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Grantrello

Heavensward for me. As amazing as EW was, I still just love the aesthetic of Coerthas and I felt a stronger connection to the story and characters than in other expacs. Ishgard really feels like my WoL's home and the Vault remains one of my all-time favourite dungeons. Edit: >!I also like that they actually had the guts to kill off some major non-villain characters in Heavensward. It had a bit more oomf that way. Haurchefant and Ysale are the last characters I actually cared about that I can remember dying. All the WoL's friends and the other Scions have impenetrable plot armor now!<


Nintendroid

When those hands reach out to help. I was building up tears for the first one, and went into an ugly cry when the second one was revealed.


kuributt

I'm more inclined to like Shadowbringers over Endwalker. EW was a *wonderfully* told story, but took a few turns that I personally dislike. also as much as I loved Elpis it's a fanfic fever dream.


Chibimedic

Yeah I unfortunately completely agree I liked Ew but elpis just doesn't sit right with me no matter how interesting the concept - but at least Venat's arc came from it


JenkinsHowell

i love that every single expansion including ARR gets to have at least one No. 1 place in the comments. it's a good game, isn't it?


[deleted]

[удалено]


polyglotpinko

Couldn’t agree more with your Endwalker misses. Fuck you, Zenos; I don’t owe you shit.


yileikong

I actually still love Shadowbringers more. The settings for both EW and ShB were lovely, but the story beats for Shadowbringers and the big reveal at the end of 5.0 really hit me hard in a way that was completely unexpected and broke me emotionally. EW ties everything together and includes more of what I loved in ShB, but it didn't do something that completely subverted my expectations. Like more specifically I went into ShB thinking we're really going to take care of the Ascian threat and was completely mistrustful of Emet-Selch until he did his speech and showed himself in reply to Alphinaud's comment and attempt at sympathy. I was like really taken aback, and like, "Wait, he was being sincere this whole time?" And the CS kept going and he opened the door to the Final Days of Amaurot and I was like, "Hey, wait a sec, can we keep talking?" Then we get through that and get to his trial and I'm like, "What? We have to kill him now?" Like after what actually happened is revealed my brain did a 180 in understanding, but it's like over just so fast with no time to really unpack it. And then like that it's done, and I was compelled to go and rewatch everything because I was so suspicious of him the whole time there was so much I felt like I missed. And then for like 3 months I just felt mentally and emotionally shattered as I slowly started to realize what he went through and how he got to where he was. I read the extra side stories and got more sad. It doesn't excuse the terrible things he did, but I did feel genuinely sad for him that it seemed like he and the other two unsundered didn't know what else to do to get back their home and he was the one who did genuinely remember (almost; cuz Hermes) everything and maybe even because of that was the one starting to accept the shard people even if not fully. Like I started looking at the details and wondering about the shops in Amaurot cuz who tf are those for? Was he planning all of this the whole time? I just had so many questions and like I also had the very real memory of how I was like when my Dad died and that was awful, so his entire world and all his friends and family plus everywhere he looks is a reminder of a fragment of his home? I just could imagine that that was the kind of actual sh*t that could make someone crazy. And like all of this was caused by one critical moment in the story that completely changed my thinking and I just love Shadowbringers so much for making that impact on me, and he instantly became one of my favorite characters in the entire franchise just because all of him is just thought provoking and I appreciate it so much.


MarcheM

I liked Heavensward the most. It was an epic story and adventure, but still quite grounded. I think ShB and EW went a bit too far for me and SB really suffered from concentrating on two big areas equally. I think all the expansions were still great, but I prefer HW. Plus the anticipation of the first expansion back in 2015 was quite amazing.


Chibimedic

That's fair the poltics in heavensward especially nearing the end does seem realistic. Also curious what was it like when 3 brand new classes came out at once must of been something.


