Summary
The launch of the latestFinal Fantasy 14expansion,Dawntrail, brought with it a treat for fans ofFinal Fantasy 9, who’ve uncovered a cute detail in two of the game’s minions. Among other references toFinal Fantasy 9, the easily missed interaction between theFinal Fantasy 14minions highlights the attention to detail exercised by the game’s developers at Square Enix.
Dawntrailis by far the largest addition toFinal Fantasy 14since the last expansion, 2021’sEndwalker. It adds the new playable continent of Tural, which has its own culture and geography, as well as a storyline that takes the Warrior of Light’s adventures past the “Hydaelyn and Zodiark Saga” that poweredFF14’s narrative for the past decade. It also brings a host of new goodies for players to hunt in the form of mounts andcollectibleFinal Fantasy 14minions.
Minions play no role in combat inFinal Fantasy 14. Outside the Lord of Verminion minigameplayed in the Gold Saucer, they’re entirely cosmetic. However, they often have cute interactions with players and each other. The latest amusing reference found by players inFinal Fantasy 14involves two minions that were introduced alongsideDawntrailand are based onFinal Fantasy 9characters: Wind-Up Zidane and Wind-Up Garnet. When placed close together, the Wind-Up Zidane minion will bend its knee before Wind-Up Garnet, who then takes a step back, seemingly nonplussed by the sudden gesture. Players like Twitter user Scarletify were quick to showcase the interaction once it was found in-game.
Final Fantasy 14 Garnet and Zidane Minions Show Off Touching Interaction
The interaction between Wind-Up Garnet and Wind-Up Zidane evoked fond memoriesFinal Fantasy 9in its fans. Despite being decades old at this point, the classic RPG has been making headlines, thanks torecent rumors about aFinal Fantasy 9remakebeing in the works at Square Enix.Dawntrail’s game world contains a fewFF9references of its own, such as “Solution Nine,” a playable zone named after one of Zidane’s abilities.
The Garnet and Zidane minions aren’t the only minions inFF14with fun interactions. Some of thebestFinal Fantasy 14minionswill sit on a player’s shoulder, like the Gaelikitten. Some will play special animations when prompted by specific emotes or when summoned near certain other minions, like the Brina and Calca minions dancing with each other to replicate their behavior in the Antitower dungeon. Wind-Up Zidane and Wind-Up Garnet are notable not just for theFinal Fantasy 9reference, but for the fact that they’re both of limited availability. Wind-Up Zidane is a pre-order bonus forDawntrail, while Wind-Up Garnet is exclusive toDawntrail’s Collector’s Edition. Square Enix has not yet detailed if players who didn’t pre-order or don’t want to upgrade their copies ofDawntrailwill be able to acquire the minions for themselves.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
WHERE TO PLAY
Begin your adventure in FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm RebornCreate your very own Warrior of Light and embark upon a quest to deliver the land from an eternity of Darkness.Take to the skies in FINAL FANTASY XIV: HeavenswardTake your first steps in the reclusive nation of Ishgard, locked in a seemingly never-ending struggle with dragons.Rekindle the fires of hope in FINAL FANTASY XIV: StormbloodJourney to the East and rise up against the might of the Garlean Empire.Become the darkness in FINAL FANTASY XIV: ShadowbringersTravel to a world where light ushers all unto oblivion. But hope is not yet lost, for where there is light there is shadow.Journey to the very stars above in FINAL FANTASY XIV: EndwalkerA great calamity has been building - a second advent of the Final Days. The Warrior of Light must journey ever higher and stand firm as hope’s last bastion.Set forth for new horizons in FINAL FANTASY XIV: DawntrailBlue seas, clear skies, and boundless possibilities await! Explore uncharted territories with familiar faces as hope’s light dawns once more.
