FFXIV Pilgrim’s Traverse Guide: Deep Dungeon 1–100

Have you ever gazed across Il Mheg’s ethereal landscapes and wondered what mysteries lie beneath? Pilgrim’s Traverse reveals those secrets through an intense 100-floor roguelite experience teeming with deadly traps, hidden treasures, and a climactic boss battle that tests even seasoned raiders. This comprehensive guide walks you through unlocking the dungeon, mastering its systems, optimizing your pomander usage, and claiming the ultimate rewards. We’ve packed this guide with quick-reference tables, actionable checklists, and proven strategies for both solo adventurers and coordinated parties.

Forget filler content—every paragraph delivers practical value. We maintain straightforward language, provide tested advice, and structure information for maximum clarity. By the conclusion, you’ll understand the dungeon’s flow, know exactly when to conserve or consume your pomanders, and be prepared for the optional Final Verse (Quantum) challenge that awaits the bold.

As the fourth installment in the Deep Dungeon series, Pilgrim’s Traverse emerges in the Dawntrail expansion (patch 7.35). This underground adventure unfolds beneath Il Mheg, weaving narrative threads around the Church of the First Light with assistance from your fae companion Feo Ul. The dungeon accommodates 1-4 players without role restrictions, and the entire 100-floor journey now supports matchmaking. Each level segment is called a stone, culminating in a boss encounter at stone 99 followed by a reward chamber at stone 100. Enhanced checkpoint mechanics significantly reduce the frustration of failed runs.

Essential Details

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Gaining access to Pilgrim’s Traverse requires minimal preparation but involves specific prerequisites. Complete the main story progression, meet the level requirement, and interact with key NPCs to begin your journey.

Prerequisites Checklist

Pro tip: Complete the Palace of the Dead requirement early to avoid last-minute rushing. Once you’ve finished the quest and spoken with Vanthau, create a new save file and you’re ready to begin your descent.

Each 10-floor segment functions as an independent expedition with a consistent pattern: enter, survey threats, eliminate required enemies, activate the exit pylon, and advance to the next section.

Progression Systems

You commence at level 91 on stone 1, gaining levels organically as you defeat enemies—typically reaching level 100 around stone 21 during your initial run. External job levels are irrelevant; each attempt resets this internal progression system.

Your equipment is replaced by Illumed Aetherpool Arm and Armor, which scale independently. Silver chests provide opportunities to increase both Arm and Armor by +1 (occasionally +2), with a maximum cap of +99/+99. Higher Aetherpool ratings significantly reduce encounter difficulty in later stages.

Leveling Progression

Navigation and Time Management

Floor layouts procedurally generate each attempt, with rooms connected by corridors and concealed traps throughout. Clear enemies until the message “The path to the next floor is open” appears, then activate the Pylon of Passage. You receive 60 minutes per 10-floor segment—ample time if you maintain efficient movement.

Boss Encounters and Progress Recovery

Anticipate boss battles at predetermined intervals, with a special confrontation on stone 99. Stone 100 serves as a treasure room concluding your run. While team wipes eject you from the instance, save points every 10 floors allow continuation. Additional starting points at floors 51 and 71 significantly mitigate the penalty for failed attempts.

Special Mechanics

• Votive Candelabras: Interacting with these applies a boon or bane to the subsequent floor. Beneficial effects can dramatically enhance your run, while detrimental ones require preparation.
• Juniper Incense: An uncommon silver chest item that summons Feo Ul for assistance on the current floor. Reserve this for critical situations.

Votive Effects and Countermeasures

Environmental Hazards

Encounter classic Deep Dungeon threats including hidden landmines, luring circles, and Silence tiles. Floors may also feature enchantments such as Gloom or No Items.

Hazard Management Guide

Party Formation Options

You can either queue with random players or assemble a fixed group with friends. The complete 1-100 progression now supports matchmaking. Matched parties may require minimum Aetherpool levels for higher floors to ensure adequate preparation. Fixed groups and solo runs bypass these requirements.

Entry Mode Comparison

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Pomanders fundamentally shape your dungeon experience. These crucial items primarily drop from bronze coffers and influence every strategic decision. You can carry up to three of each type, so utilize them proactively—never conclude a run with unused stacks.

Comprehensive Pomander Reference

Effect durations follow dungeon specifications. “Next floor” effects activate after using the pylon.

