The Shadow Lord

Mission Name	The Shadow Lord
Number	5-2
Start NPC	Any San d'Orian Gate Guard
Level	50+
Title Granted	Shadow Banisher
Reward	Rank 6 20,000g

← Previous Mission	Next Mission →
The Ruins of Fei'Yin	Leaute's Last Wishes

Replay Cutscenes
The Shadow Lord (pt.1)	Chaloutte Chateau d'Oraguille (I-9)
The Rank 5 Mission (pt.1)	Goblin Footprint Throne Room
The Rank 5 Mission (pt.2)	Goblin Footprint Throne Room
The Rank 5 Mission (pt.3)	Goblin Footprint Throne Room
The Shadow Lord (pt.2)	Chaloutte Chateau d'Oraguille (I-9)

Walkthrough

Baileys I

Baileys II

Keep I

Keep II

Keep III

Keep IV

Note: Helpers with this fight must be on 5-2 or higher in their own nation.

• This mission requires a certain level of Rank Bar for it to be offered. Complete Bat Hunt several times, or trade 3 crystals to a Temple Knight gate guard.
  • Note: you might be able to flag this mission after completing Bat Hunt 5 times after Mission 5-1 is completed.
  • If you have previously accepted the quest Under Oath, you will be unable to speak to Trion about the mission. You must complete the first portion of Under Oath that involves talking to various people in Southern San d'Oria.
• Talk to a San d'Orian Gate Guard and accept the mission.
• After accepting this mission:
  • Speak to Halver.
  • Speak to Prince Trion by clicking on Door: Prince Royal's Rm @ H-7 for a short cutscene.
• You need to be able to deal both physical and magic damage.
• Travel to Xarcabard and on to Castle Zvahl Baileys. If you have already gotten the Home Point #1 near the Throne Room, you can go straight to it.

• Note: there is no cutscene upon entering Castle Zvahl Baileys or Castle Zvahl Keep. The next cutscene is when you start the fight.

• Upon zoning into Castle Zvahl Baileys (consult the map for ease of navigation), move westward to the 4-way intersection at G-8; head south from here, down the stairs that you will soon come to, and then on to the second map through the border of E/F-8.
• On Map 2, move south to the bottom of I-9, finding a group of Orcs, then go up the stairs here; move west to G-9 (Yagudo) and go back down the stairs there, being careful to not fall off the circular ledges along the way; turn left from the staircase heading east, when you reach a gate, turn left again. Take the next right turn and make your way to another short stairway appearing on your right at the border of G/H-8 and go up; from there move west to zone into Castle Zvahl Keep.
  • A short cut is to head to the Goblin section and drop down their hole. Once you climb back up the steps you will be behind the barrier so walk under the arch, hang a right, take an immediate left at the Quadav. Then walk up onto the platform turn left and up the gigantic staircase into the Keep.

• Once you enter Castle Zvahl Keep, you will have to open several gates/doors, very often in front of mobs that detect by sight. On Map 1, make your way to either point "A" at H-6 or "B" at H-10 to get to Map 2; on Map 2, strut through a few more doors and gates to "C" at E-8.
• On Map 3 you will encounter a series of teleport devices. Be aware that these devices will cancel the Invisible effect after they are used. Also, they will turn on and off from time to time, so you may have to wait on one before it teleports you. Once you use the last device (top-right corner, G-9), you will be on Map 4. Now make your way west, and zone to the Throne Room area via the Ore Door at G-7 (next to Home Point #1).
• Finally, go west all the way across the bridge here to the Throne Room door. Examine the door to view a cutscene and, when ready, examine again and select "The Shadow Lord Battle" to enter the BC.

Battle

When ready, gather in front of the door. When you enter, a cutscene will happen and the fight begins:

• This fight is still classified "level capped" (with the previous level 50 cap restriction removed), which means buffs will wear upon entry.
• You have 30 minutes to complete this battlefield event.
• The Shadow Lord does not attack until you approach, so cast pre-fight buffs before getting closer.
• The Shadow Lord has 2 phases. In the first phase, he alternates between physical and magic immunity. He has magic immunity until around 50% HP, then starts to switch to physical. From this point he will switch about every 5 minutes or 1000 damage. In this phase he has 9,000 HP.

• When he's in his magic stance, he's immune to magical damage, and will mainly cast BLM spells such as elemental debuffs and tier 2 AoE nukes. He also has a weaponskill, Dark Nova (AoE dark damage).

• Dark Nova seems to indicate that he will switch to melee stance very soon, after casting a spell or two. So use your TP quickly.

• When he's in his melee stance, he's immune to physical damage, and uses a variety of weaponskills: Giga Slash, Kick Back, Umbra Smash. Mages should start dealing magical damage during this stance. Monks can use Formless Strikes to bypass the immunity.

• After the first phase is defeated, a brief cutscene will occur as he switches to phase two. He will immediately attack after this cutscene, so there's no time for rest.

• In this phase, the Shadow Lord will do nothing but his Implosion attack (which hits almost everywhere in the battlefield), but he only has 4000 HP and should go down quickly.
• Melees should use their two-hour abilities, and Icarus Wing, if possible, to have TP for their best weaponskill. Mages should cast their Curaga spells, and try to keep Stoneskin (and Phalanx, if available) up.
• Since hate is mostly irrelevant in this phase, mages should feel free to spam spells.

• The battle ends after the second phase. The Shadow Lord gives experience points for a Level 60 mob.

• After the Shadow Lord is defeated, another cutscene occurs. Once the cutscene ends, you will be transported back to the entrance of Castle Zvahl Baileys. You will also receive the key item Shadow Fragment.
• Speak to Halver, who will promote you to Rank 6.
• Report back to the Great Hall for a cutscene.

• (Optional) Talk with Rahal, Milchupain, Aramaviont, Curilla for additional dialogue.

Upon Completion

• You can now take Lion's offer and visit Norg to begin the Zilart missions.
• If you are lv.65+ you may return to Xarcabard for the initial cutscene to begin Dynamis..
• Depending on your progress in the Rhapsodies of Vana'diel Missions, you may get a cutscene when you zone to San d'Oria to see Halver reminding you that you can now progress to the mission What Lies Beyond.

Game Description

Mission Orders

Head to Castle Zvahl in Xarcabard. Visit Chateau d'Oraguille to learn more.