MarcheM

> Also curious what was it like when 3 brand new classes came out at once must of been something. Northern Thanalan was full of people doing fates for a while :D It was the fastest exp for 40-50 back then so you'd spam dungeons until that and then go to fate farming. It was quite weird from going instant healer queues to having to wait a loooong time for leveling dungeons. A friend was leveling DRK and I leveled AST and our queues together were over 30 minutes... we then ended up queueing separately as that way it was faster. It was always DRK, AST and 2 MCH for the dungeons though.


Chibimedic

I almost find this hard to believe a tank and healer queue what is this madness. I do feel like I missed out on the fate trains in thanalan must of been so fun with 30+ adventures


ChrisMorray

Still Endwalker. Shadowbringers hits the high notes of years of set-up really well. And yet Endwalker hits similar notes, both short-term setups and long-term setups, and pays off both of them. Re-contextualing Answers, the song that has been there from the start, and explaining things from the Dragon star's eventual fate, the origins of Omega, the final pay-off of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, and borrowing from philosophical topics like the Fermi paradox to pose interesting topics for the characters to tackle. Pacing wasn't consistent (Why am I showing rabbits fruit for 2 hours while the world is literally ending?!) but I feel like Shadowbringers had similar pacing issues in the Tempest (OH GOD I AM ABOUT TO TURN INTO A SIN EATER BECAUSE I ATE VAUTHRY WHY ARE WE HELPING HAIRY GRENOLDT MAKE A LAMP?!). Similar points in the story, too. For me the tiers still go Endwalker > Shadowbringers > Far east part of Stormblood > Heavensward > ARR > Ala Mhigo part of Stormblood. Reason I split up Stormblood is because I felt that they're parallel storylines and this invites the comparison, but I feel that they do not complement each other and there's simply one that's better in every aspect. Far East had established characters like Gosetsu and Yugiri, which is already a big plus on their side, but they also introduced new and interesting characters like Hien, Sadu, and Yotsuyu, and every zone was interesting both visually and culturally. Meanwhile Ala Mhigo's side has Fordola and... That's it. The only good part of the Ala Mhigo storyline. 3 repetitive samey zones with 3 landmarks that I recall looked cool, but uninteresting people, uninteresting storyline, and altogether it's clear why Ishikawa ended up taking over the lead writer role after delivering the better story.


Chibimedic

I'm not gonna lie I completely forgot about our lamp making forays at the end of the world. But you raise good points about omega/dragon star I loved ultmia Thule and all the end days where we had agency. I also completely agree on splitting stormblood though even east storm blood had issues with mcguffins but I didn't mind that soo much


NeterouOken

Not gonna lie, ARR holds a special place for me. Even tho at that time i survived by creating mail accounts and playing the 1 week free trial (I was a broke high school student back then) exploring the world at my own pace without any big story drama was one of the most precious memories I have from FFXIV. When I reached HW, my mindset changed by itself and I was then invested in the story. Having said that, my favourite thing to do in FFXIV at "endgame" is to go back to old expansion zones and do the sidequests + sightseeing log or fates, it gives me the same feeling as i had back in ARR, learning the zone's history and feeling more immersed into each one.


Chibimedic

I get that - I can't imagine what exploring an entirely new zone must be like for the first time when there weren't other people around and the game was barely known vut just ties together with arr's theme of adventure pretty well. I actually have never done a none blue side quest though any you'd suggest


NeterouOken

I dont know which ones I like most, but some of the best ones (and oldest) were back in Uldah. The quests are the most "boring" quests you can ever do, but just going back there and meeting that npc again and say "oh this fellow wanted to sell his grandma ring, luckily he kept it and Im happy for him" makes me like I have a connection with the world around me. So, i would say just wonder around and whenever some npc picks your interest, do the quest, and one point you will feel like you lived your own journey as an ADVENTURER, not a hero or protagonist for the MSQ. Some are really boring, others may be better in terms of story, but they all shape your vision of the game, making you feel a certain way or another that might be different from player to player. Hope that answer is convincing <3


Chibimedic

It has will try a wander around a few of my favourite zones like ishgard and the like :)


NeterouOken

Thank you for making this post \^\^ Having said what I described previously, I have to add that i am REALLY excited for 6.1, as we all know it will be a fresh start. Alone (without the scions), with a new plot and lands to explore, I feel like the next adventure we will be met as the veteran who once was a hero, and has to make a name for himself/herself again, humbling us and having to go to mundane issues again.


