The Merchant's Tale: FFXIV Dawntrail Variant Dungeon Guide

The Merchant's Tale: Final Fantasy XIV's Storybook Dungeon

The Merchant's Tale is the Variant and Criterion dungeon for Dawntrail, added to Final Fantasy XIV in Patch 7.45. It wraps its encounters in a fairy-tale storybook frame, and instead of a single fixed path it branches across 13 routes, each one a different chapter of the tale. Which bosses and mechanics you face depends on the choices you make as you go.

This guide covers what the dungeon is, how its three modes differ, how the branching routes work, the bosses you can meet, and the reward structure, including the no-mount change that drew the most community attention.

Key Takeaways

• The Merchant's Tale branches mid-run, so the bosses and mechanics you face change with the choices you make, and no two clears play the same.
• The Variant mode is level 90 content; the Advanced and Criterion modes are level 100.
• The dungeon has 13 routes across four groups: Residential, Market, Gate, and one Secret route.
• The secret boss, Deadly Dandan, is reached only through the thirteenth Corvosi Folklore Record.
• Clearing all 13 routes earns the achievement "A Storied Collection" and the Comfortable Eye Mask facewear.
• Unlike the three earlier variant dungeons, The Merchant's Tale gives no mount reward, which prompted player pushback.

The sections below start with how the three modes differ, then move through the routes, bosses, and rewards.

Three Modes: Variant, Advanced, and Criterion

The Merchant's Tale runs in three distinct modes, and they are separate content with separate reward currencies.

1. The Merchant's Tale (Variant) is the standard mode, playable solo or in a party of up to four. It is level 90 content and is where the branching routes live.
2. The Merchant's Tale (Advanced) is the level 100 version, condensed into a fixed three-boss run for a quicker clear once you know the dungeon.
3. Another Merchant's Tale (Criterion) is the fixed four-player hard mode at level 100, with its own Criterion Savage difficulty layered on top for the toughest challenge.

The Variant mode is the one most players spend time in, since it holds the routes and the storybook collection. Criterion is the small-group challenge content that tests coordination rather than route exploration, and a fixed four-player team is the usual way to approach it. Groups that want a guaranteed clear of Another Merchant's Tale can book a Criterion dungeon run with a coordinated team.

How the 13 Routes and Branching Work

The Variant mode is built around 13 routes, made up of twelve standard paths and one hidden route. They fall into four groups: the Residential routes, the Market routes, the Gate routes, and the single Secret route that closes out the collection.

Branching is the heart of the dungeon. As you move through The Merchant's Tale, you reach points where an action, an interaction, or a path choice sends the story in a different direction. Those choices change which boss you fight and which mechanics that boss uses, so two runs of the same dungeon can look completely different. Each completed route is recorded as a Corvosi Folklore Record, and the goal for collectors is to gather all 13. Icy Veins' Merchant's Tale route guide documents the branch points for each one.

📌 A common mistake is treating The Merchant's Tale like a normal dungeon and pushing straight for the exit. The routes only open up if you explore and interact with the storybook world, so slow down and check what each area lets you do.

The Bosses of The Merchant's Tale

Because the routes branch, the dungeon has a roster of bosses rather than a fixed three. Across the routes you can face the Genie of the Lamp, Rukhkh, Pari of Plenty, Darya the Sea-maid, and The Lone Swordmaster, each tied to a different chapter of the tale. The Genie of the Lamp is the clearest expression of the dungeon's Arabian-Nights styling.

The thirteenth route hides the dungeon's secret boss, Deadly Dandan. Reaching it requires the final Corvosi Folklore Record, "The Eye of the Beholder," so the secret fight is genuinely the last thing most players unlock. The Arabian-Nights styling runs through the whole boss list, which is part of what gives the dungeon its distinct identity among Final Fantasy XIV's duty content.

Rewards, Corvosi Currency, and the No-Mount Change

Running The Merchant's Tale pays out in Corvosi-themed currency: Corvosi Potsherds from the Variant mode, Corvosi Brass from Advanced, and Corvosi Manuscripts from Criterion. You exchange these with the NPC Trisassant for the dungeon's glamour and housing rewards.

Completing all 13 Corvosi Folklore Records earns the achievement "A Storied Collection" and its reward, a fashion accessory called "The Faces We Wear - Comfortable Eye Mask." That is the part that drew criticism. The three previous variant dungeons, the Sil'dihn Subterrane, Mount Rokkon, and Aloalo Island, all gave a mount for full completion. The Merchant's Tale does not, and a thread on the official Square Enix forums collected player complaints about the change. The shift away from a mount reward is the dungeon's most-discussed feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Merchant's Tale in Final Fantasy XIV?

The Merchant's Tale is the Variant and Criterion dungeon for the Dawntrail expansion, added in Patch 7.45. It has a storybook theme and branches across 13 routes instead of following one fixed path.

What level do I need for The Merchant's Tale?

The standard Variant mode is level 90 content. The Advanced and Criterion modes, including Another Merchant's Tale, are level 100.

How many routes does The Merchant's Tale have?

It has 13 routes: twelve standard paths grouped into Residential, Market, and Gate sets, plus one Secret route. Each completed route is logged as a Corvosi Folklore Record.

Who is the secret boss?

The secret boss is Deadly Dandan, found on the thirteenth route. You reach it only by earning the final Corvosi Folklore Record, "The Eye of the Beholder."

Does The Merchant's Tale give a mount?

No. Unlike the Sil'dihn Subterrane, Mount Rokkon, and Aloalo Island, The Merchant's Tale does not award a mount for full completion. The reward is the Comfortable Eye Mask facewear, and the change drew player pushback.

What do I get for clearing all 13 routes?

Collecting all 13 Corvosi Folklore Records earns the achievement "A Storied Collection" and the fashion accessory "The Faces We Wear - Comfortable Eye Mask."

What currency does the dungeon use?

The Merchant's Tale uses Corvosi-themed currencies: Corvosi Potsherds from Variant, Corvosi Brass from Advanced, and Corvosi Manuscripts from Criterion. You trade them with the NPC Trisassant.

Maintained by WowCarry's Final Fantasy XIV team. Last reviewed 2026-05-20 against Patch 7.45.