Final Fantasy 14's first expansion, Heavensward, introduced the Anima Weapon Quest. This long questline was originally updated periodically through the course of the expansion and had you slowly upgrading an incredibly strong and impressive-looking weapon.

Related: Final Fantasy 14: Complete Guide To Zodiac Weapons

Although there are bigger and better weapons to work towards now, you'll still want to eventually craft your own Anima Weapon, even if only for the epic design. Let's take a look at each quest in the chain, and what you have to do to complete your Anima Weapon.

Updated July 28, 2022 by Jacob Whaling: Anima Weapons are still some of the most stylish Primal-slayers you can wield, so we've buffed up this guide with updated information on each step of the incredibly lengthy but definitely worth it Anima Weapon Quest.

A Note About Anima Weapons Before You Begin

Before you start the questline, let's go over some baseline information that will help down the road. First, crafting an Anima Weapon is not for the faint of heart. This quest will involve grinding and investing tons of time and materials into the process.

Additionally, the weapon you receive and upgrade will be level 60. Currently, these weapons are outdated, and are mainly used for cosmetic purposes. This weapon will also be job-specific, and each step will have to be repeated if you want to craft an Anima Weapon for a second job.

Complete The Quest 'An Unexpected Proposal'

Your Anima Weapon journey will begin with the quest An Unexpected Proposal.

• Pre-requisites:
  • Complete the Main Scenario Quest 'Heavensward'.
  • Reach level 60 for the job you will be undertaking the quest as.
• NPC Location:
  • Rowena - Dravania, Idyllshire (X:5.7, Y:5.5)

To complete this quest, simply talk to Rowena in Idyllshire, then travel to the Alpha Quadrant in Azys Lla and speak to Ardashir.

Complete The Quest 'Soul Without Life'

• NPC Location:
  • Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

After accepting this quest from Ardashir, you will need to acquire an Astral Nodule and an Umbral Nodule. There are two ways to gather these items, which we will look at below.

The first, and usual method for obtaining the Astral and Umbral Nodules is to trade for them by first acquiring six different elemental crystals from Fates in Heavensward zones. One type of crystal drops in each Heavensward zone, according to the tables below.

Astral Nodule Crystal Locations

Umbral Nodule Crystal Locations

For a crystal to drop from a Fate, you'll need to complete that Fate with a gold rating. Even then, the crystal is not guaranteed to drop, so you may have to complete multiple Fates in each zone before you get the crystals you need.

After you've gathered all six elemental crystals, speak with Syndony in Mor Dhona (X:22.6, Y:5.8) to trade them in for the respective Astral or Umbral Nodule. Once you have these, return to Ardashir in Azys Lla to complete the quest.

The second method for completing this quest is to skip it by trading in a completed Zodiac Zeta Weapon.

If you completed the Zodiac Relic Weapon Quest and received a Zodiac Zeta Weapon, you can trade this to Syndony for both the Astral and Umbral Nodules, allowing you to skip gathering them from Fates. While you will lose your original Zodiac Zeta weapon by using this method, you can obtain a replica of the weapon from Drake in North Shroud (X:30.3, Y:20.1).

Complete The Quest 'Toughening Up'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

This quest will require you to complete a total of ten dungeons with your Animated Weapon equipped. The dungeons must be completed in the following order:

1. Snowcloak
2. Sastasha (Hard)
3. The Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard)
4. Keeper of the Lake
5. Wanderer's Palace (Hard)
6. Amdapor Keep (Hard)
7. Dusk Vigil
8. Sohm Al
9. The Aery
10. The Vault

After completing The Sunken Temple of Qarn (Hard), Amdapor Keep, and The Vault, you will have to talk to Ardashir. He will appear next to you after you exit the dungeon the first two times. After you complete the tenth dungeon, you will have to go back to the Alpha Quadrant and speak to him again.

These dungeons can be completed in an undersized party. This means you can enter at your current level, and on your own if you wish, which will be especially useful if you are playing a DPS class so you don't have to wait for long queue times. If you're level 70 or above, you shouldn't have too much trouble doing these dungeons solo.

