Completion of the level 50 side quest “King of the Hull” is also required to start the quest to unlock Hullbreaker Isle (Hard).
Quick Step-by-Step Unlock Guide
Detailed Unlocking Walkthrough
If you have already done the level 50 quest “King of the Hull”, then a new quest called “Storming the Hull” will become available from Denston after finishing the Level 60 Main Scenario Quest “Heavensward”. Denston can be found in the Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks at (X:11.0, Y:10.4). You’ll see him down a ramp that’s just outside the north entrance of the Aftcastle. Denston will mention how he and Eynzahr have been talking about you recently. He asks that you wait a moment as he goes and gets the chief. Eynzahr informs you that he has asked the Admiral to use Hullbreaker Isle as a sort of training ground. However, with most of the Maelstrom caught up in admin work, the chief is starting to worry that their finest soldiers will start to lose their edge in combat. Eynzahr and Denston ask that you help out by giving the members of the Maelstrom a sort of training gauntlet over on Hullbreaker Isle. If you’re willing to help out, Denston asks that you meet him at the Moraby Drydocks. So you can now travel to the Moraby Drydocks in Lower La Noscea – the fastest way is by teleporting to the aetheryte there. Denston can be found at the edge of the dock that is just a short distance southeast from the aetheryte (X:26.9, Y:36.0). He’ll tell you that he’s been assigned to the docks to keep an eye on the weather ever since they’ve taken control of Hullbreaker Isle. Denston will also tell you to let him know when you’re ready to depart for Hullbreaker to begin the training regimen with the Maelstrom. You can now access Hullbreaker Isle (Hard) from the Duty Finder.
Benefits of Doing Hullbreaker Isle (Hard)
Like other dungeons in FFXIV, there are benefits to unlocking the Hard version of Hullbreaker Isle other than the loot it has to offer. But let’s take a look at what you can gain from running this dungeon.
Loot
I know, I did say there’s more to dungeons than loot, but it is still the most obvious of incentives so let’s start here! You’ll find quite a few treasure coffers throughout Hullbreaker Isle (Hard) beside the ones that spawn after defeating a boss. Inside them you’ll find typical dungeon items like armor and accessories. Equipment found in these coffers such as the Berserker’s gearset have an item level of 215. Some of the more notable items that are obtained in Hullbreaker Isle (Hard) can be found in the treasure coffer that spawns after defeating the final boss. These items include the Horizons Calling Orchestrion Roll, the Mistbeard Card, and the Calamari minion.
Wondrous Tails
Wondrous Tails is a new system that was introduced in the Heavensward expansion. It’s a weekly set of goals the player can complete in exchange for various rewards like experience points, treasure maps, and tomestones. One of the objectives that can be given to you for Wondrous Tails is to complete a level 60 dungeon. Hullbreaker Isle (Hard) is a pretty decent choice for achieving this as it is a pretty straightforward dungeon.
Resistance Weapons (Shadowbringers Relic Weapons)
Relic weapons that were introduced in Shadowbringers are called “Resistance Weapons” and can be obtained by starting the “Save the Queen” quest line. Like the relic weapons of previous expansions, these can be upgraded by grinding out the different requirements like spamming FATEs or participating in the Bozjan Southern Front. One particular phase in the Resistance Weapon grind requires you to farm 6 Bitter Memories of the Dying. Completing level 60 dungeons is one of the options for obtaining this item. Again, since Hullbreaker Isle (Hard) is a straightforward dungeon to complete, it’s a viable option to spam to get through this part of the relic grind. Resistance Weapons have become outdated in terms of their stats since the release of Endwalker, but they are still quite popular to use as glamours.
