The Minstrel's Ballad: Nidhogg's Rage

Important

The North American, European, and Oceanian data centers primarily use Party Finder to challenge (Extreme) content. Using Duty Finder to match with random players is not recommended and will be more difficult than pre-forming a party. For an easy completion (that will satisfy any quest requirements) or loot farming, it is recommended that players use Party Finder and form an Unrestricted Party (i.e., with level sync disabled). Players who wish to complete this duty with level sync enabled should also form a pre-made party, which also enables the use of Minimum Item Level and Silence Echo settings for a more authentic challenge compared to a Duty Finder party.

Level: 60 (Sync: 60)
Item Level: 220
Difficulty: Extreme
Party size: Full Party
8 man • 2 2 4
Unsyncing: Allowed
Time limit: 60 minutes
Phoenix Down: Not Available
Duty Finder: High-end Trials (Heavensward)
Roulette: Mentor
Tomestones: 20
Req. quest: Nidhogg's Rage
Location: Steps of Faith
Region: Coerthas
S/S/S: Available
Patch: 3.3
The Echo: On wipe: +5% (max +25%)

Scarcely had Nidhogg fallen on the Steps of Faith, when taverns across Eorzea began to rumble with the rumors of your victory. In one such establishment did you regale a certain story-staved bard with the true details of your accomplishment – a humble account that he soon expanded into a flowery ballad of heroic proportions. Even as the lilting notes fade away, your mind is carried off by recollections of a monstrous foe, writ considerably more terrifying by the wandering minstrel's exaggerated poetry...

— In-game description

The Minstrel's Ballad: Nidhogg's Rage is a level 60 trial introduced in patch 3.3 with Heavensward.

Strategy

Nidhogg

Video Guide

Nidhogg will utilize many different abilities across a total of 4 phases, some of which are dealt in his standard Dragon Form, while others are exclusive to his Human Form later in the battle.

This fight has an 11 minute enrage timer.

Phase 1 (Dragon Phase): 100% - 80%

Phase 1 Abilities
Name	Description
Scarlet Whisper	A magic damage cleave.
Deafening Bellow	Unavoidable damage to the entire party.
Cauterize	Nidhogg appears at a random edge of the arena and charges across in a giant line AoE, covering half the arena. Always paired with Horrid Roar (Sky & Floor).
Horrid Roar (Sky)	Spread circles marked by orange overhead arrows.
Horrid Roar (Floor)	Simple circle AoEs placed under players. Inflicts Hysteria for 6 seconds.
Hot Wing	Two giant line AoEs covering the entire arena to Nidhogg's left and right side.
Hot Tail	One giant line AoE from Nidhogg's center extending out past the head and tail.

Phase 1 is a simple introduction to Nidhogg's primary AoE attacks.

Players will need to keep an eye out of where Nidhogg appears for Cauterize and run to a safe section of the arena. Players will then need to spread out to avoid hitting each other with Horrid Roar.

Hot Wing can be avoided by standing in front of, behind, or underneath Nidhogg. Hot Tail is simply the inverse and must be dodged by standing to Nidhogg's sides.

Phase 1 Rotation
Attack	Strategy
Scarlet Whisper	Ensure Nidhogg is facing away from the party.
Deafening Bellow	Keep everyone healthy.
Scarlet Whisper	--
Cauterize x2	Dodge Nidhogg and spread out for Horrid Roar.
Scarlet Whisper	--
Deafening Bellow	--
Scarlet Whisper	--
Hot Wing + Tail	The order is random, so pay attention to the cast bar to know where to dodge first.
Deafening Bellow	--
Repeat

Phase 2: Shadow Dragons

After being pushed below 80% health, Nidhogg will summon three adds, two of which must be tanked, and a third add that cannot be tanked at all. This phase serves as a DPS check.