Complete The Quest 'Coming Into Its Own'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

For this quest, you will be required to collect four items; an Enchanted Rubber, Fast-drying Carboncoat, Divine Water, and Fast-acting Allagin Catalyst. To obtain each of these items, you will need to first acquire 10 Unidentifiable materials, and 4 other materials, as follows.

You can obtain the Unidentifiable Materials in the following ways:

The second items can be obtained in the following ways:

After you have gathered both tokens, take them to Cristiana in Mor Dhona (X:21.3, Y:5.4) to trade them for the Weapon Material. Next, return to the Alpha Quadrant and give them to Gerolt (X:7.4, Y:11.5).

To complete this step more quickly, we recommend combining several methods to obtain the Unidentifiable materials. Complete your Tribal Quests every day, and use the Poetics you gain from Roulette and other activities to trade for Unidentifiable materials.

The second token items can be easily obtained with excess Grand Company Seals, or purchased on the Market Board from other players.

Complete The Quest 'Finding Your Voice'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

For this quest, you simply need to gather five Aether Oil. These can be obtained in the following ways.

1. Accept and complete the weekly quest 'The Gift of the Archmagus' from Koh Rabntah in Mor Dhona (X:21.8, Y:8.1).
2. Purchase for 350 Tomestone of Poetics each from Hismena in Idyllshire (X:5.7, Y:5.2).

The quest 'Gift of the Archmagus' requires you to complete all three Crystal Tower series raids (Labyrinth of the Ancients, Syrcus Tower, The World of Darkness), then deliver the Pearls you get from each raid to Koh Rabntah in Mor Dhona (X:21.8, Y:8.1). This can be completed once a week, and rewards one Aether Oil.

You can gather the five Aether Oil using both methods. If you don't want to spend your Tomestones, the weekly quest is the better option. Or, if you want to get this quest over with as soon as possible, you can simply buy them for a total of 1750 Tomestones of Poetics.

Complete The Quest 'A Dream Fulfilled'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

For this quest, you will be sent to Idyllshire to meet with Ulan (X:6.4, Y:4.7), who will ask you to gather Crystal Sand and Umbrite, which you will then combine into Treated Crystal Sand. This item is used to add stat points to your Hyperconductive Anima Weapon, and you'll need a total of 240 points added to your weapon to complete this step. One Crystal Sand and one Umbrite are converted into three Treated Crystal Sand, which can then be spent on your weapon however you please.

After you've allotted 120 points into your weapon, there is a chance you will gain bonus points when converting Treated Sand, up to a maximum of six at a time. This can significantly reduce the amount of Crystal Sand and Umbrite you need to finish this step, so the total number of items you need may vary.

Listed below are each method for obtaining Crystal Sand.

The second item you need to make Treated Crystal Sand, Umbrite, can be purchased for 75 Tomestones of Poetics from Hismena in Idyllshire (X:5.8, Y:5.1). Take your Crystal Sand and Umbrite to Ulan to have her turn it into Treated Crystal Sand, which you can then apply to your weapon. After reaching 240 allotted points, this step will be complete.

One of the fastest ways to obtain Crystal Sand is to grind White Crafters' Scrips and trade them for Rowena's Tokens. With a high-level crafter, you can turn in collectibles for Scrips and quickly complete this step.

Alternatively, if you have Levequest Allowances piled up, you can undertake Heavensward Levequests to try to get Amber-encased Vilekin. In these Levequests, there is a chance for a chest to appear that contains an Amber-encased Vilekin. If you don't see the chest, simply abandon the Levequest and try again.

Complete The Quest 'Future Proof'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

For this quest, you will need to gather 50 Singing Clusters. There are three options for gathering this item that can be completed in conjunction.

