FFXIV Deep Dungeons Explained

Learn everything there is to know about FFXIV Deep Dungeons—Palace of the Dead, Heaven-on-High, or Eureka Orthos. We’ll tell you all about them.

As we’re preparing for the launch of Dawntrail, many players of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV are looking towards content they can tackle while waiting for the next expansion. If you have only tackled the Raids and Endgame Trials, there is still a lot to do if you want to collect mounts or make some money on the side.

One of those activities is the Deep Dungeons, randomly generated combat challenges that test players’ knowledge of their class and awareness. There are currently different ones in the game and we’ll tell you all about them.

FFXIV Deep Dungeons Explained
First and foremost, what are Deep Dungeons? Deep Dungeons are an activity in Final Fantasy XIV that allows players to challenge randomly generated dungeons full of monsters for loot, EXP, and currency rewards. Up to 4 players challenge 10 floors at a time which close off with a boss fight before a checkpoint.

The goal is to venture as far into the dungeon as possible to obtain rare items and level your equipment, which is upgraded by finding those upgrades in the Deep Dungeon until you make it to the end. Floors have modifiers with different status effects and players will occasionally find Pomanders and other items that will let them either manipulate RNG or fire off abilities to make fights easier.

There are currently 3 Deep Dungeons in the game. The Palace of the Dead, Heaven-on-High, and Eureka Orthos. Which cover most level ranges and are primarily used to level alt Jobs or grind out rewards. Here is a quick rundown of all 3 of them.

Image: Square Enix
Palace of the Dead
The first Deep Dungeon is the Palace of the Dead (PotD) which can be unlocked at level 17 by completing the quest “The House That Death Built” which is found in New Gridania near the Adventurers Guild. The Palace is tied to Edda’s Questline which is part of the Tam-Tara Deepcroft (Hard) Dungeon.

PotD has 200 floors in total, the first 50 and 100 are required to complete its storyline. Players will also unlock a checkpoint at floor 50 which is commonly used to grind the 50-60 floor range for EXP on alt-jobs. Inside the Deep Dungeon players will level their respective jobs from level 1 to level 60 while upgrading armor and weapons while climbing each floor.

You’ll be able to find Accursed Hoard in carrying rareties which can be exchanged for rare goodies at the Expedition Bishop in the South Shroud.

Image: Square Enix
Heaven-on-High
HoH is the second chapter of the Deep Dungeon journey and is functionally pretty similar to the Palace of the Dead. After clearing the first 50 floors of PotD, players can take on the “Knocking on Heaven’s Door” quest in the Ruby Sea by speaking to Hamakaze. Functionally it is similar to PotD in its basics only that players will start at level 61 and can level up until level 70.

This time around character growth is handled by a separate Epyrean Aetherpool which functions identically to its PotD counterpart.

There is a total of 100 floors, the first 20 are required to complete the storyline while floors 21 to 30 are recommended to grind for experience points. The big new thing in HoH is Magecide which are summons of room-clearing Primals. These get pretty useful in the big rooms.

Just like in PotD, players can turn their Aetherpool Gear into equipment (for glamour) and find Accursed Hoard which can be exchanged for rewards.

Image: Square Enix
Eureka Orthos
The newest Deep Dungeon is Eureka Orthos which was added with the Endwalker Expansion. Here you can level from level 81 to 90. Just like HoH, there are 100 floors, the first 30 are required to clear to complete the storyline and you’ll be able to start climbing from floor 21 onwards once you clear it.

It is unlocked by taking on the “Devle into Myth” quest in Mor Dhona by talking to Koh Rabntah. You’re only required to have completed the “Endwalker” Main Scenario Quest and finished at least floor 50 of the Palace of the Dead.

Just like the other ones, you’ll have to upgrade Aetherpool equipment for a fighting chance at higher floors. You’ll also be able to collect Accursed Hoard which can then be turned in for rewards.

Eureka Orthos is widely regarded as the easiest Deep Dungeon to date. One of the reasons is the summonable Democlones which are AI companions that’ll help the player in clearing out floors. Other than that it relies a lot on the same mechanics you’ll find in previous versions of this content.

Deep Dungeon Tips
But we let you go on your dungeon-delving adventures, we have some tips for you which should be universal to all three of them:

Use your Pomanders/Protomanders – It is incredible how many players refuse to use Pomanders unless they are up against a wall. During a single run, you’ll find more than enough to keep using them. Some of the stronger ones should be kept up to the higher floors but if you have them, use them. They’ll make your life easier and you’ll always get more.
Red Mage, Machinist, Summoner, and White Mage are Broken – If you’re going for a full clear, we recommend using RDM, MCH, SMN, WAR or WHM. Three of them are incredibly self-sustainable while offering utility to the party and the other has a gun and is extremely mobile fo their DPS output.
Sometimes RNG just sucks – Because everything is randomly generated, there is a chance you’ll find yourself on the short end of the stick in any of the Deep Dungeons. One trap or mimic can spell the end for a perfect run. But don’t let that discourage you. Keep at it and you’ll will get that Necromancer title eventually.

And that’s all we have on Deep Dungeons. For more on the critically acclaimed MMORPG, check out our other content such as everything you need to know about the upcoming Dawntrail Expansion, the returning FFXV Collaboration Event and what you need to know about Treasure Maps.

Has once claimed that FSH is the only job in FFXIV worth playing and stands by that firmly. Top Guy, Smart Guy, Educated Speaker. (sometimes)
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