FFXIV Patch 7.21 Cosmic Exploration Guide

Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail expansion takes crafting and gathering to new heights with Cosmic Exploration, a lifestyle content feature introduced in Patch 7.21. Think of it as a multiplayer adventure similar to Ishgardian Restoration, but set on the lunar surface with a sci-fi twist. Whether you're looking for relic tools, exclusive rewards or just love space-themed content, this guide will help you navigate Cosmic Exploration from the ground up. Passionate about MMORPGs? Bookmark our site for more guides and explore our store for gear to fuel your Eorzean adventures.

Getting started is straightforward. You'll need to be a Disciple of the Hand or Land level 10 or higher and have completed the Endwalker main scenario quest (no Dawntrail required). Go to Old Sharlayan (X:12,6,Y:13,6) and speak to Namingway to begin the 'A Cosmic Homecoming' quest. This will unlock Sinus Ardorum, the moon-based zone where Cosmic Exploration takes place.

To return to Sinus Ardorum, visit the Drivingway in Mare Lamentorum (X:21,9, Y:13,2). You can switch instances or return to Mare Lamentorum by speaking to Drivingway in Sinus Ardorum (X:20,3, Y:20,0). Don't worry about gear - NPC Goggth in Sinus Ardorum sells a full set of level-appropriate crafting and gathering equipment, making this content accessible even if you haven't crafted since Endwalker.

The Exotablet is your hub for Cosmic Exploration, accessible via a blue square icon. It's packed with options for managing missions, tracking progress and claiming rewards. Key features include

Stellar Missions: Accept crafting or gathering quests to earn currency and relic tool progress.

Mech Ops: Apply to pilot mechs or provide ground support for large-scale events.

Stellar Successes: Complete daily and long-term goals for extra rewards, similar to a challenge log.

Cosmic Research: Monitor relic tool upgrades, which require 200 research points per level (capped to avoid overstoc).

Stellar Missions: The Heart of Progression

Stellar Missions are the core of Cosmic Exploration, offering crafting and gathering tasks that drive relic tool upgrades and zone development. Missions are job-specific (e.g. botany and mining don't overlap) and range from D-tier (beginner) to A-tier (expert), with requirements to unlock higher tiers (e.g. three D-tier missions for C-tier, five B-tier with three gold ranks for A-tier).

Basic Missions: Craft items such as survey bracelets or gather materials. All supplies are provided by the Cosmopack, so no external resources are required.

Provisional Missions: Short, five-minute tasks that appear after completing Gold Stars, or time/weather limited missions for variety.

Critical Missions: Available during Red Alert weather events (20-minute windows), these offer high rewards and boost server-wide metrics for bonus payouts.

Scoring: Missions are ranked Bronze, Silver or Gold based on crafting quality or gathering efficiency. Gold ranks (e.g., 2,400 points for crafting) yield significantly more rewards, like 40 Cosmic Research points instead of 8.

Tips:
Use tools such as Raphael for crafting macros to ensure high quality results.

For gathering, hit “Display on Map” to locate objectives and chain missions without travel.

Avoid initiating missions outside the zone, as many are timed.

Mech Ops: Multiplayer Mayhem Mech Ops are FATE-like events that spawn every 20 minutes, pausing during Red Alerts. Players can participate as pilots or ground support, destroying objects with unique AoE actions (no crafting or combat involved).

Piloting: Spend 1,000 Lunar Credits to purchase a pilot application from Alerot (X:22.4, Y:20.3) and apply via the Exotablet. Five players will be randomly selected, with better odds after repeated attempts. Pilots will receive Big Bang Tickets for a special Cosmic Fortune Roulette and a chance to win the Vacuum Suit Identification Key.

Ground Support: Join via the roster or teleport with Alerot. Destroy small objects, send resources to the field scanners (green circles) and avoid overloading your inventory. Contribution scores (5 points per object, 5 points per submission) determine rewards.

Rewards: Ground support grants a buff that increases Cosmic and Lunar credit gains for your next 20 Stellar Missions (tracked in the Stellar Missions tab). Pilots receive rare roulette spins, but no buff.

Use Stellar Return to reach the base, then teleport to Mech Ops via Alerot (ground) or the Exotablet (pilots).

Ground supporters should submit resources when the mission hits 90% completion to maximize contribution.

Pilots should stay in one area to farm spawns efficiently.

Join low-population instances via Drivingway for better pilot odds.

These large-scale FATEs, similar to Ishgardian Restoration's projects, trigger when servers hit development milestones. They involve interacting with objects in a looping sequence (no crafting/gathering) and offer massive experience, gil and cosmocredits based on contribution. Notifications appear well in advance, and the 40-minute duration ensures plenty of time to participate. Failure to complete a FATE triggers an 8-hour cooldown, but success advances the zone (e.g. unlocking Cosmoliner stations).

Prioritise these for leveling crafters or gatherers, as the experience gains are substantial. Don't worry about timing - just join when notified and follow the objectives.

Cosmic Exploration uses two currencies: with Mesouaidonque (X:21.8, Y:21.8) for equipment, shelter items, glamour and marketable items such as the Cosmo Chair or Star Crew Attire.

Lunar Credits: Spend 1,000 at Orbitingway (X:21.8, Y:21.1) for Cosmic Fortune Spins (Dye Roulettes, Minions or the High Mobility Vacuum Suit) or at Alerot for pilot applications.

Cosmic Tools: Level 100 relic tools upgraded through Cosmic Research (200 points per level, starting at item level 10). Visit the Research Trail to claim and upgrade tools.

Stellar Successes: Daily and zone-specific goals yield currency and research data.

Star Contributor Awards: Top server contributors earn holograms, stela listings, and visual effects for 14 days (resets daily at 18:00 JST).

Notable Items: Mounts (e.g. Vacuum Suit), minions (Micro Rover), emotes (Rage, Visage Capture), paints (Neon Green, Metallic Pink) and orchestrion rolls (e.g. Stargazer).

Sinus Ardorum features a base camp and an exterior mission area, with server-specific development tracked via the Infrastructure Index. Travelling is efficient despite disabled mounts:

Cosmoliner: A fast travel system with stations unlocked at level 3 (active on all servers from 22 April 2025).

Stellar Return: Teleports you to the base camp's rainbow crystal (X:21.4, Y:21.4).

Stellar Sprint: A 50% speed increase for crafters/gatherers with no cooldown.

Teleportation: Alerot or the Exotablet will instantly teleport you to Mech Ops locations.

Future patches (7.3x–7.5x) will introduce new planets, expanding the content's scope.

Cosmic Exploration blends multiplayer collaboration with crafting and gathering, offering a fresh take on Dawntrail's lifestyle content. Its accessibility - no gear grind, free materials and level sync - makes it welcoming to casual and veteran players alike. The mix of Stellar Missions, Mech Ops and server-wide FATEs keeps the content dynamic, while rewards such as mounts, glamour and relic tools add long-term appeal.

In contrast to the solo focus of Island Sanctuary, Cosmic Exploration thrives on community effort, echoing the camaraderie of Ishgardian Restoration. Whether you're leveling jobs, hunting rare cosmetics, or contributing to your server's lunar base, this system offers a rewarding experience. Take your time, enjoy the grind, and watch the moon transform into a launchpad for interstellar adventures.

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