Final Fantasy XIV: Tips to get the most out of the Occult Crescent

Final Fantasy XIV’s Occult Crescent Field Operation is here, and for some of you, it’s going to feel very familiar. With a design and structure similar to Eureka in some ways, players equip themselves with powerful new Phantom Jobs and explore the mysterious Shades Triangle, section by section. Sadly, this isn’t like Bozja Front, where you could level up your classes. You need to be level 100 and have decent gear to even take part in this new content.

I’ve spent some time exploring this area, and while I’ve got a ways to go before I do everything in the first part of Final Fantasy XIV’s Occult Crescent, I’m here to offer some advice. I cannot stress enough that everyone’s experience is likely to be different, and this area might not even be for you. But if you’re going to go, we’ve got a few tips to get you started.

A few tips for exploring and surviving the Occult Crescent in Final Fantasy XIV

1) Pick the right Phantom Job that aligns with your gameplay style

Finding the right job/Phantom Job combo might take work, but it's worth it (Image via Square Enix)

Each Phantom Job in Final Fantasy XIV’s Occult Crescent offers you something slightly different. Whether it’s Cannoneer’s AOE damage, Knight’s tankiness, or Oracle’s healing abilities, there’s something for everyone here. It’s best to determine which class you plan on playing while in the Occult Crescent and figure out which Phantom Jobs are likely to synergize the best.

You aren’t stuck playing just one class, either. You can hot-swap around your jobs/Phantom Jobs whenever you aren’t in combat. This way, you can have a build for use in parties or when you’re soloing. It might take some time to figure out what works best for you, but experiment, find what feels right, and go with that.

2) Grouping up is so much easier than soloing in the Occult Crescent

Being in a group is so much better than going at it alone (Image via Square Enix)

Much like the original Eureka, you can probably solo, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Even if you simply use the /shout command to look for a group with “LFG”, you shouldn’t have much trouble finding people to cooperate with. You can go with Free Company members, close friends, people in your Discord communities, and so on.

Having party members means things die faster, and it’s easier for you to survive FATEs and Critical Events. These are important to do for your overall growth and farming currency, so it’s worth your time to join a group anytime you can. Death is almost an inevitability in Critical Events, so having people who can/will res you is going to be a blessing.

3) Unlocking the various Aethernet Travel Points isn’t locked behind levels/progression

Even at Phantom Job level 1, if you're brave enough, you can get plenty of Aethernet travel points early (Image via Square Enix)

One thing I appreciate is that, if you’re brave enough, you can get all the Aethernet Travel Points immediately. However, that does mean you’re running a risk of death, because many enemies have high levels and aggro radiii. I do appreciate it, though.

One of the first things I did was see how many of the Aethernet points I could reach easily. That way, when it’s time to do FATEs with a group, I can easily get to them if needed. These points are not locked behind any type of progression.

As long as you’re on Occult Crescent: South Horn in Final Fantasy XIV, you can get to any of the Aethernet points. You might have to hug some walls and be super careful, but you can get to them.

4) Don’t forget: You have Phantom Job abilities!

Just drag and drop those abilities to make life so much easier. (Image via Square Enix)

This might seem like a silly tip for Occult Crescent in Final Fantasy XIV, but it can be very easy to forget that you have extra abilities. You have a UI to utilize them from, but that’s very clunky, and I don’t recommend it. Instead, put them on your hotbar.

Click on your currently equipped Phantom Job to get the details. This also gives you all of the powers that you will inevitably unlock. Instead of fiddling with the extra ability UI, drag them onto your hotbars somewhere, so they’re easier to cast.

I cannot stress enough how much more useful this will be in Final Fantasy XIV's Occult Crescent. Depending on what job you’re playing, this might be difficult with the ability bloat and all. Worst case, you can put a separate hotbar into place, just for those, and bind them accordingly.

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.

Jason places high value on accuracy and relevance in his write-ups. He achieves this with thorough research to sift facts from rumors. One of the biggest highlights of his career is his interview with Canadian pro wrestler Kenny Omega about his inclusion in the Like a Dragon game series. He is also good friends with journalist Kazumo Hashimoto, who he admires for the kind of stories he works on and his deep ethics.

A true cinephile, one of Jason’s primary hobbies involves enjoying cinematic experiences. He also loves reading, be it fiction or manga, when not working. Additionally, he streams on Twitch and posts his gaming insights on YouTube.

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Edited by Jason Parker