Last week, we looked at the Hrothgar - one of the new races added in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers. Today we look at the Viera - a hugely exciting addition for any long-time FINAL FANTASY fans who have stepped virtual foot into Ivalice…
What are the Viera?
With their tall, slender forms and distinctive long ears, Viera are one of the most instantly recognizable races in Hydaelyn.
In FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, most Viera live in South Othard, inside the Golmore Jungle, though they have other communities across the world. They live by a strict code known as the Green Word, which prohibits contact with the outside world - any Viera who breaks this code faces exile from their clan.
The race is largely matriarchal - you’re unlikely to find males in any village or town. Instead, they stick to the shadows as protectors of the wood, driving evil away from their sacred lands.
Picking a Viera character in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers gives you a choice of two options - the Rava and the Veena.
Rava
The Rava clan live in the Golmore Jungle, where they are able to easily blend into their surroundings.
They’re adept hunters, and guard their home and their clan with a ferocity that takes many by surprise. Despite many attempts by the Dalmascans to conquer the Rava, the Viera have managed to maintain their own self-governing community and control of the jungle.
Most Rava Viera stick close to home, but recently a few have chosen to venture out into the wider world.
Veena
Paler-skinned than the Rava clan, Veena Viera hail from the forests at the foothills of the Skatay Range.
As with their sister clan, the Veena act as accomplished hunters and gatherers, and have a firm commitment to protecting their woods and nurturing nature.
Many of the Viera who have left their mountain homes were swept up into war and conflict, and a number of these battle-hardened hunters have chosen to head for the land of Eorzea.
Can I play as a Viera if I don’t have FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers?
As with the Hrothgar, you’ll need to purchase FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers to create a Viera character.
If you do have the expansion - or if you’re new to the game, the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Complete Edition (which includes all expansions including Shadowbringers), you can create a Viera character at any time.
Read more:
- Everything you need to know about FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers
- How do you make a remake? We asked the Trials of Mana devs
- Videogame meals that will make your mouth water
Can I change my character to a Viera?
You can change your character to a Viera with a Phial of Fantasia - a potion that lets you change all aspects of your appearance, including race. You can buy these from the Mog Station.
The Viera in other FINAL FANTASY games
The Viera are an iconic part of the FINAL FANTASY games that are set in, or related to, Ivalice, such as FINAL FANTASY XII, and the FINAL FANTASY TACTICS series.
The most famous Viera is FINAL FANTASY XII’s Fran - a sky pirate and partner to the disarmingly louche Balthier.
Fran is a skilled warrior, and a valuable ally in combat. More than that though, she’s also a skilled engineer, largely responsible for keeping Balthier’s airship, the Strahl, in the air.
The Viera in FINAL FANTASY XII are strikingly similar to those in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers - they live in the Golmore Jungle, and are deeply distrustful of outsiders, and Viera who have abandoned their way of life. Sadly for Fran, that includes her.
FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE is available if you want to see Viera in other contexts to Shadowbringers. It’s the best version of the classic RPG yet, with a number of system improvements like an expanded jobs system and more commands in battle. It also features some fantastic quality of life features too, such as the ability to speed up time for faster battles and navigation.
The game’s available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4 and Steam now.
- Get FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE
So that’s a brief look at the two new races in FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers. Are you already playing as a Viera or Hrothgar? Are you tempted to switch or are you only just starting your FINAL FANTASY XIV Online adventure?
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