FFXIV The Bowl of Embers (Hard): Unlock + Trial Guide

Ifrit Trial Boss in The Bowl of Embers (Hard) in FFXIV

To unlock the Level 50 trial The Bowl of Embers (Hard), also known as Ifrit HM, you need to accept the Level 50 quest “Ifrit Bleeds, We Can Kill It” from Thancred in The Waking Sands (X:6.1, Y:5.1).

But before this quest becomes available, you need to finish the final Main Scenario Quest for patch 2.0 of A Realm Reborn, titled “The Ultimate Weapon”. You’ll get this quest from Raubahn in Northern Thanalan (X:15.0, Y:16.0).

Step-by-Step Unlock Guide

The Waking Sands in Western Thanalan / Final Fantasy XIV
The Waking Sands in Western Thanalan
  1. Complete the Level 50 Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) “The Ultimate Weapon” from Raubahn in Northern Thanalan (X:15.0, Y:16.0).
  2. Finish the Level 50 quest “A Recurring Problem” from Minfilia in The Solar (X:6.9, Y:6.1).
  3. Accept the Level 50 quest “Ifrit Bleeds, We Can Kill It” from Thancred in The Waking Sands (X:6.1, Y:5.1).
  4. Speak with Flame Commander Swift in the Hall of Flames at Ul’dah – Steps of Nald (X:8.4, Y:8.9).
  5. Attune to the Zahar’ak Aetheryte in Southern Thanalan (X:35.4, Y:19.9).

Detailed Unlocking Guide

Similar to other Hard-mode trials in the game, you 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 The Bowl of Embers (Hard) can be unlocked.

This quest wraps up the Main Scenario Questline for patch 2.0 of A Realm Reborn, so take your time with the cutscenes!

Once you’re done, head back to The Waking Sands and talk to Minfilia in The Solar (X:6.9, Y:6.1) to begin the Primal Questline.

Minfilia’s map location in The Solar / Final Fantasy XIV
Minfilia’s map location in The Solar

Accept and complete the quest “A Recurring Problem” from Minfilia.

You’ll learn from this quest that the primals you’ve defeated during the Main Scenario Questline are on the verge of being summoned by the beast tribes once again.

Minfilia will warn you that these primals are stronger than the earlier version you’ve faced before.

To make matters worse, Urianger will suggest that the Amal’jaa may have already summoned Ifrit once again. After completing “A Recurring Problem,” talk to Thancred in The Waking Sands (X:6.1, Y:5.1) and accept the Level 50 quest “Ifrit Bleeds, We Can Kill It”.

Thancred’s map location in the Waking Sands / Final Fantasy XIV
Thancred’s map location in the Waking Sands

Thancred will confirm Urianger’s suspicions and ask you to immediately talk to the Flame Commander in Ul’dah so he can arrange your travel to the Lord of Inferno’s domain.

Once you’ve finished talking to Thancred, head to the Hall of Flames at Ul’dah – Steps of Nald (X:8.4, Y:8.9) and speak with Commander Swift.

The Flame Commander’s forces have discovered an Aetheryte leading to Ifrit’s domain.

With no time to waste and Thanalan’s safety hanging in the balance, Commander Swift will have you travel to the Aetheryte to confront the primal. Go to the Zahar’ak Aetheryte in Southern Thanalan (X:35.4, Y:19.9) to continue.

Zahar’ak Aetheryte in Southern Thanalan. / Final Fantasy XIV
Zahar’ak Aetheryte in Southern Thanalan.

Upon arrival, attune to the Aetheryte to unlock The Bowl of Embers (Hard). This trial requires at least a Level 50 Disciple of War or Magic job and an average item level of 49 to enter.

The Bowl of Embers (Hard) is a four-person trial that can be encountered in Duty Roulette: Trials. While it’s easy to clear this trial on your own with a high-level character while unsynced, you’ll still need to know its mechanics if you ever get it in the Duty Roulette.

We’ll cover the boss’ mechanics and rotations below:

Trial Boss Guide: Ifrit (Hard)

Ifrit, Lord of the Inferno / Final Fantasy XIV
Ifrit, Lord of the Inferno

Phase 1: Crimson Cyclone and Eruption

Rotation:

Incinerate > Vulcan Burst > Incinerate x3 > Repeat until 89% HP > Eruption > Incinerate > Crimson Cyclone > Eruption > Incinerate > Eruption > Incinerate > Crimson Cyclone > Eruption > Incinerate > Vulcan Burst > Repeat until 69% HP.

