How to complete The Dead Ends dungeon in FFXIV Endwalker: How to get there, Bosses, Loot, etc.

Butcher79

21 December, 2021

Here's everything you need to get started and beat the dungeon The Dead Ends in the latest expansion of Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker.

The Dead Ends is a level 90 dungeon in Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker. Here you will witness distant civilizations in their last moments. Your task is to defeat the enemies of the dying worlds in pursuit of Metheion.

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Similar to the first level 90 Endwalker dungeon, expect a slightly higher difficulty level from some of the bosses in The Dead Ends. Let's take a look at each boss you'll encounter, their attacks and mechanics, and how you can defeat them.

How to unlock The Dead Ends

The Dead Ends is unlocked through the expansion's final main story quest.

Accept the main scenario Quest "Endwalker"
- NPC location: Alpino - Ultima Thule (x:21.5, y:21.5)

Walkthrough of The Dead Ends Dungeon

The first part of this dungeon will take you through a toxic wasteland. The path is surrounded by poisonous puddles, which will inflict the debuff Toxicosis, dealing heavy damage over time to any player standing in the area of effect. Stay on the path and avoid these dangerous puddles as you make your way through the first part of the dungeon.

Additionally, hitting most of the boss's attacks will result in increased vulnerability, causing you to take more damage from all attacks. try clear the mechanics without getting hit, to get the best chance of getting through this dungeon.

Like other Endwalker dungeons, The Dead Ends can be completed with allies. We recommend using this approach on your first attempt at this dungeon, as it will help you learn the mechanics of each boss and allow you to go at your own pace.

Caustic Grebuloff

The first boss of The Dead Ends is Caustic Grebuloff. This enemy will use toxic attacks, so get ready to clear some debuffs. All Grebulov's attacks and mechanics are listed below.

Miasmata: Before Grebuloff uses this attack, the wind will begin to blow in the arena. Then several AoEs will spawn randomly around the arena. After a short delay they will move down the arena in the direction of the wind, dealing damage at set intervals. Find a safe gap between AoEs near the starting point of the wind, to avoid this attack.
- Additionally, hitting this attack will deal necrosis, a dangerous debuff that can be deadly. The healer must clear it from affected players As soon as possible.
Cough Up: Targets every player with a set of three AoEs puddles. Spread out to avoid overlapping them with other players, while remaining away from the created puddles. Immediately after that, all party members will be attacked red arrow; put together to dispel it. Otherwise, you will lose control of your character, leaving you vulnerable to the boss's next attack.
Wave of nausea: Big AoE that covers most of the arena. Right under the boss will be a safe place, so move to Grebuloff's hitbox to avoid the Nausea Wave.
Base bug: Deals a lot of damage to the tank. Use defensive overcharges and heal as needed.
Blighted Water: Targets a random player with stack marker; group up on the affected player to distribute the damage from this attack.
Desecration: Aimed at all players circular attack AoE; spread out to avoid overlapping those AoEs, and heal as needed afterward.

Caustic Grebuloff will repeat these attacks until he is defeated. Watch the direction of the wind and watch your debuffs throughout this fight. After defeating Caustic Grebuloff, enter the portal to proceed to the second part of this dungeon.

Peacekeeper

The second boss in The Dead Ends is the Peacekeeper. Despite its name, this boss will give you a good beating if you're not ready; expect to dodge many AoEs. Listed below are all of the peacekeeper's attacks and mechanics.

