Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.31 Cosmic Exploration Patch Notes - Phaenna

Another month, another set of patch notes in Final Fantasy XIV. Today is the release of patch 7.31, Square Enix brings updates to Phantom weapons and Cosmic tools. Since I am an omnicrafter I thought I'd go through and pick out the updates to Cosmic Exploration.

The first planet players travel to is Phaenna. To get to the new zone, players have to travel to Sinus Ardorum (the cosmic exploration moon) and complete the following quest.

Go Forth, Brave Explorers

• Disciple of the Hand or Land level 10
• Sinus Ardorum (X:20.4 Y:20.0)
• Searchingway
• Players must first complete the quest "Passion, Thy Name Is Ardorum."

The quest "Passion, Thy Name Is Ardorum" is the quest on Sinus Ardorum that becomes available after all infrastructure is built on Sinus Ardorum. In addition to the entry quest, patch 7.31 brings five other storyline quests that pop up once the players on a server get enough project progress.

Upon unlocking the new zone, players get a choice of how to travel to Phaenna. Players may travel to the star using the Bestways Burrow aetheryte, speaking with Drivingway in Mare Lamentorum (X:21.9 Y:13.2), or by speaking with Cruisingway in Sinus Ardorum (X:20.6 Y:19.5) and selecting Phaenna as a destination.

What is a new zone without new currency? For those wondering if currency earned on Sinus Ardorum was good on Phaenna, the answer is "kind of". Cosmocredits are usable universally but Phaenna has its own set of credits and tokens.

Phaenna Credits

Players earn Phaenna credits by participating in stellar missions and projects on Phaenna. These credits can be exchanged for mech op pilot applications while on the star, or used to draw cosmic fortunes.

* While on Phaenna, Phaenna credits will be displayed on your exotablet in the same location as lunar credits. Lunar credits can still be earned and used while in Sinus Ardorum, and will continue to display as usual.

Phaenna Exploration Tokens

Phaenna exploration tokens can be exchanged for a special mount.

These tokens are awarded upon the completion of EX+ stellar missions. Both the tokens themselves and the mount available for exchange can be sold via the market board.

For those wondering, we get to own the bulldozer.

And for those wondering about minions, I think the new one is adorable.

Another way to earn credits is through stellar successes. Here are the updates in patch 7.31 to the system.

Daily Successes

Upon completing the quest "Go Forth, Brave Explorers," lunar credits earned via daily successes will be converted to Phaenna credits. Please note that daily success points can also be accrued in Sinus Ardorum.

Standard Successes

Phaenna has been added as a separate category, and the Stellar Successes window will now display standard successes corresponding to the star on which you currently reside. Players may check the progress of standard successes on other stars via the pulldown menu toward the top of the window.

For those looking to become the Star Contributor and receive the 14-day buff the following changes were made to the system.

Starward Standings

Tallying for Starward Standings has been changed, and will now be based on player contributions from stellar missions, mech ops, and projects undertaken on Phaenna. Players can check their current standing by speaking with Scanningway on Phaenna (X:28.1 Y:12.6).

* Contributions made in Sinus Ardorum will not count towards your contribution score.

Commendation

Star Contributors will be honored for fourteen days in the following ways:

• A hologram of the player will be displayed on Phaenna (X:27.9 Y:12.7).
• The player's name will be displayed on the starward standings stela on Phaenna (X:28.0 Y:12.6).
• A special visual effect will be applied to the character in cosmic exploration areas.

Star Contributors cannot be reselected for fourteen days. However, if the current Star Contributor still holds the highest contribution score on the fourteenth day after being selected, they will be designated as Star Contributor again on the following day.

* Commendations received on Phaenna will not apply to Sinus Ardorum.

And last but certainly not least, the cosmic tools earned on Sinus Ardorum can be further enhanced.

By participating in cosmic exploration, players can obtain class-specific tools for Disciples of the Hand and Land which can be enhanced.

Enhancing Cosmic Tools

By completing stellar missions, players will obtain research data critical for tool enhancement. Cosmic prototypes do not need to be equipped to accrue research data.

Players can confirm required research via "Cosmic Research" on the exotablet.

Once players have accrued sufficient research data, they may report to Researchingway on the star on which they currently reside. Doing so will allow players to obtain enhanced prototypes and cosmic tools.

While players may obtain numerous cosmic prototypes and tools, research data can only be accrued via stellar missions for any given class.

The patch notes do make it sound like those just jumping into cosmic explorations can join the rest of us on Phaenna and not have to take on the missions on Sinus Ardorum alone. A very good decision.

I should note that as I prepare to publish this post that all worlds have completed the first phase of the project on Phaenna, Cosmoliner Beaconveil Filigree. Apparently Cosmic Exploration is popular. Who knew?