Final Fantasy XVI is no small game, but for those who want more, Square Enix has also rolled out a pair of story expansions for the RPG – last year’s Echoes of the Fallen, and the just-released The Rising Tide. But how does one play this new DLC? It isn’t a simple matter of just hopping into the new content from the main menu, there are some pre-requisites. Also, how leveled up should your party be before you take on this new challenge? Don’t worry, we have the answers for you…
Warning: The following article may contain minor Final Fantasy XVI spoilers.
In order to access the The Rising Tide content, you need to have completed the “Where There’s a Will” and “Priceless” side quests from the main game. Doing so will allow Joshua and Jill to join your party full-time, even between missions. Both Where There’s a Will and Priceless can only be accessed right near the end of the main campaign, once you’ve instigated the “Back to their Origin” main story quest (the last one of the campaign) but haven’t actually traveled to Origin yet.
During this window, you’ll be able to kick off the Where There’s a Will sidequest by talking to Joshua near the entrance to the Hideaway.
Once you’ve completed Where There’s a Will, you’ll be able to start the Priceless sidequest by going to the Reading Table and checking out the “Concerned for Jill” message.
If you can’t access either Where there’s a Will or Priceless, you might not have completed the prerequisite sidequests. In order to access Where There’s a Will, you need to have completed “Phoenix, Heal Thyself” and in order to access Priceless you need to have completed “Cut From the Cloth.”
Okay! So, if you’ve completed Where There’s a Will and Priceless, head to Clive’s Chambers and check out your reading table. There should be a new message from a mysterious sender. It seems the Leviathan Eikon is still out there in the world, and its Dominant is in trouble. Once you’ve read the note, head off to Northreach to get The Rising Tide campaign going.
As for what level you need to be to tackle it, I’d suggest you be around level 50, as that’s the minimum level the enemies you’ll face will be. You may even want to be a level or two above 50, as some of The Rising Tide boss fights are pretty stiff competition.
Final Fantasy XVI can be played on PS5. The Rising Tide it out now and can be purchased for $20 a la carte or as part FF16’s $25 Expansion Pass, which also includes the first update, “Echoes of the Fallen.” You can check out Wccftech’s other Final Fantasy XVI guides here.
