Final Fantasy XVI Guide | How To Get Darksteel

Here’s everything you need to know on how to get Darksteel in Final Fantasy XVI.

Game Guide by Sabi on Jan 09, 2025

Darksteel in Final Fantasy XVI is one of the rarest and most valuable crafting elements needed to upgrade high-tier weapons and equipment. You only get Darksteel by exploring, fighting, or completing missions. This article will show you the best places where this material can be farmed and give you all the equipment needed for the most difficult parts of the game.

Understanding the Purpose of Darksteel

This is what you have to do before actually telling where to find Darksteel. Darksteel is mainly utilized in crafting and upgrading some of the most powerful weapons, including Gotterdammerung and other end-game equipment. It is a pretty rare resource, so knowing where to search for it and how to get it is very important for progressing through the higher ranks of combat.

Complete High-Level Hunts

Final Fantasy XVI Guide, Complete High-Level Hunts

High-level hunting is one of the most assured ways to get dark steel. Hunts are optional quests that require you to find and fight strong enemies, which are usually marked as S-rank or A-rank on your map. These hunts not only give precious commodities but loads of gil and experience points. The chances of some hunts, targeted at iconic adversaries in Ash or Dhalmekian regions, paying out Darksteel are pretty high.

Check the Hunt Board in the Hideaway, Cid's Refuge, or any other hub periodically for available contracts. Stay with the higher-ranked hunts because those are more likely to yield rare materials such as Darksteel.

Scavenging Hidden Treasure Locations

Searching for hidden treasure spots in all of Valisthea is a great way to get Darksteel. Some chests, locked or well-hidden, carry rare crafting reagents, like Darksteel. Searching in dungeons, ancient ruins, and areas that have been part of the main or side quests should be given special attention. The Royal Meadows, the Blackened Forest, and the exterior of Oriflamme have been reported to have chests containing good loot.

To increase your odds of discovering these goodies, make sure to explore thoroughly by breaking destructible objects and interacting with suspicious environmental elements. Employing abilities like the Phoenix Shift to access hard-to-reach areas can also uncover hidden treasures.

Completing Specific Side Quests

Final Fantasy XVI Guide, Completing Specific Side Quests

A few side quests in Final Fantasy XVI are made to reward players with rare materials like Darksteel. These quests often involve helping NPCs in their fight, retrieving lost items, or defeating mini-bosses. Be on the lookout for side quests that have higher difficulty levels or involve significant characters, as these are more likely to grant valuable rewards.

One great side quest that could yield Darksteel is "The Blacksmith's Blues." This quest line, which requires helping a capable blacksmith gather rare resources, may reward Darksteel once in a while. Not only will such quests improve your gear, but they will also allow going into the depth of the game's storyline and characters.

Endgame Farming

Certain parts of Valisthea will be perfect for farming these rare items like Darksteel once you reach the end. Places like the Crystalline Dominion and Waloed house elite enemies and bosses with higher drop chances in the endgame zones. These places also contain high-level boxes and hidden treasures, so make sure you are entering them with updated equipment and Eikonic powers.

You also have to revisit these places because, after a certain amount of time, enemies and loot will get respawning. With this, you will be able to farm any amount of Darksteel required with little patience for your crafting purpose.

Darksteel Farming Effectively

For farming Darksteel, here are some tips to remember:

Optimize Your Build: Use equipment and accessories that afford you greater fighting efficiency and survivability so high-level hunts and dungeons are easy to hack.
Track Your Progress: Keep track of which regions you've explored or which areas you have completed quests in and which hunts so that you don't repeat yourself.
Prioritize Upgrades: Save Darksteel for when absolutely necessary and upgrade only the equipment that would present the greatest advantages during a fight.

Getting Darksteel in Final Fantasy XVI requires strategic thinking and a bit of persistence. Whether high-level hunts, finding hidden pockets of treasure, or completing some of the more challenging side tasks, each step gets one closer to getting the perfect equipment. If you follow this guide, you will be ready to take on even the most fearsome enemies the game can throw at you and experience everything Valisthea has to offer.

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