How to Unlock the Dark Lanner Mount in Final Fantasy XIV

Who doesn’t want to ride on a gnarly-looking beast all over the world while other players look on at you in awe? And you’ll make sure to turn virtual heads everywhere if you manage to get your hands on the Dark Lanner mount!

The huge, dark, and brooding creature is a rideable bird with a polished metallic cat and large wings that possess a majestic purple glow; just so cool, regardless f which character you play!

So how do you exactly obtain the Dark Lanner Mount, right? Simple! All you need is the Dark Lanner Whistle! Sweet, so now you can just buy it off of the player market board, right? Nope. The Dark Lanner whistle is sadly unsellable. So earning the Dark Lanner Mount takes a little bit more effort than simply clicking one or two buttons.

First, you need to make sure that you have completed A Realm Reborn’s story content, so that you can move on to the Heavensward expansion. Then you need to complete the Heavensward MSQ quest, “Litany of Peace”. Once you’ve done that, a sidequest named “Nidhogg’s Rage” becomes available to you.

To start the sidequest, go to Mor Dhona and speak to an NPC called Alys. Once you successfully beat Nidhogg the first time, the Extreme Difficulty variation of the duty becomes available, “The Minstrel’s Ballad: Nidhogg’s Rage.”

This duty, also known as Nidhogg EX, is infamous for being one of the toughest boss fights in Final Fantasy XIV. Nidhogg’s attacks and playstyle are erratic and highly unpredictable, so it will take some skill to beat him, along with a recommended Item Level of 225 or higher.

Once you beat Nidhogg, you receive a guaranteed drop called the Horde Totem, among other rewards. This drop can be exchanged for various rewards, but if you collect x99 Horde Totems, you can trade them in for the elusive Dark Lanner Whistle! That gives you your Dark Lanner Mount.

Nidhogg EX also drops rare items in a randomized chest, with a very small chance of receiving the Dark Lanner Whistle through it.

So start grinding Nidhogg EX, and may the RNG Gods bless your runs!