Wondrous Tails has become a favorite weekly activity for many Final Fantasy XIV players, providing a mix of challenge, nostalgia, and generous rewards. Among the many raid tiers featured in the journal, Alexander: Midas stands out for its mechanics, lore, and importance in the Heavensward expansion. Completing Alexander Midas for Wondrous Tails is not only a practical goal for capping tomestones or earning MGP, but also a nostalgic return to one of the game’s most complex and unique raid series. This topic will explore everything players need to know about Alexander Midas in the context of Wondrous Tails, from the basics of unlocking it to optimal strategies and the broader impact it has on the weekly activity.
Understanding Wondrous Tails
What Is Wondrous Tails?
Wondrous Tails is a weekly quest available from the NPC Khloe Aliapoh in Idyllshire. Players are given a journal each week that lists 16 possible duties to complete, ranging from dungeons and raids to trials and alliance content. Completing a duty listed in the journal grants a sticker, and the goal is to earn nine stickers total. Rewards increase based on how many sticker lines you complete up to three lines for the most lucrative prizes.
Among the potential duties listed in the Wondrous Tails journal are the various tiers of the Alexander raid, including Alexander: Midas. Completing these raids not only progresses your journal but also gives you a chance to revisit some of the game’s most innovative raid mechanics.
What Is Alexander: Midas?
Background and Lore
Alexander: Midas is the second tier in the Alexander raid series, introduced in the Heavensward expansion. It follows the events of Alexander: Gordias and sets up the final tier, Alexander: The Creator. The raid is set inside the colossal primal Alexander, and players continue to explore its inner workings while confronting the consequences of manipulating time and mechanical constructs.
The Midas tier adds more depth to the story of Roundrox, the Illuminati goblins, and the mysterious constructs operating within Alexander. This tier also introduces increasingly complex raid encounters that test both coordination and skill.
Unlocking Alexander: Midas
How to Access the Midas Raids
To unlock Alexander: Midas, you must first complete the preceding raid tier, Alexander: Gordias. Once Gordias is done, players can begin the questline that leads to Midas. The unlocking process involves completing quests in Idyllshire, with the story continuing from where Gordias left off. Speak to NPCs like Backrix to initiate the next step in the Alexander saga.
The Midas tier includes four raid encounters:
- Alexander The Fist of the Son
- Alexander The Cuff of the Son
- Alexander The Arm of the Son
- Alexander The Burden of the Son
All four fights are included as eligible content for Wondrous Tails, making them valuable for sticker progress.
Best Way to Clear Midas for Wondrous Tails
Using Duty Finder and Unsynced Methods
Since Alexander: Midas is older content, players often opt to complete it unsynced for speed. By entering the duty unsynced with a small group or even solo, depending on your job and gear you can defeat bosses quickly and earn your Wondrous Tails sticker with minimal effort.
However, some players enjoy re-experiencing the content synced to appreciate the original challenge. Queueing via Duty Finder will match you with others who might be doing the same task for Wondrous Tails, relic progress, or achievements.
Solo and Small Group Strategies
If you’re attempting to clear the Midas tier solo or with a friend, consider the following:
- Use high-damage jobs like Reaper, Samurai, or Black Mage for quick kills.
- Tank jobs with strong sustain can solo bosses even if they take longer.
- A duo of a DPS and a healer can clear most fights comfortably unsynced.
- Remember to turn off level sync in the Duty Finder settings to go in unsynced.
Most Midas bosses will not pose a threat when unsynced at level 90 or higher. Bosses like Quickthinx Allthoughts and Brute Justice are far easier now than they were at launch, allowing for efficient clears.
Sticker Strategy and Journal Management
Optimizing Wondrous Tails Progress
Completing Midas entries is valuable because they are quick and soloable. Players trying to optimize sticker placement often use the Second Chance feature, which allows you to shuffle the journal or retry duties for a better sticker configuration.
Here are some tips for managing your Wondrous Tails journal effectively:
- Do easier duties first to get early stickers (e.g., dungeons, alliance raids).
- Save Alexander: Midas for later if you’re trying to hit a specific line and need more control.
- Use retries wisely if a sticker lands in a bad spot for line formation.
- Coordinate with FC or party members to tackle harder entries if you prefer synced runs.
Sticker Rewards
Depending on the number of lines you complete, you can earn different rewards:
- One Line: Basic rewards like MGP, tomestones, or gil.
- Two Lines: Additional rewards including Gold Certificates of Commendation.
- Three Lines: The rarest rewards, including special mounts, gear coffers, and crafting materials.
Getting three lines is mostly luck-based, but completing Alexander Midas entries increases your chance simply by adding another sticker to your board.
Why Players Revisit Midas Content
Beyond Wondrous Tails
Aside from its inclusion in the Wondrous Tails journal, Alexander: Midas remains popular for several other reasons. The raid features unique music, especially tracks like Metal and Locus, which are fan favorites. The aesthetics of the fights, full of steampunk and mechanical chaos, also continue to impress even after years of updates.
Players also revisit Midas for:
- Achievements tied to raid completion or mounts.
- Glamour pieces from the boss chests.
- Exploring the storylines in greater depth.
The gear design from the Midas tier, especially the Prototype gear sets, remains a favorite among glamour collectors.
Alexander: Midas serves as a compelling entry in Final Fantasy XIV’s raid history and is a welcome inclusion in the Wondrous Tails journal. Whether you’re completing it for stickers, exploring the narrative, or revisiting it for glamours, the Midas tier offers both style and substance. Its compatibility with unsynced clears and solo-friendly mechanics makes it one of the easiest and most rewarding duties to complete in a Wondrous Tails week. So the next time you receive your journal from Khloe, keep an eye out for Alexander: Midas you might find both loot and lore worth remembering.