Welcome to the FFXIV Dawntrail Valigarmanda Extreme (Worqor Lar Dor EX) trial guide! This high-octane encounter challenges players with dynamic multi-elemental mechanics. Unlocked after completing the Dawntrail Main Scenario Quests, conquering Valigarmanda rewards adventurers with powerful item level 710 gear. This guide will help you navigate the intricate dance of fire, ice, and lightning to emerge victorious.
Preparation
Success in this trial begins with proper party setup. You’ll need to form two light parties, each consisting of one tank, two damage dealers (DPS), and one healer. Additionally, players should establish fixed pairs, with each pair comprising one DPS and one support role (tank or healer). This pairing is essential for several mechanics throughout the fight, ensuring coordinated movement and damage distribution.
Spikesicle
The first major mechanic involves curving ice line AoEs fired by Valigarmanda. Observe the trajectory of the second AoE; you’ll want to hug the wall on the side it travels towards. Following these initial casts, icicles will launch along the same paths. Simultaneously, ice bombs will appear and detonate in the order they were placed. Successfully dodging all these sequential line AoEs and explosions is critical, as getting hit inflicts a stacking damage dealt down debuff. After the initial two icicle AoEs, reposition back towards the center, slightly opposite the boss’s main hitbox indicator.
Skyruin
Skyruin is a significant raid-wide damage ability that also applies a potent Fire damage-over-time (DoT) effect to all players. This ability typically signals a transition into a new phase of the fight. Shortly after Skyruin concludes, the boss will cast Triscourge, delivering further raid-wide damage. Triscourge additionally afflicts every player with both Ice and Lightning debuffs, while healers receive an exclusive Fire debuff. Understanding these debuffs is key for the upcoming mechanics.
Volcanic Eruption
As Valigarmanda prepares this attack, observe the two distant volcanoes located to the east and west of the arena. One of them will begin to bubble ominously, indicating its imminent eruption. To safety, players must quickly move to the side of the arena *opposite* the bubbling volcano. Immediately after, several sets of baited AoEs will appear at players’ feet. It is crucial to dodge these by moving either directly towards or away from the boss, rather than attempting to return to the middle of the room, as mispositioning here will result in instant defeat.
Vali Attack (Fire)
Following the baited AoEs, regroup with your assigned partner. Valigarmanda will execute one of three distinct attacks: a point-blank AoE directly around itself, a broad cone AoE, or a donut-shaped AoE that leaves the boss’s immediate vicinity safe. Dodge the indicated attack and remain paired up for a brief moment, as a partner check mechanic with raid damage follows. Group 1 pairs should move west, while Group 2 pairs go east. Ensure a slight distance between pairs to avoid collateral damage from small proximity explosions. Keep an eye out for Ice markers on either all DPS or all supports, requiring continuous movement until they expire.
Mountain Fire
Mountain Fire summons a towering tank buster directly in front of Valigarmanda. This attack delivers six consecutive hits, each applying a Burn and Fire Vulnerability debuff. Therefore, tanks must alternate taking these hits to manage the stacking vulnerabilities. Simultaneously, all other players not targeted by the tank buster must stand directly behind the tower, relative to the boss’s position. Valigarmanda’s head will rotate between three positions before each hit, unleashing a massive AoE that obliterates everything except for the small, safe cone directly behind the tower.
Fire Markers
Once the Mountain Fire sequence concludes, the Fire markers on both healers will begin their countdown. This mechanic triggers three successive light party damage splits, with each split leaving a persistent fire puddle on the ground. Light Party 1 should start in the west corner closest to Valigarmanda, and Light Party 2 in the east corner. Players should then move slightly towards the middle, then back a bit, while remaining stacked within their light parties to correctly drop the puddles. Immediately after these three puddles are placed, the other group’s Ice debuffs will resolve, requiring further movement. Be prepared, as another Volcanic Eruption will follow this sequence, utilizing the same mechanics as before.
Lightning Markers
As this phase nears its end, everyone’s Lightning debuff will begin to count down. When these debuffs expire, they deal damage in a small area around each affected player. To mitigate this damage effectively and prevent overlapping hits, all players must spread out evenly across the arena. Once these debuffs resolve, Valigarmanda will cast “Disaster Zone,” returning the arena to its normal state and concluding this intense sequence of mechanics.
Ruin Foretold (Adds)
Valigarmanda becomes untargetable during Ruin Foretold, initiating an add phase where three elemental beacons appear. Your primary objective is to destroy these beacons before the boss’s “Ruinous Power” gauge fills completely. Players should split into their light parties, with Light Party 1 heading west and Light Party 2 moving east. Throughout this phase, Valigarmanda repeatedly casts Calamitous Cry, firing several conal AoEs, and Wild Charge. Wild Charge targets either both healers or both tanks simultaneously, dealing split damage but hitting the initial target harder. Tanks should position themselves closest to the boss during this phase. Rotate between the two safe cones next to each beacon. After eliminating the side beacons, converge in the middle but maintain separation due to ongoing Wild Charges. Be aware that Valigarmanda gains damage stacks with each Calamitous Cry, making subsequent Wild Charges increasingly potent.
