A Complete Guide to FFXIV Dawntrail Arcadion (M3 and M4) (2024)

After completing Dawntrail's M1 and M2 in the Light-Heavyweight division for Arcadion in FFXIV, it's time to meet the last two bosses on the roaster. And it's about to get heated.

As we've seen in the previous Arcadion M1 and M2 guide, these bosses are not your average Joe. You must be nimble and execute the best attack, parry, and defense combos on your hotbar.

FFXIV Raid Guide for AAC Light-Heavyweight M3 (Normal)

Match 3 introduces you to the savage might, Brute Bomber. His powerful blows and constant AoE hits will keep you on your toes. Thankfully, his raid mechanics, combos, and fight patterns are repetitive and easy to avoid.

Here's his list of attacks and how to avoid them.

Brutal Impact

4 AoE attacks- Activate your mitigations (Reprisals for tanks and Feint from DPSs) and heal to survive through Brute Bomber's first attacks

Knuckle Sandwich

Split tank buster- Both tanks stand together with mitigations on.

Brutal Lariat

AoE Dash- Brute Bomber covers 2/3rd of the room. Keep away from his flaming-arm side to avoid this attack.

Murderous Mist

270° arena-wide AoE- Get behind Brute Bomber to avoid this attack.

Barbarous Barrage

4 Towers with Knockback- Have one player under every tower to soak the damage. Use Arm's Length to avoid being knocked back outside the platform.

Fire Spin

Conal Rotating AoE- Move to the first AoE spot after he fires it, and wait out the rotation at this spot.

Fuses of Fury

Exploding bomb AoEs with different explosion timers- Stand close to long-fuse bombs and wait for the short-fuse bombs to explode. Dodge towards short-fuse bomb areas to avoid exploding long-fuse bombs.

Doping Drought

DPS check- Brute Bomber stops attacking to drown an energy drink and increase his damage mechanics. Utilize this moment to unleash all your damage skills and combos.

Brutal Impact+AoE Stack

6-Hit+AoE Stack- Gather under the yellow stack with debuff to soak in the oncoming damages.

Lariat Combo

Back-to-Back AoE Dash- Avoid the first dash, and check if the 2nd dash swaps sides. If it does, move to the opposite area. Always move after checking the 2nd glowing arm.

Fire Spin+Interfnal Spin

Cascading Aoe+Conal Aoe- Avoid the first Fire Spin Aoe, and move in and out of the circular/donut AoE markers that appear around Brute Bomber.

Brute Bomber goes on to combine different skills to take you down. The best way to avoid hits is to be on your feet, keep calm, and watch out for AoEs.

FFXIV Raid Guide for AAC Light-Heavyweight M4 (Normal)

Things are about to get wicked with Wicked Thunder as your M4 raid boss in the Arcadion Light Heavyweight Normal division. Her mechanics, killer moves, and electric combos are no joke.

Here's the complete list of Wicked Thunder's abilities and tips to tackle them.

Wrath of Zeus

A raid-wide AoE- Pop your mitigations and heal.

Wicked Jolt

Basic tank-buster- If you're the tank, pop your Rampart mitigation and stay away from others.

Sidewise Spark

Half-room AoE- Stay on the opposite side of her glowing arm to avoid the attack.

Shadows Sabbath

Clones with Sidewise Spark- Keep your eyes on Wicked Thunder's spawning clones and their glowing side.

Proton Cannon

Repeated AoE blasts to destroy 3/4th platform- Start moving towards the safer edge of the platform. Her last blast destroys the target area.

Three-fold Blast

Three directional blasts: Watch her order of light sequence and avoid those directions accordingly as she fires her cannon.

Winged Mode

Wicked Thunder becomes a winged beast- ready to hit.

Bewitching Flight

Winged Line-AoE Lightning Lasers- Stand between the laser lines before they hit, and stand away from glowing lines to avoid AoE lightning damage.

Shadows Sabbath 2

Sidewise Spark from clones- Same as before, except now with multiple clothes. Watch out for the sequence of her clones appearing and avoid their glowing sides.

Winged Mode 2+ Bewtitching Flight

Clone with Bewitching Flight- Wicked Thunder will summon her winged clone for both to activate Bewitching Flight. Choose a square section between the two lasers to stand safely.

Keep moving to avoid double AoE lightning damage.

Witch Hunt

Telegraph AoE markers- Wtach the ground to follow her telegraphed AOEe. Avoid and stand close to the first red target to stay away from the rest.

Wicked Hypercannon

Repeated AoE Blasts and floor markets- The best way to avoid damage is to pop mitigations, keep an HP potion handy, and win the tournament.