FFXIV Patch 7.41 Phantom Weapons: what’s new in this step

This is a Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) guide focused on Patch 7.41’s Phantom Weapons progression. You’ll learn where the new quests begin, which one-time materials you must gather, how the Crystal Paste grind works (including totals and turn-in phases), and which activities tend to be the most time-efficient depending on your playstyle.

While this step is a relic-style grind, it’s also designed to be flexible: roulettes, deep dungeons, raids, an Extreme trial, and Dawntrail FATEs all contribute. That variety matters for both pacing and budgeting, since repairs, food, pots, and crafted materials can add up over time in terms of FFXIV gil.

Prerequisites: be fully caught up on earlier Phantom Weapon steps

Before starting the Patch 7.41 step, you must have completed the prior Phantom Weapon quests up through the hand-in that ends with “Rot by Hands Fantasmal”. If that turn-in is done, you can proceed to the new quest in Phantom Village.

Step 1 (one-time): “Timeworn Techniques” and the four required items

Head to Phantom Village and pick up “Timeworn Techniques”. After the opening scenes, you’ll be asked to procure four items. This is a one-time requirement for the entire Phantom Weapon series, meaning you won’t need to repeat this material check for additional weapons later.

Required item #1: Umbral Clay (purchased with gil)

Umbral Clay is bought from the markets in Tuliyollal for 500,000 gil. This is the single biggest fixed cost in the step, so plan around it if you’re also spending on materia, crafted gear, or glamour. Players who are short on time often prefer to avoid extra farming and keep their budget stable with a mix of roulettes, market board sales, and other efficient FFXIV gil methods.

Required items #2–#4: three Aspected Aethero components (craft or market board)

The remaining three items can be crafted or purchased on the market board:

• Aspected Aethero Elomerate
• Aspected Aethero Conductor
• Aspected Aethero Catalyst

Crafting requires the relevant Master Recipe books (Master Recipe 12). With current crafting gear, these are generally straightforward, and their materials tend to be inexpensive once the initial patch rush settles. If you’d rather not craft, buying them outright is usually fine after prices normalize, and it’s often still cheaper than burning hours you’d prefer to spend on the Crystal Paste grind.

Turn-in and unlock the grind quest

Once you have all four items, return to Phantom Village to complete the quest scenes and unlock “In Pursuit of Perfection”. This is the primary grind segment for Patch 7.41.

This quest asks you to farm Crystal Paste. You’ll track eligible activities via a key item called the Phantom Glass, which lists multiple duty categories and how much Paste each completion awards.

Important details to understand before you start:

• You’ll ultimately need 1,200 Crystal Paste total.
• The quest progresses in phases: 100, then 200, then 300, then 600.
• Crystal Paste is a real inventory item. Any extra you earn carries forward (overflow is kept).
• You can keep earning Paste even if your current phase is already complete, so it’s possible to farm the full 1,200 first and do all turn-ins afterward.

Because this is a one-time grind for the series, it’s worth choosing the method that best matches your schedule. If you’re trying to avoid endless repetition, rotate two or three sources (for example, leveling roulette plus deep dungeon floors) to keep momentum.

All Crystal Paste sources (and how to choose what to farm)

The Phantom Glass lists several categories. Each has different efficiency depending on queue times, your role, and whether you can form premades.

1) Duty Roulettes: consistent and flexible

Roulettes are the most accessible option, and you do not need the daily bonus to earn Crystal Paste. That means you can repeatedly queue the same roulette category if it’s fast for you.

• Expert Roulette: 15 Paste per completion
• Level Cap Roulette: 15 Paste per completion
• Leveling Roulette: 20 Paste per completion

Leveling Roulette is particularly appealing because you don’t need to be level 100 to queue it, and it can double as job leveling. If you get quick dungeons and smooth runs, it’s often one of the best “set it and forget it” paths for players building a routine around FFXIV gil from roulettes and daily content while also progressing their relic step.

Take a look at: our Patch 7.41 Phantom Weapons preview and reward overview

2) Occult Crescent: Critical Engagements only (slow unless you have other goals)

In Occult Crescent content, only Critical Engagements award Crystal Paste, at 5 Paste each. Other zone activities (FATEs within the zone, pots, chests, fort tower) do not contribute Paste for this step.

Because Critical Engagements can be spaced out, this method is typically slower if your only goal is Paste. It becomes more reasonable if you’re simultaneously working on other zone objectives, such as leveling Phantom-related jobs or pursuing high-end accessories. Consider it a “multitask” option rather than a pure speed farm.

3) Deep Dungeons: Pilgrim’s Traverse shines on higher floors

Deep dungeon progress is one of the more interesting options because rewards scale with floor depth.

Pilgrim’s Traverse increases Paste payouts as you climb, with strong returns on higher floors. Reported values include 26 Paste at floor 80, making repeat clears of higher-floor segments (for groups that can do them quickly and safely) a highly competitive approach.

This method is especially good if you also want deep dungeon benefits: challenge log progress, practice for solo attempts, and steady repetition without Duty Finder variability. It’s a strong alternative to roulette spam for players who prefer controlled, repeatable runs.

