After a long wait, Shadowbringers is finally here, and with it comes a handful of new MSQ dungeons to attempt. If you’d like to get an idea of boss mechanics before attempting it yourself, our Holminster Switch dungeon guide for FFXIV Shadowbringers should help you out.
FFXIV Shadowbringers Holminster Switch Dungeon Guide
First Boss: Forgiven Dissonance
The first boss in Holminster Switch is the creepy looking Sin Eater we saw in the FFXIV Shadowbringers reveal trailer, but thankfully, it isn’t too much of a challenge.
The Path of Light is a group-wide AoE that should be healed through.
Brazen Bull summons four orbs on the field, which determine where the line AoEs appear. Forgiven Dissonance will also follow up with Thumbscrew, a large line AoE attack directed towards the tank. Your safe space will be pretty limited here, so get ready to move once you see Brazen Bull pop up on the cast bar.
After that, the boss will usually follow up with Wooden Horse, a large cone AoE that covers most of the field. Stick close to the boss’ sides to avoid damage.
Second Boss: Tesleen, the Forgiven
Scold’s Bridle is a group-wide AoE that should be healed through.
Fevered Flagellation places a mark on each player, with one to four circles above your head. The number of circles determines which player she’s going to hit first, and she’ll ram into each player in order. Players should spread out to avoid stacking damage.
Exorcise places a stack marker on one player. All players should stack together to spread the damage. When this is happening, she also summons four large circular AoEs around the arena.
Third Boss: Philia
Scavenger’s Daughter is a group-wide AoE that should be healed through.
Pendulum places a proximity marker on the tank. The tank should run to one side of the arena, while healers and DPS run over to the opposite side to minimize damage.
Chain Down targets one player and puts them in fetters before the boss preps a frontal cone AoE to hit them. The other three players have to attack the chains to free their teammate so that they have time to move out of the AoE.
Right Knout and Left Knout are huge side AoE attacks that need to be avoided. If you’re familiar with the Right/Left Handgonne moves from the Ivalice raids, or the Starboard/Larboard mechanics from the Omega raids, this should be fairly straightforward. But basically, Right Knout means Philia’s gonna hit everything on the right side of its body, and vice versa with Left Knout. Dodge accordingly.
Taphephobia places purple markers on all players. Spread out to avoid stacking damage.
Into the Light places an orange stack marker on one player. Stack together to spread the damage.
Fierce Beating is a rotating move that can look scary, but is actually pretty easy to dodge. Philia will rotate around in the center, smashing its fists in front of him, then initiate a back cone AoE attack immediately after. What you want to do is stick to its sides and move along with the rotation to avoid both the fists and the cone AoE attack.
And those are all the big boss moves you need to be aware of for Holminster Switch in FFXIV Shadowbringers. Be sure to search for Twinfinite for more tips and information on the game.
Here are a few other guides to get you started:
- How to Start Healer Role Quest
- How to Start Tank Role Quest
- Where the Sweet Smelling Perfume Is and How to Use It
