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Final Fantasy 14 has introduced new dungeons to explore with every major patch release, giving players new environments to explore, bosses to fight, and stories to unravel. However, new to the Endwalker expansion, the game has introduced a new form of dungeon, Variant Dungeons, allowing players to choose their own path through an instanced zone, with each path changing the enemies encountered and locations discovered. As players complete different routes, they'll unlock records in Variant and Criterion Dungeon Finder, revealing new information on the surrounding lore and giving hints on how to find secret routes, rewarding players who complete all 12 routes in a Variant Dungeon with an exclusive achievement and unique mount.

Players looking for a challenge will additionally be able to confront Criterion Dungeons, a high-difficulty version of each Variant Dungeon, akin to Extreme trials and Savage raids. Criterion Dungeons feature a single route with powered-up bosses and monsters from the original dungeon, as well as new mechanics and restricted resurrections. Beyond Criterion Dungeons, a final difficulty is available, Criterion (Savage), removing all checkpoints from the dungeon, increasing enemy damage, and introducing an enrage timer for the entire dungeon. Requiring a near-perfect run through the entire instance makes the difficulty of these dungeons approach that of the Ultimate raids, but players that are able to conquer this final challenge are rewarded with exclusive achievements, titles, or even rare weapons for their efforts.

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How To Unlock Variant Dungeons In Final Fantasy 14

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In order to unlock any Variant or Criterion Dungeon, players must first complete the Main Scenario Quest "Endwalker," followed by the level 90 side quest "An Odd Job" from Osmon in Old Sharlayan (X:12.0, Y:13.4). Completing this side quest will enable the neighboring NPC Shallow Moor in Old Sharlayan (X:12.0, Y:13.3) to offer unlock quests for each Variant Dungeon.

The quest "A Key to the Past" unlocks the first Variant Dungeon (Sil'dihn Subterrane), while the quest "Mononoke Aware" unlocks the second Variant Dungeon (Mount Rokkon). A third Variant Dungeon can be unlocked after completing the Main Scenario Quest "A Satrap's Duty," unlocking the side quest "Stranger from Paradise," which enables players to enter Aloalo Island.

How To Unlock Criterion & Criterion (Savage) Dungeons

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To access the higher-difficulty Criterion Dungeons, players must have completed at least one route of a Variant Dungeon. Doing so will allow players to speak with Osmon in Old Sharlayan (X:12.0, Y:13.4) again, granting access to the Criterion version of the corresponding dungeon. Players that complete a Criterion Dungeon can unlock the Savage difficulty for the same dungeon by speaking with Osmon a final time.