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To catch up on Final Fantasy XIV before another expansion, first check the Main Scenario Guide and the latest Lodestone patch notes to find the newest main-scenario quest available for your game. Then choose between playing every missing quest, using an eligible Tales of Adventure scenario skip, or replaying completed chapters in New Game+ for a recap. Those options do different things: a scenario skip marks only its covered story as complete, does not raise your job level, and does not remove expansion-license or level requirements for what comes next.
What should you catch up to?
Aim for the latest main-scenario quest available in your current game version—not simply the end of the last expansion. The story continues through major patches after an expansion launches, so a guide that tells you to stop at an expansion’s launch quests may already be out of date.
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Final Fantasy XIV Online, Complete Edition - PlayStation 4 | $99.97 | Buy on Amazon |
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Final Fantasy XIV: The Complete Collection (PS4) | $24.74 | Buy on Amazon |
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Final Fantasy XIV Online Complete Edition (PS4) | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Final Fantasy XIV - A Realm Reborn (PS3) | $15.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Square Enix’s Dawntrail Patch 7.5 page lists “Trail to the Heavens” Part 1 in Patch 7.5 and Part 2 in Patch 7.56. The page gives April 28, 2026 — Square Enix, 2026 as the Patch 7.5 release date. Square Enix’s Eorzea Database quest listing is marked Patch 7.56 and includes Dawntrail main-scenario and post-Dawntrail quest groups.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThose are patch-specific references, not a permanent endpoint. Before you plan a catch-up route, check the Main Scenario Guide in game and the newest Lodestone patch notes. If a later patch has been released since the pages above were updated, use that later patch’s quest as your target. The official pages cited here do not establish a release date for a future expansion, so do not base your schedule on a countdown or an assumed launch date.
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- A new adventure awaits in Norvrandt
- New jobs, including gun breaker and dancer
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Choose among three catch-up routes
The right route depends on whether you value experiencing the story in sequence, getting a character through covered quests quickly, or revisiting familiar chapters. These choices are not interchangeable: New Game+ replays completed chapters, while a Tales of Adventure item can mark eligible scenario content complete.
| Route | What it does | Story experience | Cost and requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Play the missing Main Scenario Quests | Continue the character’s existing story progression through the quests they have not completed. | Preserves the intended sequence and lets you play the missing story. | No scenario-skip item is needed. The time required depends on where you stopped and how quickly you play; no reliable universal estimate is established here. |
| Use a Tales of Adventure scenario skip | Marks the scenario covered by the selected item complete and starts the character at the next storyline. | Skips the covered quests rather than playing them. | The official guide lists optional scenario items through Endwalker. It does not state a price here; confirm the current catalog, item coverage, and account requirements in the official guide and Online Store. The next MSQ still requires the designated expansion to be registered and the character to meet its level requirement. |
| Replay completed chapters in New Game+ | Replays eligible chapters whose final quests the character has already completed. | Useful for revisiting story; it does not complete unfinished quests or advance the character’s current story. | Eligibility depends on having completed the chapter’s final quest. Check the current in-game details for mode restrictions. |
Think of the choice as a trade-off among story completeness, time, and purchase requirements. Playing the MSQ costs no scenario-skip purchase and gives you the missing narrative in sequence, but the amount of play left depends on your own quest progress and pace. A skip is an optional paid item that avoids only the covered scenario; it is not a shortcut to every later patch, and it does not bundle in the level or expansion access needed afterward. New Game+ has no role in clearing unfinished quests: it is for eligible story you have already completed. There is no verified universal time figure or current item price to use as a reliable comparison, so check your own quest marker and the live store listing rather than plan around a generic number.
Route 1: Play the missing story
If you want the narrative in order, continue the Main Scenario Quest chain from your current point. The Main Scenario Guide is the practical starting point for identifying the quest your character is following; use the current Lodestone patch notes to confirm what lies beyond it. If your character is already close to the latest patch, the work remaining is different from a character several expansions behind, so do not plan from a generic “catch-up time” claim.
