Trust System Tutorial

Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix’s crown jewel in the MMORPG realm, continually evolves, keeping its vast player base on their toes with each update and expansion. Among its myriad features designed to enrich player experience, the Trust System stands as a beacon for solo adventurers or those looking to brush up on dungeon mechanics without the pressure of a live party. This comprehensive guide will traverse the elaborate corridors of the Trust System, from initiation rites to advanced stratagems, ensuring you and your computer-controlled companions are primed for the tests that lie in Norvrandt’s darkest corners and beyond.

Unlocking Trusts#

Embarking on your journey with Trusts isn’t akin to unlocking a simple side quest; it’s a rite of passage into Shadowbringers, the critically acclaimed expansion that first introduced this system. To invite Trusts into your world, you must first step foot into the Norvrandt saga, which requires reaching level 71 through traditional gameplay or leveraging a story skip potion. Beware, though, descending straight into the intense end without experiencing the ebb and flow of FFXIV’s yarn and mechanics might leave you floundering.

Upon reaching the quest ‘The Wheel Turns,’ a beacon in your Shadowbringers journey, you’ll gain the ability to conjure Trusts into existence. This initiation is more than just a tutorial; it’s a pact that binds your fate with these heroic figures, setting the stage for a unique dungeon-examining experience.

Trust Companions#

Your Trust companions are no mere NPCs (Non-Player Characters); they’re illustrious figures, heroes and heroines woven into the very fabric of the game’s lore. Each possesses a distinct class and fighting style, mirroring the jobs available to players, including tanks, healers, and damage dealers (DPS).

As of the latest expansions, the roster of Trusts has grown, encompassing characters from both the Shadowbringers and Endwalker narratives. Key personalities include:

Alphinaud Leveilleur: Your steadfast healer, whose Sage abilities ensure your health bar remains buoyed against the tide of battle.
Alisaie Leveilleur: The fiery Red Mage, straddling the line between melee and magic, providing a versatile DPS role.
Thancred Waters: The stoic Gunbreaker, wielding gunblade and grit to shield you from harm.
Y’shtola Rhul: The enigmatic Black Mage, commanding the elements to devastate foes from afar.

Select wisely, for your companions’ composition can be the difference between victory and defeat in the tight-knit coordination required for dungeon trials.

Trust Dungeons#

Dungeons serve as the proving grounds for you and your Trusts, a series of thematic, story-driven encounters filled with environmental puzzles, trash mobs, and climactic boss battles. Each dungeon within the Shadowbringers and Endwalker expansions is tailor-made for the Trust System, allowing you to venture forth with your AI allies from the onset.

Participating in these dungeons isn’t just a matter of progressing the story; it’s also a prime opportunity to master your job role without the unpredictability of human companions. The AI’s performance is painstakingly programmed to emulate typical player behavior, providing a consistent and controlled environment to hone your skills.

Trust Levelling#

Levelling up your Trust companions is a marathon, not a sprint. Unlike player characters, Trusts don’t benefit from the myriad of experience-boosting bonuses that adventurers might accrue. Each dungeon completion grants them a set amount of experience points, steadfastly marching them towards the level cap.

This grind serves a dual purpose; it not only progresses your Trusts but also affords you, the player, ample time to familiarize yourself with dungeon mechanics and job intricacies in a stress-free environment. For those inclined to minimize this grind, strategize your dungeon runs during periods of increased experience gain, such as during promotional events or when leveraging rest bonuses.

Trust Skills#

Your Trust companions are more than just carbon copies of player classes; they boast unique abilities and behavior patterns that set them apart. Understanding these nuances is key to maximizing your efficiency in dungeons:

Alphinaud’s sage abilities, for instance, prioritize high-damage mitigation, ensuring that your party weathers the storm of high-impact abilities.
Alisaie oscillates between melee and ranged attacks, adeptly balancing her mana to unleash devastating, high-damage spells.
Thancred employs a mix of aggression and defense, taunting enemies attentively to keep the focus squarely on him, protecting the party.
Y’shtola harnesses raw elemental power, perfectly timing her bursts of damage to coincide with openings in the enemy’s defense.

Harnessing these skills to their fullest requires a synergistic approach to battle. Consider your Trusts’ abilities as extensions of your own toolkit, orchestrating a dance of destruction that leaves no foe standing.