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Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Guides

Getting Started in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

  1. ## Before You Start on Switch 2
  2. Decide which edition matches your situation. New to the game entirely? Starter Edition or the Free Trial are the way in. Own the game on another platform already? You'll still need to purchase Final Fantasy XIV for Switch 2 separately, though your existing subscription time elsewhere gets you a 50% discount on the Switch 2 subscription specifically.
  3. Expect an initial early access period of about a month while Square Enix monitors server stability -- this is normal and temporary, not a sign anything is wrong with the release.
  4. ## Unlocking Viper or Pictomancer
  5. Both new Dawntrail jobs require the expansion registered to your account and at least one other job at level 80 -- free trial accounts cannot access either job. Viper's quest, "Enter the Viper," starts at the Steps of Nald in Ul'dah (look for the Worried Weaver NPC); Pictomancer's starting quest begins in Old Gridania.
  6. ## Managing Expectations on Dawntrail's Story
  7. Dawntrail deliberately shifts narrative focus onto Wuk Lamat and the new cast of Tural rather than centering your own Warrior of Light -- go in expecting a genuine change of pace from prior expansions' structure, not a lesser version of the same formula.
  8. ## Using Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls
  9. If you're playing docked or handheld with Joy-Con 2, take advantage of the mouse control support specifically for hotbar and UI-heavy tasks -- it's a genuinely useful option this MMO benefits from more than most console ports.
  10. ## Common Mistakes
  11. * Assuming your existing subscription on another platform carries over to Switch 2 automatically -- it doesn't; a separate Switch 2 subscription is required regardless.
  12. * Rushing to unlock Viper or Pictomancer without first getting any job to level 80 -- there's no shortcut around this prerequisite.