- Check your current story marker. Open the Main Scenario Guide in game and note the main-scenario quest shown for your character.
- Confirm the current endpoint. Compare that quest with the latest official patch notes and the Eorzea Database quest listings. Use the newest available patch, not a remembered expansion endpoint.
- Continue the listed MSQ. Follow the main-scenario chain through its required quests. This route keeps the story sequence intact and avoids using a scenario item to skip the missing portion.
- Recheck after major patches. If your goal is to reach the newest available story, check official notes again when a new patch releases; the target can move.
There is no substantiated average number of hours per expansion or universal completion schedule in the official references cited here. Your remaining play depends on your character’s stopping point and your own pace. A precise personal estimate is best made from the quests still shown in your Main Scenario Guide, rather than from a broad hours-per-expansion figure.
Playing is the most straightforward route if you want each missing part of the story, but “catch up” does not mean that every player has the same backlog. One character may need only the latest post-expansion quests, while another may have stopped earlier. Establish your personal starting point first, then compare it with the latest patch endpoint. That gives you a practical checklist without relying on a timetable that cannot account for your progress or play pace.
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Route 2: Use a Tales of Adventure scenario skip
Tales of Adventure are optional digital items sold through the FFXIV Online Store. Square Enix’s Tales of Adventure guide describes them this way: “Or perhaps you would like to catch up with your friends? If so, the Tales of Adventure optional items can give you the boost you need!” That is the publisher’s promotional description; functionally, an item only covers the scenario specified for it.
The official guide lists scenario items through Endwalker. That does not establish that an item is available to skip Dawntrail or any later expansion. Check the current item catalog and its exact coverage before buying. A story skip is not a general “complete everything up to today” button, and the character begins at the next storyline covered by the selected item—not necessarily at the newest patch.
What a scenario skip changes—and what it does not
- It changes scenario completion. The covered quests are flagged as complete, allowing the character to start at the next storyline.
- It does not raise job level. A separate job-level boost is a different item. Do not assume that purchasing or using a story skip makes the character high enough level for the next MSQ.
- It does not supply every expansion license. To continue into later story content, the designated expansion must be registered to the account.
- It does not remove the next quest’s level gate. The character must meet the required level for the next Main Scenario Quest.
- It does not guarantee coverage of the latest story. Confirm the item’s named scenario and endpoint against the current catalog.
Check these conditions before purchasing
- Identify the exact gap. Use the Main Scenario Guide and current quest listings to determine which scenario your character has not completed.
- Match the item to that gap. Read the official item description and verify that its covered scenario reaches the point you intend to skip. The guide’s listed endpoint is through Endwalker; do not infer coverage beyond that from the item name or from an older page.
- Verify account and expansion access. Confirm that the required expansion is registered for the account and platform you use. A skip cannot replace an expansion license.
- Check the required level for the next quest. Compare your character’s job level with the requirement for the MSQ that follows the skipped scenario. If it is too low, the scenario item alone will not let you progress through that quest.
- Review the current store listing. Confirm availability, eligibility, item terms, and price directly in the Online Store before purchase; these details can change.
The purchase trade-off is straightforward: a skip avoids playing the covered quests but also removes that portion of the intended story experience. The current official guide is the source for item behavior; the store listing is the place to confirm live purchase details. No price or post-Endwalker skip coverage is established by the cited pages.
Keep scenario progression and job progression separate when comparing purchases. Square Enix’s guide treats job-level boosts and scenario skips as different optional items. A level boost is therefore not a substitute for checking whether the story is complete, just as a story skip is not a substitute for checking whether your chosen job meets the next quest’s level requirement. If you are considering either item, read its current description and decide which specific problem you need to solve.
Route 3: Replay story in New Game+
New Game+ is for revisiting eligible chapters already unlocked by completing their final quests. It is a replay feature, not a shortcut through unfinished MSQ: it will not mark an incomplete chapter complete, move the character’s current story forward, or replace the level and expansion requirements for future quests.