Final Verse: Quantum is also listed, though exact payouts may vary by clear conditions. If you enjoy that content, it can be worth testing alongside Pilgrim’s Traverse to compare your personal time-to-Paste rate.

4) Arcadion Heavyweight raids: steady Paste while you do weekly clears

The Heavyweight raid tier rewards Crystal Paste from both Normal and Savage:

• Normal fights: 8 Paste each
• M9S: 10 Paste
• M10S and M11S: 11 Paste
• M12S: 18 Paste

This is a great “two birds” option if you’re already raiding for weekly loot or progging Savage. It can also be a practical way to offset raid-related expenses like repairs and consumables. Many groups end up spending a surprising amount over a tier on food, tinctures, and meld adjustments, so keeping your economy healthy matters whether you earn through crafting, the market board, or other approaches associated with FFXIV gil for raid consumables.

Doom Train (Extreme) awards 9 Paste per clear. This is a focused farm option: if you’re already running it for mounts or practice, the Paste stacks up quickly as long as your clear rate is consistent.

As with any Extreme farm, efficiency depends heavily on execution. A clean group can outperform many “safer” methods simply by minimizing downtime between pulls.

6) Dawntrail FATEs: 3 Paste each (slow but good for Shared FATE progress)

Dawntrail FATEs award 3 Paste each. On raw speed, this is usually behind roulettes and high-floor deep dungeon runs, but it’s a solid background method if you’re pushing Shared FATE ranks, leveling a job, or just want low-stress open-world play.

How to plan the 1,200 Crystal Paste grind (practical pacing)

Because the total is large, the best strategy is usually the one you can repeat without burning out. Here are three practical planning templates:

Template A: “Queue-friendly” routine (most players)

• Prioritize Leveling Roulette for 20 Paste runs when queues are reasonable.
• Fill gaps with Expert/Level Cap roulette repeats.
• Mix in a few Dawntrail FATE loops when you want a break from instanced content.

This routine is simple, doesn’t require premades, and pairs well with leveling alts. It also naturally generates tomestones and incidental drops that help stabilize your progression resources.

Template B: “Deep dungeon focus” routine (consistent repeat clears)

• Push Pilgrim’s Traverse into higher floors with a consistent group.
• Once you reach a comfortable repeat segment (commonly in the 70–80 range), farm that loop for high Paste per hour.
• Use roulettes only when you want variety or need tomestones.

This is often the smoothest method if you value predictable runs over Duty Finder roulette variance.

Take a look at: this Arcadion Heavyweight Savage breakdown for prep and expectations

Template C: “Raider’s add-on” routine (earn Paste while progging)

• Let Savage reclears and prog nights contribute a chunk of your Paste.
• Backfill the remainder with roulettes or deep dungeon segments on off-days.

This approach tends to feel the least grindy because you’re earning Paste while doing content you’d likely be doing anyway.

Once you’ve turned in the full 1,200 Crystal Paste, you’ll enter the finishing stretch and receive “Phantom Reborn”. To complete your weapon, you must buy three Waning Aranites for 500 Tomestones of Mathematics each (1,500 total) and turn them in.

At completion, your Patch 7.41 Phantom Weapon is awarded at item level 775.

Good news for additional Phantom Weapons

For any subsequent Phantom Weapons, you only need the final step: the three Waning Aranites. You do not need to repeat the one-time four-item quest or the 1,200 Paste grind again. In other words, the big farm is a one-and-done unlock for the series, and alts are primarily a tomestone purchase.

Budget notes: where gil pressure can sneak in during this step

Even though Crystal Paste itself is earned through gameplay, Patch 7.41’s Phantom Weapon step can quietly create gil pressure in a few places:

• Upfront purchase: Umbral Clay is a fixed 500,000 gil.
• Market board convenience: buying the three Aspected Aethero items can save time if crafting isn’t set up.
• Raid and dungeon costs: repairs, food, and tinctures add up during repeated clears.
• Opportunity cost: time spent farming Paste is time not spent on FFXIV gil from market board flips, crafting, or gathering.

If you’re trying to keep momentum on relic progress while also prepping for endgame, it helps to decide early whether you’ll craft your components, buy them, or fund them via your normal income loops. Some players also look for how to get extra FFXIV gil without endless grinding so they can focus their playtime on the content they actually enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I really need 1,200 Crystal Paste, or is it 100 total?

You need 1,200 total. The quest advances in phases (100, 200, 300, 600), but it’s one continuous requirement.

Can I farm all the Crystal Paste before doing any turn-ins?

Yes. Paste continues to drop even if your current phase is complete, and overflow stays in your inventory.

For many, repeating Leveling Roulette is the most practical because it awards 20 Paste and doesn’t require level 100. High-floor Pilgrim’s Traverse loops can compete or outperform if your clears are fast and consistent.

Do I need to repeat the 1,200 Paste grind for every Phantom Weapon?

No. The big Paste step is one-time for the series. Additional weapons primarily require the three Waning Aranites purchased with Tomestones of Mathematics.

How much gil should I set aside for this relic step?

Plan for at least 500,000 gil for Umbral Clay, plus whatever you choose to spend on crafted components, repairs, and consumables. If you’re also gearing and melding, it’s common to budget extra resources for FFXIV gil for gear upgrades without disrupting your relic pace.