Phase 2 Enemies
Name	Description
Shadow Brobinyak	Spawns on the west of the arena. Casts The Serpent's Apple, a tankbuster that inflicts stacks of Physical Vulnerability Up. If this creature isn't slain quickly, it will repeatedly cast Original Sin on the tank, a magic attack that inflicts an incurable Disease.
Shadow Falak	Spawns on the east side of the arena. Casts Electric Predation, a tankbuster that inflicts Magic Vulnerability Up. Unlike it's physical counterpart, Magic Vulnerability Up causes magic attacks to deal extra damage based on the player's maximum health. Two stacks will cause the next magic attack to do 50% of max health as additional damage.
Shadow Dragon	Spawns on the north side of the arena and completely ignores enmity. Alternates between an unmarked Fireball circle AoE at the farthest player, and a Ripper Claw melee cone AoE. All of its attacks inflict Damage Down. At about 60% HP, it will roar and inflict Vulnerability Up on the entire group, causing players to take fatal damage from its attacks.

One tank should handle the Shadow Brobinyak while the other takes the Shadow Falak. The Shadow Dragon should be ignored until last, but its attacks will have to be dodged constantly in the meantime.

DPS should focus on killing the Shadow Brobinyak first to prevent it from reaching the point where it casts Original Sin.

Once the Shadow Brobinyak is killed, a tankswap should occur with the Shadow Falak while the DPS kill it.

Finally, the Shadow Dragon should be killed once its the only one left.

Once 90 seconds have passed or all dragons are defeated, Nidhogg will cast Mortal Chorus, dealing moderate raid-wide damage and knocking players back.

Final Chorus will be cast after a lengthy animation, dealing much higher damage to the entire party and starting the next phase. If any of the Shadows were still alive during the cast of Mortal Chorus, this will wipe the party.

Phase 3 (Human Form): 80% - 40%

Nidhogg will skip to his final phase if brought to 40% health early.

Phase 3 Abilities
Name	Description
Drachenlance	A physical damage cleave.
Ala Morn	A tankbuster.
High Jump	Spread circles marked by purple overhead arrows targeting multiple non-tank players. Leaves behind puddles for 20 seconds that inflict Bleeding.
Super Jump	One random High Jump marker drops a proximity AoE.
Geirskogul	Simple Line AoEs aimed at random players from Nidhogg and each High Jump puddle.
Soul Tether	Transferable tethers attached to one or both healers. After 10 seconds, explodes into an AoE tankbuster.
Nidhogg's Fang & Nidhogg's Claw	A destructible staff and sword that starts casting Self-Destrust, a long cast that wipes the party if completed. Niddhogg's Fang is a blue staff that tethers the main tank and two random players, inflicting Fangbound. Any damage taken by Fangbound players heals the staff. Niddhogg's Claw is an Invincible red sword that tethers to three other players, inflicting Clawbound. Only takes damage when Clawbound players take damage.
Eye of the Tyrant	A Stack marker targeting a random Fangbound player.
Flare Star	Three blue orbs that appear in random spots around the arena and slowly move towards Nidhogg's Fang. Explodes into a small AoE when touched by a player, dealing moderate damage.

Players should always attempt to place High Jump at the edges of the arena to leave space to dodge to follow-up Geirskogul AoEs.

The first trial players will have to overcome is Nidhogg's Fang & Nidhogg's Claw. Players marked by Fangbound will need to avoid all damage while players with Clawbound intentionally try to take damage.

All DPS should focus on destroying Nidhogg's Fang, as the Claw is immune to direct damage. Tanks will need to tank swap each time tethers go out or change, as the main tank will always become marked with Fangbound.

While destroying the Fang and Claw, there are two notable attacks: Flare Star and Eye of the Tyrant.

The three Clawbound players should immediately run over to and burst Flare Stars once they appear. Any players that are Fangbound should steer clear of these orbs.
The player marked by Eye of the Tyrant should move away from the Fang along with all Clawbound players. The two unmarked Fangbound players should stay out of the Stack marker and focus on attacking the Fang.

