FFXIV The Minstrel’s Ballad: Ultima’s Bane – Unlock + Trial Guide

Ultima EX Trial Boss in FFXIV

The Level 50 trial The Minstrel’s Ballad: Ultima’s Bane, also known as Ultima EX, can be unlocked by accepting the Level 50 quest “The Ultimate Ballad” from Alys in Mor Dhona (X:21.7, Y:8.6). But you’ll first need to complete the Level 50 Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) “The Ultimate Weapon” from Raubahn in Northern Thanalan (X:15.0, Y:16.0) before Ultima EX can be unlocked.

Below we’ll cover the exact unlock requirements, along with the battle mechanics for this trial.

Step-by-Step Unlocking Guide

One of many Garlean Castrum in Eorzea / Final Fantasy XIV
One of many Garlean Castrum in Eorzea
  1. Complete the Level 50 Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) “The Ultimate Weapon” from Raubahn in Northern Thanalan (X:15.0, Y:16.0).
  2. Accept the Level 50 quest “The Ultimate Ballad” from Alys in Mor Dhona (X:21.7, Y:8.6).
  3. Talk to The Wandering Minstrel in Mor Dhona (X:21.8, Y:8.7).

Detailed Unlocking Guide

Before the Level 50 quest “The Ultimate Ballad” becomes available, you need to have completed every Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) in patch 2.0 of A Realm Reborn.

This includes the final Level 50 MSQ in the Main Scenario Questline: “The Ultimate Weapon” from Raubahn in Northern Thanalan (X:15.0, Y:16.0).

In this quest, you’ll unlock the Level 50 trial “Porta Decumana,” where you’ll face The Ultima Weapon for the first time.

“Porta Decumana” requires at least a Level 50 Disciple of War or Magic job and an average item level of 42 to enter.

Some of its attacks will carry over to the Extreme version, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the mechanics.

There will also be a lot of very interesting cutscenes in this quest, so take your time to watch them! Clear the trial and finish the quest to continue.

Alys the barkeeper / FFXIV
Alys the barkeeper

Once you finish “The Ultimate Weapon,” head to the Seventh Heaven Bar in Mor Dhona (X:21.7, Y:8.6) and talk to the barkeeper, Alys. She’ll introduce you to a man who just arrived in her bar, looking for some inspiration.

The man only known as The Wandering Minstrel seeks stories of great adventures for his new ballad. Who better to serve as an inspiration than the person who saved Eorzea from The Ultima Weapon? Talk to the Wandering Minstrel in Mor Dhona (X:21.8, Y:8.7) to continue.

The Wandering Minstrel looking for some inspiration / Final Fantasy XIV
The Wandering Minstrel looking for some inspiration

In the cutscene that follows, you’ll learn more about the minstrel’s past. How adventurers extended a helping hand to him in times of need and inspired him with their stories.

He’ll recognize you and your recent feat, applauding your extraordinary accomplishment.

The minstrel will compose a ballad and sing it for everyone in the bar to hear, letting everyone know about Eorzea’s champion.

After the cutscene, The Minstrel’s Ballad: Ultima’s Bane will be unlocked. This trial requires a Level 50 Disciple of War or Magic job and an average item level of 61 to enter.

While this trial is one of the very first Extreme trials in the game, it still requires good practice if you want to clear it with synced levels. Check out the boss guide below to help you learn its mechanics and rotations.

Trial Boss: The Ultima Weapon

Ultima EX / FFXIV
Ultima EX

Due to the trial being released way back in patch 2.1, you can very easily solo Ultima EX with a high-level job. It only takes a few seconds to kill, and you can do it with any Disciple of War or Magic job.

As always, if you’re up for a challenge and want to do the fight while synced, read about the mechanics below. You may skip some phases with good synced DPS.

Phase 1: Garuda + Titan and Viscous Aetheroplasm

Rotation:

Viscous Aetheroplasm > Mistral Song + Vulcan Burst > Homing Lasers > Ceruleum Vent > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Eye of the Storm + Geocrush > Homing Lasers > Ceruleum Vent > Repeat until 80% HP

The boss will consistently use attacks from the three primals, Ifrit, Titan, and Garuda, throughout the fight. In Phase 1, it’ll be Garuda and Titan.

  • Viscous Aetheroplasm: A tankbuster attack on the primary target that applies a stacking debuff of the same name. Getting five stacks of this debuff will result in continuous tankbusters on the main tank that will easily kill them. Perform a tank swap with the off-tank before getting the fifth stack.
  • Mistral Song (Garuda): Garuda will appear in the center and cast a 170-degree frontal cone AoE. Move behind her to avoid the attack.
  • Vulcan Burst: A room-wide AoE attack with knockback that happens right before “Mistral Song.” Use knockback immunity skills or let yourself get knocked away from the AoE.
  • Homing Lasers: A non-telegraphed attack on a random player.
  • Ceruleum Vent: A large point-blank AoE attack. This attack goes off very quickly, so just heal through the damage afterward.
  • Eye of the Storm (Garuda): A white donut AoE that pulls players into the center on hit. Stay in the center or use knockback-immunity skills.
  • Geocrush (Titan): Immediately after “Eye of the Storm,” Titan will slam the center with a non-telegraphed AoE. Avoid the initial donut AoE, then move out to dodge “Geocrush.”

