Ambuscade is a instanced dungeon battlefield in which players team up against the monster-of-the-month in one of two battlefields.

Getting Started[]

First, activate the Records of Eminence quest Stepping into an Ambuscade, then talk to Gorpa-Masorpa at Mhaura (G-9) for an explanation. To enter any Ambuscade battlefield all players in the party will need a key item corresponding to the desired battlefield.

Ambuscade Primer Volume One grants entry to Intense Ambuscade, usually a more challenging encounter requiring team tactics.
Ambuscade Primer Volume Two grants entry to Normal Ambuscade, usually a more solo-friendly encounter.

The selected battlefield has an effect on the rewards for successful completion.

Obtaining Key Items[]

You obtain the Key Items with Records of Eminence quests. There are two different quests per Key Item to activate: a non-repeatable daily quest, and a repeatable quest. The daily objectives for both Volume 1 and Volume 2 require one monster be killed of the specified type. The repeatable objective either volume requires three experience-yielding kills.

Monsters in Dynamis, Legion, and Abyssea zones are not counted for any Ambuscade objectives.

The Ambuscade Tome[]

Once everyone in the party has the corresponding key item, the party leader then registers the party at the Ambuscade Tome right next to Gorpa-Masorpa. At registration you choose the difficulty level of the selected Ambuscade type and inscribe your name into the tome, assigning you a numbered place in line. Page numbers are called in a zone-wide system message "Page ### of the tome flares up!" and when it's your turn the party leader gets a system message notification and a chime. They may interact again with the Tome within two minutes to enter the battlefield. The Tome also has an option to auto-transport your party to the battlefields as soon as your number is announced.

Everyone's Key Item is lost upon completion of a successful battle.
Registration is canceled if the party leader leaves Mhaura.

Rewards[]

Successful completion of an Ambuscade battlefield rewards two forms of currency: Hallmarks and Gallantry. Amounts earned vary between Volumes 1 and 2 and with the selected difficulty level. Gallantry earned further varies with the total number of party members, excluding Trusts. Solo players do not earn Gallantry. Using an Abdhaljs Seal will triple the currency rewards for a single win.

The Ambuscade Gallantry Campaign doubles Gallantry rewards once per day, resetting at Japanese Midnight.
Hallmarks, Total Hallmarks, and Gallantry are reset to zero every monthly content update.

Ambuscade Primer Volume One[]

Intense Ambuscade

Difficulty	Hallmarks Earned	Gallantry Earned 2~6 members
Very Difficult	3600	300 ~ 1500
Difficult	2400	240 ~ 1200
Normal	1200	180 ~ 900
Easy	600	80 ~ 400
Very Easy	200	20 ~ 100

Ambuscade Primer Volume Two[]

Regular Ambuscade

Difficulty	Hallmarks Earned	Gallantry Earned 2~6 members
Very Difficult	300	30 ~ 150
Difficult	250	25 ~ 125
Normal	200	20 ~ 100
Easy	150	15 ~ 75
Very Easy	100	10 ~ 50

Redeeming Hallmarks and Gallantry[]

Spend your accumulated Hallmarks and Gallantry with Gorpa-Masorpa, who offers a limited stock of rewards that is reset at every monthly content update, usually around the first or second Thursday of each month. Hallmarks, Total Hallmarks, and Gallantry are reset to 0 upon each monthly update.

Ambuscade rewards are organized into materials used to reforge REMA weaponry, JSE Capes and materials used to augment them, and coupons redeemable for Ambuscade Armor, Ambuscade Weapons, and the materials required to upgrade them.

JSE Capes[]

You may buy up to 3 JSE Cape Vouchers per month for 500 Hallmarks each.

The materials for augmenting these capes can be bought with either Hallmarks or Gallantry, with different prices and stock limits.

Ambuscade Armor[]

Hallmarks can be used to purchase coupons good for 1 NQ piece of equipment. Gallantry can be used to purchase coupons good for 1 HQ piece of equipment.

The materials Abdhaljs Metal and Abdhaljs Fiber are used by Gorpa-Masorpa to upgrade NQ armor to HQ, and HQ armor to HQ+2 armor. These materials are available either for Hallmarks or Gallantry.

Ambuscade Weapons[]

An Ambuscace Voucher: Weapon can be bought for 5000 Hallmarks, and exchanged with Gorpa-Masorpa for any Tokko Weapon. From there adventurers may upgrade this weapon using materials sold for Hallmarks and Gallantry.

