Eorzea's Quirky Crew: Why FFXIV's Allied Society Quests Are Still a Must-Do (Beyond the Daily Grind)
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Dive into FFXIV's Allied Society Quests, formerly 'beast tribes,' to unlock a treasure trove of mounts, minions, and emotes while helping Eorzea's diverse denizens, proving daily chores can actually be genuinely rewarding and expand your game experience.
Alright mate, buckle up, because we're diving into a corner of Final Fantasy XIV that might, at first glance, seem like just another daily chore list. But trust me, as someone who’s accidentally turned entire digital ecosystems into teacups (don’t ask), sometimes the most unassuming paths lead to the coolest treasures. We’re talking about FFXIV’s ‘Allied Society Quests’ – the former 'beast tribes,' remember them? – and why, despite the name change, they're still absolutely worth your precious Eorzean adventuring time.
Now, before you go groaning about grinding, let's set the record straight. While these do involve a fair bit of daily dedication, they're less about endless treadmill running and more about investing in relationships with Eorzea's wonderfully weird and diverse denizens. Think of it as a low-stakes, high-reward social sim, where instead of wooing NPCs with flowers, you're... well, mostly punching things or making stuff for them. Fair dinkum, right?
This whole shindig got a rather excellent breakdown over at Polygon by Julia Lee, who kindly detailed all the 'where' and 'how' for getting stuck into these often-overlooked quests. You can find the full rundown on Polygon's site, but I've been tinkering with this story all morning, and bloody hell, it's wilder than it first appeared in terms of just how much good stuff is locked behind these friendly faces.
**So, What Even *Are* These 'Allied Societies'?**
Well, for the uninitiated, or those who just blinked and missed the name change, Allied Society Quests are your daily dose of do-gooding across Eorzea and beyond. You pick up a handful of quests (up to 12 a day, with each tribe offering three), help out various non-human (and sometimes human-ish) factions, and in return, you net yourself some reputation and specialised currency. It’s a pretty neat feedback loop: more quests, more rep, more currency, more rewards. Simple as that.
What’s genuinely clever here, though, is the variety. Some tribes are all about smacking baddies – great for your combat job XP. Others want you to channel your inner Bob the Builder, focusing on crafting and gathering. So, you can mix and match to suit your mood or whatever job you're trying to level up. It's like Square Enix looked at the concept of 'daily quests' and thought, 'What if we made it actually *fun* and *useful*?' A pretty radical notion, eh?
You'll be doing everything from collecting specific materials to riding mounts to a location (sometimes with a specific objective, just to spice things up a bit), or even participating in FATEs for the older, A Realm Reborn-era tribes. And yes, if you’re tackling the Ixali crafting quests, you *will* need to equip those Ehcatl Wristgloves. It's a charmingly specific quirk that adds a bit of flavour, like remembering to wear your lucky socks before a raid.
Once you reach 'bloodsworn' rank with all the tribes in a particular expansion, you unlock special 'intersocietal' quests. These aren't dailies, mind you, but proper story side quests that tie everything together and often come with exclusive emotes or other shiny bits. Think of it as the grand finale of your reputation-building saga – a nice little narrative bow on top.
**The 'Why Bother?': Treasure Hoards and Glorious Grinds**
Alright, let’s be honest. We do dailies for the rewards, don't we? And this is where the Allied Society quests absolutely shine brighter than a freshly polished Primal weapon. We're not just talking about a few bits of gil or some low-tier gear. Oh no, FFXIV pulls out the stops for its loyal allies.
We’re talking mounts, minions, orchestrion rolls (because who doesn't want epic battle music for their pad?), emotes, and even those snazzy framer's kits for your character portrait. If you're a completionist, a collector, or just someone who *needs* that adorable Wind-up Pixie minion, these quests are non-negotiable. I mean, a flying Cloud Mallow mount from the Moogles? A freakin’ Bomb Palanquin from the Kobolds? Or the absolute legend that is the Mikoshi mount from the Namazu – a giant palanquin carried by fish-folk? Pure gold, I tell ya. And let’s not forget the Lali Hop emote from the Dwarves; it’s a tiny masterpiece of joy.
Later tribes even throw in exclusive dye colours, furnishings to deck out your player housing (or Island Sanctuary), and unique glamour pieces. They’re basically mini-content updates disguised as daily chores. Plus, some of the currency can even help you snag items for your Heavensward Anima relic weapon, if you're still chasing those legendary glows. And occasionally, these exclusive rewards pop up in Mogtome events, offering a lifeline for those who can't face the grind for *just one more* mount.
**Your Treasure Map: How to Unlock Eorzea's Allies**
Now, unlocking all these friendly (and sometimes grumpy) faces isn't just a walk in the park; it's more like an epic journey across several expansions. You'll need to have completed the level 41 main scenario quest 'In Pursuit of the Past' as a baseline, and then your chosen combat, crafting, or gathering job needs to be at the appropriate level for the specific tribe you’re chasing. Look for those tell-tale blue quest markers with a plus sign – they're your gateway to these new friendships.
From the original A Realm Reborn tribes like the combat-focused Amalj'aa and Sylphs, to the crafting Ixali, all the way through to the latest Dawntrail additions like the Pelupelu, Mamool Ja, and the recently updated Yok Huy in patch 7.35 (who are, quite frankly, adorable with their frosty neighbours vibe), there's a huge roster. Each expansion brings its own set of quirky societies, adding layers of lore and new collectibles. You'll be delving into storylines that expand the world, from helping Moogles (of course you are) to aiding the mysterious Omicrons in Ultima Thule. It's a lot, sure, but each unlock feels like discovering a new branch on Eorzea’s sprawling family tree.
Honestly, the sheer scale of the content here is something else. It speaks volumes about FFXIV's commitment to giving players meaningful optional activities that deepen their connection to the world. It’s not just about hitting max level and raiding; it’s about becoming a genuine part of the tapestry of Eorzea.
So, if you’ve been on the fence about tackling these – or maybe just ignored them for years – now’s the perfect time to dip your toes in. Who knows what glorious mount or cheeky minion you might stumble upon? Happy questing, adventurers!
Tags: FFXIV, MMORPG, Daily Quests, Collectibles, Mounts and Minions
Original article: Polygon