Castrum Meridianum (original)

Louisoix Leveilleur: Eorzea was destroyed by a force of unimaginable power raining down from the sky. It is the dawn of a new age!

The following article covers a subject from a previous version of Final Fantasy XIV that has since been removed. For the content that replaced this, see Castrum Meridianum.

Castrum Meridianum
(外郭攻略　カストルム・メリディアヌム, Gaikaku Kōryaku - Kasutorumu Meridianumu?, lit. Outer Wall Capture - Castrum Meridianum) Alternate names: Castrum Meridianum Baileys
Expansion	A Realm Reborn
Patch	2.0
Type	Dungeon
Weather	Fair Skies
Level	50 (Synced to 50)
Item level	42
Time limit	120 minutes
Party comp	x2 x2 x4
Roulette	Main Scenario
Unlock quest	Rock the Castrum
Bosses	The Black Eft Magitek Vanguard F-1 Magitek Colossus Rubricatus Livia sas Junius (1|2)
Available modes	Unrestricted party

So begins the third phase of Operation Archon, which entails a frontal assault upon Castrum Meridianum, Gaius van Baelsar's seat of power. Forming the main thrust, the Immortal Flames will strike at the stronghold with all their strength, though this is but a feint. While the garrison's eyes are drawn outwards, you and your comrades must steal past its defenses and attempt to deactivate the magitek field which protects the Praetorium, the fortress within a fortress wherein the Ultima Weapon is believed to be housed.

Duty finder description

The original Castrum Meridianum was a dungeon in Final Fantasy XIV. It was the first of only two 8-man dungeons players would encounter, and the second of three duties representing the climax of A Realm Reborn with   Cape Westwind and   The Praetorium. As part of the Main Scenario roulette, several cinematics would play throughout the duty that could not be skipped, preventing new players experiencing the dungeon for the first time from being left behind. The dungeon was overhauled into a 4-man dungeon in patch 6.1.

Objectives

Map of Castrum Meridianum.

Objectives are paraphrased and expanded on from their in-game listing for clarity.

• Darken the searchlights in Via Praetoria
• Defeat the Black Eft
• Darken the searchlight in Via Principalis
• Obtain incendiary #37s
• Destroy the ceruleum pumps
• Destroy the field generator in Via Principalis
• Obtain imperial identification key from the Magitek Vanguard F-1
• Darken the searchlight in the Armamentarium area
• Destroy the field generator in the Armamentarium
• Obtain imperial identification key from the Magitek Colossus Rubricatus
• Darken the searchlights in the Parade Ground area
• Destroy the field generator in the Parade Ground
• Defeat Livia sas Junius

Progression

Castrum Meridianum has no item level sync and is extremely easy for most parties. Owing to this low difficulty, most of the details in this section can be ignored when running the duty normally. Most groups will simply round up as many enemies as possible to AoE them down, and ignore adds during boss encounters in favor of burning the boss down. Running the duty with minimum item level enforced and The Echo silenced can make it more of a challenge, and this section is generally written with this in mind.

Via Praetoria

Upon entering Castrum Meridianum the party is immediately greeted by a large group of enemies on the main throughway, among them 8th Cohort Centurions that can be a bit tougher with their wide array of buffing abilities. In front of this group are a pair of Searchlight Terminals each guarded by a pair of imperials. Disabling these terminals will cause the large group to withdraw and is required to continue to duty regardless, though successfully disabling both without drawing the attention of part of the larger group can be difficult. To alleviate this, the party can pull smaller portions of the group before attempting the Terminals, as despite appearances the large group is made up of several smaller formations. The path that branches off to the north from the entrance can be ignored.

Central Crossing

The Black Eft
魔導リーパー改 (Madō Rīpā Kai?, lit. Magic Reaper Revised)
Level	50
HP	61,229
Actions	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream
Other information	Does not auto-attack

Encounter overview
Mechanic	Phase	Description	Details
Phases	Phase 1: 100-80% HP Phase 2: 80-40% HP Phase 3: 40-0% HP
Rotation	All	Photon Stream → Photon Stream → Photon Stream → Magitek Cannon → Photon Stream ↻
Reinforcements	2	8th Cohort Laquearius x2, Imperial War Hound x2
	3	8th Cohort Laquearius x2, 8th Cohort Signifer x2
Magitek Cannon ID#1432	All	Ranged AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies.
Photon Stream ID#1431	All	Untelegraphed AoE damage in a short frontal line.
8th Cohort Laquearius Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Overpower ID#720 — AoE damage in a short frontal cone. 8th Cohort Signifer Mechanic Phase Description Details Rotation — Thunder → Thunder → Dark Blizzard III or Dark Fire III ↻ Dark Blizzard III ID#1440 — Untelegraphed ranged AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies. Dark Fire III ID#1441 — Ranged AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies. Thunder ID#968 — Ranged damage to primary target. Imperial War Hound Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Foul Bite ID#510 — Untelegraphed melee damage to primary target. Sanguine Bite ID#511 — AoE damage in a short frontal line, absorbing 100% of damage dealt as HP.

