Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is looking summer ready as we explore the new land of Tural

Fans, feedback and face cream

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Square Enix

After the climatic end to a decade-long saga in Endwalker , anticipation is high for Final Fantasy XIV ’s next expansion, Dawntrail. I got to try out the game and talk to Director Naoki Yoshida (aka Yoshi-P) about new Jobs and the difficulty of incorporating fan feedback (not to mention the reasons the Warrior of Light has such great skin - you’ll see). But how can the Square Enix possibly hope to follow the highs of Endwalker, including space travel and a fight against the physical embodiment of sorrow? By taking us on holiday, of course.

The build I got my hands on was still in development, but everything I saw of the graphical update so far looks stunning. Trees feel fuller, mountains seem more imposing and clothes have much more detail now. Textures have seen improvement, but so has the density of objects, so there’s more grass to walk through, and more in-world items to peruse. It’s not exactly a generational leap but it all adds up to a world that feels richer, more lived-in and ripe for exploration.

Gone is the gloom of Garlemald and the quiet emptiness of Ultima Thule from Endwalker - in the new land of Tural every location seems filled with bright spectacle to hammer home a feeling of adventure. I spent most of my time gazing at the world around me. I wandered around the main hub city of Tuliyollal, poking my head into bars and climbing dense hills towards the main castle. I glided across the jungles of Kozama’uka to take in the cascading waterfalls and wetlands, and then I trekked through the mountains of Urqopacha as the peak of Wokhor Zomor loomed above me.

Never has FFXIV felt more alive to me. The environments entice with hidden caves and vistas obscured by fog that only reveal themselves when the light is right. Even the swampy start of the dungeon I played had a sense of vastness to it (despite the pre-ordained route you steer yourself through).

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Square Enix

Dawntrail also sees the level cap rise to 100 and two new Jobs will join the roster. Of the pair, Viper is the easiest to get to grips with: a dextrous role that uses twin blades to focus damage on a single target. It may be fast, but the basic rotation of skills is clear. There’s a lot of adaptability to it, as you can choose how combos play out and then weave in more skills. Just because the basics of it are easy, it doesn’t mean that it’s too simplistic. A lot of thought went into the creation of Viper, and fans wishes were kept in mind, says Yoshida.

“We received a lot of feedback from players around the world that if we were to implement another melee DPS, they would want to have a job where they could use two swords,” he says. “And what’s more, at the same time, it was often that they would provide an example, like Kirito from Sword Art Online.

“So, we went with an approach where we would be focusing on stylish, speedy action, and also making it look cool. But when it comes to Kirito from Sword Art Online, Kirito is kind of overpowered and very strong in the game. So, for Viper, we thought about showcasing that sensation of becoming strong and for the player to become focused on their actions and getting absorbed into battle. And that was a challenge for us to consider.”

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Square Enix

While I found Viper easy to get to grips with, Pictomancer (the other new Job) is a little harder. It feels a lot like Black Mage combined with Dancer. Your spells combo to create paintings on canvases that you can then unleash for more damage, but you can also create landscape areas for party buffs. I’m excited to see what skilled players are able to do with it.

Of course all of the other jobs in the game got updates with the new level cap too. Monk, Ninja, Dragoon, Black Mage, and Astrologian have received the biggest overhauls, while the rest have gotten some touch-ups based on player feedback. I mostly played as White Mage during my hands-on to help heal during a group dungeon, and had a lot of fun playing with a new gap closer and damage burst while fighting an angry manatee (don’t feel too sorry for it, it threw trees at us first).

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Square Enix

“There are many different types of people playing Final Fantasy XIV now,” says Yoshia, “and the kinds of feedback that we receive from casual players are extremely different to the feedback that we get from hardcore players. We try to find a balance between the feedback that we receive and the feedback that we leave behind.

“There’s a history to this. From 3.0 to the 3.X series the players told us that they wanted Jobs with more complicated mechanics. In other words, they wanted more unique Jobs. So we took that feedback on board and we started to adjust the Jobs…”

“But then we started getting feedback that the jobs had become too difficult and that they didn’t want the Jobs to be adjusted that much. So from patch 4.2 we started addressing feedback where we were aiming to reduce the stress that players felt when playing their Jobs. And this was our policy for the team at that time. We were focusing on making the Jobs more casual, so that they weren’t too difficult to play with.”

