FFXIV MSQ List: Every Quest From a Realm Reborn to Dawntrail Patches

Progressing through the Main Scenario Quests (MSQ) is the fundamental path for every player in Final Fantasy XIV. The MSQ acts as the gatekeeper for nearly every feature in the game, including travel, dungeons, trials, and endgame raids. Identified by the distinct meteor icon, these quests form a linear narrative that spans multiple expansions. As of the current 7.x patch cycle, the total journey encompasses hundreds of individual quests across over a decade of storytelling.

The Beginning: A Realm Reborn (2.0 - 2.55)

The journey starts in one of three city-states—Gridania, Limsa Lominsa, or Ul'dah—based on the starting class selected during character creation. These early quest lines remain separate until level 15, where they converge into a unified narrative.

Starting City Quests (Level 1-15)

• Gridania: Commences with "Close to Home" and involves the Shroud and the sylphs. Key early quests include "To the Bannock," "Spirit Hold Broken," and "The Gridanian Envoy."
• Limsa Lominsa: Starts with "Close to Home" at the Drowning Wench. Early milestones include "On to Summerford," "Victory in Peril," and "The Lominsan Envoy."
• Ul'dah: Begins with "Close to Home" at the Quicksand. It follows quests like "Underneath the Sultan Tree," "Duty, Honor, Country," and "The Ul'dahn Envoy."

At level 15, players complete the quest "Call of the Sea," which grants access to airship travel and connects the three paths into the unified MSQ.

Seventh Umbral Era (Level 15-50)

This segment covers the base game story of patch 2.0. It involves the struggle against the Garlean Empire and the Primal threats.

• Key Milestones:
  • "It’s Probably Pirates" (First Dungeon: Sastasha)
  • "The Scions of the Seventh Dawn" (Introduction to the main ally group)
  • "Lord of the Inferno" (First Trial: Ifrit)
  • "The Company You Keep" (Joining a Grand Company and unlocking the personal Chocobo)
  • "The Ultimate Weapon" (The finale of the 2.0 base game)

Total quests for the 2.0 arc number approximately 160. Completion of this arc is required to unlock the post-game patches.

Seventh Astral Era (Post-ARR Patches 2.1 - 2.55)

Often cited as a significant bridge, this segment covers the updates between the base game and the first expansion. This section was previously streamlined to improve pacing.

• Patch 2.1 (A Realm Awoken): Starts with "The Price of Principles."
• Patch 2.2 (Through the Maelstrom): Focuses on the Leviathan threat.
• Patch 2.3 (Defenders of Eorzea): Introduces Ramuh and the Crystal Brave narrative.
• Patch 2.4 (Dreams of Ice): Centered on Shiva and the lead-up to Ishgard.
• Patch 2.5 & 2.55 (Before the Fall): The dramatic conclusion leading directly into Heavensward.

Mandatory Requirement: To progress past the 2.55 MSQ, players must complete the "Crystal Tower" Alliance Raid series (starting with "Legacy of Belias"). This side-story is essential for narrative continuity in later expansions.

Heavensward: The Dragonsong War (3.0 - 3.56)

Heavensward takes players to the mountain-top city of Ishgard, focusing on the thousand-year conflict between humans and dragons. Flying mounts are introduced here, unlocked through a combination of MSQ and Aether Current collection.

Heavensward Main Story (Level 50-60)

• Initial Quests: "Coming to Ishgard," "The Farce of Hospitality."
• Key Dungeons: The Dusk Vigil, Sohm Al, The Aery, The Vault.
• Trials: Ravana and Bismarck.
• Finale: "Heavensward" (Quest name matching the expansion).

Dragonsong Post-Patches (3.1 - 3.56)

These patches conclude the war and set the stage for the next expansion.

• Patch 3.1 - 3.3: The conclusion of the Nidhogg narrative, culminating in the "Revenge of the Horde" patch.
• Patch 3.4 - 3.56: Introduces the Warriors of Darkness and leads into the liberation of Ala Mhigo.

Stormblood: Liberty or Death (4.0 - 4.56)

Stormblood focuses on two distinct fronts: the liberation of Ala Mhigo in Gyr Abania and Doma in the Far East. Underwater diving is introduced in this expansion.

Stormblood Main Story (Level 60-70)

• Starting Quest: "Beyond the Great Wall."
• Regional Shifts: The story moves from the desert and mountains of Gyr Abania to the Far Eastern aesthetic of Kugane and the Azim Steppe.
• Key Trials: Susano, Lakshmi, and Shinryu.
• Finale: "Stormblood."

Post-Stormblood Patches (4.1 - 4.56)

• Patch 4.1 - 4.3: Resolves the political vacuum in the liberated territories.
• Patch 4.4 - 4.56: Establishes the "Calling" narrative that whisks the Scions away, setting the stage for Shadowbringers.

Shadowbringers: Warriors of Darkness (5.0 - 5.55)

Considered one of the most critically acclaimed narratives, Shadowbringers takes players to the First, a world dying from an overabundance of Light. Players must take on the role of the Warrior of Darkness.