Decimation): deals damage to all party members and covers the edge of the arena with flames, dealing damage to players who enter. Stay away from the edge of the arena to avoid unnecessary damage.
Electromagnetic repellent (Electromagnetic Repellant): The peacekeeper will create an AoE inside your hitbox, leaving permanent damage effect over time in that area. Avoid standing directly under the boss while this attack is active.
Order to fire (Order to Fire): Begets turrets in a circle around the boss, then gives them the order to shoot. The towers will shoot in a straight line so stand up between two guns avoid getting hit. At the same time, the boss will target players with AoE markers, That's why dispersed from each other to avoid overlapping these AoEs.
No Future (No Future): creates a lot of fire AOE zones. Players need to disperse around the court, because at this moment some members of the group will be attacked by the ability "Order to Fire".
Peacefire: Creates two sets AOE zones that revolve around the arena. Move with the zones so you don't get caught by them as they advance through the arena. In addition, during this attack will be used electromagnetic repellent и firing order, so don't forget to dodge the turrets' beam attack while moving.
Eclipsing Exhaust): Peacekeeper will create AOE zones around the arena and then start throw a rollback attack from the center of the arena. Position yourself so that you won't be sucked in by one of the attacks.
Elimination: Deals a lot of damage to the tank. Soften as needed.

The peacekeeper will repeat and block these attacks until he is defeated. The most important thing to pay attention to later in combat is «no future» since this attack of numerous AOE zones can be fatal if you're not careful.

Ra-la (Ra-La)

The final boss of The Dead Ends is Ra-La. This boss will make you pay attention to your position throughout the fight. Ra-La's attacks and mechanics are listed below.

Warm glow (Warm Glow): Deals damage to all party members.
Pity (Pity): Deals heavy damage to the tank.
Prance: Ra-La will jump four times around the arena, dropping a large AoE circle where he lands. Follow the boss as he jumps and then stay in the endgame created by AoE. After the first one explodes, move to this area to avoid the following danger zones.
Lifesbreath: Ra-la will jump to the edge of the court and use "Lifesbreath". It's a linear AOE. During the duration of the ability, butterflies will appear on the field, which will deal damage in a straight line in the direction indicated. If players are low on HP, they will get the Doom debuff. This effect must be removed by the healer in time.
Benevolence): Ra-La will target a random player and place stack marker. All players should group up to distribute the damage from this AoE.
Loving hugs: One of Ra-La's wings will start to glow which indicates that it will use AoE attack in that direction. Move to the opposite side of the boss to avoid this attack.
- The second time Ra-La uses lifesbreath, it will match with Loving Embrace. Moving to avoid the attacks of the butterfly, make sure you're on the right side to further avoid loving hugs.
Still Embrace: Targets all players with AoE marker. Spread out to avoid overlapping these AoEs with other players.

Ra-La will repeat these attacks until she is defeated. Keep an eye out for later uses of Lifesbreath and make sure you're on the right side during Loving Embraces. Defeat Ra-La and you will complete The Dead Ends.

Recommendations for passing The Dead Ends in FFXIV

Recommendations for tanks:

Lead the group at a pace at which your allies are comfortable coping with the assigned tasks;
The boss abilities "Pox Flail" (Caustic Grebuloff), "Elimination" (Peacekeeper) and "Pity" (Ra-la) are especially dangerous for tanks, so be as careful as possible;
Try to instantly determine where the AOE areas from Ra-la's "Prance" ability will appear in order to quickly move him to a part of the site that is safe for other players.

Tips for healers:

"Miasmata" (Caustic Grebuloff), "Decimation" (Peacekeeper) and "Warm Glow" (Ra-la) abilities deal heavy damage to the group, so keep an eye on the health of allies at this moment;
Players affected by Wave of Nausea (Caustic Grebuloff) will be debuffed with Necrosis. It must be removed quickly or the player will die;
On the second boss of the dungeon, save your strong healing abilities in case players get damaged by AOE abilities marked with markers;
Warm Glow (Ra-la) deals incredibly high damage. The ability is used multiple times, so always try to keep your allies' health high.

Tips for players with the DPS role:

Use AOE abilities more often during combat with trash;
On the first boss, spread out to the sides and try not to take damage from the Order to Fire and No Future abilities so as not to complicate the work of the healer;
Try to take the pressure off the healer by reducing the damage taken with your defensive abilities like Addle and Feint.