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Square Enix

Players have definitely noticed the lean towards a more casual feel for Jobs over the course of Endwalker. For example, Summoner was streamlined for ease of use. But now that the Jobs have a solid base to work from, Yoshida intends to work on making each Job distinct.

“So if you’re wondering whether this policy will continue on endlessly,” he says, “I made the decision with patch 7.0 that we would be stopping it here. From here on we are not going to be making the jobs more casual, we are focusing more on restoring the sense of job individuality.”

While a lot of gamer feedback can come in the form of complaints and criticism, Yoshida and his team are still excited to receive it, he says, and in particular to see what players will make of their very first steps into Tural.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun / Square Enix

“Compared to previous expansions we’ve incorporated a different vibe and sense of tension. This time it’s quite bright. I first want to see the player’s reactions towards that,” he says. “When the players start the expansion, they will journey to Tural, and then make their first step into Tuliyolal they’ll see that there are many different tribes and peoples living here. We really wanted to create a feeling of a world adventure that was different from anything we’ve done before. Our team put in a lot of effort in order to create this. I’m really looking forward to seeing what sort of reactions the players will have when they start the expansion.”

From what I saw of Dawntrail so far, I feel the team don’t have much to worry about. The build I played had hidden a lot of NPCs for spoiler reasons, but even without them I got a sense of how vibrant Tural is. From the towering architecture of Tuliyolal’s market and docks, to the cosy camp-like structures of Urqopacha, the world of FFXIV feels more alive for me than ever.

While it’s clear a lot of love and attention has been given to the new areas, I’m also curious to see how the updates affect the older parts of Eorzea. Will they eventually get the same touch-ups? Or feel old and tired by comparison? After all, it’s been over a decade since I started playing FFXIV and in the time I’ve definitely picked up a wrinkle or two of my own (I don’t get to have a graphical update). Yet my Warrior of Light continues to hold onto their youthful appearance. I asked Yoshida if the team would ever add aging options. He laughed at me with sympathetic understanding.

“First and foremost, I really do understand that request,” he said. “You can see I myself have some frown lines or smiling lines on my face, and when the light hits those lines, it creates a shadow, and that’s how they stand out. So, when we think about adjusting this in real time, we would need to create polygons, and so that’s why it’s extremely difficult. It’s not like we can just draw lines on.

“Having said that… I think maybe the only possibility we have is to prepare a face type with the wrinkles applied on it… I can say it’s not easy, but I wouldn’t rule it out, I think it could be possible. So, maybe it would be great if you could give me until the next graphical update, and we’ll think about it. Until that time, you can just consider that on Etheirys, there are super skin creams.”

If only I could get a super face cream for myself, but perhaps Dawntrail’s sense of a new beginning will be more than enough.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn - Collector’s Edition

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All 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints and where to get them

These areas have the highest chance of giving you Blueprints

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Looking for more Arc Raiders Blueprints? It’s a special day when you find a Blueprint, as they’re among the most valuable items in Arc Raiders. If you find a Blueprint that you haven’t already found, then you must make sure you hold onto it at all costs, because Blueprints are the key to one of the most important and powerful systems of meta-progression in the game.

This guide aims to be the very best guide on Blueprints you can find, starting with a primer on what exactly they are and how they work in Arc Raiders, before delving into exactly where to get Blueprints and the very best farming spots for you to take in your search.

We’ll also go over how to get Blueprints from other unlikely activities, such as destroying Surveyors and completing specific quests. And you’ll also find the full list of all 75 Blueprints in Arc Raiders on this page (including the newest Blueprints added with the Cold Snap update , such as the Deadline Blueprint and Firework Box Blueprint), giving you all the information you need to expand your own crafting repertoire.

In this guide:

• What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?
• Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes
• Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders Blueprints obtained from quests Blueprints obtained from Trials Best Blueprint farming locations

What are Blueprints in Arc Raiders?

Blueprints in Arc Raiders are special items which, if you manage to extract with them, you can expend to permanently unlock a new crafting recipe in your Workshop. If you manage to extract from a raid with an Anvil Blueprint, for example, you can unlock the ability to craft your very own Anvil Pistol, as many times as you like (as long as you have the crafting materials).