Shadowbringers Main Story (Level 70-80)

• Starting Quest: "The Syrcus Trench."
• Key Locations: Crystarium, Eulmore, Rak'tika Greatwood.
• Mandatory Requirement: Completion of at least one Role Quest line (Tank, Healer, Physical DPS, or Magical DPS) is required to finish the 5.0 MSQ.
• Finale: "Shadowbringers."

Post-Shadowbringers Patches (5.1 - 5.55)

• Patch 5.1 - 5.3: Concludes the Elidibus and Emet-Selch narrative threads. The quest "Reflections in Crystal" serves as a major narrative finale.
• Patch 5.4 - 5.55: Introduces the Telophoroi and the threat of the Final Days, bridging into Endwalker.

Endwalker: The End of an Era (80-90)

Endwalker serves as the grand finale to the Hydaelyn-Zodiark arc that began in A Realm Reborn. It takes players to the moon and beyond.

Endwalker Main Story (Level 80-90)

• Starting Quests: "The Next Ship to Sail" and "Old Sharlayan."
• Key Zones: Thavnair, Garlemald, Mare Lamentorum (The Moon), and the final zone.
• Mandatory Requirement: Similar to the previous expansion, Role Quests are required for the full conclusion of the narrative.
• Finale: "Endwalker" (Marking the end of the 10-year story arc).

Post-Endwalker Patches (6.1 - 6.55)

Unlike previous expansions, the post-Endwalker patches (6.1-6.5) form a standalone story arc involving the Void (The Thirteenth) and the dragon Azdaja.

• Patch 6.1 (Newfound Adventure): Starts the transition to a new journey.
• Patch 6.55 (Growing Light): Final preparation for the voyage to Tural.

Dawntrail: A New World (90-100)

Dawntrail begins the second major story arc for Final Fantasy XIV. The Warrior of Light travels across the western ocean to the continent of Tural (the New World).

Dawntrail Main Story (Level 90-100)

• Starting Quest: "A New World," where the player is recruited by Wuk Lamat.
• Quest Structure: The story is initially divided into two paths in Tural, exploring different cultures and regions (Kozama'uka and Urqopacha).
• Major Milestones:
  • Unlocking the city of Tuliyollal.
  • The Rite of Succession.
  • Venturing into the Golden City and the high-tech zones revealed in the latter half.
• Level 100 Finale: "Dawntrail."

Post-Dawntrail Patches (7.1 - 7.5x)

Following the conclusion of the 7.0 MSQ, the 7.x patch cycle continues the exploration of Tural's history and its connection to other reflections.

• Patch 7.1 (Crossroads): Continues the story after the succession rite and addresses the aftermath of the final 7.0 conflict.
• Patch 7.2 (Seekers of Eternity): Expands on the mysterious heritage of the Tural people.
• Patch 7.3 (The Promise of Tomorrow): Further integrates the new world into the global politics of Eorzea.
• Patch 7.4 (Into the Mist): The current content focus, leading toward the next major shift in the world state.

Summary of Quest Counts and Progression

For those tracking their progress, here is the approximate number of MSQs per expansion (post-pruning):

Totaling over 980 quests, the MSQ is a massive undertaking. Players typically spend 40-60 hours per expansion if they read the dialogue and watch the cutscenes.

Efficient Progress Tips

The MSQ Tracker Widget

By default, the UI includes a "Next Main Scenario Quest" widget in the top-left corner. Clicking this will open the map showing exactly where to go. This is the most reliable way to stay on the correct FFXIV MSQ path.

Gear Progression through MSQ

The MSQ provides sufficient gear to keep one job relevant throughout the leveling process. Players do not need to grind dungeons for gear unless they are leveling secondary jobs. The quest rewards often include "Coffer" items that grant a full set of equipment for the current level.

Flying and Movement

Most zones in FFXIV require the completion of the local MSQ arc before flying is fully unlocked. This ensures players experience the zone's geography and story as intended before taking to the skies. Always check the Aether Currents menu to see how many side-quest or exploration currents remain in a zone.

Skipping Options

For those primarily interested in endgame content or joining friends in the latest expansion, "Tales of Adventure" items are available for purchase. These items skip the MSQ of previous expansions. However, as FFXIV is a story-heavy RPG, skipping is generally not recommended for a first playthrough, as the narrative context is vital for understanding the world and characters.

Mandatory Side Content Gating MSQ

While the MSQ is linear, certain side-quests are "hard gates." You cannot continue the MSQ until these are completed:

1. Crystal Tower (Level 50): Required before finishing the ARR patch cycle.
2. My Little Chocobo (Level 20): While technically a side quest, it is required to unlock mounts, which are essential for MSQ travel.
3. Role Quests (Level 80, 90, 100): You must complete at least one role-specific quest chain to finish the final base-game MSQ of Shadowbringers, Endwalker, and Dawntrail.

As the 7.x series progresses toward the 8.0 expansion, staying up to date with the MSQ ensures access to the latest raids, alliance trials, and legendary weapon quests. The current state of the game allows for a much smoother experience than in years past, thanks to the consolidation of earlier quest lines and the addition of the Duty Support system, which allows players to complete most MSQ dungeons with AI companions.