The Black Eft will appear in the Central Crossing only if both Searchlight Terminals are disabled. The Eft uses standard Magitek Reaper abilities, auto-attacking with Photon Stream while targeting a random party member with the occasional Magitek Cannon. Non-tanks should avoid standing in front of the Eft to avoid Photon Stream. The off-tank should be prepared to pick up the adds that spawn at 80% and 40% HP and try to stack them up with the Eft to maximize the party's AoE output. All of the adds have AoE abilities of their own to be avoided.

Defeating the Black Eft will allow players to use the Disposal Chute in the Crossing's southeast corner, providing a one-way shortcut to Waste Disposal in the Castrum's south end.

Waste Disposal, Via Principalis, and Ceruleum Pumps

Upon arriving in Waste Disposal the party will need to make their way north along Via Principalis to the Ceruleum Pumps. By hugging the eastern wall they can avoid the patrolling Magitek Reapers, though they will still need to branch out to disable another Searchlight Terminal and obtain two Incendiary #37s from Magitek Vanguards. As with the Terminals in Via Praetoria, disabling the Terminal here will cause a group of Centurions and Reapers to withdraw.

As the party approaches Area V and the Ceruleum Pumps they will find three searchlights roving about. Despite appearances these are unrelated to the Searchlight Terminals, and will not disappear upon disabling the Terminal. Getting spotted by a searchlight will deactivate the searchlights and cause a pair of Magitek Death Claws to appear and engage the party. The searchlights will respawn 3 minutes after the Death Claws are defeated, which should be plenty of time for the party to finish up and move on from the area.

In the Ceruleum Pumps can be found a pair of Unstable Platings that can be destroyed by the Incendiary #37s. Both Incendiaries are required, so the party should make sure they don't miss them upon defeating the Vanguards.

Area V

Magitek Vanguard F-1
魔導ヴァンガード強襲型 (Madō Vangādo Kyōshūgata?, lit. Magic Vanguard Assault-type)
Level	50
HP	81,631
Actions	Attack, Cermet Drill, Drill Cannons, Overcharge

Encounter overview
Mechanic	Phase	Description	Details
Phases	Phase 1: 100-80% HP Phase 2: 80-60% HP Phase 3: 60-40% HP Phase 4: 40-0% HP
Reinforcements	2	8th Cohort Hoplomachus x2, 8th Cohort Sagittarius x2, 8th Cohort Signifer x2
	4	8th Cohort Hoplomachus x2, 8th Cohort Sagittarius, 8th Cohort Signifer, Magitek Reaper
Attack ID#870	All	Melee auto-attack.
Cermet Drill ID#1434	All	Untelegraphed AoE damage in a short frontal line.
Drill Cannons ID#1433	3-4	AoE damage in a long line towards a random target.
Overcharge ID#1435	3-4	AoE damage and 30s Paralysis in a short frontal cone.
8th Cohort Hoplomachus Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Fast Blade ID#717 — Untelegraphed melee damage to primary target. Rampart ID#10 — Grants 15s Rampart to self, reducing damage taken. 8th Cohort Sagittarius Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#873 — Ranged auto-attack. Venomous Bite ID#100 — Untelegraphed ranged damage to primary target and 45s Venomous Bite, dealing additional damage over time. Windbite ID#113 — Untelegraphed ranged damage to primary target and 45s Windbite, dealing additional damage over time. 8th Cohort Signifer Mechanic Phase Description Details Rotation — Thunder → Thunder → Dark Blizzard III or Dark Fire III ↻ Dark Blizzard III ID#1440 — Untelegraphed ranged AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies. Dark Fire III ID#1441 — Ranged AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies. Thunder ID#968 — Ranged damage to primary target. Magitek Reaper Mechanic Phase Description Details Rotation — Photon Stream → Photon Stream → Photon Stream → Magitek Cannon → Photon Stream ↻ Magitek Cannon ID#1432 — Ranged AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies. Photon Stream ID#1431 — Untelegraphed AoE damage in a short frontal line.

Upon arriving in Area V after the Searchlight Terminal is disabled and both Unstable Platings are destroyed, the Via Principalis field generator will be destroyed in a delayed reaction and the Magitek Vanguard F-1 will appear. As with the Black Eft it uses mostly standard Vanguard abilities. Non-tanks should avoid standing in front of the Vanguard to avoid Cermet Drill and Overcharge, a pair of frontal AoEs, while it will target random party members with the line AoE Drill Cannons. Overcharge can inflict a long-lasting Paralysis. The off-tank should be prepared to pick up the adds that spawn at 80% and 40% HP and try to stack them up with the Vanguard to maximize the party's AoE output. The Magitek Reaper that spawns at 40% has nearly as much health as the Vanguard at that point, and is best ignored in favor of the Vanguard.

The Magitek Vanguard F-1 drops an Imperial Identification Key upon its defeat that can be easily missed due to the following cutscene. Picking up this key is essential to completing the duty.

