A Canadian who has worked in the gaming industry for over two decades, Beck grew up on games such as Final Fantasy and Super Mario Bros. He specalizes in roleplaying games, but covers titles in almost all genres. His dream is to one day be involved in the development of a video game, but until that day comes, he will continue to cover the industry he's so passionate about.

Final Fantasy XIV has had quite the history over the years, and with the introduction of Stormblood, we saw a monumental leap for Field Operations. An evolution of the Exploratory Missions in Heavensward, these put players in a brand-new land with threats and objectives keen to old-school MMORPGs. With the release of patch 7.55 of Dawntrail, we saw a new area open up in the North Horn, opening the floodgates for exciting new bosses and engagements.

Sometimes the foe put in front of you isn’t exactly what he seems or who he seems. That’s the case for the Metamorph boss in Occult Crescent: North Horn. The gatekeeper of the Accept No Imitators Critical Engagement, Metamorph stays true to his name as he is able to transform into various familiar enemies, but whether you’re able to take him down with ease is another story.

You’ll find with a lot of bosses in the North Horn they will start the fight with a raidwide. Because there doesn’t necessarily need to be a tank in the party, it wouldn’t make sense to have a tankbuster, so this is the compensation. Blackened Rain will deal roughly half the health of most players if not properly mitigated and shielded.

This is where things get interesting. Metamorph is living up to his name as he will transform into one of two different enemies. Depending on what he does, it changes the entire mechanic.

Right when Metamorph transforms into the three-headed red dog, head to the outside of the arena. Cerberus will perform Tongue of Flame, which is a heavy-hitting point-blank AOE beneath its feet. It has a decent range, so make sure you get out as far as possible.

The next attack, Cerberus will begin to telegraph dashes similar to how the Conjured Calofisteri does in the Doubled Trouble Critical Engagement, or even Crescent Arachne in Web of Terrors. It’s a very popular move. He will showcase four different dashes, all while placing various AOEs on the ground to avoid.

There are two ways to best avoid getting hit. One has more downtime while the other has a little more uptime. The first is to go to the third dash’s position and as soon as the second dash goes off, run into the now open spot.

The better strategy and park yourself in the position where the Cerberus will land last. There should be various AOEs around you, and you can pre-position to the right or left of where he arrives (depending on where the dash is coming from). Doing this will allow you to avoid both the point-blank AOEs along with the dash, all while being right next to the boss when he arrives.

If you’ve ever heard three-to-one in Final Fantasy XIV, this is a prime example of it. Cerberus will go to the wall and look outward. He will then show three different cone attacks in a specific order. You will want to go to where the third cone attacks and move into the first telegraph when it goes off. It’s hard to actually get hit here considering how much time he gives you.

In between the forms, Metamorph will perform a very rare tankbuster attack. Few Critical Engagements actually have anything like this purely because, again, there are no designated tanks. Immediately after, he will cast a raidwide on the entire group.

Opposite to Cerberus, the wind phase starts with the safe spot being inside the boss’ hitbox. Even more so. So long as you stay very close to the boss when he morphs into this circular being, you will avoid the initial attack.

This is what players might get caught on. Metamorph will begin by casting the Shapeshifting Supercell, which will perform a point-blank AOE along with three rotating cone attacks.

This will rotate exactly six times, and the amount you need to rotate is very small. Stutter step to avoid going too far into the cone. Also, the point-blank attack will expand outward every hit. So, it starts point-blank, then it becomes a large ring that encompasses mid-range, and then it becomes a donut that finally hits the furthest parts of the arena.

The movement is static:

• Move out and avoid the initial hit.
• Move in and rotate slightly.
• Rotate slightly.
• Move out and rotate slightly.
• Move in and rotate slightly.
• Rotate slightly.

Perform that movement and you will avoid getting hit.

The final mech of the wind phase, Metamorph will put down four orbs on the field and then perform a large cross-shaped AOE. You will need to disengage completely and go to the very edge of the cross’ telegraph. Be sure to be clockwise of the telegraph otherwise you will get hit. You will have quite a bit of time to readjust by moving into the telegraph if you need to get to the other side.

Just like at the end of the other phase, Metamorph will transform back into his old self and cast both a tankbuster on the player with the most enmity and a raidwide on the entire group.

Metamorph will cycle between both the different forms until the conclusion of the Critical Engagement.

• 260-420 Knowledge
• 720 Phantom EXP
• 10 Tomestones of Mnemonics
• 20 Tomestones of Mathematics

• 1 Notes on the Metamorph
• 10 Phantom Dispeller y (for Phantom Weapon step)
• Occult Earring of Blood
• Occult Earring of Magic

Released July 2, 2024

ESRB Teen // Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

Base Game Final Fantasy 14

Developer(s) Square Enix

Publisher(s) Square Enix

Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op

Engine Proprietary