There are over 400 minions to collect in Final Fantasy XIV, and I’ve managed to amass over 300 of them, but despite the constant influx of new little buddies, I’ve always got some favorites. There’s nothing like picking the best, cutest, or most fitting little travel companion.
Recently, during the Live Letter for Dawntrail, we were shown the results of a player poll highlighting FFXIV community favorites, but I have to respectfully disagree with most picks. In light of this, here’s my personal picks for a top 10 minions list in Final Fantasy XIV.
10. Drippy
Drippy is the drop from Matoya’s Relict, arguably one of the best dungeons ever to exist within Final Fantasy XIV. It’s essentially just a ball of rainwater with a wand which, according to the in-game description, began life in Abalathia’s Spine before reaching Matoya’s Relict via the Thaliak River. It decided that rather than being an enemy of the Warrior of Light, it might as well just follow them.
With that said, I’ve spent almost 7,000 hours playing Final Fantasy XIV, and this elusive little ball of water still refuses to drop for me, and while I know I can purchase one on the Marketboard, sunk cost fallacy still sees me repeatedly running Matoya’s Relict in the hopes that I will one day be rewarded for my efforts.
9. Sponge Silkie
Obtained through the Sil’dihn Subteranne, the Sponge Silkie looks like a hamster held aloft by a magical, lighter-than-air tail ball. As someone with a soft spot for all things rodent-related, I can’t help but be a little bit too attached to my Sponge Silkie.
I mean, look at that face. That smile and those whiskers can’t fail to make you smile and even if they can, those eyes are filled with such hope. There’s also a mount counterpart, which you get for completing all three paths in the Sil’dihn Subterrane, so you can be accompanied by this Silkie wherever you go.
8. Palico
To get your hands on Palico, you’ll need to complete a side quest in which you fight and defeat Rathalos. For anyone who has ever played Monster Hunter, Rathalos and this minion will be incredibly familiar. In Monster Hunter, the Palico are a cat-like race with a pact to help hunters in battle. If that doesn’t make you want this little guy fighting at your side, I’m not sure what will.
7. Fat Cat
Fatcat is kind of iconic, as far as minions (and mounts) go, so I agree with its inclusion on the ‘official’ FFXIV minion list. The animations of the minion, including the cat-like rolling onto the back with all four feet pointing up at the sky, can’t fail to leave you feeling at least a little warm and fuzzy inside.
On the other hand, Fat Cat’s mount counterpart, hilariously called Fatter Cat, is suspected to be the ‘bloated corpse of a cat’ which has been taken over by the voidsent so that they can use it as a corporeal vessel. I’m not sure what that means for Fat Cat, but I try not to think about it too much.
6. Lesser Panda
The Lesser Panda is one of the minions who will run up your back and perch on your shoulder, though if you’re playing as a Lalafell, the Lesser Panda will sit on your head instead of your shoulder. There’s nothing cuter than seeing a member of the smallest playable race in FFXIV with an entire Red Panda perched on top of their head. The little guy looks impossibly soft, so I’m sure it’s not the worst thing to have so clingy.
5. Wee Ea
There’s nothing better than a minion that serves a purpose and the Wee Ea can be used to spawn the Endwalker S-Rank Hunt Mark, Narrow-Rift. By gathering 10 players (or more, usually) it’s possible to force spawn the Mark, but it’s not guaranteed.
But the Wee Ea is adorable in its own right. The gelatinous body that moves in ways which seem to defy physics and the fact that it looks like a legitimate infant of one of the Ea you meet in the Abode of the Ea make this one of my most beloved minions.
4. Odder Otter
What’s better than an Otter wearing a bamboo hat, carrying a paper lantern, and lighting up the path before you? Probably a lot of things, but that doesn’t diminish how utterly adorable this minion truly is.
Always happy and inquisitive, the Odder Otter is the perfect companion to take with you on your adventures across Eorzea. It was the first in a string of Otter inspired minions, such as the Abroader Otter which looks like it’s going on a summer holiday and the Posher Otter, who comes fully decked out in steampunk attire.
3. Cerberpup
Cerberpup was the first thing I saw after entering Eorzea that made me think, “What is that? I need it and I’ll do whatever it takes to get it.” Thankfully, Cerberpup isn’t too difficult to get because you can purchase it on the Marketboard for around 100,000 Gil on most servers, but I didn’t know that at the time, which left me no choice but to grind away in the Diadem to earn 1,200 Skybuilders Scrips in my quest to get a Cerberpup.
2. Namingway
Namingway is the minion reward gained through purchasing the Encyclopaedia Eorzea. The minion itself is definitely cute, but what makes this minion worthy of a place on this list is its origin story. That, and the fact that Namingway will sit anywhere and pull out a book — relatable.
The design of Namingway is far closer to the design of the Hummingway from Final Fantasy IV than it is to the Loporrits we know today. The Hummingway design could be described as being inspired by a bunny in Japanese folklore, which sacrificed itself by throwing its body into a fire to feed an old man who actually turned out to be a god. In honor of the rabbit’s virtue and willingness to give its life to help someone else, the god etched the likeness of the rabbit onto the moon.
And now we have Loporrits, living on the moon, whose sole purpose when we first met them was to help the people of Etheirys survive an oncoming calamity.
1. Wanderer’s Campfire
Possibly the weirdest minion I’m including here, especially considering the fact that it doesn’t move or really do anything, but I promise there’s a very special reason.
The Wanderer’s Campfire has become synonymous with paying respect to people who have passed. When someone well-known by the community passes, players line the streets of Ul’dah with Wanderer’s Campfires, lighting the way for those traveling through.
It never fails to touch anyone who sees it, and I’ll never forget the times I’ve shared my grief with others in this online community. It’s a sobering ritual, but an important one to me, and that makes it the most important one to me despite the game’s long list of others.
