A mount hunter’s job is never done. With Patch 6.1 for Final Fantasy XIV, the FFXIV team added another batch of mounts to collect. One of these mounts is the bird-like Alkonost, based on the half-bird, half-woman creature from Slavic folklore. The FFXIV mount has a little bit less of the “half-woman” part, being more half-lizard; riding a half-woman creature would be very, very odd.
If you’re looking to gain this mount, it’s pretty straightforward, but you will have to do some leg work. It involves getting treasure maps and running the new treasure hunt dungeon.
How To Unlock the Alkonost Mount
You can unlock the Aklonost by acquiring an item called the Alkonost Whistle. This item is available from the vendor Nesvaaz in Radz-at-Han (X: 10.6, Y:10.0). Talk to Nesvaaz and select the menu option “Out-of-this-world Oddities” to see the item. The Alkonost Whistle will cost you three Resplendent Feathers.
Alternatively, you can pick up the Alkonost Whistle on the Market Board. Prices may vary depending on your server, but expect to pay around 10 million gil for it currently.
How To Get Resplendent Feathers
The Resplendent Feather item only comes from one place, The Excitatron 6000 dungeon. This is a Treasure Hunt dungeon, meaning you can only access it through the Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Map item. The dungeon itself requires you to have a Disciple of War or Magic at Level 90, and doesn’t always activate when using the Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Map.
How To Get and Use Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Maps
There are three ways to get Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Maps. The first way is to simply buy them on the Market Board from other players. The second way is to complete a Wondrous Tail journal each week with a total of nine Seals. The final option is the path that most players take — you’ll occasionally find Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Maps from any Level 90 gathering node, meaning any Level 90 Disciple of the Land can find them. Gatherers will get one map at random, every 18 hours.
Once you’ve obtained a Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Map, you’ll first need to use the Decipher action. Don’t have that action yet? You need to pick up the quest “Treasures and Tribulations” from H’loonh in Eastern La Noscea (X: 21.1, Y, 21.1). Completing this Level 36 quest will give you the two actions you need in order to access Treasure Hunts.
Once you Decipher the Timeworn Kumbhiraskin Map item, you’ll receive a Treasure Map key item. You can only have one of these at a time. The Treasure Map will point to the general area where the treasure is located. If you use the Dig action in the right area, a treasure chest will spawn.
Opening the treasure chest will spawn enemies onto the area and you have to defeat the enemies within a time limit. Once that’s done, you can open the treasure chest, which will net you experience, gil, tomestones, and more. Occasionally, the treasure chest will also spawn a portal. This is what you need in order to access The Excitatron 6000 dungeon.
Like other Treasure Hunt dungeons, The Excitatron 6000 is meant to be tackled by a party of three to eight players. You can enter solo, but it’s not recommended. You need to have your party ready to go ahead of time, so use Party Finder to make a group or assemble some friends before you open the treasure chest.
Once inside, you’ll be faced with five rooms with treasure chests. Opening the chest will spawn enemies and defeating the enemies will allow you to access the rewards. After completion, you’ll have to choose between two doors, one of which is the way forward. Completing each room will net you further rewards. These rewards include the Royal Lunatender minion, the Pixie and Archangel Wings glamour items, and the Resplendent Feathers. It’s also random, so good luck!
Once you have the three Feathers, you can head back to Nesvaaz to claim your prize!