To use a Blueprint, simply open your Inventory while in the lobby, then right-click on the Blueprint and click “Learn And Consume” . This will permanently unlock the recipe for that item in your Workshop. As of the Stella Montis update, there are allegedly 75 different Blueprints to unlock - although only 68 are confirmed to be in the game so far. You can see all the Blueprints you’ve found and unlocked by going to the Workshop menu, and hitting “R” to bring up the Blueprint screen.

It’s possible to find duplicates of past Blueprints you’ve already unlocked. If you find these, then you can either sell them, or - if you like to play with friends - you can take it into a match and gift it to your friend so they can unlock that recipe for themselves. Another option is to keep hold of them until the time comes to donate them to the Expedition.

Full Blueprint list: All crafting recipes

Below is the full list of all the Blueprints that are currently available to find in Arc Raiders, and the crafting recipe required for each item:

Note: The missing Blueprints in this list likely have not actually been added to the game at the time of writing, because none of the playerbase has managed to find any of them. As they are added to the game, I will update this page with the most relevant information so you know exactly how to get all 75 Arc Raiders Blueprints.

Where to find Blueprints in Arc Raiders

Below is a list of all containers, modifiers, and events which maximise your chances of finding Blueprints:

• Certain quests reward you with specific Blueprints .
• Completing Trials has a high chance of offering Blueprints as rewards.
• Surveyors have a decent chance of dropping Blueprints on death.
• High loot value areas tend to have a greater chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Night Raids and Storms may increase rare Blueprint spawn chances in containers.
• Containers with higher numbers of items may have a higher tendency to spawn Blueprints. As a result, Blue Gate (which has many “large” containers containing multiple items) may give you a higher chance of spawning Blueprints.
• Raider containers (Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, Medical Bags, Grenade Tubes) have increased Blueprint drop rates. As a result, the Uncovered Caches event gives you a high chance of finding Blueprints.
• Security Lockers have a higher than average chance of containing Blueprints.
• Certain Blueprints only seem to spawn under specific circumstances: Tempest Blueprint only spawns during Night Raid events. Vulcano Blueprint only spawns during Hidden Bunker events. Jupiter and Equaliser Blueprints only spawn during Harvester events.

Raider Caches, Weapon Boxes, and other raider-oriented container types have a good chance of offering Blueprints. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints have a very low chance of spawning in any container in Arc Raiders, around 1-2% on average. However, there is a higher chance of finding Blueprints in particular container types. Specifically, you can find more Blueprints in Raider containers and security lockers.

Beyond this, if you’re looking for Blueprints you should focus on regions of the map which are marked as having particularly high-value loot. Areas such as the Control Tower in Dam Battlegrounds, the Arrival and Departure Buildings in Spaceport, and Pilgrim’s Peak in Blue Gate all have a better-than-average chance of spawning Blueprints somewhere amongst all their containers. Night Raids and Electromagnetic Storm events also increase the drop chances of certain Blueprints .

In addition to these containers, you can often loot Blueprints from destroyed Surveyors - the largest of the rolling ball ARC. Surveyors are more commonly found on the later maps - Spaceport and Blue Gate - and if one spawns in your match, you’ll likely see it by the blue laser beam that it casts into the sky while “surveying”.

Surveyors are quite well-armoured and will very speedily run away from you once it notices you, but if you can take one down then make sure you loot all its parts for a chance of obtaining certain unusual Blueprints.

Blueprints obtained from quests

One way in which you can get Blueprints is by completing certain quests for the vendors in Speranza. Some quests will reward you with a specific item Blueprint upon completion, so as long as you work through all the quests in Arc Raiders, you are guaranteed those Blueprints.

Here is the full list of all Blueprints you can get from quest rewards:

• Trigger Nade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Sparks Fly”.
• Lure Grenade Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Greasing Her Palms”.
• Burletta Blueprint: Rewarded after completing “Industrial Espionage”.
• Hullcracker Blueprint (and Launcher Ammo Blueprint): Rewarded after completing “The Major’s Footlocker”.

Alas, that’s only 4 Blueprints out of a total of 75 to unlock, so for the vast majority you will need to find them yourself during a raid. If you’re intent on farming Blueprints, then it’s best to equip yourself with cheap gear in case you lose it, but don’t use a free loadout because then you won’t get a safe pocket to stash any new Blueprint you find. No pain in Arc Raiders is sharper than failing to extract with a new Blueprint you’ve been after for a dozen hours already.