1. Accept and complete the weekly quest 'Seeking Inspiration' from Amphelice in Idyllshire (X:7.9, Y:5.8).
   • Complete Duty Roulette: Leveling three times.
   • Rewards 18 Singing Clusters.
2. Accept and complete the daily quest 'Cut From a Different Cloth' from Angelet in Idyllshire (X:7.9, Y:5.9).
   • Complete Duty Roulette: Level 50/60/70 Dungeons.
   • Rewards one Singing Cluster.
3. Purchase for 40 Tomestones of Poetics from Hismena in Idyllshire (X:5.8, Y:5.1).

If you don't buy Singing Clusters using Tomestones, it will take at least two weeks to gather enough. We recommend doing both quests, then buying the rest with Tomestones of Poetics if you want to finish this step as soon as possible.

Complete The Quest 'Born Again Anima'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

This quest will start with Ardashir asking you to complete three dungeons as the job you are currently making the Anima Weapon for. These dungeons are as follows:

1. Sohm Al (Hard)
2. The Great Gubal Library (Hard)
3. The Lost City of Amdapor (Hard)

After completing these dungeons, you will need to speak to two NPCs in either order.

• Speak to the Processing Node and complete the quest 'Some Assembly Required'.
• Speak to the Verification Node and gather Aetheric Density for your weapon.

Some Assembly Required

To complete this subquest, you will need to gather 15 pneumite. This item can be obtained in the following ways:

• Purchase for 100 Tomestones of Poetics from Hismena in Idyllshire (X:5.8, Y:5.1).
• Purchase for 4000 Grand Company Seals from your Grand Company's HQ.
• Obtain through a random chest drop from a Timeworn Dragonskin Map.

After completing this quest, you will be rewarded with the Newborn Soulstone, which you will need after you finish gathering Aetheric Density.

Aetheric Density

Gathering Aetheric Density will involve you filling up a special meter with points that are obtained from various duties. You will need to have your Anima Weapon equipped when completing all of the activities below in order to receive Aetheric Density. You can undertake any of the following to fill the meter:

• Heavensward Fates, Hard and Extreme Trials, Dungeons, and Raids (8 and 24-player).
• A Realm Reborn Dungeons (level 50).

The best way to finish this step is to join a farming group and complete Alexander Savage Raids. Usually, people choose to do A1S or A9S, as they are the fastest with an undersized party. Look for groups advertising in the Party Finder, or make your own party to quickly complete this step.

If you don't want to do this step in a group, you can always run level 50 dungeons like Huakke Manor (Hard), Amdapor Keep (Hard), or Brayflox Longstop (Hard). Of course, you can run these in an undersized party as a level 70+ solo player. Once you get the hang of running these dungeons, you should be able to clear them in around five minutes. Just be sure to have your Anima Weapon equipped by the end or you won't gain Aetheric Density.

Complete The Quests 'Body And Soul' And 'Words Of Wisdom'

• NPC Location: Automaton - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

These two simple quests involve speaking with Rowena in Idyllshire, and only need to be completed once. For subsequent Anima Weapons, you can move directly to the next step, 'Best Friends Forever'.

Complete The Quest 'Best Friends Forever'

• NPC Location: Ardashir - Alpha Quadrant, Azys Lla (X:7.4, Y:11.5)

This is the final step in the Anima Weapon questline. You can think of this quest as a sort of "victory lap", as it will take you through every level 50-60 Hard trial. You will have to do these trials with your Anima Weapon equipped, and they must be completed in the following order:

1. Bowl of Embers (Hard)
2. Howling Eye (Hard)
3. The Naval (Hard)
4. Thornmarch (Hard)
5. Whorleater (Hard)
6. Striking Tree (Hard)
7. Akh Afah Amphitheatre (Hard)
8. Thok ast Thok (Hard)
9. The Limitless Blue (Hard)
10. Containment Bay S1T7
11. Containment Bay P1T6
12. Containment Bay Z1T9

After you have completed these trials, return to and speak with Ardashir in Azys Lla. He will then ask you to deliver an Archaic Enchanted Ink, which you can obtain for 500 Tomestones of Poetics from Hismena in Idyllshire (X:5.8, Y:5.1).

After delivering the Ink to Ardashir, your Anima Weapon will be complete!

Next: Final Fantasy 14: The Forbidden Land, Eureka Guide