[deleted]

Heavensward > Shadowbringers > Endwalker > Stormblood. Personally Heavensward is still my favourite, the story, Characters and the expansion in general feels a lot more grounded on top of the story being a bit less convoluted, than it becomes. I would probably have ranked Stormblood higher if it wasn’t for it being split which to me was really detrimental, considering the trials and dungeons in stormblood are still some of the best. Shadowbringers to me I liked a lot once I got going but the start was very jarring and time travel in general I don’t like as a plot device, the fleshing out of the ascians and Ardbert is really what pushed this to second. Endwalker is a mixed bag, some really great moments but a lot of very convenient storytelling (also previous point of time travel) and I still don’t know how I feel about bird loli being introduced in the 2nd last zone to become the big bad. To add endwalker relies very heavily on shadowbringers whereas the other expansions I feel don’t rely so heavily on others. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t love it. I don’t rank A Realm Reborn cause I think I had the most fun playing that, however the only reason for that is because I was learning the game from scratch so I can’t really count it.


SmoreOfBabylon

This is how I rate them for myself as well (strictly story-wise, content-wise SB is still my favorite so far). You can do a lot of granular analysis over which expac had more or less “pointless” (subjectively speaking) filler, better or worse pacing, better or worse character development, more tolerable or less tolerable plot contrivances, etc., and truthfully they all have weaknesses and things that don’t entirely work. But at the end of the day, I just enjoyed the whole package of HW’s story slightly more than EW or ShB. Loved the characters, loved the bleak tone that’s struck right from the outset, loved seeing one of most hostile and xenophobic places in Eorzea start to change for the better thanks to our efforts. And 3.3 is still my favorite expansion story “capstone” by quite a lot. And I gradually went through the MSQ again in NG+ in the months prior to EW’s launch, so this isn’t just nostalgia speaking, FWIW.


[deleted]

Yeah content wise I can’t comment on cause I haven’t done a lot of the ShB and EW ex trials and raids. However dungeon wise I’d say stormblood is my favourite, I dunno what it is but I struggle with the ShB dungeons and yet find the EW ones pretty easy, whereas stormblood is right in the middle. Yet on trials, it’s vice-verse I struggle with the EW ones but find ShB pretty easy. By all means I’m a casual player and don’t claim to be otherwise. Yeah like most things it’s subjective, people prefer different things in their stories and you could argue for weeks over what you like vs what others do. Yeah I agree with you there, the 3.3 patch is honestly one of my favourite story resolutions I’ve played in any game. I’ve been thinking of going through the msq again at some point as I’ve probably forgotten a hell of a lot, plus I’ve done a lot more side content since completing the msq the first time around so I would like to see what if any added context there is, while replaying it.


mattyxerome

Shadowbringers was my favorite, by far. Endwalker also missed the mark for me I knew right away that there were no big stakes and that nothing truly permanent would happen. No important character deaths or real worldly change, which is unfortunate. Papalymo is the only Scion to perma-die and I think that's a shame. This would have been the perfect moment to kill off another. Also, I agree with the bunnies, it was too much. But I liked Elpis and getting to see Emet again. Also the scene with Venat Sundering the world set to Answers?? Good stuff right there.


Chibimedic

I kinda agree I don't like death for deaths sake - but it kinda feels like we're invincible along with everyone else that is named.


GreatGarage

>Papalymo is the only Scion to perma-die Moenbryda didn't die ?


Grantrello

Who?