Armamentarium area, Phantom Train Depot, and Dreadnaught Landing

After defeating the Magitek Vanguard F-1, Cid will accompany the party piloting a Magitek Reaper. Cid provides good AoE damage output and cannot be brought below 1 HP, but will only engage enemies in close proximity to him, and he will frequently fall behind the party as he is flagged to only move forward when they arrive in certain areas. His presence is required to get past certain obstacles.

Cid's arrival opens the gate back to the Central Crossing, and moving into the area will prompt him to blast open the Cermet Wall, allowing access to the Armamentarium area on the map's north side. Only Cid can engage the Cermet Wall, so the party cannot skip to this section of the duty until he joins them. To the west is the gate to the Parade Ground that can be opened with two Imperial Identification Keys, but at this point the party will have only one of the keys required.

The Armamentarium area and the Dreadnaught Landing both house four Mark XLIII Mini Cannons that can be used by players. The cannons deal a fixed 3000 damage in an area of effect with no recast, making them exceedingly powerful. The cannons are immobile and can only target a 90° area in front of their position, so the party may wish to engage groups of enemies and draw them back into the cannons' range to make quick work of them. The cannons are very frail and do not respawn, so the tanks will need to make sure they are facing enemies away from the cannons to avoid undue frontal AoE damage. The cannons can also be healed by most single-target healing actions.

A Searchlight Terminal can be found next to the first group of Mini Cannons. Disabling this terminal will cause the following group of Reapers and Death Claws to withdraw, and Cid will not advance past this point until it is disabled.

Armamentarium

Magitek Colossus Rubricatus
魔導コロッサス改 (Madō Korossasu Kai?, lit. Magic Colossus Revised)
Level	50
HP	81,631
Actions	Attack, Exhaust, Grand Strike, Grand Sword, Magitek Field, Magitek Ray

Encounter overview
Mechanic	Phase	Description	Details
Phases	Phase 1: 100-80% HP Phase 2: 80-60% HP Phase 3: 60-40% HP Phase 4: 40-0% HP
Rotation	2-3	Grand Sword → Exhaust → Grand Sword → Grand Sword ↻
	4	Grand Sword → Exhaust → Magitek Ray → Grand Strike → Grand Sword → Magitek Ray ↻
Reinforcements	2	8th Cohort Laquearius x2, 8th Cohort Medicus x2, Magitek Death Claw x2
	3	8th Cohort Laquearius x4, 8th Cohort Medicus x4, Magitek Death Claw x3
	4	8th Cohort Laquearius x2, 8th Cohort Medicus x2, Magitek Death Claw x4, Magitek Vanguard H-1
		Magitek Death Claws are untargetable and can only be destroyed by Cid.
Attack ID#870	All	Melee auto-attack.
Exhaust ID#1427	2-4	AoE damage and heavy knockback in a long and wide line towards a random target.
Grand Sword ID#1425	2-4	Untelegraphed AoE damage in a short frontal cone.
Magitek Field ID#1373	2-4	Tethers to Magitek Death Claws and grants Vulnerability Down to self, massively reducing damage taken. Lasts until all tethered Magitek Death Claws are destroyed.
Grand Strike ID#1428	4	Fast-casting AoE damage in a long line towards a random target.
Magitek Ray ID#1426	4	Untelegraphed AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies.
8th Cohort Laquearius Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Overpower ID#720 — AoE damage in a short frontal cone. 8th Cohort Medicus Mechanic Phase Description Details Aero ID#969 — Ranged damage to primary target. Cure ID#120 — Restores HP to an ally below 30% HP. Magitek Vanguard H-1 Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Cermet Drill ID#1434 — Untelegraphed AoE damage in a short frontal line. Drill Cannons ID#1433 — AoE damage in a long line towards a random target. Overcharge ID#1435 — AoE damage and 30s Paralysis in a short frontal cone.

Once the terminal is disabled and all enemies along the route are defeated, Cid will enter the Armamentarium and engage the Field Generator. This will spawn a group of Magitek Death Claws and the Magitek Colossus Rubricatus shortly thereafter. Parties that don't want to engage the Rubricatus immediately can fall back to the eastern portion of the arena, as it does not automatically engage and will only advance a short distance before stopping. Only Cid can engage the Field Generator, but cannot successfully destroy it until the Rubricatus is defeated as it will not fall below 1 HP.

The Magitek Colossus Rubricatus' most notable action is Magitek Field. At 80%, 60%, and 40% HP the Rubricatus will become tethered to the Magitek Death Claws that appear and subsequently use Magitek Field, granting itself a massive Vulnerability Down that renders it nigh-invulnerable. The Vulnerability Down can only be removed by defeating the tethered Death Claws, but only Cid can engage the Death Claws.

The Rubricatus will only attempt Magitek Field once each interval immediately after the Death Claws spawn. A precise Stun can prevent it from using Magitek Field at these intervals. The Death Claws will still be tethered, but without Magitek Field this is purely aesthetic.

If the Rubricatus gains Vulnerability Down, the party should focus down the adds that appear while Cid deals with the Death Claws. The off-tank should stack them up to maximize AoE damage. The Magitek Vanguard H-1 that appears in the last wave of adds has nearly as much health as the Rubricatus at this point, and should be ignored in favor of the boss once the Vulnerability Down wears off.