One of the best ways to get Blueprints is by hitting three stars on all five Trials every week. |Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blueprints obtained from Trials

One of the very best ways to get Blueprints is as rewards for completing Trials in Arc Raiders. Trials are unlocked from Level 15 onwards, and allow you to earn rewards by focusing on certain tasks over the course of several raids. For example, one Trial might task you with dealing damage to Hornets, while another might challenge you to loot Supply Drops.

Trials refresh on a weekly basis, with a new week bringing five new Trials. Each Trial can offer up to three rewards after passing certain score milestones, and it’s possible to receive very high level loot from these reward crates - including Blueprints. So if you want to unlock as many Blueprints as possible, you should make a point of completing as many Trials as possible each week.

Best Blueprint farming locations

The very best way to get Blueprints is to frequent specific areas of the maps which combine high-tier loot pools with the right types of containers to search. Here are my recommendations for where to find Blueprints on every map, so you can always keep the search going for new crafting recipes to unlock.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Dam Battlegrounds

The best places to farm Blueprints on Dam Battlegrounds are the Control Tower, Power Generation Complex, Ruby Residence, and Pale Apartments . The first two regions, despite only being marked on the map as mid-tier loot, contain a phenomenal number of containers to loot. The Control Tower can also contain a couple of high-tier Security Lockers - though of course, you’ll need to have unlocked the Security Breach skill at the end of the Survival tree.

There’s also a lot of reporting amongst the playerbase that the Residential areas in the top-left of the map - Pale Apartments and Ruby Residence - give you a comparatively strong chance of finding Blueprints. Considering their size, there’s a high density of containers to loot in both locations, and they also have the benefit of being fairly out of the way. So you’re more likely to have all the containers to yourself.

Buried City

The best Blueprint farming locations on Buried City are the Santa Maria Houses, Grandioso Apartments, Town Hall, and the various buildings of the New District . Grandioso Apartments has a lower number of containers than the rest, but a high chance of spawning weapon cases - which have good Blueprint drop rates. The others are high-tier loot areas, with plenty of lootable containers - including Security Lockers.

Spaceport

The best places to find Blueprints on Spaceport are the Arrival and Departure Buildings, as well as Control Tower A6 and the Launch Towers . All these areas are labelled as high-value loot regions, and many of them are also very handily connected to one another by the Spaceport wall, which you can use to quickly run from one area to the next. At the tops of most of these buildings you’ll find at least one Security Locker, so this is an excellent farming route for players looking to find Blueprints.

The downside to looting Blueprints on Spaceport is that all these areas are hotly contested, particularly in Duos and Squads. You’ll need to be very focused and fast in order to complete the full farming route.

Image credit:Rock Paper Shotgun/Embark Studios

Blue Gate

Blue Gate tends to have a good chance of dropping Blueprints, potentially because it generally has a high number of containers which can hold lots of items; so there’s a higher chance of a Blueprint spawning in each container. In my experience, the best Blueprint farming spots on Blue Gate are Pilgrim’s Peak, Raider’s Refuge, the Ancient Fort, and the Underground Complex beneath the Warehouse .

All of these areas contain a wealth of containers to loot. Raider’s Refuge has less to loot, but the majority of the containers in and around the Refuge are raider containers, which have a high chance of containing Blueprints - particularly during major events.

Stella Montis

On the whole, Stella Montis seems to have a very low drop rate for Blueprints (though a high chance of dropping other high-tier loot). If you do want to try farming Blueprints on this map, the best places to find Blueprints in Stella Montis are Medical Research, Assembly Workshop, and the Business Center . These areas have the highest density of containers to loot on the map.

In addition to this, the Western Tunnel has a few different Security Lockers to loot, so while there’s very little to loot elsewhere in this area of the map, it’s worth hitting those Security Lockers if you spawn there at the start of a match.

That wraps up this primer on how to get all the Blueprints in Arc Raiders as quickly as possible. With the Expedition system constantly resetting a large number of players’ Blueprints, it’s more important than ever to have the most up-to-date information on where to find all these Blueprints.

While you’re here, be sure to check out our Arc Raiders best guns tier list , as well as our primers on the best skills to unlock and all the different Field Depot locations on every map.

ARC Raiders

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