FFXIV 7.4: Discover New Cat and Dog Minions
FFXIV Patch 7.4 adds La Noscean Shorthair (cat, 1,000 Silver Pieces) and Gallant Shepherd (dog, 1,600 Gold Pieces) from the Occult Crescent vendor. All five 7.4 minions covered.
By:
John Langan
Key Takeaways
- Patch 7.4 "Into the Mist" (December 16, 2025) introduced two real-animal minions: the La Noscean Shorthair (cat) and the Gallant Shepherd (dog).
- Both are purchased from the Expedition Antiquarian vendor in South Horn, the main hub of the new Occult Crescent exploration zone.
- The La Noscean Shorthair costs 1,000 Enlightenment Silver Pieces; the Gallant Shepherd costs 1,600 Enlightenment Gold Pieces.
- Silver and Gold Pieces are separate, non-interchangeable currencies. Plan which minion to prioritise before spending either down.
- Both are tradable on the Market Board; the Gallant Shepherd commands a higher price due to the slower Gold Piece earn rate.
- The full Patch 7.4 minion set totals five entries, including a dungeon drop, a PvP reward, and a raid drop.
Both minions come from the new Occult Crescent zone and their lore ties them directly to La Noscea's long sailing heritage. Here is everything you need to know to collect them.
La Noscean Shorthair: The Cat
The La Noscean Shorthair is a round-faced, plush grey cat with a green ribbon. The Eorzea Database names the breed as native to Vylbrand and historically valued by sailors as rodent hunters aboard their vessels. The full flavor text reads:
"This variety of feline originating from Vylbrand is identifiable by its plush grey fur, and owing to their talent as rodent hunters, they have long been considered a sailor's best friend. Recently, they have been found inhabiting the Occult Crescent, perhaps the descendants of creatures that arrived aboard grounded vessels."
The tooltip line is "Will hunt rodents for board and lodging."
How to get it: Purchase from the Expedition Antiquarian in South Horn (Occult Crescent) for 1,000 Enlightenment Silver Pieces. Silver Pieces drop from FATEs, Critical Encounters, and zone progression activities inside the Occult Crescent. The La Noscean Shorthair is also tradable on the Market Board.
Gallant Shepherd: The Dog
The Gallant Shepherd is a German Shepherd puppy with a loyal-guard stance and more presence than the compact Shorthair. Its Eorzea Database flavor text reads:
"Since olden times, this robust breed of canine has served men as sheep and guard dogs both, and sailors are known to take them on voyages for protection at ports of call. Recently, they have been found inhabiting the Occult Crescent, perhaps the descendants of creatures that arrived aboard grounded vessels."
The tooltip line is "Courageous and loyal, it does credit to caninekind."
How to get it: Purchase from the Expedition Antiquarian in South Horn (Occult Crescent) for 1,600 Enlightenment Gold Pieces. Gold Pieces are earned by defeating monsters in Occult Crescent field zones. The earn rate runs slower than Silver Pieces, which is reflected in the higher Market Board price on most servers.
✏️ Tip: Gold Pieces drop from monster kills in the Occult Crescent field zones — not from FATEs or Critical Encounters. If you are farming specifically for the Gallant Shepherd, a focused mob-kill route in the deeper field zones is faster than passive zone play. Check community route guides for the current fastest kill loop on your data centre.
Earning Enlightenment Pieces in the Occult Crescent
Both minions require Occult Crescent zone currency. The two types work independently:
- Enlightenment Silver Pieces: earned through FATEs, Critical Encounters, and general zone progression. They accumulate alongside normal zone play without a dedicated farming route.
- Enlightenment Gold Pieces: earned by defeating monsters in the Occult Crescent field zones. The earn rate is lower than Silver, making the 1,600 Gold Piece Gallant Shepherd a longer commitment than the 1,000 Silver Piece Shorthair.
Neither currency converts between types or carries over into other systems. Both minions are tradable on the Market Board, so spending Enlightenment Pieces on other Occult Crescent rewards does not permanently close off the minion route.
📌 Common mistake: Silver and Gold Pieces are separate. Accumulating extra Silver does not count toward the Gold Piece total for the Gallant Shepherd. Decide which minion you are targeting before spending down either currency on other vendor items.
All Patch 7.4 Minions
Beyond the two Occult Crescent vendor minions, Patch 7.4 added three more:
| Minion | Source |
|---|---|
| Mistic Condor | Random drop from Mistwake dungeon (Level 100, unlocked via MSQ "Beyond the Mountains"); tradable on Market Board. Spelling note: "Mistic," not "Mystic." |
| Grooving Green | Drops from AAC Heavyweight M4 (Normal or Savage) |
| G-Warrior MGSD | PvP Series 10, Rank 15 reward; earned through Crystalline Conflict, Frontlines, or Rival Wings |
Players chasing the Mistic Condor can run Mistwake via Duty Support for solo attempts. Those who find the RNG running long can farm Mistwake with a dungeon carry to work through the drop faster.
A sixth minion, Uma-no-unicolt, was available during the Heavensturn 2026 seasonal event (January 2026). That event window has closed. It may return during Heavensturn 2027 if Square Enix carries the reward forward, but there is no confirmed reissue date.
⚠️ Note: Uma-no-unicolt is not currently obtainable. Do not pay inflated Market Board prices for a seasonal minion that may return at no cost during the next Heavensturn cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I buy the La Noscean Shorthair and Gallant Shepherd?
Both are sold by the Expedition Antiquarian in South Horn, the main hub of the Occult Crescent. The La Noscean Shorthair costs 1,000 Enlightenment Silver Pieces; the Gallant Shepherd costs 1,600 Enlightenment Gold Pieces.
Are both minions tradable on the Market Board?
Yes. Both the La Noscean Shorthair and the Gallant Shepherd are tradable items and can be purchased on the Market Board without earning Occult Crescent currency directly.
What is the Occult Crescent?
The Occult Crescent is an open-world exploration zone introduced in Patch 7.4 "Into the Mist." It has its own field zones, a main hub area called South Horn, zone-specific currencies (Enlightenment Silver and Gold Pieces), and a vendor (Expedition Antiquarian) who sells cosmetics and collectibles. Accessing it requires completing the Patch 7.4 main scenario at Level 100.
How do I unlock the Occult Crescent?
The Occult Crescent unlocks through the Patch 7.4 main scenario at Level 100. The "Into the Mist" quest chain introduces the zone and grants access to its FATEs, field zones, and the Expedition Antiquarian vendor.
What is the Mistic Condor and how do I get it?
The Mistic Condor (spelled Mistic, not Mystic) is a rare random drop from the Mistwake dungeon added in Patch 7.4. Mistwake requires Level 100 and an average item level of 735. The dungeon is soloable via Duty Support and has no weekly lockout. The Mistic Condor is also tradable on the Market Board.
Can I still get the Uma-no-unicolt?
No. The Heavensturn 2026 event ended in January 2026. The Uma-no-unicolt may return during Heavensturn 2027 if Square Enix reissues the reward, but there is no confirmed date for that. Avoid paying high Market Board prices for it in the meantime.
What is the Grooving Green minion source?
Grooving Green drops from AAC Heavyweight M4 in either Normal or Savage difficulty. AAC Heavyweight is the Patch 7.4 eight-person raid tier. Normal mode has no lockout on item drops; Savage has a weekly lockout.
Last reviewed 2026-05-29 against Patch 7.4 "Into the Mist". Maintained by WowCarry's FFXIV team.