Aside from Magitek Field, the Rubricatus will use standard Colossi actions. Grand Sword is an instant frontal cleave, so non-tanks should avoid the front of the boss. Exhaust and Grand Strike are long line AoEs that target random party members. Exhaust has a wide AoE while Grand Strike is fast-casting, so both can be difficult to avoid.

Upon its defeat the Rubricatus will drop the second Imperial Identification Key and Cid will finally destroy the Field Generator. The southern gate to the Armamentarium will then open, providing a shortcut back towards the Parade Ground. If the party wishes they can skip the group of enemies that appears at the gate by going back around the way they came through the Dreadnaught Landing and Phantom Train Depot.

Parade Ground area

With both Imperial Identification Keys the party can open the way to the Parade Ground area. In the center of the area can be found a massive group of Magitek Colossi and 8th Cohort Centurions. While daunting, all of these enemies perpetually face westwards towards the Parade Ground so players can easily sneak behind them. By sticking to the eastward wall the party can climb up two platforms that each contain a Searchlight Terminal and a smaller group of enemies. The platforms are small which can make it difficult to avoid AoE attacks, but disabling the Terminals will cause the Colossi and Centurions to withdraw. Should the party wish they can pull any enemies engaged back towards the safety and firepower of the Mark XLIII Mini Cannons in the Armamentarium area.

Disabling the Searchlight Terminals is will cause the Imperial Assault Craft seen throughout the duty to finally engage the party. The Assault Craft cannot be directly targeted by players and will perpetually bombard them with AoE attacks, but three Mark XLIII Anti-aircraft Cannons will become active throughout the area that can be used to fire on the Assault Craft. After the first hit on the Assault Craft a pair of Colossi with spawn at the northern and southern gates to the area. The Colossi will patrol through the area, engaging any players or Cannons in sight. The Anti-aircraft Cannons will respawn after a few seconds if destroyed.

Once the Assault Craft has been hit nine times, it will be destroyed along with the final field generator. With this all listed objectives in the duty finder will be marked as complete, but the party still needs to defeat the following boss in order to obtain credit for completing the duty.

Parade Ground

Livia sas Junius is fought over the course of two consecutive battles. In the event the party wipes on the second battle they will not need to repeat the first.

First encounter

Livia sas Junius
リウィア・サス・ユニウス (Riwia Sasu Yuniusu?, lit. Livia sas Junius)
Level	50
HP	22,265
Actions	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream
Other information	Innate Vulnerability Down Ignores enmity Does not auto-attack

Encounter overview
Mechanic	Phase	Description	Details
Phases	Phase 1: — Phase 2: Two Cannonfire hits Phase 3: Four Cannonfire hits Phase 4: Six Cannonfire hits Encounter ends after eight Cannonfire hits
Rotation	All	Photon Stream → Photon Stream → Photon Stream → Magitek Cannon → Photon Stream ↻
Reinforcements	2, 4	7th Cohort Eques x4
	3	7th Cohort Laquearius x4
Magitek Cannon ID#1432	All	Ranged AoE damage to primary target and nearby enemies.
Photon Stream ID#1431	All	Untelegraphed AoE damage in a short frontal line.
7th Cohort Eques Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#871 — Melee auto-attack. True Thrust ID#722 — Untelegraphed damage to primary target. 7th Cohort Laquearius Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Overpower ID#720 — AoE damage in a short frontal cone.

During the first battle Livia cannot be defeated by conventional means. She has a massive innate Vulnerability Down effect that renders her nigh-invulnerable. To defeat her the party must hit her eight times with Cannonfire from the Mark XLIII Artillery Cannons throughout the arena—even should she be brought down to 1 HP by other means she will not go down until the eighth Cannonfire hits.

Unlike the Cannons found earlier in the duty, the Artillery Cannons must first be loaded with for each shot taken. In order to do this players must interact with the two piles of Magitek Missiles in the northwest and southwest corners of the arena. Doing so will cause the nearby Magitek Loaders to pick up a missile and deliver it to a nearby cannon, though they gain a Heavy effect while carrying a missile.

Adds will spawn after Livia is hit two, four, and then six times by Cannonfire. The first and third waves of adds will attack the Magitek Loaders if they aren't intercepted before turning their attention on the party. The second wave will instead focus on the Artillery Cannons.

During the first battle Livia will ignore enmity mechanics, instead fixating on the first player to damage her. Luckily her damage in this battle is pitiful, so any player can safely engage her here. Any time Livia is hit by Cannonfire she will switch her fixation to the player who fired that cannon.

The Artillery Cannons and Magitek Loaders can both be destroyed by Livia and her minions and take some time to respawn. The Magitek Loaders will instantly explode if they take any damage while carrying a missile, dealing damage to nearby players and Artillery Cannons, so players need to be careful to avoid them taking unnecessary damage. To this end the player on whom Livia is fixating should always stand in the center of the arena so her abilities don't hit the Cannons or Loaders, while tanks should focus their efforts on rounding up the adds and leave Livia to the rest of the party.

