FFXIV Anima Weapons Guide (Fastest Heavensward Relic Steps + Full Upgrade Path)
Anima Weapons are the level 60 relic weapons introduced in Heavensward. This guide covers the fastest way to complete every stage, including crystal farming, dungeon steps, Umbrite grinding, and Lux weapon completion.
Looking for the fastest relic to complete? Compare all systems in the FFXIV Relic Weapons Guide.
Browse Relic Weapon Systems
Compare Anima Weapons with other relic systems to find the fastest progression path.
Quick Navigation
- Relic Progression Overview
- Stage 1 — Animated Weapons
- Stage 2 — Awoken Weapons
- Stage 3 — Anima Weapons
- Stage 4 — Hyperconductive Weapons
- Stage 5 — Reconditioned Weapons
- Stage 6 — Sharpened Weapons
- Stage 7 — Complete Weapons
- Final Stage — Lux Weapons
- Farming Tips
Anima Weapon Progression Overview
| Stage | Weapon Tier | Main Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Animated | FATE crystal farming |
| 2 | Awoken | Dungeon completion |
| 3 | Anima | Material turn-ins |
| 4 | Hyperconductive | Aether Oil farming |
| 5 | Reconditioned | Umbrite + Crystal Sand |
| 6 | Sharpened | Singing Clusters |
| 7 | Complete | Aetheric density + Pneumite |
| Final | Lux | Trial clears + final upgrade |
Anima Weapons are one of the most consistent relic grinds in FFXIV, relying heavily on repeatable farming rather than RNG-based drops.
Stage 1 — Animated Weapons
This stage requires collecting six elemental crystals from Heavensward FATEs.
- Sea of Clouds — Wind
- Azys Lla — Fire
- Churning Mists — Lightning
- Coerthas Western Highlands — Ice
- Dravanian Forelands — Earth
- Dravanian Hinterlands — Water
Tip: Rotate zones instead of camping one area to maximize FATE uptime.
Stage 2 — Awoken Weapons
Complete 10 required dungeons with your relic weapon equipped.
Fastest Strategy: Run all dungeons unsynced to dramatically reduce completion time.
Stage 3 — Anima Weapons
This stage requires large material turn-ins including Unidentifiable items and crafted components.
Tip: Use Allagan Tomestones of Poetics whenever possible to speed up acquisition.
Looking for an easier relic grind? See the Phantom Weapons Guide.
Stage 4 — Hyperconductive Weapons
Turn in Aether Oil purchased with Poetics.
This is one of the fastest stages if you have tomestones saved.
Stage 5 — Reconditioned Weapons
This stage is the longest grind in the Anima series.
- 57–60 Umbrite
- 57–60 Crystal Sand
Tip: Focus on efficient Crystal Sand sources based on your account progression rather than forcing one method.
Stage 6 — Sharpened Weapons
Collect 50 Singing Clusters using Poetics or weekly quests.
Stage 7 — Complete Weapons
This stage requires:
- Dungeon clears
- Aetheric density farming
- Pneumite turn-ins
Fastest Method: Farm Alexander (Savage) unsynced for rapid density gain.
Final Stage — Lux Weapons
The final upgrade requires completing multiple trials and turning in Archaic Enchanted Ink.
Lux weapons represent the fully completed Heavensward relic and feature enhanced visual effects.
How Long Do Anima Weapons Take?
- Early stages: 2–4 hours
- Umbrite grind: 6–12 hours
- Final stages: 4–8 hours
Most players can complete an Anima Weapon in 15–30 hours depending on efficiency.
Anima Weapon Farming Tips
- Run all dungeon steps unsynced for speed.
- Use Poetics heavily — they cover most stages.
- Farm Aetheric density using fast raid clears.
- Stockpile materials before starting longer stages.
