The Level 60 Normal-difficulty dungeon Xelphatol can be unlocked by accepting the Level 60 Main Scenario Quest “Shadows of the First“ from Alphinaud in Fortemps Manor (X:6.0, Y:6.1).
“Shadows of the First” is part of the patch 3.4 Main Scenario Questline for the Heavensward expansion, so it may take some time before you reach it if you’re just starting out.
We’ll go through the full unlocking details + the dungeon’s boss mechanics in this guide.
Step-by-Step Unlock Guide
- Accept the Level 60 MSQ “Shadows of the First“ from Alphinaud in Fortemps Manor (X:6.0, Y:6.1). Talk to the House Fortemps Guard in The Pillars (X:11.5, Y:11.0) to enter the manor.
- Meet Alphinaud in Camp Dragonhead at Coerthas Central Highlands (X:26.3, Y:16.2).
- Speak with the Steadfast Knight outside of Xelphatol in Coerthas Central Highlands (X:33.4, y:15.3).
Detailed Unlocking Guide
To unlock Xelphatol, you must accept the Level 60 MSQ “Shadows of the First“ from Alphinaud in Fortemps Manor (X:6.0, Y:6.1).
This is the second MSQ of patch 3.4 of the Heavensward expansion, so you must complete every quest leading up to “Shadows of the First” before it becomes available. This includes all the MSQs from earlier patches of Heavensward and all the MSQs of the A Realm Reborn base game.
After you’ve caught up with the main story, go to the Fortemps Manor in Ishgard.
Take “The Last Vigil” aetheryte shard and talk to the House Fortemps Guard in The Pillars (X:11.5, Y:11.0) to enter the manor.
Then accept the quest from Alphinaud and watch the ensuing cutscene.
In this quest, you’ll try to stop the Warriors of Darkness from making the Ixali summon their primal, Garuda, within Xelphatol.
Since Xelphatol is within Ishgardian borders, you seek the help of Count Edmont de Fortemps to help you with this endeavor, which he gladly provides. His knights will start the offensive on the Ixali territory and provide any support necessary. After the cutscene, head to Camp Dragonhead in Coerthas Central Highlands (X:26.3, Y:16.2).
Upon talking to Alphinaud on your arrival, he’ll inform you that the House Fortemps Knights have already dispatched the Ixali guards patrolling the entrance to Xelphatol and you may depart for the area when you’re ready.
Talk to the Steadfast Temple Knight in Steadfast Knight outside of Xelphatol in Coerthas Central Highlands (X:33.4, y:15.3) to continue.
After a brief conversation about the plan with the Temple Knight, Xelphatol will be unlocked.
This dungeon requires at least a Level 60 Disciple of War or Magic and an average item level of 210 to enter.
Since Xelphatol is one of the older dungeons in the game, it can be easily soloed with a high-level job wearing up-to-date gear. However, you’ll need to do this dungeon while synced if you encounter it while doing your duty roulettes.
We’ll cover each boss and their corresponding mechanics below.
Boss #1: Nuzal Hueloc
Mechanics:
The main objective in this fight is to kill the boss’ minions and burst his balloons to remove his invincibility.
- Short Burst: A non-telegraphed tankbuster attack on the primary target. Mitigate and heal through the damage.
- Wind Blast: A wide line attack on a random player.
- Lift: The boss will fly to one side of the arena and lift himself higher, making him untargetable. A floating turret will also spawn along with some Ixali mobs. Destroy the floating turret to trigger “Hot Blast,” then run underneath the boss to burst his balloon.
- Air Raid: While the boss is in the air, he’ll continuously cast “Air Raid,” a room-wide AoE attack. Shield and heal through the damage.
- Hot Blast (Floating Turret): When this attack goes off, it’ll deal room-wide AoE damage and knock everyone up in the air. Stand underneath the boss when this attack goes off to bring him back down.
- Short Burst (Floating Turret): The turret’s version of “Short Burst” that applies a 14-second “Windburst” DoT on its target. Heal through the damage as necessary and dispel the DoT.
- Airstone: Later in the fight, “Airstone” mobs may also connect to the boss or the “Floating Turret,” making them invulnerable again. Destroy these airstones immediately.
- Long Burst: The boss will target a random player with an attack that also applies the 14-second “Windburst” DoT. Dispel the debuff as soon as possible.
