Cosmic Exploration is a massive instanced gameplay mode in Final Fantasy 14 that allows players to cooperate to level up their crafters and gatherers, while also exploring the moon.

Once you load into the zone, it can be overwhelming, as you’re shoved into a new UI with many support menus. While using shout chat to ask your fellow Warriors of Light for help will get you far, we’ve compiled everything you need to know before starting Cosmic Exploration so you don’t have to embarrass yourself in chat.

Below, we explain what FFXIV’s Cosmic Exploration is, how it works, how to unlock it, and what the notable rewards are.

What is Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV?

Cosmic Exploration is almost a mix of a field operation (like Bozja or Eureka) with Ishgard Restoration. You’ll be sent off to an instance with many other players and you’ll get access to a bunch of specialized tools and missions.

The missions in this work a lot like leves, if you’ve done those. They’re individual quests that require manual activation via your “Stellar Missions” tab. If you’re a crafter, you’ll need to craft a few items of a certain quality, and if you’re a gatherer, you’ll need to go gather items from nodes marked on the map. You’ll get Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits, as well as research points for each one you complete.

Participating in these missions gives you what is functionally a job-specific EXP for Cosmic Exploration, allowing you to rank up your “Cosmic Research” for each job. The higher your research level, the better tools you’ll get access to — some of which will buff the rewards you get from doing missions.

There’s also “Stellar Successes” which are just achievements. You’ll complete these as you take on missions and whatnot, and this gives out both Cosmocredits and Lunar Credits.

There are also FATE-like things that spawn around the map, referred to as “Critical Missions,” as well as “Mech Ops,” the latter which requires you to buy a mech pilot’s license for 1,000 Cosmocredits.

Unfortunately there are limitations: You can only participate in Cosmic Exploration on your homeworld, so you cannot group up with any friends you have across other worlds. Sad. You also can’t use mounts in Cosmic Exploration, but you do have a beefed-up specialized Sprint skill to help you get around.

As the people in your world progress and build up your base, you’ll have access to new features, like a transport system so you don’t have to sprint around to all the various locations.

The short version here is to pick a crafter/gatherer you like (or need to level) and spam Stellar Missions until Critical Missions appear. Complete the Critical Missions and then go back to doing Stellar Missions to load up on currency and Cosmic Research.

Where to unlock Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV

To unlock Cosmic Exploration, you’ll need to talk to Namingway in Old Sharlayan in the location below to start the quest “A Cosmic Homecoming.” You’ll need at least one crafter or gatherer job at level 10 and the “Endwalker” main story quest complete.

Once you finish the quest, you’ll be able to freely travel to Sinus Andorum via Drivingway in Bestways Burrow to participate in Cosmic Exploration.

What are the big rewards for Cosmic Exploration in FFXIV?

There are a few notable rewards you can get for participating in Cosmic Exploration in exchange for trading Cosmocredits:

The “Star Crew” glamour set“Reading Glasses” eyewear“Bearing Insult” (rage) emoteCosmic Exploration Framer’s Kit“Hey, Cid!” Orchestrion Roll“The Airship” Orchestrion Roll

You can also trade 1,000 Lunar credits for a cosmic fortune, which has a chance to give you the following:

The “Vacuum Suit” mountThe “Micro Rover” minion“Tinted Sunglasses” eyewear“Close in the Distance (Instrumental)” Orchestrion Roll“Echoes in the Distance” Orchestrion Roll“Stargazers” Orchestrion Roll“Visage Capture” (selfie) emoteThe “Cosmosuit” glamour setThe “Loparasol” umbrella fashion accessory

That said, cosmic fortune is a literal roulette wheel, so you may get non-exclusive items like Magicked Prisms (yuck!) and materia instead.

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