Final Fantasy XIV: How to begin Cosmic Exploration

Final Fantasy XIV’s Cosmic Exploration, the latest “lifestyle content” to be added to the game, kicks off in update 7.21. Available starting today, April 22, 2025, players can work together to develop the surfaces of a variety of planets while working with the Loporrits. Though we start on the surface of the moon, other planets will be added as time goes on.

Like the Ishgardian Restoration and Island Sanctuary before it, this is content designed for crafters and gatherers. However, Cosmic Exploration in Final Fantasy XIV is closer to the Ishgardian Restoration, in that this is multiplayer content, and I, for one, can’t wait to return to the Moon. I missed out on the Ishgardian Restoration while it was content, but I won't miss out on Cosmic Exploration.

How to start Cosmic Exploration in Final Fantasy XIV

To begin Cosmic Exploration in Final Fantasy XIV, you need to be at least a crafter or gatherer at level 10 and have completed the Main Scenario Quest “Endwalker.” That should be a simple enough task for many players. Depending on how new you are to FFXIV, the hardest part will be completing Endwalker, but with time, you will get there.

Cosmic Exploration starts in Old Sharlayan, but quickly takes you to the moon (Image via Square Enix)

Once you’ve met those objectives, head to Old Sharlayan (12.6, 13.6) and speak to Namingway. He’ll give you the quest A Cosmic Homecoming. Completing it will kick off the gameplay, and other quests will be available later:

Passion, Thy Name is Ardorum (Searchingway, 20.4, 20.0 - Sinus Ardorum)
A Manager’s Patience (Mumukko, 21.6, 21.1 - Sinus Ardorum)
A Manager’s Persistence (Mumukko, 21.6, 21.1 - Sinus Ardorum)

For those of you who might be confused on how to return to the Cosmic Exploration area Sinus Ardorum, head to Mare Lamentorum (21.7, 13.2) and speak to Drivingway.

What can you do in Final Fantasy XIV’s Cosmic Exploration mode?

Cosmic Exploration is content designed for crafters and gatherers in Final Fantasy XIV, but it’s worth noting that you can only enter Cosmic Exploration zones on your home server. For now, the only zone is Sinus Ardorum, but more will be added in future updates.

Players will use the Exotablet (shown in the UI below on the left side) to get the options to take part in and track how much Cosmic Exploration currency they have. This is where you pick up your missions.

There's plenty to do on the Moon! (Image via Square Enix)

You also have a separate Cosmic Exploration inventory — and I, for one, am so glad to hear that. My inventory is already jam-packed, and it can’t take much more. The Infrastructure Index will show the status of Cosmic Exploration will be visible in Final Fantasy XIV. We’ll also have an improved, permanent Sprint here to make getting around so much faster.

There are a variety of missions players can take part in as part of Cosmic Exploration. Stellar Missions are used to gather materials for cosmic exploration and are accepted at the Exotablet. Completing these increases progress and will unlock other missions that are ranked by Gold, Silver, and Bronze. Depending on your score in a mission, or the time remaining, your rank will be determined.

There are people already hard at work leveling up on the Moon, and the servers just opened! (Image via Square Enix)

I’m glad to see these are Quest Synced as well, so you will receive rewards and exp, depending on your current level. There are also Provisional Missions, which come in Sequential and Weather-restricted/Time-restricted flavors.

Sequential missions are available for five minutes after completing certain Stellar Missions with a Gold Rank, and scoring high enough will give you even more of these. Weather/Time-restricted missions are only available at certain times/weather conditions throughout the day.

When a Red Alert is issued, Critical Missions become available in Final Fantasy XIV’s Cosmic Exploration. If you complete Critical Missions during this time, as the class UI specifies, you earn even greater rewards than normal. Players are encouraged to work together at these times to fill the meter before time runs out.

This gentleman will help you get your pilot's license for Mech Ops (Image via Square Enix)

Occasionally, there will be large-scale missions, Mech Ops missions. Players will be able to spend Lunar Credits to purchase a pilot application, so they can try and fly during these missions. There are Mech Pilots and Ground Support players.

If you aren’t picked to fly, you will receive your application back, and the chances of being chosen next time will go up. I’m particularly unlucky, so I don’t think I’ll be flying anytime soon. This is the only way you can mount up in these areas, as well.