The party members that Livia is ignoring should endeavor to load all four Artillery Cannons before firing them simultaneously while her fixation keeps her in the center of the arena. This will make her a stationary target for several shots before she runs off after her newest fixation. With careful timing and protection of the equipment, two rounds of this should suffice to move on to the next battle.

Second encounter

Livia sas Junius
リウィア・サス・ユニウス (Riwia Sasu Yuniusu?, lit. Livia sas Junius)
Level	50
HP	122,459
Actions	Aglaea Bite, Aglaea Climb, Angry Salamander, Attack, Delta Trance, Order to Attack, Roundhouse, Stunning Sweep
Drops	200 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics Livia sas Junius Card

Encounter overview
Mechanic	Phase	Description	Details
Phases	Phase 1: 100-80% HP Phase 2: 80-75% HP Phase 3: 75-50% HP Phase 4: 50-40% HP Phase 5: 40-25% HP Phase 6: 25-0% HP
Rotation	1	Delta Trance → Delta Trance → Roundhouse → Delta Trance → Stunning Sweep ↻
	2-4	Delta Trance → Angry Salamander → Roundhouse → Aglaea Bite → Delta Trance → Angry Salamander → Stunning Sweep → Delta Trance → Angry Salamander → Roundhouse → Aglaea Bite → Delta Trance → Angry Salamander ↻
	5-6	Delta Trance → Angry Salamander → Aglaea Bite → Aglaea Climb → Delta Trance → Angry Salamander → Roundhouse → Stunning Sweep → Delta Trance → Angry Salamander → Aglaea Bite → Aglaea Climb → Delta Trance → Angry Salamander ↻
Reinforcements	3-4	7th Cohort Secutor x4
	6	7th Cohort Secutor x4, Magitek Colossus
Attack ID#872	All	Melee auto-attack.
Delta Trance ID#1145	All	Untelegraphed 5-hit attack to primary target.
Roundhouse ID#1146	All	Untelegraphed AoE damage to nearby enemies.
Stunning Sweep ID#1149	All	AoE damage and 15s Paralysis to nearby enemies.
Aglaea Bite ID#1148	2-6	Untelegraphed damage and heavy knockback to primary target.
Angry Salamander ID#1147	2-6	AoE damage in a long line towards a random target.
Order to Attack ID#1151	3-4, 6	Orders all 7th Cohort Secutores to fixate on a random target.
Aglaea Climb ID#1150	5-6	5-hit tankbuster to primary target.
7th Cohort Secutor Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#872 — Melee auto-attack. Triple Threat ID#475 — Untelegraphed damage to primary target. Magitek Colossus Mechanic Phase Description Details Attack ID#870 — Melee auto-attack. Exhaust ID#1427 — AoE damage and heavy knockback in a long and wide line towards a random target. Grand Strike ID#1428 — Fast-casting AoE damage in a long line towards a random target. Grand Sword ID#1425 — Untelegraphed AoE damage in a frontal cone. Magitek Ray ID#1426 — Untelegraphed AoE damage to a random target and nearby enemies.

In contrast to the first battle, Livia can deal some actual damage here and must be tanked by an actual tank, but it is also more straightforward.

Livia has three tank busters to watch out for: Delta Trance, Aglaea Bite, and Aglaea Climb. Delta Trance and Aglaea Bite are both instant cast, with the former hitting five times and the latter inflicting knockback. Her most dangerous is Aglaea Climb in the later stages of the battle; it hits five times like Delta Trance while hitting twice as hard, but it is also telegraphed, giving tanks and healers a moment to prepare for it.

At 75%, 50%, and 25% Livia will use Order to Attack to mark a random target while four 7th Cohort Secutores spawn. The Secutores will fixate on the mark target, ignoring all enmity. Healers need to be prepared to keep the target alive while the rest of the party focuses the Secutores down before the target is overwhelmed.

On the last wave of adds a Magitek Colossus will also appear. Unlike the Secutores this will not fixate and should be picked up by the off-tank. As it has nearly as much health as Livia at this stage it can be ignored in favor of focusing her down, facing it away from the party to minimize its Grand Sword cleave.

