When Do Hunts Unlock in Final Fantasy 16?: Do In Xvi

Learn when and how to unlock the Hunt Board and Notorious Hunts in Final Fantasy XVI. Discover how to find your first mark and access this side activity.

Hey there! So, you're curious about Hunts in Final Fantasy XVI, huh? Think of them like the bounty board challenges you might remember from games like Final Fantasy XII. You'll pick up a Hunt from a board, track down a special monster called a 'Notorious Mark,' and take it down. These range from Rank C all the way up to S Rank, and some of the S Rank ones are seriously tough – you'll need to know your stuff for those!

After you beat a Hunt, you'll get some sweet rewards like Gil, XP, Ability Points, Renown, and sometimes even rare materials. Trust me, you'll want those materials later on to craft some of the best gear in the game. As you clear out the targets on the Hunt Board, new, tougher Marks will start appearing, usually tied to your story progress.

Unlocking Hunts in Final Fantasy XVI

Alright, for those of you who've played the series before, here's the lowdown on how Hunts work in FFXVI. You'll need to play through the main story for a bit before this feature opens up. Don't worry, though, you can't miss it! You'll actually encounter your very first Hunt during the main story mission called "Release". This is mission number 31, so you're looking at about halfway through the game.

During the "Release" mission, you'll be heading towards a river for story reasons. On your way there, you'll stumble upon a rather unusual monster – a giant floating eyeball with wings. This guy is called an Ahriman, and it's your first Rank C Notorious Mark. Keep in mind, Hunts are generally tougher than your average enemies, and some can even be harder than the main story bosses, especially the higher-ranked ones. If you're not feeling up to the challenge right now, you can totally run away from this fight and come back later when you're stronger. There's a strategy guide specifically for the Ahriman hunt if you need it!

After you've dealt with that first Mark, you still won't have full access to the Hunt Board. You'll need to progress the main story a bit further – a few more quests, to be exact. Eventually, you'll be able to chat with the Moogle in the Hideaway. You know, the one who's been teasing you? Head over to "The Mess" area in the Hideaway. After a quick tutorial, you'll finally be able to accept more Hunts by talking to that Moogle again. Happy hunting!