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- Access to all expansion content from Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers, unlocking additional jobs, areas, story quests and more ways to explore: flying, swimming and diving
- A flexible class system that allows players to switch freely between a variety of classes and jobs, including new additions Gunbreaker and Dancer, and reach the new level cap of level 80
- All the hallmarks of the FINAL FANTASY franchise, including an engaging storyline, genre-leading graphics, and HD real time cut scenes
- Robust gameplay features such as player-managed Free Companies, diverse party finder features to group up with other players with ease, and a variety of fun activities in the Gold Saucer area, all designed to accommodate a dynamic player community
- Challenging trials, dungeons and raids for groups of up to 24, and exciting player-vs-player (PvP) content for groups of up to 72 players
Use it when you have completed a section but want to refresh your memory before continuing, or when you want to experience a completed part of the story again. If the section you need to catch up on is still unfinished, continue the MSQ or consider an eligible scenario item instead. Square Enix’s Patch 7.1 Notes describe New Game+ and restrictions while the mode is active. Check the current in-game details before starting, since mode restrictions and available chapters are the practical details that matter to your session.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11For a player who is caught up but has forgotten character relationships or earlier events, New Game+ can be a useful refresher without changing current progression. First check that the chapter is actually available: access depends on completing its final quest. If that condition is not met, replay mode cannot fill in the missing progression. Also read the in-game restrictions before you begin; Square Enix’s patch notes describe limits that apply while the mode is active, and the relevant details may affect what you can do during that session.
Do you need to level if you buy a story skip?
Yes, if your character is below the level required for the next Main Scenario Quest. A Tales of Adventure scenario skip completes its stated story portion; it does not increase a job’s level. A job-level boost is a separate item and should not be confused with a scenario skip. The Square Enix item guide distinguishes job-level boosts from scenario progression.
Before purchasing a skip, check the next MSQ’s level requirement against the level of the job you plan to use. Also confirm that the expansion containing that next story is registered. If either condition is unmet, the skip may complete covered quests without making the next quest available to your character.
In other words, a skip can remove a story-completion gate for the scenario it covers, but it cannot waive separate requirements attached to the next quest. Treat the post-skip check as two questions: is the relevant expansion registered, and is the job you will use at the required level? If you cannot answer yes to both, account for that before you buy. Do not assume the scenario item will solve both problems just because its purpose is to move story progression forward.
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Rank #4
- Access to all expansion content from Heavensward and Stormblood, unlocking additional jobs, areas, story quests and more ways to explore: flying, swimming and diving
- A flexible class system that allows players to switch freely between a variety of classes and jobs, including new additions red mage and samurai, and reach the new level cap of level 70
- All the hallmarks of the FINAL FANTASY franchise, including an engaging storyline, genre-leading graphics, and HD real time cut scenes.
- Robust gameplay features such as player-managed Free Companies, diverse party finder features to group up with other players with ease, and a variety of fun activities in the Gold Saucer area, all designed to accommodate a dynamic player community.
- Challenging trials, dungeons and raids for groups of up to 24, and exciting player-vs-player (PvP) content for groups of up to 72 players
Which route fits your situation?
Choose the full MSQ route if the story matters most
Play the missing quests when you want the narrative in sequence and do not want to trade story experience for a shorter route. This also avoids the specific limitation of a paid scenario item: the item can only cover the content it names. Check the live patch endpoint before you start so that your goal is current.
Consider a scenario skip if you accept missing the covered story
A skip can suit someone who has decided not to play a particular completed storyline and whose item, account licenses, and character level align with the next step. It is not a substitute for checking what the item actually skips. The official catalog currently cited lists scenario items through Endwalker, so a reader aiming beyond that needs to verify current availability rather than assume the newest expansion is covered.
Choose New Game+ only for a completed chapter
Use New Game+ to revisit a chapter you have already finished, not to clear the backlog. It is the replay choice when your progression is already past the material you want to see again.
Make the decision in this order
- Set the target. Find the newest released MSQ in the current official patch notes rather than assuming an expansion launch is the endpoint.
