Honorific Notorious Monsters are a nebulous category of typically higher-level Notorious Monster that grant everyone in the party or alliance a title upon its defeat. The term was coined by the Japanese players during the first release stages of Final Fantasy XI and was quickly adopted by the NA and EU players as a standard to referring to such NMs. The moniker (also known variably as "Hyper Notorious Monster", "High Notorious Monster" or "Heavy Notorious Monster") is largely an informal one used by players, not by developers or the game itself.
In the past, there has been some dispute over what constitutes an HNM. By definition, Morbolger, and even Stray Mary, are considered by Japanese players as HNM, but this isn't relatively the case for NA players who have difficulty agreeing with the origin and definition of HNM. Traits that most are in agreement over are as follows:
- Most HNMs are above Level 75, typically requiring an Alliance (or even multiple Alliances!) of players Levels 70 to 75 to defeat.
- Most HNMs will drop a Vile Elixir. (Oddly enough, this is actually a trait that some linkshells use to argue an NM's status as HNM.)
- All HNMs are found on standard maps, and are not BCNM fights.
- All HNMs can and will drop valuable and exclusive items and equipment, some specific to a particular HNM, often in multiple types.
- All HNMs grant a specific title when defeated.
- All Wyrms are HNMs (with the sole exception of Ouryu).
All items (17)
