Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale dungeon is a new variant dungeon available in Patch 7.45. This instance is full of challenges, rewards, and adventures. In this guide, we will tell you how to unlock FF14 The Merchant’s Tale, which rewards you can get, and even optimal routes for easy completion.
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale Key Takeaways:
- Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale is a Variant Dungeon added in Patch 7.45.
- The dungeon has 13 routes, including one secret path.
- You unlock it through A Spellbinding Read in Old Sharlayan.
- Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale supports solo play and scales to party size.
- Most routes change through small choices, object interactions, or puzzle mechanics.
- The secret route leads to Deadly Dandan, a hidden boss with its own rewards.
- Main rewards include Corvosi Potsherds, Triple Triad cards, minions, and housing items.
- This dungeon is worth farming for collectibles, achievements, and full route completion.
4.9What Is Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale?
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale is a Variant Dungeon introduced by Patch 7.45. You will be taken into a fairy tale world created by Corvosi, where you’ll be traveling alongside Y’nazqha, exploring various renditions of the same tale. As opposed to playing dungeons once, this variant dungeon involves multiple clears, various routes, and even secret endings.
| Level | 90 |
|---|---|
| Item Level | 0 |
| Difficulty | Normal |
| Party Size | Flexible (1–4 man) |
| Unsuncing | Not Allowed |
| Time Limit | 90 Minutes |
| Phoenix Down | Available |
| Duty Finder | V&C Dungeon Finder |
| Tomestones | 40 Allagan Tomestone of Mathematics, 25 Allagan Tomestone of Mnemonics |
| Req. Quest | A Spellbinding Read |
| Entrance | The Maiden’s Home (X:6.0, Y:5.9) |
That being said, The Merchant’s Tale dungeon is one of the most popular instances in the current patch. The additional benefit of the dungeon is a chance to get a rare mount, so you should head there yourself or ask our team for assistance and test your luck!
How FFXIV The Merchant’s Tale Works
In Final Fantasy 14, Variant Dungeons are flexible dungeons designed for up to four people but also suitable for solo quests. The enemies in these dungeons scale according to your team size, meaning that you can participate in such an adventure both alone and in groups of any size. What does it come down to? Making choices along the way.
There are a lot of routes for The Merchant’s Tale, but you won’t be able to change some things. The paths available depend on the choices you make, the objects and obstacles you interact with, and the particular game mechanics used throughout the adventure. Sometimes, all you need to do is choose another path, and you will end up in an entirely new situation.
How To Unlock Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale
Accessing Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale is pretty straightforward after you find out how to get started on it. This Variant Dungeon can be accessed through a side quest in the area known as Old Sharlayan, without having to finish prior Variant Dungeons. Should you already be done with the necessary Main Scenario quest stage, getting to this variant becomes rather quick and effortless.
To unlock Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale, you need:
- Complete the Main Scenario quest Endwalker;
- Have a Disciple of War or Magic at level 90 or higher;
- Accept the quest A Spellbinding Read;
- Speak with Shallow Moor in Old Sharlayan (X:12.0, Y:13.3).
You begin the unlock quest A Spellbinding Read in Old Sharlayan (X:12.0, Y:13.3). The quest giver is Shallow Moor, and finishing that quest opens Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale along with its Corvosi Folklore Record. From there, you can start working through the different routes and endings right away. You also need your Main Job to be high-level to do this, and our team can take care of it.
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale Rewards
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale utilizes individual loot, which means that all players will have to use their personal coffers. In addition, there is an option to obtain extra rewards in the form of a personal spoils coffer during the battle against the final boss, provided that the party opts for the default route suggested by Y’nazqha.
| Source | Main Rewards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Genie of the Lamp | Corvosi Potsherd, Corvosi Parasol, Imitation Corvosi Shisha, Magic Lamp | Early boss on left and right paths; good source for furniture and one minion |
| Rukhkh | Corvosi Potsherd, Corvosi Sofa, Little Mermaid | Early boss on left and middle paths; can drop the Little Mermaid minion |
| Pari of Plenty | Corvosi Potsherd x2, Pari of Plenty Card | Final boss for left-side routes |
| Lone Swordmaster | Corvosi Potsherd x2, Lone Swordmaster Card | Final boss for middle routes |
| Darya the Sea-maid | Corvosi Potsherd x2, Darya the Sea-maid Card, Little Mermaid | Final boss for standard right-side routes |
| Deadly Dandan | Corvosi Potsherd x2, Deadly Dandan Card | Secret route boss |
| Personal Spoils Coffers | Magicked Prism (Ribbons), Corvosi Parasol, Corvosi Crystal, Corvosi Fan, Corvosi Sofa, Green Corvosi Carpet, Imitation Corvosi Shisha, Purple Corvosi Carpet, Little Mermaid, Magic Lamp | Each player loots their own coffer; bonus coffer can appear on the recommended path |
Secret Route Rewards
If you unlock the secret path and defeat Deadly Dandan, you get:
- Corvosi Potsherd x2;
- Deadly Dandan Card;
- progress toward the achievement The Strife Aquatic.