Pro Tip: When at maximum capacity (3) for any pomander type and encounter another, immediately consume one to collect the new item. This habit prevents waste and maximizes your resource potential.

Optimize Your Pace

While time permits exploration, it’s not unlimited. Execute efficient pulls, progress systematically between rooms, and avoid opening every bronze chest on hazardous floors. When the pylon activates, evaluate whether additional treasure justifies the risk—on upper stones, the answer is often negative.

Early Aetherpool Development

Lower-floor silver chests present minimal risk. Open them consistently. Many groups repeatedly run stones 21-30 to efficiently farm +2 upgrades. Target +60–70 by mid-game and push higher before attempting the 90s.

Potion Management

Pilgrim’s Potions provide a 30-second regeneration effect with frequent reuse capability. Accumulate them throughout runs and acquire additional potions through Illumed Aetherpool Glass trades. Solo climbers should stock 100–200 before serious attempts. Maintain constant regeneration during difficult encounters and coordinate with your abilities. Remember that potions share cooldowns with offensive tinctures—plan your activation windows accordingly.

Enemy Knowledge and Adaptation

From the 30s onward, certain enemies become significantly more dangerous. Monitor cast bars, respect gaze mechanics, and maintain distance from patrols. When encounters appear risky, utilize Flight, Witching, or strategic line-of-sight pulls to bypass threats. Experience consistently triumphs over recklessness.

Solo Strategy: Floor-by-Floor Problem Solving

Immediately assess buff/debuff conditions upon entering each floor. If No Items activates, either use Serenity or selectively engage only safe enemies. Execute single-target pulls and maintain emergency pomanders. Regular breaks improve performance. A composed mindset outperforms anxious execution.

Raising Pomander Priority

When available, activate Raising immediately. This safeguard can prevent run-ending failures. Beyond floor 81, these pomanders cease dropping, so preserve remaining charges and exercise heightened caution.

Team Coordination

Communicate intentions clearly: “I’ll use Safety on this floor,” “Activating Strength for the boss,” “Witching ready if we trigger a lure.” This coordination prevents redundant usage and maximizes resource efficiency.

Situational Pomander Guide

Pilgrim’s Traverse rewards both persistence and skill. You’ll earn experience, gil, and tomestones while pursuing rare treasures, prestigious titles, and an impressive mount.

Treasure Hoards and Light Sacks

Concealed hoards reside beneath floors, revealing themselves when Intuition is active. Excavation locations display on your minimap once the pomander detects them.

Deliver sacks to Tyr Marn in Il Mheg for appraisal. Anticipate cosmetics, materia, currency items, and exclusive collectibles. Some hoard rewards integrate with the dungeon’s weapon and accessory progression paths.

Milestone Rewards

Specific floors guarantee valuable rewards. Glass fuels potions; books unlock premium prizes.

Illumed Aetherpool Glass exchanges for Pilgrim’s Potions and other miscellaneous items. Illumed Invocation represents the book required for the endgame accessory collection.

Accessories, Mount, and Collection Progress

Eight books constitute the complete collection.

Subsequent clears accelerate significantly thanks to the floor 71 starting point. This checkpoint effectively halves the time required to collect all eight books.

Weapon Glamours

Throughout your runs, you’ll acquire items related to the dungeon’s weapon series. These weapons feature the distinctive First Light aesthetic and serve as coveted glamour targets for collectors. Hoards, weekly objectives, and associated currencies contribute to this progression path.

Weekly Challenge Log Integration

Pilgrim’s Traverse introduces new entries to the Challenge Log. Completing milestones such as floors 20, 30, 50, 70, and 100 during the weekly reset period grants Luminous Oil and Sacks of First Light. Convert these resources into valuable items at designated vendors. This provides additional rewards for activities you’re already pursuing.

Whether you prefer party progression or solo challenges, titles commemorate your journey through Pilgrim’s Traverse.

Few FFXIV challenges match the purity of a solo Deep Dungeon clear. The Enlightened title demonstrates your ability to maintain composure across all 100 stones.

Optimal Job Selection

Jobs featuring self-healing, crowd control, and consistent performance excel in this environment.

