A11S – Cruise Chaser Guide | FFXIV Alexander Creator Savage

Encounter Overview

A11S – Cruise Chaser is the Savage version of the third encounter in Alexander: The Creator and is one of the most execution-heavy fights in the tier. The encounter focuses heavily on pattern recognition, precise positioning, and strict coordination during Limit Cut sequences and multi-layered mechanics.

The fight builds across multiple phases, combining directional attacks, tether mechanics, add management, and environmental interactions. Mistakes are heavily punished, especially during Limit Cut and later phases where mechanics overlap and space becomes restricted.

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If you want to compare this fight against the rest of the tier, see the FFXIV Raid Rankings.

Arena Overview

The encounter takes place across multiple arenas. The initial arena is open, but later transitions introduce electrified edges and destructible pillars that must be preserved. Players must carefully manage positioning not only to avoid mechanics, but also to prevent destroying key environmental objects needed for survival.

Boss Mechanics

Phase 1

Left / Right Laser Sword: The boss telegraphs which side of the arena it will cleave. The entire side is hit, so players must move to the safe side quickly.

Optical Sight (Patterns):

• Two Large Orbs: Center AoE. Move to the outer edge.
• Evenly Spaced Small Orbs: Stack in the center to bait AoEs, then spread to avoid overlap.
• Uneven Small Orbs: Rotating AoEs that end with a center blast. Start in the middle, then rotate out.

E.D.D: The off-tank must pick up this add. Players must break its armor to interrupt Overboost, which grants a large Damage Up buff. Once disrupted, burn the add down quickly.

Spin Crusher: Frontal cleave. Move behind the boss.

Whirlwind: Heavy raid-wide damage. Mitigate and heal.

Super Hawk Blasters: Spread markers placed on players. Avoid overlapping as they apply Magic Vulnerability Up.

This phase repeats until the boss reaches 75% HP.

Phase 2

Limit Cut: The boss becomes invulnerable and assigns players numbers 1 through 8. Odd numbers are blue, even numbers are red. Players must pair (1 with 2, 3 with 4, etc.).

Alpha Sword: The boss appears behind odd-numbered players and cleaves forward. Odd players must face outward from the arena.

Super Blassty Charge: A charge from odd players toward their paired even player. Even players should face the attack to avoid knockback.

Execution: Players should pre-position in assigned spots. Each pair resolves their mechanic in order while others stay clear until it is their turn.

Photon: Reduces all players to critical HP. Healers must quickly top the party before the follow-up damage.

Whirlwind + Laser Sword: Heavy raid-wide damage followed by a directional cleave.

Blast Off: Knockback from the center. Players must quickly interact with ducts to land on the boss. Failure results in instant death. The boss relocates to a new arena.

Phase 3

Limit Cut (Orbs): The boss becomes invulnerable and spawns four Lapis Lazuli orbs. These must be destroyed before Eternal Darkness resolves.

Laser X Sword: A heavy tankbuster that must be shared by both tanks with cooldowns.

Aetheroplasm: Tethered orbs move toward players. Longer travel distance reduces damage. When they reach the player, they drop puddles. Overlapping puddles will explode and wipe the raid.

Assault Cannons: Line AoEs. Move out of the way.

Eternal Darkness: Raid-wide damage that applies Pyretic if orbs are destroyed. If any orbs remain alive, this is a wipe.

Pyretic: Deals damage per action taken. Players must limit movement and actions to avoid killing themselves.

Additional mechanics cycle in this phase, including Photon, Whirlwind, Spin Crusher, Optical Sight, and another E.D.D add. The boss may also repeat Limit Cut with a Plasma Shield that must be attacked from the front.

Phase 4

Blast Off Transition: Players move to a new arena with three Multifield Pillars. If all pillars are destroyed, the platform collapses and the raid wipes.

GA-100: Targets the off-tank with a proximity blast. The off-tank moves away while the rest of the party moves to the opposite side.

Optical Sight (Repeated): Resolve patterns while avoiding damaging the pillars with AoEs.

Laser X Sword: Shared tankbuster. Tanks must mitigate properly.

Assault Cannons: Line AoEs across the arena.

Photon + Whirlwind: Heavy raid damage combination requiring quick recovery.

Propeller Wind: Line-of-sight mechanic. Players must hide behind pillars to avoid Confusion.

Limit Cut (Repeat): Same pairing mechanic as Phase 2, but now with restricted space due to pillars.

Plasma Shield: Must be attacked from the front.

Super Blassty Charge: Deals heavy damage and destroys pillars if it hits them. Position carefully to preserve arena structure.

Final Loop: Mechanics repeat with increasing pressure until the boss is defeated or enrages.

Encounter Flow

Phase 1: Learn Optical Sight patterns, manage E.D.D, and stabilize positioning.

Phase 2: Execute Limit Cut pair mechanics and transition using Blast Off.

Phase 3: Handle orb phase, manage Pyretic, and resolve overlapping mechanics while maintaining control of puddles and positioning.

Phase 4: Protect pillars while executing all previous mechanics in tighter space. Manage positioning carefully to avoid destroying the arena.

Final Burn: Repeat mechanics with increasing intensity until the boss is defeated before enrage.