Phase 2: Titan + Ifrit

Rotation:

Radiant Plume (Outer) > Weight of the Land (Inner) > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Tank Purge > Homing Lasers > Radiant Plume (Inner) > Weight of the Land (Outer) > Ceruleum Vent > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Homing Lasers > Repeat until 67% HP

Once the boss reaches 80%, it’ll lose Garuda’s power and start Phase 2.

  • Radiant Plume (Ifrit): Depending on the set pattern, the boss will spawn overlapping circle AoEs that cover the outer or inner areas of the arena,. “Weight of the Land” always goes off immediately after “Radiant Plume,” so watch your toes. For example, if the plume spawns near the middle, move out of the initial AoE, then run back to the center.
  • Weight of the Land (Titan): An attack similar to “Radiant Plume,” but will less overlap. You’ll have a safe spot directly in the middle for inner patterns, and safe spots between each AoE for outer patterns.
  • Tank Purge: A room-wide AoE attack. Mitigate and heal through the damage.

Phase 3: Ifrit

Rotation:

Eruption > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Tank Purge > Homing Lasers > Radiant Plume + Crimson Cyclone combo x2 > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Homing Lasers > Eruption > Ceruleum Vent > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Tank Purge > Homing Lasers > Radiant Plume + Crimson Cyclone combo x2 > Ceruleum Vent > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Homing Lasers > Repeat until 50% HP

Once the boss reaches 67%, it’ll lose Titan’s power and start Phase 3.

  • Eruption: The boss will spawn “Eruption” AoEs under two DPS or Healer players five times in a row. Have the rest of the party stack near the boss while the affected players bait the AoEs around the arena.
  • Radiant Plume (Phase 3): The plumes in Phase 3 will have two patterns: outer intercardinal and a straight line. The outer intercardinal pattern will always go off first, immediately followed by the line pattern.
  • Crimson Cyclone: Ifrit will appear outside the arena and prepare to rush across the room. Move away from his path while dodging “Radiant Plume.”

Phase 4: Aetheric Boom, Airships, and Magitek Bits

Two sets of Aetheric Boom tethers / Final Fantasy XIV
Two sets of Aetheric Boom tethers

Rotation:

Aetheric Boom > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Homing Lasers > Ceruleum Vent > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Aetheroplasm Orbs > Magitek Ray > Tank Purge > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Diffractive Laser > Homing Lasers > Ceruleum Vent > Viscous Aetheroplasm > Magitek Ray > Repeat until the boss dies

Once the boss reaches 50% HP, it’ll lose Ifrit’s powers and won’t use any primal attacks anymore. Some attacks listed below aren’t included in the rotation due to their HP threshold requirements.

“Aetheric Boom” can restart the rotation once the required HP threshold is met.

  • Aetheric Boom: A room-wide AoE attack with knockback. This attack will also spawn orbs tethered to each other will spawn around the arena. Touching an orb will cause an explosion that can easily kill a DPS or healer. To handle this mechanic, have a tank use mitigation skills and pop the orbs, or have at least three players pop an orb together to share the damage. The boss will use this attack at specific HP thresholds:
    • Two tethers at 50%
    • Three tethers at 30%
    • Four tethers at 15%
  • Aetheroplasm Orbs: The boss will mark up to two players and summon floating orbs that will follow them for some time. Move away from the marked players while they bait the orbs around.
  • Magitek Ray: Three line attacks fired one after the other.
  • Diffractive Laser: A strong tankbuster attack on the primary target. Use mitigation skills and heal through the attack.
  • Magitek Bits + Freefire Airships: The boss will summon “Magitek Bit” machines that fire “Magitek Cannon” line attacks on random players. Immediately after, the proximity markers will appear, indicating where airships will crash onto the arena.
    Kill the bits to reduce AoE attacks while moving away from the proximity markers. The boss will summon the bits and airships at specific HP thresholds:

    • Six Magitek Bits and two airships at 40%
    • Eight Magitek Bits and four airships at 25%

Rewards

The Ultima Weapon loot / FFXIV
The Ultima Weapon loot
  • 15 Allagan Tomestones of Poetics
  • The Ultima Weapon Triple Triad Card (not guaranteed)
Name Type Quality
Ultima Choker of Fending Necklace Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Choker of Slaying Necklace Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Choker of Aiming Necklace Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Choker of Casting Necklace Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Choker of Healing Necklace Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Band of Fending Ring Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Band of Slaying Ring Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Band of Aiming Ring Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Band of Casting Ring Blue (Primal Gear)
Ultima Band of Healing Ring Blue (Primal Gear)
Faded Copy of The Maker’s Ruin Orchestrion Roll Basic

Marc Vista

155 articles

Marc is a casual FFXIV Summoner veteran, retired TF2 Soldier main, and professional communicator. He's also a huge fan of anime, Hololive, and the Golden State Warriors.

View Writer's Posts →