Tulidisaster
After successfully defeating all the elemental beacons, Valigarmanda will conclude its “Tulidisaster” cast with three rapid, consecutive area-of-effect attacks. The third and final hit of this sequence is particularly important, as it applies a persistent damage-over-time (DoT) effect that will remain active on all affected players for the remainder of the trial. Healers must be prepared for this continuous damage, as it adds a constant healing check to the rest of the fight.
Skyruin (Blizzard)
The next major phase commences with Valigarmanda casting either Skyruin Storms or Skyruin Blizzard, and the subsequent mechanics adjust accordingly. If Skyruin Blizzard is cast, it inflicts raid-wide damage and applies a potent Blizzard DoT. This is immediately followed by another Triscourge, which again applies various debuffs: two Ice debuffs on tanks, two Fire debuffs on healers, and Lightning debuffs on all other players. The Ice debuffs on tanks resolve almost instantly as massive tank buster AoEs, requiring tanks to position towards Valigarmanda on their respective light party sides. Healers with Fire debuffs should stand with their remaining DPS in their light parties near the back of the room for split damage resolution.
Spikesicle 2
Following the initial debuff resolution, a message “a rumbling avalanche approaches from the southeast/southwest side” will appear. Players must move out of the avalanche’s path while simultaneously dodging one of Valigarmanda’s three primary AoEs. Next, several ice pillars will emerge, releasing eight omnidirectional line AoEs. A very small safe spot exists, usually in one of two locations close to Valigarmanda’s inner hitbox (east or west). Four Lightning debuffs will then count down, requiring those players to spread. This Spikesicle, combined with the avalanche, is similar to the first but with an added challenge: the avalanche might force you to double back to the side you came from to find safety. Carefully follow behind the curving AoEs and avoid everything. Valigarmanda will then perform one of its three AoEs, followed by ice pillars, and then another avalanche. Dodge these in quick succession. Finally, the boss casts Freezing Dust; you must be continuously moving for about three seconds when the spell finishes casting, or you will be frozen solid. The remaining four Lightning debuffs will resolve, and Disaster Zone will conclude the blizzard phase, which is then followed by two tank busters if Skyruin Storms was not first.
Hail of Feathers
In this mechanic, Valigarmanda drops six consecutive proximity AoEs, each spawning a feather that can be attacked. The first feather always appears directly east or west. To handle this, begin on the side of the room opposite the first feather’s spawn. As subsequent feathers land, rotate around the arena in the direction opposite to their placement, moving towards Valigarmanda and then to the other side of the room. Once you reach the location where the first feather dropped, focus fire on it. Killing this feather creates a critical safe spot for the impending Blighted Bolt. Valigarmanda will begin casting Blighted Bolt, which instantly kills any player standing on glowing platforms and simultaneously strikes every unkilled feather with an AoE bolt. Ensure you are standing in the safe spot created by the defeated feather to avoid lethal damage.
Lightning/Ice Markers
Following Hail of Feathers, the first set of Ice and Lightning debuffs will expire. Players with Lightning debuffs must be on the ground, as their debuff resolves as a point-blank AoE with a slightly larger radius than previous phases. Conversely, players with Ice debuffs must be airborne; if they are on the ground, they will be imprisoned, and their debuff drops an ice tomb. Crucially, these ice tombs must be dropped far apart from each other, as tethering between them will cause a raid-wide explosion and apply stacking damage vulnerability. To manage this, assign each pairing from the start of the fight to a corner of the room: Tank/DPS pairs to the front-right and front-left corners near Valigarmanda, and Healer/DPS pairs to the back-west and back-east corners.
Vali Attack (Storm)
Next, Valigarmanda will unleash one of its three signature AoEs (point-blank, cone, or donut), but with a dangerous twist. Immediately after the initial AoE resolves, the boss will place another AoE at the exact location of *every player*. To navigate this, all players should stack closely together before the first AoE hits. As soon as the initial AoE goes off, quickly move collectively to a new location. This coordinated movement allows everyone to avoid both the first attack and the subsequent AoEs that appear at their previous positions, preventing widespread damage.
Thunderous Breath
Thunderous Breath is a directional attack that fires five line AoEs from both the east and west sides of the room, striking all but one central row with lightning. Players must quickly identify the single safe row and ensure they are standing on an elevated platform within it. Simultaneously, Valigarmanda will also unleash a room-wide AoE that specifically targets ground-level areas; avoiding this is equally important. Immediately after Thunderous Breath, the second round of Lightning and Ice debuffs will resolve, requiring players to execute their respective spread or aerial maneuvers as before. This is followed by another Vali Attack (stack, dodge, and move). Finally, Valigarmanda casts “Disaster Zone,” concluding the storm phase and restoring the arena.
Ruinfall
After the Skyruin Storm phase concludes, Valigarmanda will perform a sheer tank buster directly in the middle of the platform. This is immediately followed by a powerful knockback combined with several AoEs appearing near the back of the room. Players have two options to manage this: either position themselves to be knocked back precisely into the safe gaps between the incoming AoEs, or simply use a knockback resistance ability to ignore the mechanic entirely. Following this, Valigarmanda will use Wrath Unfurled, dealing significant raid-wide damage. The boss then begins casting Tulidisaster once more, before repeating the Mountain Fire mechanic, which involves the tank buster tower and blocked AoE, functioning exactly as it did earlier in the encounter.
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