Variant and Criterion Dungeon Guide for FFXIV

Introduced in Patch 6.25, Variant and Criterion Dungeons are light-party content that breaks the mold of a regular FFXIV dungeon layout. Variant dungeons are characterized by branching paths and is exploration-focused, while Criterion dungeons place a greater emphasis on difficult combat.

Variant Dungeons are max-level dungeons with variable difficulty (hence the name). The dungeon is intended for a party of one to four players, and enemy strength is scaled based on the number of players present. There are no role or action restrictions, and players can change job to fit the needs of the party. Variant dungeons place an emphasis on exploration, with branching paths throughout the dungeon. The layout, boss mechanics, and rewards will change based on the actions the player(s) take throughout the dungeon. In addition, certain character attributes will be increased to compensate between certain roles.

As Variant Dungeons have no restrictions on party size, special actions can be selected in order to help perform the standard roles of tank, healer, and DPS. Two of these can be selected from the V&C Dungeon Finder menu, and can be changed even while inside the dungeon. Note that certain actions have role restrictions. Below is a list of Variant Actions.

Unlike Variant Dungeons, Criterion Dungeons have set role restrictions and action restrictions. It requires a premade light party consisting of one tank, one healer, and two DPS. Players all have one charge of the Variant Raise II duty action, which resurrects a target in a weakened state - no other resurrection abilities can be used. Just like in Variant Dungeons, party members will gain a bonus to outgoing damage based on the composition of the party in order to compensate for role disparities.

Criterion Dungeons have an additional Savage difficulty, which adds more difficult restrictions including no revives at all, and a fail-state condition upon wiping or upon taking too long to complete the dungeon. Bosses in the Savage difficulty are also harder. This is intended to be the most difficult light party content available.