How to Use a Minion in Final Fantasy XIV: A Comprehensive Guide
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Using a minion in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) is a simple and fun way to add personality and flair to your adventuring. To summon a minion, open the Character menu (typically accessed by pressing ‘C’ on the keyboard or through the main menu), navigate to the “Minions” tab, and select the minion you want to summon. Click “Summon” (or its equivalent depending on your platform) and your chosen companion will appear beside you, ready to accompany you on your adventures!
Understanding Minions in FFXIV
Minions are cosmetic companions that follow your character around in the game. They don’t provide any combat benefits or gameplay advantages, but they add a touch of personality to your character and can be quite adorable. Collecting minions is a popular pastime for many FFXIV players.
Obtaining Minions
There are many ways to obtain minions in FFXIV:
- Quest Rewards: Many main story quests, side quests, and beast tribe quests offer minions as rewards.
- Crafting: Some minions can be crafted by players who have leveled up specific crafting jobs.
- Market Board: Players can buy and sell minions on the Market Board using Gil (the in-game currency).
- Dungeon/Raid Drops: Certain minions are rare drops from dungeons and raids.
- Achievement Rewards: Some achievements award unique minions.
- Special Events: Seasonal events and collaborations often offer exclusive minions.
- Mog Station: Some minions are available for purchase on the Mog Station (the game’s online store).
- Treasure Hunts: Occasionally, minions can be found during treasure hunts.
- Gold Saucer: The Gold Saucer offers many minions in exchange for Manderville Gold Saucer Points (MGP).
- Retainer Ventures: Your retainers can sometimes bring back minions as venture rewards.
Summoning and Dismissing Minions
Once you have acquired a minion, summoning and dismissing them is very straightforward.
- Summoning: As previously described, open the Character menu, go to the Minions tab, select your desired minion, and click “Summon.”
- Dismissing: You can dismiss your current minion by either summoning a different minion (which will automatically dismiss the previous one) or by using the “/minion off” text command in the chat window. You can also access the minion menu and select “Dismiss”.
Minion Interactions
While minions don’t actively participate in combat, they often have unique interactions with the environment, other players, and even other minions. Pay attention to their animations and reactions – they can be quite amusing! Some minions even react differently depending on the location or time of day.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about minions in FFXIV:
1. How many minions can I have out at once?
You can only have one minion summoned at a time. Summoning a new minion will automatically dismiss the current one.
2. Do minions provide any combat bonuses?
No, minions are purely cosmetic and offer no combat advantages. They are simply companions that follow you around.
3. Can minions be attacked or killed?
Minions cannot be attacked or killed by enemies. They are invulnerable.
4. Can I use minions in dungeons or raids?
Yes, you can summon minions in most dungeons and raids, although they might occasionally clip through walls or disappear temporarily in certain areas.
5. How do I obtain rare minions?
Rare minions often require more effort to obtain. This can involve completing challenging content, such as high-level raids, participating in rare treasure hunts, or winning them through the Gold Saucer. Keep an eye on limited-time events as well.
6. Can I trade minions with other players?
Most minions are not tradeable. However, some minions obtained through crafting or the Market Board can be bought and sold. Pay attention to whether the item is marked as “Untradable” or “Bind on Acquire”.
7. What is the best way to collect all the minions?
There is no single “best” way, but a combination of methods is recommended:
- Complete all available quests, including side quests and beast tribe quests.
- Level up crafting jobs to craft minions.
- Farm dungeons and raids for minion drops.
- Participate in events and earn event-exclusive minions.
- Visit the Gold Saucer and exchange MGP for minions.
- Check the Market Board for affordable minions.
8. What does “Bind on Acquire” mean for minions?
“Bind on Acquire” means that once you obtain the minion, it becomes permanently bound to your character and cannot be traded or sold.
9. Where can I see a list of all available minions?
You can see a list of all the minions you have acquired in the Minions tab of the Character menu. Comprehensive lists of all minions and how to obtain them can also be found on various FFXIV fan websites and wikis.
10. Do minions have any impact on my character’s performance?
No, minions have absolutely no impact on your character’s performance, stats, or abilities.
11. Can my retainer bring back minions as venture rewards?
Yes, your retainers can sometimes bring back minions as venture rewards, particularly when sent on longer, higher-level ventures.
12. How often does the Gold Saucer add new minions?
The Gold Saucer’s prize pool is updated periodically, although there is no fixed schedule. Keep an eye on game updates and announcements for new additions.
13. Are there any minions related to specific classes or jobs?
Yes, some minions are thematically linked to specific classes or jobs, reflecting their appearance or lore. These are often obtained through job-related quests or crafting recipes.
14. Can I use a macro to summon a random minion?
Yes, you can create a macro to summon a random minion from your collection. A simple macro would look something like this:
/micon "Wind-up Warrior of Light" minion /minion "<random>"
Replace "Wind-up Warrior of Light" with the name of one of your minions (this sets the icon). This macro will summon a random minion each time you use it.
15. Why does my minion disappear sometimes?
Minions can disappear for several reasons:
- Entering certain cutscenes or instanced areas where minions are temporarily disabled.
- Mounting a mount: Most mounts will automatically dismiss your minion.
- Switching zones in some instances where the minion’s programming doesn’t allow it to follow you immediately.
- Environmental factors: Some minions might temporarily hide during weather effects or in specific locations.
By understanding these aspects of minions in FFXIV, you can enhance your gameplay experience and enjoy collecting these charming companions. Happy adventuring!