Unlocking Arcadion Light-Heavy Gear in FFXIV Dawntrail

Final Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail expansion introduced thrilling new endgame content through the Arcadion raid series, captivating players with its high-stakes battles and rewarding loot tables. Among the standout rewards is the Light-Heavy gear set, boasting an impressive item level of 710. This equipment serves as the pinnacle for players diving into Savage raiding, offering superior stats to bridge the gap between casual content and high-difficulty encounters. Whether you’re a seasoned raider or a newcomer to the scene, understanding how to acquire this gear is essential for optimizing your character’s performance.

The Arcadion raids are structured in tiers, with the Light-Heavyweight tier marking the inaugural release in Patch 7.01. These normal-difficulty encounters provide accessible entry points while dropping crucial currencies known as Hologears. Exchanging these tokens unlocks the full Light-Heavy armor sets, weapons, and accessories tailored to every role—from tanks to healers. In this guide, we’ll explore the raid unlock process, delve into boss strategies, detail vendor exchanges, and share pro tips for efficient farming.

Accessing the Arcadion Raid Series

Before chasing Light-Heavy gear, you must unlock the Arcadion raids. This begins with a prerequisite questline that ties into Dawntrail’s main storyline. Start by completing the Dawntrail Main Scenario Quests (MSQ) up to the point where Solution Nine becomes available. From there, seek out the quest “It’s Showtime” offered by the Stylish Strategist in Solution Nine (coordinates X:9.2, Y:9.5).

This quest launches the Arcadion storyline, guiding you through introductory fights and unlocking the normal mode Light-Heavyweight tier. The series consists of four encounters: M1 through M4, each pitting you against unique bosses inspired by wrestling motifs. Weekly lockouts apply, but you can farm tokens progressively. Party Finder is your best friend for quick queues, especially during peak hours.

• Prerequisites: Complete Dawntrail MSQ, level 100 job.
• Location: Solution Nine, via Duty Finder under Raids (Normal).
• Group Size: 8 players, flexible roles.

Light-Heavy Hologear: The Key Currency

Hologears are the lifeblood of gear acquisition in Arcadion. Each normal raid boss drops [Light-Heavy Hologear], with quantities varying by encounter—M1 and M2 yield 1-2 each, while M3 and M4 offer higher amounts on average. Personal loot ensures everyone gets tokens, making progression fair even for undergeared groups.

To fully gear a character, you’ll need around 40-50 Hologears for a complete set, depending on role and priorities (weapons first!). Progress resets weekly on Tuesday, allowing consistent farming.

Conquering AAC Light-Heavyweight M1: Black Cat

The first raid, AAC Light-Heavyweight M1, features Black Cat, a nimble feline-themed boss with platforming challenges. The arena starts intact but features destructible tiles, demanding spatial awareness.

Core Mechanics:

• Bloody Scratch: Raid-wide AoE. Use Arm’s Length, Tactician, and group mitigations.
• One-Two Paw: Sequential half-room cleaves from paws. Stack opposite the glowing paw order.
• Black Cat Crossing: Cross or plus conal patterns. Predict and dodge to safe quadrants.
• Mouser: Tiles marked 1-2 times. Avoid double-marked (destroyed) platforms; melee dance center, ranged stay south.

Phase 2 introduces knockbacks and pounces with line AoEs. Position near initial markers and shift predictably. Spread/stack markers follow randomly—react swiftly. Clear in 8-10 minutes with a coordinated group.

Tackling M2: Honey B. Lovely

M2 pits you against Honey B. Lovely, emphasizing tank swaps and positional dodges. The fight ramps up with honey-themed AoEs.

Key Patterns:

• Honey Beam: Wide line through boss; hug sides at max melee.
• Honey Breeze: Tank-targeted lines; swap and position away.
• Queen’s Waltz: Proximity bait; bait orbs then stack for cleave.
• Enrage Phase: Rapid multi-hits; burn with raid buffs.

Melee shine here with inner releases, but healers must chain GCDs. Watch for head markers spawning adds—cleave promptly.

Mastering M3 and M4 Challenges

M3 (Wicked Thunder) brings lightning chains and arena splits, requiring chain resolution and platform hops. M4 (Songbird) culminates in symphony phases with dynamic AoE puzzles, voice-line telegraphs, and a DPS check finale.

Pro Tip: Use ACT plugins like Cactbot for visual cues, but practice without for Savage prep. Farm M1/M2 first for gear bumps.

Vendor Guide: Hhihwi in Solution Nine

Once Hologears are stocked, head to Hhihwi at X:8.7, Y:13.4 in Solution Nine. This Relic exchange vendor offers role-specific gear:

• Weapons: 5 Hologears each (i710, highest priority).
• Armor: 3-4 Hologears per piece.
• Accessories: 2-3 Hologears.

Prioritize: Weapon > Offhand > Chest/Head/Legs > Rest. Meld materia for substats like Critical Hit and Direct Hit to hit BiS.

Gearing Strategy and Savage Prep

Light-Heavy gear slots into Dawntrail’s gearing ladder post-Crafted i720/Extreme trials. Use it to cap tomestones for i730 gear later. For Savage (i720 lock):

1. Farm full i710 set.
2. Run Extremes for weapons/accessories.
3. Meld for 10%+ DPS gains.
4. Practice prog parties.

Table of role sets showcases flashy designs—Fending for tanks, Casting for mages, etc., with fedora flair for casters.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many weeks to full gear?

3-4 weeks solo, faster in statics.

Can I buy gear with real money?

No, strictly in-game farming.

Is normal required for Savage?

Savage unlocks separately via quest, but normal gear is ideal entry.

What if I miss a week?

Tokens don’t expire; farm backlog.

Advanced Farming Tips

Join Discords for daily PUGs, echo helps at 20% per wipe. Alt jobs speed token grind. Future tiers (Cruiser/Heavyweight) escalate to i760/790—stay tuned!