Trial by Water is a quest in Final Fantasy XI that allows the player to journey to Leviathan's elemental cloister and fight him for a reward. There are several variants of this quest with varying rewards. All of the quest variants have the player fighting Leviathan Prime. Here are three variants of this quest:
This is the standard quest. It can be done by any job and rewards different types of gear.
Walkthrough[]
Speak to Edal-Tahdal in Norg. If you have sufficient fame, he will give you a Tuning fork of water.
Travel to Den of Rancor and find the Cloister of Tides. Use Home Point #2 or Unity Accolades warp for the fastest way there. Otherwise you're in for a long walk
Reaching the Cloister[]
Walking[]
To get to the Cloister of Tides, head to the main entrance of Temple of Uggalepih at (J-11) in Yhoator Jungle) and go inside. One person will need a Paintbrush of Souls to enter the Den of Rancor.
From the entrance take every right until you zone back out to Yhoator Jungle, then take every left you can until you zone back into the Temple.
Take a right and once you come to the corner, head south. There is a wooden gate here that someone will have to open. Head south as far as you can, around the small square, then east until you come to a granite door. To get through this door, you need to kill the Temple Guardian. Once the Temple Guardian is dead, the door will open automatically and stay open for a couple of minutes.
WARNING: If you go through this door and it closes behind you, you cannot get back out unless someone kills the Temple Guardian on the previous side.
Head through the door and go north through the Manipulator room, following the path toward a another granite door.
Go through the door and have someone with the Paintbrush of Souls examine the stone picture frame on the east wall.
Once the prompt says: "By focusing your thoughts on the paintbrush of souls, a new painting begins to appear on the canvas..." you must then wait 30 seconds to a minute before advancing the dialogue, or the door will not open. If you fail to focus an image on the canvas, wait a few moments and try again.
A door will open to the north, head through it to enter the Den of Rancor.
Descending the path brings you to a room with many exits. Head to the southeast corner of that room and take the easternmost passage. Follow the right wall of that tunnel until you see a hole in the floor at (J-7).
Drop through the hole and head northeast, zoning into the Cloister of Tides.
Unity Warp[]
Talk to any Unity Concord NPC and ask to be warped to a Wanted area. Choose Level 128 and choose Den of Rancor.
You will end up on a ledge on Den of Rancor, Map 3 (G-12). Apply Sneak, Invisible and head NorthEast, hugging the wall to the exit at Den of Rancor, Map 3 (I-6).
From Den of Rancor, Map 1 (J-13) head northwards to the "Drop D" location at Den of Rancor, Map 1 (J-7) and drop down.
Make your way to Den of Rancor, Map 6 (J-7), grabbing the Home Point on the way for an easy return to the Battlefield.
After the Battle[]
After defeating Leviathan Prime, you will acquire Whisper of Tides.
Return the Whisper to Edal-Tahdal for your reward.
Alternatively, hold onto it and when you have all six whispers, you may start the quest The Moonlit Path to fight Fenrir Prime.
If you are collecting items for the Evoker's Ring, you will want the Eye of Nept from Edal-Tahdal.
The Fight[]
Everyone who is involved in the fight must have a tuning fork of the correct protocrystal.
There is no cap on this battle.
There is a 30-minute time limit.
You can buff up before entering the protocrystal, so feel free to do so and rest up while still outside.
Try to fight Leviathan Prime on Lightningday and do not fight him on Watersday.
Keep up Barwatera at all times.
Leviathan will use his ability, Grand Fall. Beware, as this attack bypasses shadows.
He will also use Tidal Wave which can hit a 99THF/DNC for over 1.5k DMG, even when not on Watersday.
Do not use Water-based spells, weaponskills, or weapons that have Additional effect: Water damage, as they will heal Leviathan Prime.
The battlefield is shaped like a long path up the side of a hill, with a switchback about halfway to the top. This allows the mages to stand above the fight (and out of easy reach of the avatar) while still being able to cast spells on party members.
By all means, not possible for SMN75 to solo, due to its ability to heal itself.
Trial by Water
Leviathan Prime (Boss).
Family
Avatar
Level
63-68
Weakness
Lightning
Resistant
Fire
Absorb
Water
Trial Size Trial by Water[]
This variant of the quest is meant to give low level summoners a means of obtaining the avatars.