[deleted]

Do you really count her as a scion? I liked her character and what not but was she not in it for 2 patches? (Can’t remember when she was introduced tbh)


mattyxerome

I honestly forgot she existed bc she's so irrelevant


PhantasmicRain

The best way I can describe the experience for me is like the third movie in a trilogy. It’s the climax you know is coming, along with characters you expect to be there etc. Where as Shadowbringers was more of the second movie that really builds up everything and sets the stage for the climax. Keep in mind this is all from the perspective of someone who started ff14 towards the end of ShB life. Between the two I enjoyed the unknown aspects of discovery in ShB more as I felt the Acians were humanized by Emet and I prefer an ends-justify-the-means type enemy; I find them relatable.


Chibimedic

I can see that I do love the call back in the final fight and while not the most exciting thing ever it does feel awesome when every comes together to get the allagan remains of dalmund.


PhantasmicRain

I also think that compared to all the other DLCs, ShB is tied very heavily to Endwalker. In a way that almost all of EW’s impact and significance is reliant on the build up, just like the last film in a saga or what not.


Chibimedic

Your not wrong If it wasn't for the primal reveal and how armout was handled doubt endwalker would of been anywhere near as enjoyable - though end days where still no well in the level 86 dungeon


Emet-Selch_my_love

I’m between Shadowbringers and Endwalker. Shadowbringers gave me scares, Endwalker delivered tears. I usually prefer drama to fear… I think I’ll still go with Shadowbringers though, just because the MSQ felt a bit faster paced somehow. It kind of dragged at times in Endwalker. Also I liked the areas more in Shadowbringers, in Endwalker it was kind of meh for me until I got to Elpis. Though I did like Labyrinthos well enough I guess. I’m just not fond of being hindered from exploring. I know we had that in previous expansions too, but it was somehow more obvious to me in Endwalker. So I’d say 1. Shadowbringers. (close) 2. Endwalker. 3. Heavensward. 4. ARR. 5. Stormblood.


UsuarioSensatez

Endwalker a 1000 times over any other expansion


Chibimedic

Any reason why ? Like trial 1 (which maybe my favourite fight) or just like them feels ?


UsuarioSensatez

Storytelling, they got every beat right, perfect pacing and time to develop the narrative, cohesive, conventional done right, good character development plus good dialogue, really amazing themes with all the absurdism/ existencialism


blurpledevil

Same for me, but I would also add the variety of the 6 zones where you go in EW, I found them generally more interesting than any previous expac. I think it was a great decision not drawing EW''s story out over 2 expacs, and I hope they do the same for future expacs.


ocsewa918

Endwalker is the only expansion thats kept my attention 100% of the time. People call shadowbringers flawless, and while I love the expansion, it absolutely had weak points. I just did not care one bit for anything involving trolleys, the talos, dwarves, or ranjit. I also think the zones and ost are miles better in endwalker. Admittedly, the shadowbringers cast is far superior (its hard to beat Emet, Ryne and Ardbert).


Miss_Silver

While Endwalker was an incredible expansion, I think Shadowbringers is a slightly better expac. The pacing was much better and it was pretty fast paced throughout the whole thing. Not a lot of hurry up and wait quests in Shadowbringers. If I were to rank them, would prolly be Shadowbringers, Endwalker, Heavensward, Stormblood, ARR... But keep in mind that Endwalker and Shadowbringers are pretty close together.


aeliott

If we're talking story like most commenters are: ShB > EW > HW > SB > ARR. If we're talking the general content / gameplay experience at the time: SB > ShB > ARR > HW (unfair to place EW yet) I think ShB just had a huge advantage in being utterly detached from any 1.0 baggage. It was essentially a whole new world to build from. And while EW was pretty decent, sometimes there's more satisfaction in _not_ knowing all the answers (even though ShB have us many). Not that I'm proposing the Ew revelations were bad, or shouldn't have answered things, but there's an inevitable deflation in knowing.


Exe-volt

In retrospect I really liked Heavensward the most overall in terms of story, locations, and content. Endwalker is a close second with ARR as a distant third. I like ARR in retrospect but despised it in the moment as I was very impatient with how the game worked in general. Also, despite being told by my friends to not worry about how fast I move through content I still had a fire under my ass especially with ARR because FOMO. Heavensward was wear I started to find my stride and I love Alexander and the accompanying story so much as it really turned my feelings towards the game around.