Enemies

Enemy	Pic	HP	Abilities	Areas
7th Cohort Eques		8,025	Attack, True Thrust	Via Principalis
7th Cohort Eques (First Livia sas Junius encounter)		2,589	Attack, True Thrust	Parade Ground
7th Cohort Laquearius (First Livia sas Junius encounter)		2,589	Attack, Overpower	Parade Ground
7th Cohort Secutor (Second Livia sas Junius encounter)		2,589	Attack, Triple Threat	Parade Ground
8th Cohort Centurion		8,025	Attack, Celeris, Fast Blade, Fight or Flight, Fortis, Rampart, Sentinel, Shield Bash	Via Praetoria Via Principalis Parade Ground area
8th Cohort Eques		8,025	Attack, True Thrust	Via Praetoria Via Principalis Armamentarium area Parade Ground area
8th Cohort Hoplomachus		8,025	Attack, Fast Blade, Rampart	Via Praetoria Via Principalis
8th Cohort Hoplomachus (Magitek Vanguard F-1 encounter)		3,883	Attack, Fast Blade, Rampart	Area V
8th Cohort Laquearius		8,025	Attack, Overpower	Via Principalis Ceruleum Pumps Armamentarium area
8th Cohort Laquearius (Black Eft & Magitek Colossus Rubricatus encounters)		2,589	Attack, Overpower	Central Crossing Armamentarium
8th Cohort Medicus		4,011	Aero, Cure	Via Praetoria Via Principalis Dreadnaught Landing
8th Cohort Medicus (Magitek Colossus Rubricatus encounter)		1,682	Aero, Cure	Armamentarium
8th Cohort Sagittarius		8,025	Attack, Venomous Bite, Windbite	Via Principalis Ceruleum Pumps Parade Ground area
8th Cohort Sagittarius (Magitek Vanguard F-1 encounter)		2,589	Attack, Venomous Bite, Windbite	Area V
8th Cohort Secutor		8,025	Attack, Featherfoot, Triple Threat	Armamentarium area
8th Cohort Signifer		4,011	Dark Fire III, Thunder	Via Praetoria Ceruleum Pumps Armamentarium area
8th Cohort Signifer (Black Eft and Magitek Vanguard F-1 encounters)		1,294	Dark Blizzard III, Dark Fire III, Thunder	Central Crossing Area V
The Black Eft		61,229	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream	Central Crossing
Cermet Wall		23,482	Untargetable	Central Crossing
Field Generator		23,482	Untargetable	Armamentarium
Imperial Assault Craft		2,589	Mana Cannon Untargetable	Parade Ground area
Imperial War Hound		8,025	Attack, Foul Bite, Sanguine Bite	Via Praetoria Via Principalis
Imperial War Hound (Black Eft encounter)		2,589	Attack, Foul Bite, Sanguine Bite	Central Crossing
Livia sas Junius (First encounter)		22,265	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream	Parade Ground
Livia sas Junius (Second encounter)		122,459	Aglaea Bite, Aglaea Climb, Angry Salamander, Attack, Delta Trance, Order to Attack, Roundhouse, Stunning Sweep	Parade Ground
Magitek Colossus		24,077	Attack, Exhaust, Grand Sword, Magitek Ray	Armamentarium area Parade Ground area
Magitek Colossus (Second Livia sas Junius encounter)		19,080	Attack, Exhaust, Grand Strike, Grand Sword, Magitek Ray	Parade Ground
Magitek Colossus Rubricatus		81,631	Attack, Exhaust, Grand Strike, Grand Sword, Magitek Field, Magitek Ray	Armamentarium
Magitek Death Claw		4,011	Attack, Defensive Maneuvers, The Hand, Shred	Via Principalis Armamentarium area Phantom Train Depot Armamentarium Parade Ground area
Magitek Death Claw (Magitek Colossus Rubricatus encounter)		258	Untargetable	Armamentarium
Magitek Reaper		9,628	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream	Via Principalis Ceruleum Pumps Armamentarium area Phantom Train Depot Parade Ground area
Magitek Reaper (Magitek Vanguard F-1 encounter)		24,207	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream	Area V
Magitek Vanguard		12,037	Attack, Cermet Drill, Drill Cannons	Via Principalis Phantom Train Depot Dreadnaught Landing Armamentarium area
Magitek Vanguard F-1		81,631	Attack, Cermet Drill, Drill Cannons, Overcharge	Area V
Magitek Vanguard H-1 (Magitek Colossus Rubricatus encounter)		27,236	Attack, Cermet Drill, Drill Cannons, Overcharge	Armamentarium

Allies

Enemy	Pic	HP	Abilities	Areas
Cid		258,900	Magitek Cannon, Photon Stream	Area V Central Crossing Armamentarium area Phantom Train Depot Dreadnaught Landing Armamentarium
Magitek Loader (First Livia sas Junius encounter)		1,294	Detonation Untargetable	Parade Ground
Mark XLIII Anti-aircraft Cannon (Imperial Assault Craft encounter)		2,589	Untargetable	Parade Ground area
Mark XLIII Artillery Cannon (First Livia sas Junius encounter)		1,294	Cannonfire	Parade Ground
Mark XLIII Mini Cannon		2,589	Cannonfire	Armamentarium area Dreadnaught Landing

Quests

Castrum Meridianum is unlocked during the main scenario quest Rock the Castrum, and completion of the duty is required to continue the main scenario.