The bigger long-term reward is tied to full route completion. If you unlock all 13 folklore records in Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale, you earn the achievement A Storied Collection, which rewards the cosmetic item Comfortable Eye Mask.
Mounts, Glamour, Orchestrion, And Other Collectibles
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale does not seem to feature a mount in its base reward pool. The main collectible rewards are minions, furniture, cards, and one achievement cosmetic instead. Based on the listed drops, the items worth watching for are:
- Magic Lamp minion;
- Little Mermaid minion;
- Pari of Plenty Card;
- Lone Swordmaster Card;
- Darya the Sea-maid Card;
- Deadly Dandan Card;
- Corvosi Parasol;
- Corvosi Sofa;
- Imitation Corvosi Shisha;
- Green Corvosi Carpet and Purple Corvosi Carpet;
- Corvosi Crystal and Corvosi Fan;
- Comfortable Eye Mask from unlocking all folklore records.
By the way, you can accompany these rewards with a 2B Set from our team. It will allow you to make a perfect look for all your adventures.
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale All Routes
This is the central element of the Final Fantasy XIV The Merchant’s Tale dungeons. This dungeon features 13 routes, each derived from a unique pathway taken within the dungeon. The best method for dealing with this dungeon would be to do one route at a time and make sure that everything is noted, since one wrong move could alter the ending.
Route 1
In Route 1, the Corvosi Folklore Record “A Land of Abundance” is unlocked. After defeating the first boss in the run, continue running forward until you encounter a Damaged Fence. Then, interact with the fence and follow the new route opened up rather than the initial one.
Further along the run, there will be a bird’s nest where some chicks will be. Wait nearby for a green Willful Wind to appear and strike it to provoke its powerful attack. Following this, proceed with your run normally and end by killing the Pari of Plenty.
Route 2
Route 2 triggers the Corvosi Folklore Record “A Carpet Soars” in the same manner as Route 1. You will have to defeat the boss after entering the area before making your way to the birds’ nest with the babies in it.
The main difference occurs when you reach the nest event itself. You must refrain from attacking the green Willful Wind to let it take the apple from the nest. After that, continue your journey and defeat Pari of Plenty.
Route 3
Route 3 requires the completion of the Corvosi Folklore Record “A Foe of Flame.” Once the first boss is beaten, turn back toward the section where the Damaged Fence is located, but skip the area past the fence and continue along the main road to the gate. Further down, you will encounter Airy Wisps next to a falling white fence to the left of the massive doors.
What you have to do here is position yourself near the white fence, allowing the Wisps to cast the Ancient Aero on your character, who currently has aggro. This attack hits players in line and, when finished, destroys the fence, creating an opening. Then, defeat the Wisps, pass through the newly opened section, and beat Pari of Plenty at the end.
Route 4
Route 4 opens up the Corvosi Folklore Record “Fragrant Fruits.” This route should be performed in the same fashion as Route 3. Once the first boss encounter is cleared, head towards the Damaged Fence. However, rather than interacting with this puzzle, you can just proceed forward from the main gate.
In the location containing the Airy Wisps, avoid breaking the white fence using their Ancient Aero spell. You simply need to kill them and stick to the main route. Once you’ve done this, defeat the boss known as Pari of Plenty to complete your run. This route is relatively easy with the BiS Gear Set, and our team can get it for you fast.
Route 5
Path 5 opens the Corvosi Folklore Record “The Sunlit Expanse.” At the beginning of the dungeon, take the Market path. At the point where the game offers you to follow the beach or the seaweed path, select “The seaweed won’t steer us wrong.”
Later on, you’ll encounter a purple Goobbue with some colorful stones lying around. Send the player who has aggro against the mob and let its Inhale cone consume all piles of stones. Kill the mob afterward, then proceed further without picking up the Letter in a Bottle and defeating Darya the Sea-maid at the end of the dungeon.
Route 5 is among those paths where your positioning is more important than your DPS. Missing even a single pile of stones would fail you in the dungeon.
Route 6
To access the Corvosi Folklore Record “Treasure at the Ocean’s Floor,” take Route 6. Begin your journey on the Market route and select “The seaweed won’t steer us wrong.” At the purple Goobbue stage, beat it using a completely opposite strategy from the one used for Route 5.
In this case, the character with aggro needs to move Goobbue away from the colorful stones so that it does not get sucked up during Inhale. Then kill the monster and go along with the route until you beat Darya the Sea-maid.
Route 7
Unlock Route 7 for the Corvosi Folklore Record “Ruler of the Radiant Sea.” Follow the Market route again, only this time pick the option “I’d fancy a stroll on the beach,” which will take you to the other side of the map instead of following the seaweed route.