Total Hallmarks[]

This special tally of total accumulated Hallmarks is used to obtain items and equipment from a special menu. Once an item is redeemed, it disappears. Total Hallmarks are not consumed, but represent an ever filling pool that grants access to more expensive rewards from this list:

Total Hallmarks are the only currency accepted for Ambuscade Ring coupons. The coupons also alternate between Vouchers and Tokens every content update.
100: Abdhaljs Seal
130: Ambuscade Chit: Footgear
170: Super Reraiser
220: Ambuscade Chit: Handgear
280: Remedy x 12
370: Ambuscade Chit: Headgear
480: Caliber Ring
620: Ambuscade Chit: Leggear
800: Facility Ring
1,050: Ambuscade Chit: Bodygear
1,200: Ambuscade Voucher: Replica
1,350: Ambuscade Chit: Ring
1,800: Ambuscade Chit: Footgear +1
2,300: Abdhaljs Metal
2,300: Abdhaljs Fiber
3,000: Ambuscade Chit: Handgear +1
3,900: Abdhaljs Metal
3,900: Abdhaljs Fiber
5,000: Ambuscade Chit: Headgear +1
6,500: Abdhaljs Metal
6,500: Abdhaljs Fiber
8,500: Ambuscade Chit: Leggear +1
11,000: Abdhaljs Metal
11,000: Abdhaljs Fiber
14,500: Ambuscade Chit: Bodygear +1
20,000: Abdhaljs Metal
20,000: Abdhaljs Fiber
25,000: SP Gobbie Key

September 2024[]

Volume 1: Qutrub[]

Face off against the Bozzetto Bigwig and its summoned allies.

Like all Qutrub, the Bigwig and its allies take increased damage, but have very large health pools to compensate. At certain health percentages, the Bigwig will summon waves of allies in numbers dependent on the difficulty.^[1] The fight ends as soon as the Bigwig is defeated.

Encountered Foes[]

Bozzetto Bigwig: Possesses mostly THF traits. Can cast Ninjutsu. Only foe present at start.
Bozzetto Tormenter: DRK with THF traits. Summoned during the battle.
Bozzetto Astrologer: BLM with THF traits. Summoned during the battle.

Difficulty Settings[]

As the fight progresses, the Bigwig will summon (and resummon) allies depending on the difficulty.

Very Difficult:
Five allies are summoned:

Bozzetto Tormenter (DRK) x3
Bozzetto Astrologer (BLM) x2

Difficult:
Four allies are summoned:

Bozzetto Tormenter (DRK) x2
Bozzetto Astrologer (BLM) x2

Normal:
Three allies are summoned:^[2]

Bozzetto Tormenter (DRK) x2
Bozzetto Astrologer (BLM) x1

Easy:
Two allies are summoned:

Bozzetto Tormenter (DRK)
Bozzetto Astrologer (BLM)

Very Easy:
One ally is summoned, and only one wave comes:^[3]

Bozetto Tormenter (DRK)

Battle Mechanics[]

Passive Traits
All Foes:

Evasion Bonus. On Very Difficult, this gives the boss 1464 total Evasion^[4]
Triple Attack
All foes share the Qutrub traits of taking about 10x damage from all sources.
All foes are immune to sleep, petrification, weight, and bind.
All foes are affected by damage multipliers when attacking the same target
- All three: 200% damage
- Two: 20% damage
All foes gain 100TP/3 seconds when all 3 are attacking the same target.
All foes are affected by a 90% attack penalty when all 3 are attacking separate targets.

Bigwig:

Resistant to sources of Evasion Down, Magic Evasion Down, Silence, and dark-based Dispel.

Abilities Used
The Bigwig's abilities change throughout this four-phase fight.

100~80%: The Bigwig wields a great katana.

Animating Wail - AOE Haste on nearby allies. Overwrites Slow.
Mangle - Multiple physical hits. Absorbed by 3 shadows.
Leaping Cleave - Single target Physical Damage + Stun. Absorbed by 1 shadow.

80~60%: The Bigwig's weapon breaks once, and attacks barehanded.

Summons adds according to difficulty. Adds appear one at a time, always in alternating DRK -> BLM order. On higher difficulties the adds appear much more rapidly. Gains the following abilities:
Hex Palm - Single target Drain. Removes shadows.
Spinal Cleave - Single target physical damage. Absorbed by 1 shadow

60%~30%: The Bigwig unsheathes its dagger.

Additional Effect: Death on normal melee swings. Defeating one of its allies during the previous phase reduces the activation rate. Defeating all of its allies nullifies this effect.^[5] Triple Attack rate reportedly increases^[6]. Gains the following abilities:
Unblest Jambia - Moderate AOE Drain, removes all shadows.
Gen'ei Ryodan - Front AOE Physical damage + Stun + Dispels multiple buffs. Pierces shadows.

50%:

Will use Perfect Dodge

30%~0%: The dagger breaks, and the Bigwig fights barehanded again.