Script

Castrum Meridianum script
General
System (Searchlight Terminal)	The searchlight darkens.
System (Searchlight Terminal)	This area is no longer under alert. Patrol units returning to stations.
System(Imperial Identification Key)	An imperial identification key falls to the ground.
System(Imperial Identification Key)	You obtain the imperial identification key.
Via Praetoria
System (on entry)	Power down the searchlights and find a way through the stronghold!
Central Crossing
Cutscene
Cid	If I didn't know better, I'd swear you had a personal grudge against magitek armor.
Cid	What can I say? I couldn't bear to let you have all the fun.
Cid	Don't worry—Biggs and Wedge have everything in hand. Truth be told, I think they like having the work of three men.
Cid	Wedge wasn't exactly pleased to be left behind, though, and made quite sure I knew it. I must say, our recent struggles have done wonders for the lad's spirit.
Cid	Given the size of this place, I suspected there might be an armor or three to be had. And here we are.
Cid	Hmmm...not as bad as I thought. If I have half Marques's talent for mending things, I should be able to get it working again.
Cid	Listen, [Forename]─we intercepted an imperial communication indicating that the Ultima Weapon is indeed being housed within the Praetorium.
Cid	We also learned that the field which protects the compound is powered by no fewer than three generator towers.
Cid	If you're to deactivate the field, you'll need to locate and disable them all.
Cid	And I'm here to help you do just that.
Cid	See that chute? It leads to waste disposal.
Cid	Somewhere nearby, there will be a ceruleum facility supplying fuel to the closest of the three towers.
Cid	Find the place and break things.
Cid	Go on ahead, [Forename]. I'll be along as soon as I finish my repairs.
End cutscene
System (Disposal Chute)	Jump into the disposal chute?
Via Principalis
System (Incendiary #37)	A canister of incendiary #37 falls from the vanguard.
System (Incendiary #37)	You obtain the incendiary #37.
System (Spotlight)	You've been discovered by a high-speed imperial assault craft!
Ceruleum Pumps
System (Unstable Paneling)	You do not have any explosives...
System (Unstable Paneling)	Use the incendiary #37?
System (Unstable Paneling)	The ceruleum pump is destroyed!
System (Unstable Paneling)	Impure ceruleum is rerouted into the magitek field generator!
Area V
Cutscene
	Cid blasts through a nearby gate while piloting a suit of magitek armor.
Cid	There you are!
Cid	I didn't have the patience to take the long way 'round.
Cid	I see you've disabled the first generator. That leaves us with two.
	The alarm starts sounding.
Cid	Ah, bugger. That was me, wasn't it?
Cid	Well, there's nothing for it but to press on. We must see to the remaining generators before the enemy has the chance to regroup!
Cid	You go on ahead, [Forename]! I'll bring up the rear!
Cid	Let's raise some hell!
End cutscene
Armamentarium
Cid	Stand back! I'm going to blast open the bulkhead!
Cid	This might take a while! Watch my back!
Cid	I'm almost there! Keep that thing occupied!
Cid (Magitek Field)	Damn it, that colossus is enhanced! Hold on—I'll try to think of something!
Cutscene
Cid	Fine work, [Forename]!
Cid	Stand clear. I have a mind to loose some fireworks.
Cid	Diverting all power to cannons!
	Cid fires on the field generator, destroying it, but his armor powers down afterwards.
Cid	Damn it. There goes the core. I fear I may have overestimated its maximum operating capacity...by a few orders of magnitude. I blame Marques.
Cid	Ahem. We'll need to find another way to bring down the third generator.
Livia sas Junius	Well, well...the traitor himself. And with his meddlesome friend for company.
Cid	You go on ahead, [Forename]. I need to get to the bottom of something.
End cutscene
Parade Ground
System (Magitek Terminal)	An imperial identification key is required to operate Garlean devices.
System (Magitek Terminal)	Use the imperial identification key?
System (Magitek Terminal)	The parade ground walls slide open.
Cutscene
Cid	It's me! Are you all right!?
Cid	That's an assault craft you're up against! You don't stand a chance with conventional weapons!
Cid	You're going to need something big to bring it down. A mortar, a cannon—anything!
Cid	Hold on, [Forename]! I'm on my way!
End cutscene
System	Use the Mark XLIII anti-aircraft cannon to destroy the assault craft!
System (Mark XLIII Anti-aircraft Cannon)	The assault craft is hit!
System (Mark XLIII Anti-aircraft Cannon)	The assault craft's hull integrity is compromised!
System (Mark XLIII Anti-aircraft Cannon)	The assault craft is destroyed!
Cutscene
	The Imperial Assault Craft crashes into the final field generator.
Livia sas Junius	Fools! If you are resolved to die here, you might at least have done so without first making a mess of the place!
Livia sas Junius	I see that Garlond is not with you. More's the pity, I had hoped to slay him myself. But never mind the traitor for now.
Livia sas Junius	I have so looked forward to this meeting...[Name].
Livia sas Junius	Yes, I know much and more about you. About your strength...and your hidden talents.
Livia sas Junius	I would sample them firsthand—and you will indulge me.
End cutscene
Livia sas Junius (on engaging)	Come, hero, show me what you can do. Show me...everything!
System (Magitek Missile)	Move the magitek missile onto the loader!
System (Magitek Missile)	The magitek loader is damaged. The magitek missile cannot be loaded!
System (Magitek Missile)	The magitek missile is loaded into the Mark XLIII assault cannon.
System (Mark XLIII Artillery Cannon)	Turn the Mark XLIII artillery cannon on Livia sas Junius!
System (7th Cohort Eques )	Protect the magitek loader from enemy fire!
System (7th Cohort Laquearius)	Protect the Mark XLIII artillery cannon from enemy fire!
Livia sas Junius (on defeat)	I see...
Cutscene
Livia sas Junius	My lord was quite taken with you and the power you possess—the “Echo.” Naturally, I could not help but wonder whom this [prince/princess] among [men/women] might be...
Livia sas Junius	Only to discover that you are but another adventurer. No better than the multitude.
Livia sas Junius	Yet in spite of this, the masses hold you their champion, and shower honors upon your head. It defies all reason.
Livia sas Junius	How is it that you could be such a thorn in our side? Wherever you appear, you leave havoc in your wake. You even slew Rhitahtyn, one of our very finest.
Livia sas Junius	Well...I will not speculate. Truth be told, I couldn't care less how you have done these things. What matters to me is the fact that you have done them.
Livia sas Junius	If you are allowed to continue, you will eventually deprive me of all that I have toiled for—all that is mine by right!
Livia sas Junius	My minions, my comrades...even my lord Gaius!
Livia sas Junius	Well, you cannot have him!
Livia sas Junius	His dreams and ambitions, his body and soul—they are mine, do you hear me!? All mine!
Livia sas Junius	I lost everything once before! I will not suffer it to happen again!
Livia sas Junius	I will kill you, adventurer! Only your death can bring me peace!
End cutscene
Livia sas Junius (on engaging)	You will not take any more from me!
Livia sas Junius (Aglaea Bite)	The pain I have suffered, I shall visit upon you a hundredfold!
System (Order to Attack)	Livia sas Junius gives the order to attack!
Livia sas Junius (Order to Attack)	You lot! Make yourselves useful!
Livia sas Junius (Aglaea Climb, voice only)	You're mine!
Livia sas Junius (Aglaea Climb)	You have made me wroth!
Livia sas Junius (HP <20%)	Noooooo! I will not lose...to the likes of you!
Livia sas Junius (HP <10%, voice only)	I've toyed with you long enough!
Livia sas Junius (on defeat, voice only)	Lord...Gaius...!
Outro cutscene
Livia sas Junius	No... <sob> It's happening...all over again...
Livia sas Junius	Please... I cannot bear it... <sob> Don't take him...away from me...
Livia sas Junius	My lord Gaius!!!
Cid	Another poor fool who craved Gaius's affection over all else... May her soul know rest.
Cid	'Tis a miracle no harm has come to you, my friend. One for which I will happily give thanks.
Cid	...And the wonders do not end there. Truthfully now—did you really mean to send that assault craft crashing into the generator tower? If you did—you're a bloody liar. If you didn't—well...you're too modest!
Cid	Whichever you are, you've managed to open the way to the Praetorium. The only problem is, we can't reach it on foot.
Cid	Nay, we'll need to take the Enterprise. I left her at the Ceruleum Processing Plant, so let's regroup there.
Cid	This is it, [Forename]! The final confrontation awaits!
End cutscene
Duty complete