Some time after both Nidhogg's Fang & Claw are destroyed, Nidhogg will jump away and begin a devastating combination of attacks.

Four towers in the inter-cardinals of the arena and both healers are marked with High Jump. The towers create fire puddles on resolution.
Three Geirskogul AoEs appear, four more players are marked with High Jump, and both healers are targeted by Soul Tether.
One of the four High Jumps leaves a Super Jump proximity AoE while more Geirskogul AoEs appear.
The Super Jump lands, and after a couple heavy attacks on the tank, Phase 4 begins.

Players will want to assign two towers to DPS, two towers to tanks, and also assign each healer a corner near a tank for the follow-up Soul Tether.

Place all High Jumps at the edges of the arenas. After the second set of High Jumps, all players should move to the opposite side of the arena from the Super Jump while avoiding the Geirskogul AoEs.

Phase 3 Rotation
Attack	Strategy
Drachenlance	Ensure Nidhogg is facing away from the party.
High Jump	Place markers on the edge of the arena.
Geirskogul + Soul Tether	Avoid AoEs. One tank should grab the Soul Tether off the healer and move it away from the party.
Ala Morn	Mitigate and heal.
Drachenlance	--
Fang & Claw + Flare Stars	Tank swap to prevent The Fang from healing off the Fangbound tank. Clawbound players should run to and burst Flare Stars.
Ala Morn	Mitigate.
Eye of the Tyrant	Move the Stack marker away from the Fang and all Clawbound players should stack inside.
Tether Swap	Tank swap again, as now the other tank will be Fangbound instead.
Flare Stars	Clawbound players should run to and burst Flare Stars.
Eye of the Tyrant	Move the Stack marker away from the Fang and all Clawbound players should stack inside.
Ala Morn x2	Heavy mitigations and healing required.
Drachenlance	--
Towers x4 + High Jump x2	All players should move to their assigned positions. Healers should ensure they are near a tank.
Geirskogul + High Jump x4 + Soul Tether x2	Avoid AoEs and spread out. Tanks must grab Soul Tethers off the healers.
Geirskogul + Super Jump	Run away from the Super Jump point while avoiding AoEs.
Drachenlance	--
Ala Morn	Mitgate and Heal.
Drachenlance	--
Phase 4 Start

Phase 4 (Heart of the Dragon): 40% - 0%

This phase begins with Bloodrage, which deals moderate raid-wide damage. Nidhogg returns in dragon form and casts Cauterize, along with Horrid Roar (Sky and Floor) on every player.

Phase 4 Abilities
Name	Description
Akh Morn	A multi-hit stack marker. Adds an additional hit with each cast.
Flame Blast	A combination attack involving Horrid Roars, Hot Wing/Tail, and Flame Blast orbs, which are clusters of fire orbs that explode in a + shape. Has two patterns that consistently alternate.
Bitter Hate	A stacking debuff that builds up on the main enmity target. If the debuff reaches 8 stacks, the player instantly dies.

A gif showing how to dodge the Hot Wing flame blast combination. — Flame Blast Pattern 1 (Hot Wing)

A gif showcasing Nidhogg's Flame Blast Hot Tail combination. — Flame Blast Pattern 2 (Hot Tail). Nidhogg aims Hot Tail at a random player, which can result in changes in safe zones.

While most of the attacks are the same as the first Phase, the addition of Flame Blast and Bitter Hate create deadly obstacles. Horrid Roar now often targets all players.

Tanks will have keep an eye on each other's Bitter Hate stacks, swapping at 5 or 6 stacks.

The key to survival will be handling the Flame Blasts, which come in two patterns:

Pattern 1: Nidhogg casts Hot Wing and places Horrid Roar (Floor) under each player. Afterwards, Flame Blasts explode across the arena's edges. All players are marked with Horrid Roar (Sky) and must spread to the corners before the center Flame Blast bursts.

