How to unlock the Monster Hunter Arkveld collab and rewards in FFXIV

The second major collaboration between Final Fantasy 14 and Monster Hunter arrives with patch 7.35, introducing the formidable Guardian Arkveld as an eight-player trial encounter. This crossover event brings authentic Monster Hunter combat mechanics into Eorzea, requiring precise positioning, pattern recognition, and strategic item usage.

Unlike standard FFXIV trials, this encounter emphasizes observation and adaptation to the monster’s behavioral patterns rather than strict scripted mechanics. Players familiar with Monster Hunter’s combat flow will find the rhythm intuitive, while FFXIV veterans should prepare for a different approach to boss encounters.

Accessing this challenging trial requires meeting specific progression milestones. You must have at least one combat job leveled to 100 and completed the main scenario quest “Dawntrail” in its entirety. These requirements ensure players have sufficient combat experience and story context for the encounter.

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Square Enix via Polygon

Once prerequisites are met, seek out the Dawn Hunt Tracker NPC located in Tuliyollal at coordinates (13.3, 13.1). This NPC initiates the quest chain that introduces the collaboration storyline and prepares you for the Arkveld encounter. The quest involves investigating clues about the creature and interacting with a Felyne companion.

Before entering the trial itself, ensure your item level reaches at least 725. This gear requirement is non-negotiable and serves as the minimum threshold for surviving Arkveld’s powerful attacks. Undergeared parties will struggle significantly with the damage output and survival requirements.

Success in the Guardian Arkveld trial hinges on understanding its unique attack patterns and adapting your strategy accordingly. Unlike traditional FFXIV trials with clearly telegraphed mechanics, Arkveld employs more organic, Monster Hunter-style attacks that require spatial awareness and predictive positioning.

Key Attack Patterns to Monitor: Watch for wind-up animations before charge attacks, area-denial breath weapons that create hazardous zones, and tail swipes that require positioning at the flanks. The monster frequently changes aggro targets, so tanks must be prepared for sudden target switches.

Common Mistakes to Avoid: New players often stand directly in front of the beast, making them vulnerable to its most damaging frontal attacks. Healers should anticipate heavy raid-wide damage following certain roar animations. DPS players frequently fail to disengage from area-effect attacks in time, resulting in unnecessary deaths.

Optimization Tip: Designate one player as the “item coordinator” to call out when to use potions and buff items for maximum efficiency. The trial’s mechanics encourage strategic item usage similar to Monster Hunter’s inventory management system.

Completing the initial questline provides substantial rewards beyond the narrative satisfaction. You’ll receive the Seikret Horn mount summoning item, allowing you to call upon the agile Seikret creature as your personal transport. Additionally, housing enthusiasts gain the outdoor hunter’s grill and hunter’s camp chair furnishings to recreate Monster Hunter’s signature camp ambiance in their estate.

Image: Square Enix

Upon defeating Guardian Arkveld in the normal trial, you’ll receive standard tomestone rewards alongside a Veldian Weapon Coffer. This container can be opened for any combat job, providing a powerful Veldian weapon at item level 745 that serves as excellent gear for current content.

Crucial Loot Tip: Before exiting the trial arena, interact with Arkveld’s head to collect two guaranteed Guardian Scales. Many players overlook this interaction and miss out on valuable currency. There’s also a chance for the highly sought-after Felyne Support Team Cart mount to drop directly from the encounter, which can be sold on the marketboard for substantial gil.

After conquering the normal trial, visit the Wandering Minstrel in Tuliyollal to unlock the extreme difficulty version. This challenging iteration provides access to premium rewards through a certificate-based exchange system. Each extreme clear rewards two Guardian Arkveld Certificates, with drop rates consistent across all party roles.

Image: Square Enix

The certificate exchange system offers two primary rewards: the Felyne Support Team Cart mount for 99 certificates (approximately 50 clears) or an augmented Veldian weapon at item level 760 for just five certificates. The augmented weapons represent best-in-slot options for many jobs and feature enhanced visual effects.

Exchange your certificates at the Smithy NPC in Tuliyollal, located behind the initial Dawn Hunt Tracker quest giver. This vendor also accepts Guardian Scales for additional rewards, including the adorable Seikret Fledgling minion for three scales. The certificate system allows players to reliably work toward their desired rewards regardless of luck-based drops.

Image: Square Enix

For players aiming to maximize efficiency in acquiring all collaboration rewards, several advanced strategies can significantly reduce time investment. Optimal Farming Route: Complete the normal trial daily for Guardian Scales while simultaneously working on extreme clears for certificates. This dual approach ensures steady progress toward all rewards.

Gear Optimization: While the 725 item level requirement is the minimum, aiming for 740+ gear dramatically improves clear times and survival rates. The Veldian weapons from normal clears provide excellent stat allocations for tackling the extreme version more efficiently.

Party Composition Advice: Consider running with a balanced party including two tanks, two healers, and four DPS. The encounter’s mechanics benefit from having multiple resurrection capabilities and consistent damage output. Players familiar with Monster Hunter gameplay mechanics often perform exceptionally well in this trial.

Market Board Strategy: The Felyne Support Team Cart mount maintains high market value for several weeks after the collaboration launches. If you obtain duplicate mounts, consider selling them early while demand remains peak, then repurchasing later when prices stabilize if you want one for personal use.

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