FFXIV Maps and Treasure Dungeons Explained

Here are FFXIV Maps and Treasure Dungeons Explained. Learn everything about Maps, how to run them, and how to make money off them.

Maps are an important part of Final Fantasy XIV believe it or not. They are an excellent social activity for anyone who wants to earn some money or tomestones. But if you're new to the world of Final Fantasy XIV you've probably never heard of them. They are kind of an open secret in the community as they are unlocked fairly early on in a Realm Reborn a map no one ever revisits after that whole Titan business.

So we are gonna tell you what you need to do to unlock them and how you can use them to make some money on top.

FFXIV Maps and Treasure Dungeons

Treasure Maps have been in Final Fantasy XIV since the 2.1 patch and get expanded upon almost every other patch. If you wonder where the materials for all the cool glamour come from, it's maps. While the ARR ones are nothing worth talking about, the later ones found in Heavensward and Onwards are.

The ones for 8-man parties will give you access to special treasure dungeons that'll have unique loot exclusive to them. This is why it's also worth doing them way after an expansion has wrapped as those items tend to shoot up in value after a while.

FFXIV Unlock Maps

To unlock Treasure Hunts, you'll need to complete the quest Treasures and Tribulations. You can pick that one up by talking to H'loonh in Eastern La Noscea. After completing the quest you'll gain access to the Decipher and the Dig Ability which will allow you to decipher maps and dig for treasures at the indicated spot.

FFXIV How to Find Maps

Treasure Maps can usually be found by Gatherers on high-level gathering nodes. Normally at the 50/60/70/80/90 intervals. There are those for one player and those for groups. Players usually go for the ones for groups since you can only gather one map every 14 hours and the loot for the solo player ones is rarely worth going after.

Opening one of these maps below will give you a chance to spawn a portal which will lead you to a special treasure dungeon. Here are the maps you can find and what dungeons they lead to:

• (Lv. 60) Timeworn Dragonskin Map > The Aquapolis
• (Lv. 70) Timeworn Gazelleskin Map > The Lost Canals of Uznair / The Shifting Altars of Uznair
• (Lv. 70) Timeworn Thief's Map > The Hidden Canals of Uznair
• (Lv. 80) Timeworn Zonureskin Map > The Dungeons of Lyhe Ghiah / The Shifting Oubliettes of Lyhe Ghiah
• (Lv. 90) Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Map > The Excitatron 6000
• (Lv. 90) Timeworn Ophiotauroskin Map > The Shifting Gymnasion Agonon

FFXIV Treasure Dungeons

While they look different from each other, Treasure Dungeons in FFXIV are largely the same. Clear out a preset group of enemies/bosses and pick a door/spin the wheel to continue. In between those bouts, you have occasional minigames like the one where you have to bet for higher rewards or pick the right door to continue.

First, let's bust a bubble here. The moment you enter one of the Treasure Dungeons, the game has already rolled the dice whether you make it through or not. There is no RNG at play here, and you are allowed to curse Naoki Yoshida and his band of developers for screwing you over yet again.

Map Partyfinder Etiquette

And here is a quick note on how to run a party for maps successfully. In FFXIV it is common for at least western servers to make Free For All parties for maps. This means every player is allowed to roll on every item no matter the map. If you post or join a party, it is expected that you bring 3 maps with you.

You can only carry one so Decipher one, keep one in your inventory, and one in your Chocobo Sattlebag. Players post the location of their map in party chat (CTRL+Right Click on PC) and the leader calls out the order of maps. Usually, you stay until everyone is out of maps but no one will rip your head off if you have to leave early.

Last but not least, it might say on the tin that you need an 8-player group to complete these dungeons but a coordinated team has enough time to clear them out with 2-3 players pretty easily. Loot is dispersed individually except for the special treasures so there is no scaling you have to worry about.

And that's all we got on FFXIV Maps. For more on the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV check out our Lore and Theories for Dawntrail, our summary of the Fan Fest Japan Keynote, and learn everything you need to know about the upcoming FFXVI Collaboration Event.