• Red Mage provides burst damage, Vercure healing, and emergency Dualcast Raise capability.
• Warrior offers exceptional survivability through Bloodwhetting and potent self-healing.
• Paladin and Gunbreaker navigate dangerous floors with robust defensive toolkits.
• Reaper maintains strong self-sustain while delivering substantial damage.

Select the job you’ve mastered thoroughly. Comfort with your toolkit outweighs theoretical optimizations in encounters lasting multiple hours.

Preparation Essentials

• Pomander strategy: Pre-determine which items you’ll expend on problematic pulls (typically Witching) and which you’ll reserve for bosses (Strength, Steel, Haste).
• Pilgrim’s Potions: Accumulate 100–200. Maintain continuous regeneration during potentially overwhelming encounters.
• Experience advantage: Complete at least one full party run to floor 100. Familiarity with upper-floor patterns reduces surprises during solo attempts.

Execution Strategy

• Immediate assessment of floor effects before proceeding.
• Strategic use of Sight or Safety on particularly hazardous floors.
• Line-of-sight techniques to split pulls at doorways.
• Serenity deployment for No Items or problematic enchantment combinations.
• Intuition activation only when you can afford the time investment.

Time Management

Target each boss encounter with at least 10 minutes remaining. If falling behind, you can reset a floor set by exiting and re-entering from the last save point, though this consumes valuable time. Maintaining steady progression and avoiding unnecessary combat proves more effective.

Mental Preparation

Expect elevated stress during the 90s. Take brief pauses in starting rooms if experiencing tension. Regulate your breathing, verify keybind positions, and refocus your attention. The final segment tests endurance more than raw damage output.

Solo Preparation Checklist

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defeating the stone 99 boss unlocks a separate duty featuring the same encounter. This presents two paths: practice or extreme challenge—your choice determines the experience.

The Final Verse (Normal)

This mode allows you to rechallenge the floor 99 boss in a 1-4 player instance without repeating the full 98-floor climb. It provides an opportunity to master mechanics and patterns. Defeating this version awards Grief’s Anointed. Treat it as either a training ground or a quick victory celebration.

The Final Verse (Quantum)

Quantum mode enables your party to spend offerings to enhance the boss difficulty. Each offering increases the challenge intensity, creating a four-player “mini-ultimate” experience.

Quantum Configuration Overview

Offering Types and Effects

Every 5 offerings typically introduces new mechanics or intensifies existing checks. Groups often begin with lower difficulty settings, gradually increasing toward 40 as proficiency develops. Some dedicated teams immediately attempt 40/40 and endure the learning process.

Quantum Reward Structure

Checkpoint System

Pylon and Timer Management

What’s the typical clear time?

Duration varies based on party efficiency and exploration choices, but the 71–100 segment significantly reduces repeat clear times after your initial success.

Can I use matchmaking for the entire climb?

Yes. Matchmaking now supports the complete 1-100 progression. However, higher floors may enforce Aetherpool minimum requirements to ensure party readiness.

Do Raising pomanders appear in the final floors?

No. These pomanders cease dropping beyond floor 81, making preservation of existing charges crucial.

Is the final boss exclusively on floor 99?

Correct. Stone 100 functions as a reward chamber that concludes your run.

Are Votive Candelabras always beneficial?

Not necessarily. While beneficial effects can significantly enhance your run, negative outcomes can create substantial challenges. Maintain Sight/Safety/Serenity to mitigate common drawbacks.

Pilgrim’s Traverse refines the Deep Dungeon formula with improved accessibility and enhanced challenge options. You benefit from forgiving checkpoint systems, complete matchmaking support for casual play, and sufficient difficulty to satisfy veteran players. The core gameplay loop remains engaging: scout, clear, activate, and advance—supported by strategic pomander usage, potion management, and thorough preparation.

Pursue hoards when conditions permit. Prioritize early Aetherpool development. Maintain Raising protection until its disappearance from the loot pool. For solo attempts, maintain composure between floors and focus on immediate challenges rather than distant anxieties. If you seek additional difficulty after conquering floor 100, the Final Verse (Quantum) offers scalable intensity from “challenging” to “extreme.”

Enter the illuminated depths beneath Il Mheg and craft your legend stone by stone. When the church falls silent and the stone 99 boss collapses, you’ll recognize that victory stems not from luck, but from methodical execution, intelligent resource management, and unwavering determination. This is how you earn your books, claim your mount, collect your titles—and, if you dare, achieve The Enlightened.

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