After progressing further along the way, locate the Giant Conch Shell and speak to it prior to going to the boss area. After that, finish up with the run by defeating the boss Darya the Sea-maid.
Route 8
To trigger Route 8, you need to unlock the Corvosi Folklore Record “A Friend to the End.” First, begin your adventure from the Market route and pick “I’d fancy a stroll on the beach” option. You will recognize the path from Route 7 as it looks nearly identical.
The catch here is quite simple; once you get to the Giant Conch Shell location, you should avoid clicking on it. Instead, stick to the path, proceed to the final encounter point, and beat Darya the Sea-maid there. With Phantom Weapons from our pro players, it can be a piece of cake.
Route 9
Route 9 grants access to the Corvosi Folklore Record called “A Fish in Hot Water.” As soon as you enter the dungeon, select the route that will take you to the Treasure Vault and not the Market. Afterward, follow the trail until you reach the area with floating platforms and Wandering Whirlwisp.
For reaching the correct route, it is essential to use the mechanism of the Whirlwisp character to pass safely and then proceed with the trail as you usually would. Be aware of any environmental interaction, as the movement triggers are getting more significant in this part than in previous branches.
Route 10
Route 10 grants access to Corvosi’s Folklore Record “The Sleeping Stones.” Simply repeat the Treasure Vault route starting from where you have taken off, but choose another branch of the maze similar to the one in Route 9. You already know how important small things can be.
In Route 10, you will use the Mushroom Passage and kill the golem as quickly as possible. Avoid any AoE attacks so that no magnetized rocks will come into play and get activated in the process. Next, you should proceed further and beat Goldie the Gilded.
Route 11
By using Route 11, you will be able to open up the Corvosi Folklore Record “Treasures of the Vault.” Revisit the Treasure Vault area once again, only this time take the route leading to the Floating Rocks rather than the Mushroom route.
In order to find the right route to go through, approach each of the three large floating rocks individually and wait for them to light up. After successfully completing this, defeat the enemies around, continue on the path, and eliminate Goldie the Gilded.
Route 12
Take route 12 to access the Corvosi Folklore Record “In a Harsh Nature.” Take the Treasure Vault route, and when you get to the intersection, take the fork for “Floating rocks deserve a second glance.” This will be the same fork as for route 11, but in reverse order.
Once the enemies spawn near the platforms, make sure to slay them off the giant rocks. Avoid leading any mobs onto these rocks, and avoid changing their colors. Then finish the run and kill The Lone Swordmaster.
Route 13
Taking the route called “The Eye of the Beholder” will give you access to the Corvosi folklore record in Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale. It is the hidden route in the game, and it features its own special boss, unlike the Market one. In order to take it, first select the Market route and select “The seaweed won’t steer us wrong.”
Continue until you get to the Tangled Seaweed Barrier. Do not interact with the barrier. Then, go to the round platform on the right and execute the action /bow. You should then write “I am returned!” in say chat.
✏️ The next step is putting your character on the following symbols: Coral → Conch → Starfish → Pearl. If everything went correctly, there should be music playing. Then continue along that road to beat Deadly Dandan.
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale FAQ
Here’s a comprehensive FAQ section that answers all the popular questions related to Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale dungeon.
How Many Routes Are in Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale?
Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale contains 13 routes altogether. The majority of them are made at the cost of small path variations, object collisions, or puzzle selections during the run, and the final is the secret trail.
How to Unlock the Secret Boss in Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale?
To unlock the secret boss in Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale, take the Market route, choose the seaweed option, and ignore the Tangled Seaweed Barrier. Then use /bow on the round platform, type “I am returned!” in say chat, and step on the symbols in the correct order to open the hidden path to Deadly Dandan.
Can You Solo Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale?
Yes, you can solo Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale. Similar to other Variant Dungeons, it accommodates 1-4 players, and enemy difficulty increases with party size, thus the solo clears are not part of the niche challenge run but a normal design element.
What Rewards Drop From Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale?
Corvosi Potsherds, Triple Triad cards, minions, and housing items are the most common rewards in Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale. Among the most significant are Magic Lamp and Little Mermaid minions, boss cards such as Deadly Dandan Card, and furniture such as the Corvosi Sofa, Corvosi Parasol, and the Imitation Corvosi Shisha.
Is Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant’s Tale Worth Farming?
Yes, Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant Tale is good for farming, especially if you enjoy collecting, completing routes, and repeatable side quests. It is not truly an all-gear farm, but it is reasonably priced to players pursuing all 13 records, cosmetic rewards, personal loot coffers, and the achievement reward that comes with completing the whole route.
4.9To sum up, Final Fantasy 14 The Merchant Tale brings another challenge to the game, but this time, with bright design and a fancy environment. Within this dungeon, you can test your skills and get rewards, which will serve you well. Additionally, there are many route options, so each run can provide you new experience.