- Locate your character. Use the in-game Main Scenario Guide to see what is next for you.
- Decide what you want from the story. If you want to experience the missing chapters, play them. If you have finished them and want a reminder, use New Game+. If you are willing to skip a specific portion, investigate whether a scenario item covers it.
- Check what follows. For a skip, verify both expansion registration and the level requirement for the next quest before purchase.
- Confirm live details. Read the current official guide and Online Store listing for available items, exact coverage, eligibility, terms, and price.
This order keeps the decision grounded in your actual character rather than a general promise of speed. It also helps avoid paying for an item that stops short of your intended target or leaves a separate progression requirement unmet.
Common catch-up mistakes to avoid
- Stopping at the last expansion’s launch story. Main-scenario quests continue in patches. Confirm the current patch target instead of treating an expansion’s launch as the permanent story endpoint.
- Assuming a skip grants levels. Scenario completion and job level are separate; check both before expecting to continue.
- Assuming ownership is automatic. The required expansion must be registered for the account before its story can be played.
- Buying based on an old endpoint. The Tales guide’s stated scenario coverage may not match a newer patch or expansion. Read the current store entry and official guide.
- Trying New Game+ on unfinished content. Its chapters are unlocked by completing their final quests, so it cannot serve as an unfinished-story skip.
- Planning around an unannounced or unverified launch date. The official pages cited here do not establish a future expansion release date. Follow official announcements and make the latest released patch your actionable target.
- Confusing a job boost with story completion. They are separate optional items. Check the specific item documentation rather than assuming one automatically includes the other.
- Treating a store item as a complete catch-up package. A scenario item’s coverage is limited to the scenario named in its description; it does not establish that all later patches are completed or that the required license and level conditions are met.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I catch up on the FFXIV story?
Check the Main Scenario Guide for your character’s current quest, then compare it with the newest Lodestone patch notes and Eorzea Database listing. Play the missing MSQ for the story in sequence, or consider a scenario skip only after confirming its coverage and requirements.
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Can I skip the story in FFXIV?
Square Enix sells optional Tales of Adventure scenario items that mark the item’s covered scenario complete. The official guide lists scenario items through Endwalker; check the current guide and Online Store for exact coverage and availability. A skip does not raise job level or replace expansion registration.
How does New Game+ work in FFXIV?
New Game+ replays eligible chapters that you have already unlocked by completing their final quests. It is for revisiting completed story, not skipping unfinished quests or advancing your current MSQ. Check current in-game details for mode restrictions.
Do I need to level if I buy a story skip?
Yes, if the next Main Scenario Quest requires a higher level than your job has. A scenario skip does not level a character; a job-level boost is a separate item. The relevant expansion must also be registered.
How much time does it take to catch up?
There is no reliable universal estimate established here. The amount of story remaining depends on where your character stopped and how quickly you play. Use the Main Scenario Guide to identify your own starting point rather than relying on a generic hours-per-expansion claim.
How much does a Tales of Adventure skip cost?
The price is not established here and can depend on the current store listing. Check the FFXIV Online Store for the current price, availability, eligibility, and item terms before purchasing.
What is the latest FFXIV story quest I should reach?
Use the newest released patch notes and in-game Main Scenario Guide, because the endpoint changes. Square Enix’s Dawntrail Patch 7.5 page lists “Trail to the Heavens” Part 1 in Patch 7.5 and Part 2 in Patch 7.56, but verify whether a later patch has since added more MSQ.
Does buying a story skip give me access to the next expansion?
No. A scenario skip does not replace the requirement to have the designated expansion registered to your account. Check the license and the next quest’s level requirement separately.
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Start with your Main Scenario Guide and the latest Lodestone notes to find the current target and your character’s exact gap. Play the missing MSQ for the full story, use New Game+ only to replay completed chapters, or consider a Tales of Adventure item only after checking its coverage, price, expansion requirements, and the next quest’s level gate. A scenario skip completes story; it does not level your job.
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