The Aery is a level 55 dungeon in Final Fantasy 14: Heavensward. After the defeat of Tioman, Nidhogg has retreated to the Aery, strengthening the defenses around his lair. With the help of Cid and Estinien, you'll need to breach the Aery and put an end to the Dragonsong War.
As expected of a lair of dragons, you'll be fighting mainly dragons in this dungeon. Be on the lookout for lots of AoEs and dragon minions as you progress through Nidogg's lair. Let's take a look at each boss of the Aery, their attacks and mechanics, and how to beat them.
Updated September 6, 2022: With the release of patch 6.2, the Gyascutus and Nidhogg boss fights have been completely reworked. We've updated this guide to reflect this new information on these bosses' attacks and mechanics.
How To Unlock The Aery
This dungeon is unlocked through the following main story quest.
- Accept the Main Scenario Quest 'Into the Aery'
- NPC Location: Estinien - Foundation (X:13.3, Y:11.0)
Dungeon Walkthrough
The layout of the Aery is relatively simple, just follow the path and defeat each group of enemies as you come across them. Remember to only pull multiple groups of enemies together if both the Tank and Healer are capable and comfortable with doing so.
Right before the final boss, you will enter a large room where small dragons will repeatedly spawn and charge toward you. Group these up and defeat them with AoE attacks before proceeding.
Rangda
The first boss of the Aery is Rangda. There are several pillars around the edge of the arena that you should make note of for a mechanic later. Rangda's attacks and mechanics are outlined below.
- Electric Predation: Rangda will deal damage in a wide cone attack to its front. The Tank should face Rangda away from the rest of the party to prevent other players from taking damage.
- Electric Cachexia: A large ring-shaped AoE centered on the boss. Move close to Rangda to avoid getting hit.
- Ionospheric Charge: Rangda will tether to a random player, creating a lightning chain between them. After a few seconds, the tether will cause Rangda's target to be struck by lightning, dealing high damage and inflicting paralysis.
- To avoid this attack, the tethered player should move to one of the pillars around the edge of the arena, shifting the tether from them to the pillar.
- Later in the fight, a Leyak add will spawn when Rangda casts Ionospheric Charge. This enemy will target players with an attack that inflicts Heavy, reducing movement speed. Quickly defeat this enemy before returning your attention to the boss.
- Electrocution: Rangda will knock back all players towards the edge of the arena. This attack is used immediately before Electric Cachexia, so players will need to quickly run back towards the boss after being knocked back.
Rangda will repeat these attacks until it is defeated. The main thing to watch out for the is tether from Ionospheric Charge, as this will deal extremely high damage if not dealt with quickly.
Gyascutus
The second boss of the Aery is Gyascutus, whose attacks and mechanics are listed below.
- Proximity Pyre: Gyascutus will deal damage in an AoE around itself, inflicting vulnerability up to hit players. Quickly move out of this AoE to avoid taking damage.
- Inflammable Fumes: Gyascutus will create roaming gas clouds that slowly move around the arena. Then, the boss will cast Proximity Pyre, igniting the gas clouds and causing them to explode. The exploding gas will deal high damage and inflict vulnerability up. To avoid these explosions, move along with the clouds, staying in the safe space between them until Gyascutus casts Proximity Pyre.
- This attack will also cause damaging wind to appear around the edge of the arena. Entering this wind will inflict Windburn, dealing damage over time.
- Deafening Bellow: Deals damage to all players. Use AoE healing to recover.
- Ashen Ouroboros: Gyascutus will deal damage in a ring AoE around itself, inflicting vulnerability up. This attack will also ignite gas clouds, and has a chance to be used following Inflammable Fumes. This attack is often followed by Proximity Pyre.
- To avoid this combo of attacks, move near the edge of the ring AoE, while staying between gas clouds. Then, when Ashen Ouroboros resolves and the clouds are ignited, stay in the safe spot to avoid their explosion. Quickly move away from the gas after this to avoid the following Proximity Pyre.
- Body Slam: Gyascutus will knock back players from the center of the arena. Move close to the boss to avoid being knocked into the Windburn around the edge of the arena.
- Crippling Blow: Gyascutus will deal high damage to the Tank. Use defensive cooldowns to mitigate this damage.
Gyascutus will repeat these attacks until it is defeated. Move carefully with the gas clouds and watch which attack Gyascutus will use to ignite them to avoid the subsequent AoEs.
Nidhogg
The final boss of the Aery is Nidhogg, who will use the following attacks.
- Deafening Bellow: Nidhogg will deal damage to all party members. Recover with AoE healing.
- Hot Tail: Nidhogg will deal damage in large line AoEs to his front and back, inflicting vulnerability up. Move out of the AoE indicator to avoid taking damage.
- Hot Wing: Nidhogg will deal damage in two large line AoEs to his right and left, inflicting vulnerability up. Move directly to the front or back of the boss to avoid these AoEs.
- Horrid Roar: Nidhogg will target players with AoE circles. Spread out from each other to avoid overlapping these AoEs.
- Cauterize: Nidhogg will jump to the front of the arena before attacking with a large AoE down the center of the arena, inflicting vulnerability up. Move out of the AoE indicator to avoid.
- Sable Price: One player will be targeted and trapped in the Sable Price, which will then begin casting Sable Weave. When this attack is finished casting, the trapped player will be instantly killed. To avoid this, quickly destroy the Sable Price to break the trapped player out.
- Scarlet Price: Nidhogg will deal high damage to the Tank. Use defensive cooldowns as necessary to reduce the damage of this attack.
- Horrid Blaze: One player will be targeted with a stack marker. Group up on the affected player's position to spread out the damage of this attack.
- Rancor and Massacre: Around 50 percent health remaining, Nidhogg will become untargetable before summoning several dragons to the arena. At the same time, he will begin charging his Rancor. When all the dragons are defeated, or when Nidhogg's Rancor is fully charged, he will cast Massacre, dealing damage to all party members.
- If Nidhogg's Rancor is full when Massacre is used, all players will be instantly killed. Quickly defeat the dragons to avoid being killed.
After Nidhogg uses Massacre, the fight will resume as normal until he is defeated. Be sure to save your allies from the Sable Price when it occurs, and avoid the large line AoEs that appear throughout the fight.