Pattern 2: Three clusters of Flame Blasts appear in a diagonal and in order of detonation. All players are targeted by Horrid Roar (Floor) and the center Flame Blast detonates. Nidhogg begins casting Hot Tail at a player while the second Flame Blast detonates, and finishes his cast at the same time the third Flame Blast detonates.

For Pattern 1, players will want to stack together in front and behind Nidhogg during the cast of Hot Wing, then immediately move to the center once the Horrid Roar (Floor) appears to dodge the Flame Blast. All players then must spread apart to the corners to dodge the final Flame Blast while also staying far enough away from each other due to Horrid Roar (Sky).

Pattern 2 is much more difficult. All players should stack in the corner where the last Flame Blast appears. Once the Horrid Roar (Floor) appears, move towards the center and wait for the first Flame Blast to detonate. Nidhogg should aim a Hot Tail on the diagonal while players move into the center. Once the second Flame Blast detonates, players should run to a safe cardinal to dodge the final Flame Blast and Hot Tail.

Should players be able to survive Flame Blast combinations consistently, the rest of the phase should be no issue.

Nidhogg will repeat this cycle until death or the 11 minute mark where he will begin casting a very final Deafening Bellow which will wipe the party.

Phase 4 Rotation
Phase	Attack	Strategy
Opening	Bloodrage	Heal up the party.
	Cauterize + Horrid Roar	Dodge Nidhogg's dive and spread out.
	Akh Morn	Stack together until the attack is completely finished.
	Flame Blast (Pattern 1)	Stack for Horrid Roar while dodging Hot Wing, then move to center to dodge Flame Blast, then finally spread to the corners.
Loop	Akh Morn	Stack together until the attack is completely finished.
	Scarlet Whisper	--
	Deafening Bellow	--
	Flame Blast (1 or 2 Alternating)	Handle depending on which pattern is set to happen. Will always start with Pattern 2.
	Deafening Bellow	--
Loop Repeat

Loot

Each player will receive 1 Horde Totem per kill. Collect 10 totems to exchange for a weapon or 99 for a Dark Lanner Whistle at Bertana in Idyllshire (X:5.9 Y:5.2).
20 Allagan Tomestone of Poetics
Nidhogg Card (Drops at a fixed rate.)

Treasure Coffer

Name	Type	Item Level	Rarity	Quantity
Paladin's Horde Arms (IL 235)	Other	N/A	CBlue	1
Horde Axe	Marauder's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Guillotine	Dark Knight's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Spear	Lancer's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Knuckles	Pugilist's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Katana	Samurai's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Daggers	Rogue's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Bow	Archer's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Handgonne	Machinist's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Rod	Two-handed Thaumaturge's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Grimoire	Arcanist's Grimoire	235	CBlue	1
Horde Rapier	Red Mage's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Cane	Two-handed Conjurer's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Codex	Scholar's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Horde Star Globe	Astrologian's Arm	235	CBlue	1
Nidhogg's Scale	Material	N/A	ABasic	1
Horde Weapon Coffer (IL 235)	Other	N/A	ABasic	1
Dark Lanner Whistle	Other	N/A	ABasic	1
Faded Copy of Revenge of the Horde	Other	N/A	ABasic	1

Achievements

This duty is associated with the following achievements:

Name	Points	Task	Reward	Patch
Let Me Be Your Hogg	10	Defeat Nidhogg in the Minstrel's Ballad: Nidhogg's Rage.	-	3.3
Mightier than the Horde	5	Complete the Minstrel's Ballad: Nidhogg's Rage with a party of only blue mages, Silence Echo turned on, and Unrestricted Party turned off.	-	5.15

Music

Section	Theme
Phase 1	Dragonsong
Phase 2	Freefall
Phase 3	Revenge of the Horde

Images

The Minstrel's Ballad: Nidhogg's Rage

Contents