Musical themes

"Steel Reason"

"The Emperor's Wont" serves as the main background music for the first half of Castrum Meridianum, while "A Fine Death" plays while during the battles against the Black Eft and the Magitek Vanguard F-1. "Torn from the Heavens" plays in all areas after defeating the Magitek Vanguard F-1, including during the fight with the Magitek Colossus Rubricatus. "Steel Reason" plays during the battle with Livia sas Junius.

Behind the scenes

Original title card identifying the duty as "Castrum Meridianum Baileys".

The title card and map markers for Castrum Meridianum identified it as "Castrum Meridianum Baileys" when first released, though the duty itself was always simply "Castrum Meridianum". All instances of "Baileys" were removed in patch 2.1.

Castrum Meridianum and The Praetorium were notorious among fans for being extremely easy dungeons made long due to the numerous unskippable cutscenes. Because the dungeons were tuned for the minimum item level of 42, but only synced to level 50 (effective item level 130), most mechanics were skipped and it was speed-ran as fast as possible.

As part of updates to the original A Realm Reborn Main Scenario in patch 6.1, both dungeons were modified and adjusted, converted to a 4-player instances with compatibility for the Duty Support system.

Other appearances

Final Fantasy Record Keeper

The Magitek Vanguard F-1's and both of Livia sas Junius' appearances in Final Fantasy Record Keeper.

Castrum Meridianum is split across three dungeons in Record Keeper. The Classic versions of Part 1 can be unlocked upon completing Cape Westwind (Classic), while Part 2 is unlocked by Ultima's Castle, Part 8 (Classic). Completing Part 2 unlocks Part 3, while completing each part unlocks their respective Elite versions. The three parts see players fight through Waste Disposal, Via Principalis, Area V, the Phantom Train Depot, the Armamentarium, and finally the Parade Ground, battling records of the Magitek Vanguard F-1 and both Livia sas Junius encounters along the way.