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The following Tier List contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the main story ofFinal Fantasy 14.
WhileFinal Fantasy 14has had its fair share of triumphs and tragedies following its disastrous 1.0 release in 2010, the game has long since rebounded and released a handful of expansions on a two-to-three-year basis. While expansions have changedFinal Fantasy 14in various ways, some have had more positive influences than the rest.
Each expansion forFinal Fantasy 14was ranked based on its individual main stories, side content quality, and features that significantly impacted the game for years to come. AlthoughA Realm Rebornhas superseded the now-defunct version 1.0 as the “base game” ofFinal Fantasy 14, it has been included as an expansion to 1.0 for the sake of the list. At the time of writing,Final Fantasy 14’s current version was Patch 7.18, withPatch 7.2 scheduled to arrivein late March 2025. Ergo, any content released after Patch 7.2 was not considered.
S-Tier: The Best of the Best in FF14
Shadowbringers: With teases dating as far back asHeavensward,Shadowbringerstook players on a strange journey to a parallel “Shard” of Etheirys. As players explored the Light-plagued land of Norvrandt and uncovered secrets about the antagonistic Ascians, the Warrior of Light took up the paradoxical mantle of the Warrior of Darkness to stave off a potential Umbral Calamity that would wipe out life on both Etheirys and Norvrandt. In addition to its heart-wrenching main story,Shadowbringersalso brought the Eden raidsand the Sorrow of Werlyt trial series, which are both considered among the best in the game.
Shadowbringersalso introduced the female Viera and the male Hrothgar as playable character options, with the former quickly rising as one of the more popular choices. The Gunbreaker and Dancer Jobs were also included, along with reworks of Jobs such as Machinist and Dark Knight. During theShadowbringerspatch cycle,Final Fantasy 14’s Free Trial was greatly expandedto includeA Realm RebornandHeavensward. Coupled with a player-driven exodus fromWorld of Warcraft,Final Fantasy 14saw a massive player spike in 2020 and 2021. Despite some development challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,Shadowbringershas asserted itself as one of the most memorable experiences inFinal Fantasy 14, and the entireFinal Fantasyfranchise.
A-Tier: Top-Notch Content All Players Should Experience
Endwalker: Picking up whereShadowbringersimmediately left off,Endwalkerwas initially delayed by two weeks to allow for some added polish. However,Endwalkerwas worth the wait, as Patch 6.0 brought the decade-long saga of Hydaelyn and Zodiark to a decisive finale.Endwalkeralso added the male Viera as a playable race and introduced the Sage and the Reaper as new Jobs. Other Jobs like the Summoner and Monk received reworks at launch, while others like the Paladin, Ninja, and Machinist received adjustments after rounds of player feedback.
Although Patch 6.0 brought one long story to a close, the intermediary patches served as a love letter toFinal Fantasy 4, asplayers took on the villainous Golbezand his Archfiends as Trial bosses.Endwalkeralso introduced the Crystalline Conflict PVP mode and the Variant/Criterion Dungeon system to tide players over. However, not all ofEndwalkerwas a hit with players, as the exclusion of field operations similar to Eureka and Bozja was a point of player criticism. Additionally,Endwalker’s launch was marred by long queue times that could take players as long as an hour to get into the game. All in all,Endwalker’s main story and its heavy-hitting moments still give it a positive reputation.
Heavensward: AlthoughA Realm Rebornhad the unenviable task of picking up the pieces left by Final Fantasy 14’s 1.0 launch,Heavenswardsaw the game jump to new heights. With a memorable main story known for its political intrigue and gut-wrenching character deaths,Heavenswardset the tone for what players could expect in future expansions. Flying mounts were also introduced in the expansion, which allowed players to soar across some of Eorzea’s growing landscape.Heavenswardis the only expansion to launch with three new Jobs, as the Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist entered the fray.
Heavenswardalso gave players the option to play as the lizard-like Au Ra. However, there weren’t always clear skies duringHeavensward. The expansion’sfirst raid tier, Gordias, saw most raiders quit the game over its punishing difficulty and lack of rewards. Thankfully, the ensuing Midas and Creator tiers were comparatively more manageable, and the raid population gradually bounced back. WithHeavenswardturning 10 years old later in 2025, it remains to be seenifFinal Fantasy 14will do anything to mark the occasion.
B-Tier: Solid Expansions Worth the Time if Players Have It
Dawntrail:DawntrailheraldedFinal Fantasy 14’s first major graphical update sinceA Realm Reborn, which saw character and environment textures scaled to higher qualities, along with new lighting technology.Dawntrailalso added the long-awaited female Hrothgar as a playable race and introduced the Viper andthe Pictomancer as DPS-focused Jobs. After introducing players to the rambunctious warrior Wuk Lamat, the Warrior of Light sets sail for the western continent of Tural, also called the New World, to witness a Rite of Succession.
The main story ofDawntrailwas split into two distinct halves, with one focused on the aforementioned Rite, and the other on the sudden appearance of Alexandria, a technology-focused nation from another Shard. While both Wuk Lamat andDawntrail’s main story remain contentious points with players, the expansion’sbattle encounters from the Arcadionand the Echoes of Vana’diel raid series are held in high regard. Considering that Patch 7.2 and other updates are still in development, the jury is out on howDawntrailwill be remembered over time.
Stormblood: Between the war-torn kingdom of Ala Mhigo and the colorful environs of the Far Eastern lands of Othard,Stormbloodwas the first expansion to split the main story across two vastly different continents. However, this split approach was also apt for players' opinions of the story. Nonetheless,Stormblood’s side content may be among the best the game has to offer. Between the arrival of the Eureka field operation, the Omega raid series, anda surprising crossover withMonster Hunter: World, the post-game content ofStormbloodstill draws players in.
Stormbloodalso introduced two classicFinal FantasyJobs for DPS players to enjoy, with the Samurai and the Red Mage making their debuts. The game’s first Limited Job, the Blue Mage, was made available in later patches. The first Ultimate raids, difficult and punishing versions of past boss fights, made their debut inStormbloodfor players to test their mettle.
C-Tier: A Decent Intro to a Better Experience
A Realm Reborn: While parts of the Patch 2.0 story were a modified re-telling of past events, subsequent content updates saw the Warrior of Light and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn quash looming threats from Primals and Ascians alike. In Patch 2.5 and 2.55, the Scions were torn apart following an ill-fated banquet, which saw the apparent demise of several characters. Their fates would not be fully explored untilHeavensward, leaving players to speculate on a cliffhanger ending until their inevitable arrival in Ishgard.
However, the technical debt incurred byA Realm Reborn’s development continues to creep up in Final Fantasy 14, though pieces of the framework have been redone as time went on. AlthoughA Realm Rebornby itself is not a bad experience by any means, subsequent expansions toFinal Fantasy 14have simply fared better in the long run. But, withoutA Realm Rebornbeing the start ofFinal Fantasy 14’s turnaround, there would likely not be any further expansions at all.