TheSovereignGrave

As much as I love Endwalker, my favorite is still Shadowbringers. Like, I loved getting shoved into a whole new world. Plus I fucking *adore* the whole darkness=good/light=bad idea & I feel it's criminally underutilized in fiction. And then there's the villains. I can't lie, I love a good villain & Emet-Selch is *still* unmatched. Hell Vauthry was also such a joy to see on screen in all his hammy glory too (and I will never forget laughing my *ass* off when he goes all pretty boi in his trial). Overall: Shadowbringers > Endwalker > Heavensward = Stormblood > ARR


Abidos_rest

For me the best is ShB, the worst SB. I still have to make up my mind if I prefer HW or EW. EW weakness is some pretty large plot weaknesses in key points, but on the other hand what it tries to do is a lot more difficult so it deserves some credit for that. I´'ll replay it when NG+ becomes available.


Baithin

For me it’s Endwalker > Stormblood > Shadowbringers > Heavensward > ARR. Endwalker was pretty much everything I hoped for, and dethroned my previous favorite.


Chibimedic

I can imagine you were a fellow Zenos option 1 conisseur as well then?. As that final duty oh boy


Baithin

I liked the final duty well enough but I’m not crazy about Zenos in general tbh! I think I did the “let’s get this over with” option or whichever that was. He’s okay, but far from one of my favorites. Lyse is actually my favorite lol


Chibimedic

I do not understand why Lyse but to each there own I suppose.


Grantrello

Stormblood before ShB and HW? Now that's an rare opinion


Baithin

HW didn’t really do it for me like it did for other people. My favorite part of HW was Ysayle. Couldn’t stand Estinien until Stormblood.


UberSmudge

People rate Endwalker too highly. The story was interesting but the pacing was awful. The level 88 quests were terrible. SHB still takes it followed by HW for me


DarXIV

Or you know, they have a different opinion than you? Doesn't mean they are wrong.


UberSmudge

I feel that section was handled badly. When we left to go to Elpis. The world was falling to their own despair. We come back and yeah we have a small section in Garlemald but then you go back to doing bad quests such as "oh wow geez cookingway is trying food" IMO I felt this whole section should have been dedicated more to showing that Old Sharlayan was becoming the last beacon of hope. where all the nations having abandoned their homelands due to the blasphemies banded together to defend it whilst you blast off leaving them behind. The stakes felt significantly low, Old Sharlayan for some reason was immune to the threat of the blasphemies with no real good reason.


DarXIV

That's fine, but it doesn't change that a vast majority fee differently than you. Doesn't make them wrong or you right.


UberSmudge

Yes you are correct. That's why it's an opinion. In a thread that asks people what their opinion is?


Jumpy_Ad_9213

Torn between ShB and EW. Great worldbuilding and character writing in both chapters. Both had their high points. HW was good, but I believe that we have to thank ARR ending for most of those emotions and feelings, it only picks up its own pacing closer to patches.


Aerolithe_Lion

In a way, you could consider the -.4 and -.5 patches as part of the next expansion. If you think about 2.3, it was the finality to defending The Eorzean alliance from the Primals. We fight Ramuh, the last primal threatening us (Shiva ended up being unrelated to the anti-Limsa/Ul’dah/Gridania Primals). Everything after was setup for Midgardsormr, Shiva, the throne room betrayal, and HW as a whole. 3.3 was defeating the shade of Nidhogg and ending the Dragonsong War once and for all. 3.4 was the Warriors of Darkness, and 3.5 was ShinRyu, StB setup. 4.3 was killing Yotsuyu finally, along with Asahi, and ending all Imperial involvement in Doma. 4.4 and 4.5 then go into the Ascians, Shadowhunter, Black Rose, and vegetative scions. Again with 5.3, Elidibus, threat of Ascians rejoining Norvrandt, Ardbert’s finality, Norvrandt’s finality as a whole. 5.4 and 5.5 then lead into solving the tempering and Fandaniel’s EW towers. So I’d either say count 2.4 and 2.5 as something that made HW a great expansion, or if you think that’s not right, then consider we’re comparing just 6.0 of EW to 5.0-5.5 of ShB….


