Return to Ivalice
Return to Ivalice is the level 70 24-player Alliance Raid series for the Stormblood expansion. The story follows the Lexentale family─Jenomis, Ramza, and Alma─as they search for the truth behind the fabled land of Ivalice in an effort to clear their sullied family name.
The director and writer of titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, Yasumi Matsuno, is a featured guest creator for this raid series. In addition, boss designs are courtesy of guest creator Keita Amemiya, creator and director of the GARO TV series.
Story
“This morning, residents of Kugane woke to find above their city an airship unlike any ever seen. Yet while of Garlean design, the vessel distinctly lacked the bleak outfitting common in the Empire’s warmachina. No, this was the Prima Vista, private stage for the Majestic Imperial Theater Company─a troupe having won acclaim across Garlemald for their timeless work, “The Zodiac Brave Story.” Which begets the question...why are they here? The answer to that question and more lies in the selfsame legend of which they sing. The legend of Ivalice.
— Patch 4.1 Official Website
“South of Rabanastre, in a remote corner of the Valnard Sea gapes a fathomless maw that, for centuries, has slowly devoured the world around it: Ridorana. Whether you believe the cataract natural wonder or demon-torn gate to the very underworld, journeys to her edge should be made with the utmost caution, seeing as none who have stumbled into the darkness have ever returned to tell their tale. An ancient spire once used by the Dalmascans as a lighthouse rises defiantly above the churning waters to warn forethoughtful and foolhardy alike. It is into this spire that the transformed Ba'Gamnan has fled. It is into this hell that you must follow.
— Patch 4.3 Official Website
“Beckoned by the auracite, you arrive at the Orbonne Monastery─vestige of an ancient civilization lost beneath the twisted roots and vines of a forbidden jungle. The Durai Papers claim this holy sanctuary to be where the tale of young Ramza Beoulve began. Tonight, it is where your tale ends.
— Patch 4.5 Official Website
Release
The first part of Return to Ivalice was released with Patch 4.1 on October 10th, 2017. This included the 24-man alliance raid, The Royal City of Rabanastre. The second part followed with Patch 4.3 on May 22nd, 2018 and included the second 24-man alliance raid, The Ridorana Lighthouse. The third and final part was released on January 7, 2019 as part of Patch 4.5 and contains the finale to the series, The Orbonne Monastery.
Quests
The final storyline quest is The City of Lost Angels. Completing it is a prerequisite for the level 80 field operation series: Save the Queen: Blades of Gunnhildr. The two subsequent quests offered by the Wandering Dramaturge are optional.
History
- In patch 6.2, the quests My Power, My Pleasure, My Pain and In Bad Taste were modified to become available after completing the main raid questline. Prior to that, the former quest was part of the main questline and was required to unlock The Ridorana Lighthouse, while the latter was optional. Two optional quests related to the Wandering Dramaturge: Makin' Bacon (Bread) and Wok on By were removed.