Shadowbringers Dungeon Rankings – FFXIV Difficulty Guide
Expansion Overview
Shadowbringers marks a major refinement of Final Fantasy XIV’s dungeon design philosophy. Encounters emphasize clearly telegraphed mechanics, layered arena patterns, and consistent execution checks across all roles.
Compared to earlier expansions, Shadowbringers dungeons rely less on unpredictable damage spikes and more on mechanical discipline, positioning awareness, and coordinated execution.
Boss encounters frequently introduce overlapping mechanics that require players to reposition quickly while maintaining damage output. While individual mistakes are often recoverable, repeated execution failures rapidly increase healer strain and destabilize the party.
Shadowbringers contains thirteen four-player dungeons, beginning with the leveling progression and continuing through level-cap patch content.
Guild Risk Model
To ensure cross-expansion consistency, all 13 deployments are evaluated using our weighted criteria under standard Duty Finder conditions:
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Tank Risk: Evaluates mitigation windows and trash density lethality.
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Healer Strain: Measures throughput requirements and status effect management.
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DPS Responsibility: Tracks mechanical precision and target priority.
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Wipe Punishment: Analyzes the cost of failure and recovery reliability.
All dungeons are evaluated under consistent level-synced Duty Finder conditions using the Guild Risk Model.
For full expansion comparisons, see the complete FFXIV Dungeon Rankings.
Total Shadowbringers Dungeons Evaluated
13 Dungeons (Patch 5.0 – 5.5)
Shadowbringers Dungeon Progression
The following table lists every Shadowbringers dungeon in Final Fantasy XIV in their natural progression order based on level requirements and main scenario progression.
Each dungeon links to a full guide including boss mechanics, difficulty analysis, and unlock requirements.
| Dungeon | Level Range |
|---|---|
| Holminster Switch | 71–72 |
| Dohn Mheg | 73–74 |
| The Qitana Ravel | 75–76 |
| Malikah’s Well | 77–78 |
| Mt. Gulg | 79–80 |
| Amaurot | 80 |
| The Twinning | 80 |
| Akadaemia Anyder | 80 |
| The Grand Cosmos | 80 |
| Anamnesis Anyder | 80 |
| The Heroes’ Gauntlet | 80 |
| Matoya’s Relict | 80 |
| Paglth’an | 80 |
Shadowbringers Difficulty Profile
Shadowbringers emphasizes Structured Mechanical Execution.
Comparison vs. Stormblood:
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Telegraph Clarity: Significantly Improved. Ground markers are more distinct.
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Arena Design: Cleaner. Less environmental clutter, more geometric precision.
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Burst Volatility: Slightly Reduced. Boss spikes are more predictable but just as lethal.
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DPS Role: Movement discipline becomes the primary metric of success.
While less “wild” than the 4.x era, Shadowbringers punishes repeated execution failures decisively. Healer strain in the First typically stems from compounded avoidable damage rather than raw, unpredictable burst.
Expansion Comparison
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Shadowbringers Dungeon Difficulty Ranking (Highest to Lowest)
(To be populated as evaluations are completed.)
| Rank | Dungeon | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Heroes’ Gauntlet | 4.8 |
| 2 | Paglth’an | 4.8 |
| 3 | Amaurot | 4.7 |
| 4 | Anamnesis Anyder | 4.7 |
| 5 | Matoya’s Relict | 4.7 |
| 6 | The Twinning | 4.6 |
| 7 | Akadaemia Anyder | 4.6 |
| 8 | The Grand Cosmos | 4.6 |
| 9 | Dohn Mheg | 4.6 |
| 10 | The Qitana Ravel | 4.6 |
| 11 | Mt. Gulg | 4.6 |
| 12 | Holminster Switch | 4.5 |
| 13 | Malikah’s Well | 4.4 |
Shadowbringers Dungeon Progression Order
(Chronological order by patch; overall scores added as evaluations are finalized.)
| Order | Dungeon | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holminster Switch | 4.5 |
| 2 | Dohn Mheg | 4.6 |
| 3 | The Qitana Ravel | 4.6 |
| 4 | Malikah’s Well | 4.4 |
| 5 | Mt. Gulg | 4.6 |
| 6 | Amaurot | 4.7 |
| 7 | The Twinning | 4.6 |
| 8 | Akadaemia Anyder | 4.6 |
| 9 | The Grand Cosmos | 4.6 |
| 10 | Anamnesis Anyder | 4.7 |
| 11 | The Heroes’ Gauntlet | 4.8 |
| 12 | Matoya’s Relict | 4.7 |
| 13 | Paglth’an | 4.8 |
Tier Summary
Shadowbringers refines dungeon pacing while maintaining high execution standards.
Mechanics are clearer. Expectations are consistent. Punishment remains firm.
Groups that respect mechanics clear efficiently.
Groups that stack avoidable damage destabilize quickly.
Expansion Comparison
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