  • Incinerate: A non-telegraphed frontal cone tankbuster on the primary target. Always face the boss away from the party to avoid unnecessary cleaves.
  • Vulcan Burst: A point-blank knockback AoE. Stay away from melee range if you’re using a ranged character to minimize incoming damage.
  • Eruption: The boss will target a random player with an AoE that goes off consecutively (marked by huge cracks on the ground). If you’re targeted, move away from the rest of the group until the AoEs disappear. This attack can be interrupted using stuns up to three times before the boss gains immunity to stuns for 60 seconds.
  • Crimson Cyclone (Phase 1): The boss will jump outside the arena and rush across, damaging anyone in its path. Move out of his way.

Phase 2: Sear and Radiant Plume

Once the boss goes under 70%, he will begin to glow, indicating the start of Phase 2. He will gain new mechanics and enhance some of its attacks.

Rotation:

Incinerate + Sear > Vulcan Burst > Eruption + Sear > Radiant Plume (Outer) > Eruption + Sear > Radiant Plume (Inner) > Crimson Cyclone > Repeat until 49% HP.

  • Sear: Players near the boss will be hit with an unavoidable attack. Mitigate and heal through the damage.
  • Crimson Cyclone (Phase 2): The boss will now have two copies of itself outside the arena.
  • Radiant Plume (Outer and Inner): The boss will cover parts of the arena with lava pools that deal high damage. “Radiant” Plume” will have two patterns for Phase 2: Outer and Inner. The Outer pattern will always go first, so pre-position yourself in the center of the arena to avoid it.
Four “Infernal Nails” behind the boss while he uses “Eruption” / Final Fantasy XIV
Four “Infernal Nails” behind the boss while he uses “Eruption”

Phase 3: Infernal Nails and Hellfire

When the boss goes under 50% HP, he will drop “Infernal Nails” that need to be destroyed quickly.

Rotation:

Infernal Nails > Incinerate > Vulcan Burst > Eruption > Incinerate > Incinerate > Eruption > Incinerate > Incinerate > Hellfire.

  • Infernal Nails: The boss will drop four “Infernal Nails” that need to be destroyed before he finishes his Phase 3 rotation. Each nail that survives the phase will increase his “Hellfire” AoE damage. Ignoring the nails will wipe your party while synced.
  • Hellfire: The boss will become invincible and cast a room-wide AoE ultimate attack that deals damage based on the number of surviving “Infernal Nails.” Destroy the nails, then mitigate and heal through the AoE damage.

Phase 4: Repeating mechanics

Rotation:

Incinerate > Vulcan Burst > Eruption + Sear > Crimson Cyclone > Radiant Plume (Outer) > Radiant Plume (Inner) > Eruption + Sear > Radiant Plume (Combo) > Repeat until death.

  • Crimson Cyclone (Phase 4): The boss will now have three copies of himself that will rush across the arena.
  • Radiant Plume (Combo): The boss will cover most of the arena with lava pools. The only safe spots during this variation will be directly underneath and behind the boss. After the “Eruption + Sear” combo listed in the rotation, move near the boss.

The rotation listed above will now repeat until the boss dies.

To recap, here’s what you need to do for the rest of the fight:

  1. Mitigate and heal through “Incinerate” and “Vulcan Burst.”
  2. Bait the “Eruption” AoEs away from the party while healing through “Sear.”
  3. Move out of the path for each clone during “Crimson Cyclone.”
  4. Run toward the center, then spread out to the outer edges for the “Radiant Plume” patterns.
  5. Move away from your party again if you’re marked with “Eruption” and heal through another “Sear.”
  6. Go directly underneath or behind the boss to avoid “Radiant Plume (Combo).”
  7. Repeat until the boss is dead.

Rewards

Ifrit HM loot / Final Fantasy XIV
Ifrit HM loot
  • Ifrit Triple Triad Card (not guaranteed)
  • Ifrit’s Horn Crafting Material (not guaranteed)
Name Type Quality
Ifrit’s Grimoire Book Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Codex Book Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Bow Bow Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Cane Cane Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Kris Daggers Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Musketoon Firearms Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Claws Fist Weapon Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Battleaxe Greataxe Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Faussar Greatsword Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Katana Katana Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Harpoon Polearm Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Rapier Rapier Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Rod Staff Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Star Globe Star Globe Blue (Primal Gear)
Ifrit’s Blade Sword Blue (Primal Gear)
Inferno Weapon Coffer (IL 60) Other Basic

Marc Vista

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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.

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