FFXIV Guide: 13 Routes in Merchant's Tail Variant Mode

Exploring the Variant Routes in Merchant's Tail

Embarking on the journey through the 13 variant routes in Merchant's Tail offers a unique experience with each path bringing its own set of challenges and decisions. Below, we delve into how specific actions within the game influence the outcomes and notes you receive upon completion.

Left Side Residential Paths

1. Route Number One: Begin by heading down the left residential path. At the first crossroads with a fruit tree, choose the right side to follow the fruit. After defeating the first boss and clearing the trash pack, you'll find a damaged fence on the right. Interacting with it creates a path down a muddy embankment. Follow this path, find the nest under attack by a wind sprite, and defeat the sprite to save the baby chicks. This action impacts the subsequent boss mechanics.
2. Route Number Two: Similar to route one, start on the left residential path and follow the muddy embankment path. Upon reaching the sprite's nest, allow it to steal the fruit and continue onwards. This choice alters the final boss's mechanics.
3. Route Number Three: Initially, veer the other way at the fruit tree to engage with a genie boss in a cave. When encountering the airy wisps, lure their attacks to destroy a cracked barricade, unveiling a new path. Completing this trek grants access to route three in your journal.
4. Route Number Four: Follow the fruit at the initial decision. Post-first boss, traverse through the clearing without interacting with the damaged fence. Deal with the sprites in the open and proceed to finish the boss.

Right Side Market Paths

1. Route Number Five: Choose the right market path and, after the first boss, opt for the seaweed direction. You'll encounter a 'goooo' monster surrounded by gemstone piles. Let it consume the gems to modify the final boss's abilities.
2. Route Number Six: Retrace the market path, choosing seaweed. This time avoid feeding the 'goooo' any gemstones by pulling it onto a bridge before encountering a message in a bottle, which you must read to complete the path.
3. Route Number Seven: Post-first boss, walk along the beach, encountering various monsters until reaching a giant conch shell. Blowing the conch triggers environmental changes impacting the final boss.
4. Route Number Eight: Again, stay on the beach path, but abstain from interacting with the conch shell to complete this route.

Middle Gate Paths

1. Route Number Nine: At the pathway split, take the right mushroom path. Inside, engage a large golem and activate three magnetic rocks using a blue AoE to transform them, leading to additional mechanics for the final boss. Success here also yields a book with clues for a cryptic secret boss.

Route Decision Chart

Mastering the decision-making process on each path is crucial to uncovering all the secrets and variations the Merchant's Tail offers. Each choice not only paves a different route but adds layers of strategy when confronting final bosses.

Navigating Routes 10 to 13

Navigating through the final paths of the Merchant's Tail offers a range of challenges and unique experiences. Understanding how each decision affects the outcome is crucial to mastering the game's variant mode.

1. Route 10: Mushroom Cave
   • Choose the mushroom cave path.
   • Defeat the golem without letting it affect any magnetic rocks. Make sure no rocks glow.
   • Complete the route by defeating the final boss.
2. Route 11: Floating Rocks
   • Head straight through the middle and select the floating rocks path.
   • Activate all three giant rocks by standing near them until they change color.
   • Defeat the final boss with the rocks activated to conclude this route.
3. Route 12: Passive Floating Rocks
   • Again, choose the floating rock path, but avoid engaging with the rocks.
   • Follow through to the final boss without any additional tasks for an uneventful completion.
4. Route 13: The Secret Boss
   • Opt for the market path and take the seaweed route.
   • Use the secret lore from Route 9 to unlock the altar by performing specific actions.
   • Complete the melody puzzle to reveal a bridge leading to the secret boss.
   • Success here not only grants titles and achievements but also unlocks a special follow-up quest.

Rewards and Reflections

Upon completing all 13 routes, players are rewarded with the title "Professional Protagonist" and an achievement unlocked with special facewear as a reward. While these face masks come in various colors and can be mixed with other headgear, they have received mixed reviews. Some players feel that the absence of a mount, which previously served as a motivational reward, diminishes the incentive for completing all routes. Many might opt to purchase items from the market board rather than pursue all paths.

In summary, while the journey through all routes offers complexities and hidden experiences, the end rewards might not fully satiate those who enjoyed collecting unique mounts in the past. Your personal preference will determine if these new facewear items are worth the effort.