Walkthrough[]
Speak to Verctissa (H-9) in Norg. You must speak to Verctissa as a Summoner.
If you qualify, she will give you a Mini Tuning Fork of Water.
This item is not a Key Item like the regular Tuning Forks, but is a Rare/Exclusive item that needs to go in your inventory.
When you are ready to go, return to Verctissa and trade her the Mini Tuning Fork of Water (she does not keep the fork) and be warped to the Cloister of Tides for the fight.
Trade the Mini Tuning Fork to the protocrystal to enter the battle.
Note that if you do not trade the Mini Tuning Fork and instead just select the protocrystal, you will enter the regular level 60+ party avatar battle if you have the regular tuning fork key item.
Defeat him for your reward.
Notes[]
This is a solo battle.
There is a level 20 cap on this battle.
There is a 15 minute time limit.
You can only use Carbuncle.
Leviathan has the ability to heal itself so be careful.
Keep up Barwatera at all times.
Try to fight Leviathan Prime on Lightningsday and do not fight him on Watersday.
When you complete this quest you keep the Mini Tuning Fork of Water, although Verctissa will not warp you to the protocrystal a second time.
Trial Size Trial by Water
Leviathan Prime (Boss).
Family
Avatar
Level
20 - 23
Weakness
Lightning
Resistant
Fire
Absorb
Water
High Tier Battlefield: Trial by Water[]
This is the superboss variant of the quest. The original quest must be completed before undertaking this quest, and offers many different rewards, meaning it is meant to be done many times rather than just once. There are 5 difficulty levels to this fight:
Very Easy
Easy
Normal
Difficult
Very Difficult
Walkthrough[]
Acquire a Avatar Phantom Gem (10 Merit Point Item) from one of the three vendors:
Trisvain in Northern San d'Oria (J-7)
Raving Opossum in Port Bastok (J-11)
Mimble-Pimble in Port Windurst (L-5)
Talk to the water protocrystal in the Cloister of Tides.
HTBF Trial by Water
Leviathan Prime (Boss).
Family
Avatar
Level
113 - 121
Weakness
Lightning
Resistant
Fire
Absorb
Water
Rewards[]
Two type of reward is granted; a personal pool, that drop directly on every players; and a regular treasure pool, than players can cast lot or pass items. Please note that the difficulty chose will have a direct impact on the quantities and item type that will drop.
Regular Treasure Pool Rewards[]
HTBF Trial by Water Regular Treasure Pool Rewards
Very Easy:
Pelagos Lance
Vadose Rod
Phreatic Axe
Benthos Grip
Neritic Earring
Rem's Tale Chapter 6
Rem's Tale Chapter 7
Rem's Tale Chapter 8
Rem's Tale Chapter 9
Rem's Tale Chapter 10
Pluton
Riftborn Boulder
Beitetsu
Easy:
Pelagos Lance
Vadose Rod
Phreatic Axe
Benthos Grip
Neritic Earring
Rem's Tale Chapter 6
Rem's Tale Chapter 7
Rem's Tale Chapter 8
Rem's Tale Chapter 9
Rem's Tale Chapter 10
Pluton
Riftborn Boulder
Beitetsu
Normal:
Pelagos Lance
Vadose Rod
Phreatic Axe
Benthos Grip
Neritic Earring
Rem's Tale Chapter 6
Rem's Tale Chapter 7
Rem's Tale Chapter 8
Rem's Tale Chapter 9
Rem's Tale Chapter 10
Pluton
Riftborn Boulder
Beitetsu
Difficult:
Pelagos Lance
Vadose Rod
Phreatic Axe
Benthos Grip
Neritic Earring
Rem's Tale Chapter 6
Rem's Tale Chapter 7
Rem's Tale Chapter 8
Rem's Tale Chapter 9
Rem's Tale Chapter 10
Pluton
Riftborn Boulder
Beitetsu
Very Difficult:
Pelagos Lance
Vadose Rod
Phreatic Axe
Benthos Grip
Neritic Earring
Rem's Tale Chapter 6
Rem's Tale Chapter 7
Rem's Tale Chapter 8
Rem's Tale Chapter 9
Rem's Tale Chapter 10
Pluton
Riftborn Boulder
Beitetsu
Personal Treasure Pool Rewards[]
HTBF Trial by Water Personal Treasure Pool Rewards
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