FFXIV The Ageless Necropolis Trial Guide (Patch 7.3 - Dawntrail)

If you're diving into Patch 7.3's new content in FFXIV: Dawntrail, you're in for an intense showdown with Recollection in "The Ageless Necropolis," the fifth normal trial of the expansion. Whether you're a veteran raider or a casual player catching up, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to clear the encounter, from unlocking the trial to handling Necron's devastating mechanics.

What is The Ageless Necropolis Trial in FFXIV?

"The Ageless Necropolis" is the fifth normal trial in FFXIV Dawntrail, introduced in Patch 7.3: The Promise of Tomorrow. Set in the eerie and unsettling Living Memory zone, players face off against Necron, a terrifying primal manifestation born from humanity's fear of death.

If the name Necron sounds familiar, yes, it's a powerful callback to previous Final Fantasy titles, but this time, the developers have put a fresh twist on the iconic villain.

How to Unlock The Ageless Necropolis Trial

To unlock The Ageless Necropolis, you must progress through the main scenario questline until you reach the quest "A Terminal Invitation." This is the quest that leads you into the trial. All players will be level-synced to Level 100 for this duty.

Arena Overview

The battle takes place on a floating square platform where players can fall off if they're not careful. The arena will also shrink and transform during key mechanics, so staying aware of your positioning is crucial.

Phase One: Learning the Basics

Necron wastes no time throwing deadly mechanics your way. This phase sets up patterns that return later in the fight, so stay sharp.

Phase One Mechanics

• Fear of Death: Deals raidwide magic damage and creates grasping arm puddles. The arms shoot out straight-line AoEs.

• Cold Grip: Necron slams one glowing side of the arena. Dodge to the opposite side.

• Memento Mori: Drops a line AoE that turns into another set of grasping arms. Just like Fear of Death.

• Blue Shockwave: A tankbuster in a massive cone. The tank should face it away from the group.

• Soul Reaping: Prepares either a donut AoE or point-blank circle for later.

• Aetherblight: Activates the stored AoE from Soul Reaping.

• Grand Cross: Shrinks the arena into a circle and deals heavy AoE damage.

• Azure Aether: Spinning orbs shoot out line AoEs. Time your dodges.

• Neutron Ring: Heavy raidwide AoE that returns the platform to normal.

Strategy for Phase One

• Always look for glowing arms to anticipate Cold Grip slams.

• Learn the arm AoE directions. They can overlap with other mechanics.

• During Grand Cross, movement is your friend. Stay moving to avoid random AoEs.

Phase Two: Add Phase and the Abyss

Necron becomes untargetable and enters an add phase, raising the difficulty a notch.

Phase Two Mechanics

• Icy Hands: Several adds spawn, each tethered to a player and casting line AoEs. Kill them quickly.

• Darkness of Eternity: Massive AoE blast that drops everyone into the abyss.

• Doom Platforms: Each player lands on a solo platform with a 40s Doom debuff.

• Abyss Icy Hands: Three adds spawn on each platform. Killing them activates a jump pad.

Strategy for Phase Two

• Focus and burst down the Icy Hands during both add phases.

• Don’t panic in the solo phase. AoE or single-target the adds, jump, and get back into the fight.

Phase Three: Relentless Reaping

Now the gloves are off. Necron combines and rotates mechanics from earlier.

Phase Three Mechanics

• Specter of Death: Spawns two arms with massive line AoEs. A safe lane will always be left.

• Relentless Reaping: Stores four AoEs (donuts and point-blank). Sequence is marked by diamonds.

• Crop Rotation: Shuffles the order of stored AoEs.

• Seasons of Blight: Executes the stored AoEs in the new order. Think "in-out-in-out."

• Mass Macabre: Four portals must be sealed by four players each.

Strategy for Phase Three

• Reaping: Watch the order and remember the pattern. Communicate with your group.

• Macabre: It's safer to move together as a group from portal to portal. Avoid splitting up.

• Specter Combo: Often paired with Cold Grip. Watch for double slams.

• One last Grand Cross will hit before the encounter loops its final phase mechanics.

Rewards from The Ageless Necropolis

Clearing this trial will reward you with:

• 12 Allagan Tomestones of Heliometry

• 7 Allagan Tomestones of Mathematics

• Necron Triple Triad Card (rare drop)

Pro tip: If you're farming for tomes or that rare card drop, queue with a static or a pre-made group to speed things up. If you're new to Dawntrail or just looking to boost your efficiency, don't forget to check out reliable Gil sources like G4MMO, where you can securely buy FFXIV Gil to prep your gear for future trials.

FAQs about The Ageless Necropolis Trial

Q: Do I need to complete the previous trials to unlock this one?
A: Yes, completing earlier Dawntrail trials and progressing through the main story is required.

Q: Is there a Savage version of this trial?
A: As of Patch 7.3, there is no Savage version announced.

Q: Can I fall off the arena?
A: Absolutely. During both Phase One and Phase Three, it's very possible to fall. Watch your footing.

Q: What job roles have the hardest time with this fight?
A: Movement-heavy jobs like Black Mage may struggle during Grand Cross phases. Otherwise, it's a balanced encounter.

Q: What should I do if I keep dying during the Reaping rotation?
A: Focus on the diamond markers and memorize the order. It’s always a set of two donuts and two point-blank AoEs shuffled.

Final Thoughts

"The Ageless Necropolis" is a mechanically dense but rewarding trial that builds beautifully on Dawntrail's storytelling. Whether you're pushing content day one or coming back to it later, this trial is a fantastic showcase of what FFXIV does best: high-impact encounters with layered mechanics and memorable visuals. Mastering Necron takes practice, but it’s a fight well worth your time.

About the Author

Rick is a long-time Final Fantasy XIV player who’s been tanking dungeons since ARR and writing profession-level guides since Heavensward. With over 7,000 hours across all roles and endgame content cleared on patch, RZ brings a mix of personal experience and technical breakdowns to each guide.