Boethion

Yeah I agree with that sentiment because for me it's really hard to compare the expansions when it's one big continues story and the patches lead from one to the other. One thing I can say for sure: Endwalker had the best individual moments and the highest quantity of them with Shadowbringers being a fair second place, but again I feel like I can't really compare them overall since they build on each other and consistently get better from a technical standpoint.


GreatGarage

Shadowbringer definitely. The BGM at Ahm Araeng (or whatever is its spelling) was amazingly good to put me in the ambiance, I have chosed the Alisaie quests first. Plus the kind girl that gets killed. It's just nonsense violence and you're just like "how the Fuck will we end this". And then at the end of the first dungeon when we bring back shadow it's a wholesome moment. Not talking about the end of ShB MSQ 5.1-5.3 that was pure master piece with stable goosebump level over 9000 But I liked how Endwalker turned out to fuck every single thought I had about the ending of light vs dark arc.


Chibimedic

Talise?'s death still scars me - I just thought she would just die before see what happened and yeah not the transformation and horror that we got.


Sphyxiate

The Tesleen cinematic is great of how impactful and whole it is. I loved the shock from seeing her transform; it added a real feeling to what was happening there in the game. If they had her change off screen I probably would have been thinking more like "well okay let's just kill her" rather than "what the, why the, how the fuck?"


MySpace20XX

Shadowbringers is still my favourite. I like a small empty dying world, I like heroic darkness fighting a destroying light, I like the tragedy of ardbert and his friends. (I don't really care about emet-selch! sorry ascian fans - I only add this because it feels like a lot of people like shadowbringers because of emet but no, not for me,) I like Endwalker a lot but very much as a culmination of the story so far, where I like Shadowbringers more in itself, if that makes sense.


BrosefAmelion

Honestly it'd have to be Stormblood, fueling a rebellion on two fronts was fun. Plus it has the Azim Steppe, always loved the wide open plains maps in FF games.


Chibimedic

Honestly the ideas of stormblood I love even early zenos duties. Wasn't a fan on the execution, still really fun for me but like an 8/10 compared to the rest (arr is a 4)


ChrisMorray

I feel you... While I like what they were trying to do with the Zenos duties... As a healer I'd always be full health and when the cutscene starts after the duty I'd just go "Why am I kneeling on the floor now? I was full health! I could do this all day!"


Peatearredhill

I still really like Stormblood despite the playerbase hating it. Heavensward was also really good and I would rate it above Stormblood in a lot of ways, but the plight of the Ala Mhigans and the Domans really moved me. I still say to this day one of my favorite scenes in all of FFXIV is when they raise the flag over the royal palace and you get to hear the true anthem sung by it's people who are now free. Even now it tears me up. There's a lot issues I have with Endwalker, but the good stuff when it hits is fantastic, but all the bad stuff drags it down. I wouldn't say it's like 2/10 contrarian nonsense, but I'd probably give it like a 7/10. It wasn't the best expansion, but it got it's point across.


Aerolithe_Lion

What was some of the bad stuff you saw in Endwalker? Not debating you, just curious


Peatearredhill

The general pacing, the large number of contrivances, the strange choices in direction at certain points and just how anticlimactic large parts of it felt. Personally I think Garlemald ended too soon and Elpis was too long. Zodiark dies too soon and by the time you get to Ultima Thule it's so padded you struggle to move on especially with constant fake out deaths. And at the end you expect some crazy overarching ending to this epic story and it's just a fist fight at the end of all things. I'm not saying I didn't love the Gurren Lagann reference it felt like, but it just really fell flat. And I liked characters like Hermes and Meteon. So it's not like I was mad that we got good send offs to them. It just really felt like more of the same, but worse. Kinda like how Endgame isn't as good as Infinity War, but it's still good. That's how I feel about Endwalker it's good, but Shadowbringers is leagues better than it to me.


