become untargetable and summon two spheres tethered that will tether to it. Destroy these spheres as soon as possible to avoid “Annihilation.”
- If only the “Blizzardsphere” reaches the boss, the party will be hit with a room-wide AoE attack and be frozen for 10 seconds with “Deepfreeze.”
- If only the “Firesphere” reaches the boss, it’ll use a weaker “Annihilation” AoE that applies a 30-second “Suppuration” debuff.
- Annihilation: A very strong room-wide AoE attack that goes off if tethered spheres reach.
- Universal Manipulation: A room-wide AoE attack that inflicts five debuffs (Bind, Slow, Sleep, Amnesia, and Pacification) to anyone hit. You do NOT want to get hit by this. Touch the dark portals that appear just before the attack goes off. You’ll be fettered and stunned until the attack finishes, saving you from the attack.
- Entropic Flame: The boss will target three random players with line AoEs. These AoEs inflict a stacking “Suppuration” debuff. Avoid this as you did with “End of Days.”
- Chaos Bleed: Purple orbs will tether to random players and explode into a non-telegraphed AoE on impact. Each player should pop someone else’s orb away from one another to avoid overlapping damage.
Rewards
- 60 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
- Faded Copy of Imagination Orchestrion Roll (not guaranteed)
Guide Navigation
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Final Fantasy XIV
- FFXIV Aetherochemical Research Facility: Unlock + Boss Guide
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