After a long break since their last iteration, the Variant Dungeons are back to FFXIV in the 6.45 patch with the new Mount Rokkon dungeon. It’s time to embark on a new adventure alongside Hancock in this oriental-themed dungeon, filled with various paths, threats and treasures to be found along the way.
Fortunately, starting this journey is easier than you might think, and here’s what you’ll need to do before climbing the mount by yourself.
Where to Unlock Mount Rokkon in FFXIV
Mount Rokkon is unlocked by accepting the blue quest Mononoke Aware with Shallow Moor in Old Sharlayan (X:12.0, Y:13.3). You must first complete the whole Endwalker scenario (not including the following patches) and have spoken with Osmon (he’s right beside Shallow Moor) once. You don’t need to unlock the previous Variant Dungeon, either.
The quest will take you back to Kugane, where you’ll meet Hancock, who’s excited to drag you to search for some accursed treasures, as well as slaying a few extra monsters along the way. All for the sake of profit! As soon as you complete a few cutscenes, the Variant Dungeon will be unlocked.
Just like the other Variants/Criterion dungeons, you can access it through Duty > V&C Dungeon Finder. Check the “enable party matching” box if you don’t wanna enter it alone. But it’s totally soloable, if you really want to.
If you’re not familiar with this type of duty yet, Variant Dungeons are non-linear dungeons in which you can choose the path you’re taking. You have special Variant Actions (such as more damage, heals, or raises) at your disposal to make your way through. You can even change your jobs inside the dungeon if you want to.
Related: FFXIV Update 6.45: Full Patch Notes Listed
There’s a total of 12 different routes for completion, each of them leading to a different path of treasures and bosses. Some of the enemies you face might be the same, depending on your choices.
After completing the dungeon and the quest alongside it, return to Old Sharlayan and speak with Osmon to unlock the Criterion version of Mount Rokkon, which is a much more challenging experience than the regular Variant. You can enter it the same way you did for the Variant.
You also unlock the Rokkon Artifact Exchange shop with Trisassant (the guy right beside Osmon), where you can exchange your obtained artifacts for various prizes, such as outfits, hairstyles, and emotes.
You’ll probably be running this duty repeatedly to get all paths, which does have an interesting reward. One of the paths is bound to be hidden just like it was in Sil’dihn, so have fun discovering it!