Rewards
- 15 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
| Name | Type | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| Valkyrie’s Bracelet of Aiming | Bracelets | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Bracelet of Casting | Bracelets | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Bracelet of Fending | Bracelets | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Bracelet of Healing | Bracelets | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Bracelet of Slaying | Bracelets | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Boots of Aiming | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Boots of Casting | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Boots of Healing | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Boots of Scouting | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Boots of Striking | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Jackboots of Fending | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Jackboots of Maiming | Feet | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Ring of Aiming | Ring | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Ring of Casting | Ring | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Ring of Fending | Ring | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Ring of Healing | Ring | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Ring of Slaying | Ring | Dungeon (Green) |
Boss #2: Dotoli Ciloc
Mechanics:
At the start of the fight, spikes will appear around the arena. These spikes apply a constant “Flesh Wound” DoT and “Vulnerability Up” debuff to anyone standing in it. The boss will have a knockback attack during the fight, so make sure you don’t get pushed into the spikes.
- On Low: A telegraphed frontal cone AoE.
- On High: A room-wide AoE attack that knocks players back. Use knockback-immunity skills or let yourself get knocked into a barrier to avoid the spikes outside.
- Dark Wings: Targeted circle AoEs on random players. Spread out to avoid overlap.
- Stormcoming: Two of the outer barriers will be covered by whirlwinds that deal constant damage to anyone standing inside. Afterward, the boss will use “On High” again to knock players back. Position yourself to get pushed toward the unoccupied barriers or use knockback-immunity skills.
- Swiftfeather: This will buff the boss with “Haste+,” causing the next “On Low” attack to be instantly cast. Move toward the boss’ flanks as soon as it starts casting “Swiftfeather.”
Rewards
- 20 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
| Name | Type | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| Valkyrie’s Earrings of Aiming | Earrings | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Earrings of Casting | Earrings | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Earrings of Fending | Earrings | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Earrings of Healing | Earrings | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Earrings of Slaying | Earrings | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Aiming | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Casting | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Fending | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Healing | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Maiming | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Scouting | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Gloves of Striking | Hands | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Hat of Casting | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Hat of Healing | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Helm of Fending | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Helm of Maiming | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Tricorne of Aiming | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Tricorne of Scouting | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Tricorne of Striking | Head | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Choker of Aiming | Necklace | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Choker of Casting | Necklace | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Choker of Fending | Necklace | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Choker of Healing | Necklace | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Choker of Slaying | Necklace | Dungeon (Green) |
Boss #3: Tozol Huatotl
Mechanics:
- Ixali Aero: A heavy-hitting tankbuster on the primary target. Use mitigation skills and heal through the attack.
- Ixali Aero II: A line attack toward a random player.
- Ixali Aero III: A room-wide AoE attack. Mitigate and heal through the damage.
- Hawk: The boss will use the four birds outside to attack your party in two variations:
- Green targeted AoEs: Spread out to avoid overlapping damage.
- Orange stack-up marker: Stack with the marked player to mitigate incoming damage.
- Summon Garuda: The boss will summon the Ixali primal and use one of two attack patterns:
- Donut + Frontal Cone AoE: Move toward Garuda’s flanks while staying inside the Donut AoE.
- Donut + Pointblank AoE: Move between the gaps of both AoEs, then prepare for the incoming “Aerial Blast” that follows.
- Aerial Blast: Garuda’s room-wide ultimate AoE attack. This attack will only happen after the Donut + Pointblank variation of “Summon Garuda.” Mitigate and heal through the damage.
Rewards
- 35 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
- Tozol Huatotl Triple Triad Card (not guaranteed)
| Name | Type | Rarity |
|---|---|---|
| Valkyrie’s Coat of Aiming | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Coat of Casting | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Coat of Healing | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Coat of Scouting | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Coat of Striking | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Cuirass of Fending | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Cuirass of Maiming | Body | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Brais of Fending | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Brais of Maiming | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Trousers of Aiming | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Trousers of Casting | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Trousers of Healing | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Trousers of Scouting | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Valkyrie’s Trousers of Striking | Legs | Dungeon (Green) |
| Shaggy Shoat | Minion | Basic |
Extra Treasure Coffers
Apart from the boss rewards, there are four treasure coffers located throughout the dungeon that you can open for more gear rewards:
- (X:11.0, Y:10.9)
- (X:11.9, Y:10.6)
- (X:15.0, Y:8.9)
- (X:16.3, Y:6.8)
Guide Navigation
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Final Fantasy XIV
- FFXIV Xelphatol: How To Unlock + Dungeon Boss Guide
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