Resummons all defeated adds (Except on Very Easy). Gains the following abilities, preferring Reinforce and Unblest Jambia over any others:
Reinforce (Very Difficult Only) - AOE drain to all targets in range. Amount drained based on % of current HP (~70%). Cannot drain more HP than targets have. Boss gains 100 times the total HP drained by this ability. Pierces shadows. Instant KO on players below 10% health.
Genku Bakken - Powerful (33k) single-target physical hit + hate reset. Blocked by 1 shadow.^[7]
Enforce - Single target version of Reinforce. Pierces shadows. Instant KO on players below 10% health.
Triple Reversal - Use is enabled when 3 or more foes are targeting the same player.^[8]. Deals damage relative to amount of damage taken by the Bigwig^[9]. Its damage may not be mitigated in any way. May be outranged by a dedicated kiter. Mewing Lullaby to reset enemy TP will also block its usage.

Tormenters:

Fortifying Wail - AOE Protect on allies in range.
SP Ability - Blood Weapon
Triple Reversal

Bozzetto Astrologers:

Triple Reversal
SP Ability - Manafont

Spells Cast Bigwig:

Utsusemi: San, granting it 9 shadows. Only used during the final phase of the fight.

Astrologers:

Elemental Tier IV and -ga III spells
Poisonga II
Bio II
Sleepga, Sleep II, Sleepga II
Bind
Ice Spikes

Where to get your Primer:

Caedarva Mire: Caedarva Mire, Map 2 (G-6), near a Survival Guide. Long respawns. Create alliances with other parties to reduce congestion.
Caedarva Mire: ~5-6 Lamia Idolaters a short trip away from the Dvucca Isle Staging Point, look for them starting around Caedarva Mire, Map 2 (I-10).
Periqia: CS Wildcat Badge Assault: Operation: Snake Eyes has 5 Qutrub at the start of the mission
Arrapago Reef: Some around Arrapago Reef, Map 2 (F-10) and Arrapago Reef, Map 2 (G-10). Takes about as long to get there from the Survival Guide as the Ilrusi Atoll Staging Point.

Volume 2: Dragons[]

Face off against the Hydra Alluttu.

Encountered Foes[]

Alluttu

The fight ends when Alluttu is defeated.

Difficulty Settings[]

The Difficulty Settings determines only the stats of Alluttu

Battle Mechanics[]

Passive Traits
Alluttu:

On VD, has between 750,000~800,000 HP^[10]. As of the September 2022 update, its HP has been reduced by about 10% on all difficulties.^[11]
Starts the fight with all three heads. When all heads are alive, it has high physical damage taken reduction.^[12]
Heads can be removed by dealing enough damage in one burst. As heads die, its physical and magical damage taken goes up dramatically.
On VD, the threshold for damage in a single attack (including skillchain damage) to remove a head is between 60k and 70k damage.^[13]. On Normal, the threshold is between 25k and 30k damage.
Severed heads will grow back after approximately 45 seconds on VD. On Normal difficulty and below, it will regrow its second head after 45 seconds, and its third head after 90 seconds.
Susceptible to stun.

Abilities Used
Alluttu:

Nerve Gas - Inflicts AOE poison and curse. Only uses when all 3 heads are present.
Polar Blast - Front AOE Ice elemental damage + paralysis.
Pyric Blast - Front AOE Fire elemental damage + plague.
Trembling - AOE Physical damage + dispel.
Polar Bulwark - Physical Shield.
Pyric Bulwark - Magic Shield.
Serpentine Tail - Used when its current target is behind it.

Spells Cast
None.

Where to get your Primer:

Puks in Bhaflau Thickets. Take the Home Point Warp.

Version Update History[]

April 2016. Added to the game
May 2016. Badges of Gallantry added.
July 2016. Abdhaljs Dye added.
August 2016. New battlefield music. Feedback given during JSE cape augmentation improved. Ambuscade foes now take less damage if they're the secondary target of AOE elemental magic.
September 2016. Ambuscade vouchers added.
January 2017. Abdhaljs Seals added.
March 2017. Ambuscade Tokens added.
April 2017. Abdhaljs Metal added.
September 2017. Volume 1 foes HP increased (Easy: 2x. Normal~VD: 3x). XP/CP, Hallmarks, and Gallantry rewards increased accordingly.
October 2017. Abdhaljs Fiber added.
April 2018. Abdhaljs Resin added. Augmenting capes made much simpler.
November 2018. Stage 1-2 ambuscade weapons added. Cape tokens added.
December 2018. Stage 3 ambuscade weapons added.
January 2019. Volume 2 battlefield Hallmark/Gallantry rewards incrased.
February 2019. Stage 4 ambuscade weapons added.
March 2019. Stage 5 ambuscade weapons added.
August 2019. Second Ambuscade battlefield added.
November 2020. Records of Eminence Tutorial "Repelling an Ambuscade" added to Mentor requirements.
August 2022. Exemplar points are no longer earned or lost in Ambuscade battlefields.
July 2023. Reward rotation removed, limits on items bought with gallantry rebalanced. Ambuscade Chits implemented.