Heavensward was the first major expansion of Final Fantasy 14 and had many expectations foisted upon it. After the initial failure of the game, it was rebooted into a new game under the name of A Realm Reborn. The base game set up a storyline and a new world, but Heavensward's task was to build up on it and show that the game was sustainable and would have a lot that to keep players engaged. Heavensward is widely considered a successful expansion for the game, if not one of the best, for many reasons, including its captivating zones.
Final Fantasy 14: Every Endwalker Zone, Ranked
Final Fantasy 14's Endwalker expansion introduces 6 new zones into the game, offering diverse landscapes in which to explore and adventure.
The zones of Heavensward are located close to each other but are separated by multiple maps. Throughout the expansion, the players will visit Coerthas, Alabantha's Spine, and Dravania lands, ensuring a diverse locale that will not keep them bored. All Heavensward zones show the consequences of the Dragonsong War that ravaged the land during the expansion.
6 The Sea Of Clouds
Beyond The Sky
- Land of Vanu Vanu
- Untamed wilderness
- Bismarck's domain
The Sea of Clouds is one of the first zones the players will visit in Heavensward. A chain of floating isles partially claimed by Coerthans provides a stark contrast with the cold and unwelcoming snowy lands the players are familiar with. It is also home to a beast tribe named Vanu Vanu, which would make this zone a common place to visit for players who want to max out their reputations. Finally, it is home to a free-roaming primal named Bismarck.
The zone itself is quite friendly and welcoming by its atmosphere, making it a place where one can take a break and relax from the heavier themes of Heavensward until the Emperor of Garlemald arrives. Due to the zone's unique layout, some of its landmarks can only be reached when flying, making the newly-introduced mechanic of aether currents very prominent and motivating the player to extend their search for them.
5 The Dravanian Hinterlands
The Ruins Of Sharlayan
- A land of mystery
- The home of the goblins
- A trove of knowledge
Despite being a part of Dravania, this zone does not contain any dragons and instead introduces races and concepts that weren't particularly explored before. It appears in the later stage of the main scenario quest as the protagonists search for an opportunity to pierce the veil of Azys Lla. The key to this mystery can only be found in this zone, along with the ruins of the once great Sharlayan nation, shown by the town of Idyllshire being claimed by goblins.
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The zone itself has a mesmerizing atmosphere. There are many natural vistas to find, showing the beauty of Dravanian land, but there is barely any civilization outside of Idyllshire, which makes the zone feel remote and engrosses the player with the feeling that its glory days are long over. Many ancient Sharlayan relics exist to explore, creating a mystery about the reclusive nation long before its proper appearance in Endwalker.
4 The Dravanian Forelands
The No Man's Land
- A land of man and dragon
- The mountainous path
- Home of the gnath hive
The Dravanian Forelands is one of the places the player will visit during their journey towards Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr. Some would remember interactions between unlikely allies Ysayle and Estinien, while others would think of a perilous battle with Ravana that occurred in this zone. However, most importantly, it shows a place where dragons and Ishgardians live close together with constant skirmishes, enforcing the atmosphere of war.
The zone itself is a grassland with multiple forests and lakes, showing a region that remains lush despite the warring factions that grip it. The zone also shows different types of architecture, starting with a commonly known Ishgardian settlement, followed by the hives of the insectoid race of Gnath, and finally showing a glimpse at the stony ruins many dragons house themselves in. The atmosphere of the zone changes in the patches as it becomes a staging ground for newfound peace.
3 Azys Lla
The Relict Of An Empire
- The floating laboratory
- The prison of the Triad
- A technological wonder
Azys Lla is the final zone of the expansion. It was kept shrouded in mystery throughout the marketing campaign, and few could predict how much of a far cry it would be from the style the first few Heavensward zones maintained. Azys Lla is a significant place in lore as it belonged to Amon, an enigmatic figure responsible for the Fourth Umbral calamity and other cataclysms. It holds the power of the Warring Triad of primals, and that's why multiple factions seek to reach it.
The zone is a chain of floating islands like the Sea of Clouds. Still, unlike the nature-filled Sea, those are completely overtaken by Allagan technology and constructs, creating an oppressive, tense atmosphere. Almost everyone and everything in this technological marvel is an enemy, and there are plenty of mutant creations devised by the Allagans back during their glory days. A fitting zone for concluding the expansion, Azys Lla will prove an unforgettable experience for the players.
2 Coerthas Western Highlands
The Broken Domain
- The ruins of the Ishgardian nation
- A frozen land
- The hideout of the heretics
The zone that will be immediately familiar is the Coerthas Western Highlands. While those were inaccessible back in ARR, there were other parts of Coerthas, a land shrouded in snow after a calamity, that the players had an opportunity to explore. This place is very similar, but it is also the region that bore the brunt of a calamity and has only recently been reclaimed. Its untamed mountains house multiple strongholds for both Ishgardian forces and the heretics.
The zone's atmosphere is full of gloom and despair as the players walk among the ruins of a once-great civilization. One of the most notable places in this zone is the Dusk Vigil, ruins of an old castle that was overtaken by undead and destroyed by cataclysm. The traces of civilization are incredibly scarce in the Highlands, making it perfect for heretics to use as a hiding place, most notably their enigmatic leader, Lady Iceheart.
1 Churning Mists
The Heart Of Dravania
- Home of the elder dragons
- Moogle abode
- The peak of the land
Churning Mists are the highest point of Dravania, a destination of the journey that spans multiple levels of the expansion's story. This zone houses two of the most powerful dragons on Etheirys, Hraesvelgr and Nidhogg. The two brothers conflicted about dealing with Ishgardian aggression and never saw eye-to-eye. The protagonists want to turn the tide and negotiate with the dragons, although Estinien is ready to take measures to end the war.
The zone is reminiscent of the Dravanian Forelands but far more ephemeral. There is little civilization in those mountainous floating isles that make them seem like the dragon domain that they are. Many hauntingly beautiful ruins, such as Aery or Hraesvelgr's domain, show occasional remnants of elder civilizations. It also houses an isle home to a moogle tribe that is instrumental in aiding the heroes' journey towards stopping the Dragonsong War.
Final Fantasy 14 (2010)
- Released
- August 27, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- MMORPG
