Quick Links
The Royal Menagerie is a level 70 Trial inFinal Fantasy 14, and the final battle of the Stormblood Main Scenario. Embracing violence for the sake of violence, Zenos has merged with Shinryu, the embodiment of vengeance. Using this power, he would destroy not only Ala Mhigo, but the world itself.
It’s up to you to stop Zenos and Shinryu and save Ala Mhigo in The Royal Menagerie. Below, we’ll take a look at everything you need to know about this Trial, including how to deal with each of Shinryu’s attacks and mechanics.
How To Unlock The Royal Menagerie
The Royal Menagerie is unlocked through the final 4.0 Main Scenario Quest,‘Stormblood’. After you complete theAla Mhigo Dungeon, continue following the quest until The Royal Menagerie is unlocked.
Shinryu Fight Walkthrough
This fight will begin on a floatingsquare platform with no railings, meaningyou can fall off at any point. Keep this in mind as you avoid each of Shinryu’s attacks.
Corrupted Aether
Special
Throughout the fight, Shinryu’sCorrupted Aetherwill fill. When it reaches 100, Shinryu will unleash an elemental attack themed after a Primal:Tidal Wave,Aerial Blast,Hellfire,Judgment Bolt,Earthen Fury, orDiamond Dust.
Tidal Wave
Roomwide AoE/Knockback
Awater spoutwill appear off the edge of theeast or west sides of the arena. When the cast finishes, the party will beknocked back the length of the arena from the water spout. To avoid being knocked off the arena,move close to the water spout.
This attack will also create severalwater puddlesaround the arena. These do not deal damage; instead, they inflict you withLightning Resistance DownandFire Resistance Up.
Hellfire
Roomwide AoE
Deals damage to the entire party and inflictsBurns, dealing damage over time.This debuff can’t be cleansed, so the Healers will need to use Regen effects or otherwise keep the party topped up.
Standing in any of thewater puddleswillreduce the damage of Hellfirewhile alsopreventing Burns.
Judgment Bolt
Deals damage to the whole party. Damage isincreased if you are standing in any of the water puddles, so avoid them.
After Shinryu has usedtwo elemental Corrupted Aether attacks, Shinryu will fly away, and the fight will transition to phase two.
Phase 2
During phase two, you will fightthree waves of adds. Each wave of enemies will drop to the arena with aproximity AoE. The first AoE createsthree AoEs; two on the corners and one in the center.Move to the opposite side of the arenato reduce the damage of these.
The second wave will add anadditional AoEto one of the corners, somove to the corner of the arena without a proximity AoE. The third wave will haveproximity AoEs on all four corners and the center; to take the least amount of damage,stand at a point between two of the corner AoEs, then heal through the damage.
Once all three waves are dealt with, Shinryu will cast Protostar, dealing damage to all party members. The damage of this attack willscale with the time it takes you to kill all three waves of adds. After Protostar, he will bind the group, initiating anActive Time Maneuver. Mash the button to escape the chains, then the fight will transition into its third phase.
Phase 3
This phase will take place on a muchlarger square arenathat is divided into nine tiles, with agrey stone tile in the center, andeight blue crystal tiles surrounding it.
Immediately as you land on the platform, Shinryu will useGyre Charge, dealing damage in alarge line AoEwithsafe spots on either corners of the arena. Quickly move to the safe spot to avoid taking damage.
During this phase, Shinryu will use three new Corrupted Aether attacks, as well as the previous ones from phase one.
Aerial Blast
Creates atornado in the center of the arenathat repeatedly deals damage to the party andknocks back from the center of the arena. Move closer to the tornado to avoid being knocked off the edge.
Earthen Fury
Deals damage to all party members anddestroys any cracked crystal tiles. Move to the center of the arena and heal through this damage.
Diamond Dust
Roomwide AoE/Thin Ice
Deals damage to the whole party and covers the platform inThin Ice, making youslide uncontrollably when moving.
Throughout the phase, Shinryu willslam his tail onto the platform, cracking any of the blue crystal tiles it hits.If a blue tile takes two hits from Shinryu’s tail, it will be permanently destroyed. However, when Shinryu slams its tail down,it will become targetable. Damaging the tail before it leaves will deal Shinryu amassive hit of damage, so focus on it when it appears.
Shinryu will also have access to the following attacks during this phase.
Left Wing - Spikesicle
Line AoE
Severalicicleswill appear alongone edge of the arenathat will then charge forward, creatingline AoEs in an alternating pattern. Avoid both sets as they resolve.
Right Wing - Levinbolt
AoE Markers
Targets random players withAoE Markers. Spread out toavoid overlapping these, anddon’t stand in any lingering water puddles.
Akh Morn
Tankbuster
Dealsseveral hits of damage to Shinryu’s main target. Use defensive cooldowns to reduce this damage and heal through the attack.
Burning Chains
Chains
Tethers two players together withBurning Chainsthat continuously deal damage.Move in opposite directionsfrom each other to break the chains.
Dragonfist
Circle AoE
Shinryu willslam the center tileof the arena with alarge circular AoEthat Stuns for a few seconds. Move out of this AoE to avoid taking damage.
Earth Breath
Conal AoE
Targets one player with anAoE Marker, then performs aconal AoE attack in their directionthat inflictsSludge, dealing damage over time. The targeted player shouldmove away from the rest of the groupto avoid hitting them with this attack.
Shinryu will repeat all of these attacks until he is defeated. There is quite a bit of variety in this fight, so you may not end up seeing each of the Corrupted Aether attacks during the course of a single run. That said, be ready for anything, as there is no set order that Shinryu will use them in.
Be sure totarget the Tail as soon as you are able, as this will quickly speed up the fight.
Additionally, you’ll need tobe careful around the edges of the arenathroughout the fight. Several of Shinryu’s attacks can knock you back, so mind your positioning as you avoid other attacks.
With Shinryu defeated, watch the cutscenes that follow and enjoy the finale of Stormblood.