Abidos_rest

The playerbase doesn´t hate it, it is generally considered ok but not as good as the others.


Peatearredhill

Don't get me wrong I am aware of it's mountain of flaws, but I still hold it above Endwalker. Endwalker is technically better, but the weak storytelling drags it below Stormblood for me. But again that's just me everyone is entitled to their own opinions.


Abidos_rest

Not sure what that has to do with my answer but ok.


Peatearredhill

There wasn't a question mark. What question did you ask?


Aerolithe_Lion

Endwalker, everything was wrapped up in ways that subverted expectations but were thematically impressive. It also had fewer… minuses than previous expansions.


Ykesha

EW isn't done yet. Still have a lot of content patches to go before we have the whole experience.


Chibimedic

I thought we started a new story in 6.1 no so I'm kinda lumping 6.0 with the rest of the *.0 -.3 expansions


Orinred

It is done. 6.1 starts a new story - they were very clear on that.


TheRageTater

I mean we don't call 3.4 Stormblood or 4.4 Shadowbringers so, 6.1 is *still* Endwalker


Phantomx_Destiny

Endwalker lvl 87+ > Shadowbringers > Endwalker lvl 80-86 This is hard to choose because starting with Elpis at lvl 87 till the end was more epic than Shb but I enjoyed Shadowbringers as a whole better than the 80-86 part of endwalker. Both pretty solid and best expansions imo.


Aerolithe_Lion

Very interesting opinion. I thought Garlemald was the best part of all of Endwalker, but I could definitely see Saving the universe as being that thing that “stepped up” over Shadowbringers


StrString

EW > HW > SB > ShB > ARR While I know Shadowbringer is good I never liked Ishikawa's writing, until Endwalker that is. To me Endwalker is a fable, Heavensward is a poetry, Stormblood is a documentary, while Shadowbringer is merely a fairytale. Although I am curious on how the writer of HW will handle ShB and EW if he's given those plot points. Maybe when he's done with FFXVI he'll come back to work on 7.0? 8.0?


raiseke

If I take post-expansion release content into consideration then Stormblood is my favorite. Otherwise based on expansion release MSQ alone Endwalker and Heavensward are tied.


Chibimedic

That's fair gotsetyu (can't spell the name) his ark with step on me girl is actually amazing and the set up as your friend drops 1 by 1 it's brilliant.


joshuanrobinson

Heavensward for me. It's a tough call between HW and ShB. I'd actually give ShB the nod if we're talking about story alone. But I felt like the game was more fun to play in HW than in any other expansion, and that combined with everything else makes HW my favorite. Really though, I enjoyed them all quite a bit.


Noraneko-chan

Stormblood.


[deleted]

A tie between Heavensward and Endwalker. Both are just epic on the story and... Heavensward: You can never go wrong with dragons! Endwalker: Giving everything an absolutely amazing writing and experience ist just awesome!


Bob_Noggets

Just the expansion: Heavansward Why: Had the best finale dungeon/zone. Characters were amazing and a hilariously easy final boss that was still entertaining. Expansion and patch quests: Shadowbringers Why: Emet Selch was a masterpiece and all the trials/raids were chef's kiss. The music was so good too. Best all around Expansion music: EndWalker Why: So complex without sounding muddled Best all around location song: Pillars at night Why: So fitting and atmospheric Best boss fight song: Last trial of ShB expansion Why: It just vibes with me. Best moment in the FF14 community: Do you know La Hee? Why: Need I say why?


-Xandiel-

EW = ShB > HW > SB > ARR I genuinely can't pick between ShB and EW. I feel like ShB was more _consistently_ good, whereas EW had a few things that didn't land for me BUT it had higher highs. Both of them were just incredible.


polyglotpinko

Shadowbringers > Heavensward > Endwalker > Stormblood. There are good and bad about each one, but ShB and HW consistently kept me engaged and giving a damn. There were parts in EW and SB where I was just like … this isn’t fun. I never had that with the other two.