Finally, there are also Cosmic Exploration Projects, which are huge multiplayer missions for when certain milestones are reached. Players will see it at the top of the screen, and when the timer is ready, the project will commence. Just press “Join FATE” in the right part of the map to take part. Ultimately, this is the best place to farm crafting and gathering in Final Fantasy XIV, and where I plan on finishing mine. You'll also unlock Cosmic Tools in this part of the game, for those who want powerful crafting/gathering relics.

Everything you can get in Final Fantasy XIV’s Cosmic Exploration (that we’ve discovered so far)

There are two types of currencies in Final Fantasy XIV’s Cosmic Exploration: Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits. The former is primarily for gear, furnishings, and other items. You can spend Cosmocredits by interacting with Mesoauidonque (Sinus Ardorum - 21.8, 21.8). Lunar Credits are for Mech Op pilot applications, but you can also use them to draw Cosmic Fortunes.

Step 1: Farm enough Cosmocredits for the cool cosmetics (Image via Square Enix)

Cosmic Fortunes are roulettes that can grant a wide assortment of prizes, and you can find these at Orbitingway (Sinus Ardorum - 21.8, 21.1). There are two roulettes to pick from, each with its own prizes, and a special roulette for those who earned tickets while piloting in a Mech Op.

Below, you can find a list of everything available for Cosmocredits and how much they cost:

Armor (All costs are in Cosmocredits)

Star Crew Jacket: 8400
Star Crew Gloves: 4800
Star Crew Trousers: 7200
Star Crew Boots: 4800

Others (All costs are in Cosmocredits)

The Faces We Wear - Reading Glasses: 6000
Ballroom Etiquette: Bearing Insult: 9600
Cosmic Exploration Framer’s Kit: 6000
Hey, Cid! Orchestrion Roll: 6000
The Airship Orchestrion Roll: 6000
Stellar Lamppost: 3000
Cosmochair: 3000
Ruby Red Dye: 600
Cherry Pink Dye: 600
Carmine Red Dye: 600
Neon Pink Dye: 600
Bright Orange Dye: 600
Canary Yellow Dye: 600
Vanilla Yellow Dye: 600
Neon Yellow Dye: 600
Neon Green Dye: 600
Dragoon Blue Dye: 600
Turquoise Blue Dye: 600
Azure Blue Dye: 600
Violet Purple Dye: 600
Gunmetal Black Dye: 1500
Pearl White Dye: 1500
Metallic Brass Dye: 1500
Gatherer’s Guerdon Materia XI: 450
Gatherer’s Guerdon Materia XII: 900
Gatherer’s Guile Materia XI: 450
Gatherer’s Guile Materia XII: 900
Gatherer’s Grasp Materia XI: 450
Gatherer’s Grasp Materia XII: 900
Craftsman’s Cunning Materia XI: 450
Craftsman’s Cunning Materia XII: 900
Craftsman’s Competence Materia XI: 450
Craftsman’s Competence Materia XII: 900
Craftsman’s Command Materia XI: 450
Craftsman’s Command Materia XII: 900

The Commendations from Ishgardian Restoration are back in Final Fantasy XIV's Cosmic Exploration in the form of Star Contributor Awards. This is calculated every 24 hours and reset daily. At the end of a ranking period, those who score the highest will be Star Contributors and will have the following ways to be recognized in-game:

A hologram of the player will be displayed in Sinus Ardorum (X:21.1 Y:21.1). (The hologram will be established after a certain stage of progress is completed.)
The player's name will be displayed on the starward standings stela in Sinus Ardorum (X:21.1 Y:21.1).
A visual effect will be applied to them when they are in a Cosmic Exploration zone. They can click off this buff if they do not want it displayed

If you receive the Star Contributor title, you cannot be rewarded again this way for fourteen days. It’s also permanent to reduce the FOMO players experienced during the Ishgardian Restoration. While I don’t plan on being that hardcore — my primary purpose is for leveling crafters/gatherers — I love that this is a way to show off just who puts in the most work.

Check out our other Final Fantasy XIV guides and features

About the author

Jason is an Esports and Gaming journalist at Sportskeeda holding an amazing 11 years of experience under his belt. Having put out 4000-plus articles and amassing over 12 million reads for Sportskeeda, he is among the company’s most experienced writers. Jason holds a Bachelor's degree in English from UNC Pembroke and was inspired to become a gaming journalist very early on in life after reading Nintendo Power.

Jason is a jack of all trades when it comes to gaming journalism. He’s a key writer in Sportskeeda's MMO department, but he also likes to help out in other categories, like streamers, RPG, card games, and whatever else is needed. A solo gamer at heart, Jason's favorite titles include Earthbound and Dragon Warrior.

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Edited by Jason Parker