Overview
The Ixal are a race of avian humanoids and one of the beast tribes of Eorzea, primarily inhabiting the forested highlands of the North Shroud. Known for their fierce territoriality and deep-seated cultural trauma, the Ixal worship the wind primal Garuda, whom they believe holds the key to their lost heritage. Unlike other beast tribes introduced in A Realm Reborn, the Ixal are distinguished by their crafting-focused daily quests, which center on a faction known as the Ehcatl Nine. This group seeks to reclaim the Ixal's destiny not through primal summoning, but through engineering and self-reliance.
History & Lore
Origins and Decline
The Ixal are a people defined by loss. Historical records and their own oral traditions speak of a time when their ancestors possessed magnificent wings capable of true, effortless flight. Over countless generations, this ability atrophied, leaving modern Ixal with only vestigial wings suitable for gliding short distances. This physical decline is not viewed as a simple biological evolution but as a profound spiritual and cultural catastrophe. The Ixal believe their inability to fly is a direct result of their separation from the blessing of their deity, Garuda, the Lady of the Vortex. This loss forms the core trauma of Ixali identity, fueling a collective yearning to reclaim the skies they see as their birthright.
Culture and Society
Ixali society is rigidly hierarchical and deeply devout, organized around the worship of Garuda. Their settlements, such as Natalan in the North Shroud, are often built high in the trees or on rocky spires, reflecting their affinity for heights. Their culture is industrious and aggressive, characterized by a belief that the world below the canopy belongs to the "groundlings"—a derogatory term for non-Ixal races. To reclaim their place in the sky, the Ixal engage in constant expansion, deforestation, and resource gathering, often bringing them into violent conflict with the Gridanians and other inhabitants of the Black Shroud.
Their devotion to Garuda is absolute. They believe that by amassing sufficient prayer and aether, they can summon her fully into the world, at which point she will restore their wings and usher in a new age of Ixali dominion. This fanaticism drives them to harvest crystals aggressively and attack any who oppose their efforts.
The Ehcatl Nine: A Schism of Innovation
Not all Ixal are content with a path of destructive worship. The Ehcatl Nine is a faction of engineers, craftsmen, and forward-thinkers led by Sezul Totoloc. They propose a radical alternative: that the Ixal can reclaim flight through their own ingenuity, crafting, and engineering, rather than through the fickle grace of a primal.
Their grand project is the Dezul Qualan (Ixali for "Sky-Sailing Vessel"), a massive hot-air balloon designed to carry Ixal into the heavens. This endeavor is considered heretical by the traditionalist Ixal, who view it as an affront to Garuda. The Ehcatl Nine argue that true strength comes from self-reliance, and that building their own future is nobler than begging for one from a deity. This ideological schism creates significant tension within the tribe, with the Ehcatl Nine often having to defend their work and their lives from their own people.
Gameplay
Beast Tribe Quests
The Ixal were the first crafting-focused beast tribe introduced in Final Fantasy XIV. Players with Disciple of the Hand classes (crafters) can engage with their daily quests, starting in New Gridania after meeting certain progress requirements. The Ixal beast tribe quests are ARR content (introduced in patch 2.35), not a Heavensward addition.
Questline Narrative: The Warrior of Light allies with the Ehcatl Nine, assisting them in the construction of the Dezul Qualan. This involves a long series of daily crafting quests where the player gathers materials, fabricates complex components, and helps protect the project from sabotage by hostile Ixal. The storyline is a compelling narrative about progress versus tradition, culminating in the successful launch of the balloon—a symbolic victory for innovation and a new potential future for the Ixal people.
Reputation & Rewards: By completing Ixal daily allowances, players increase their reputation with the Ehcatl Nine, unlocking ranks such as "Sworn," "Bloodsworn," and ultimately "Ehcatl Smithy Nine." Rewards include unique crafting materials, Ixali-themed crafting gear, minions (like the Wind-up Ixal), mounts (the Ehcatl Nine Whisker), and recipes for Ixali-specific furnishings and gear.
Enemy Encounters
Throughout A Realm Reborn, the Ixal serve as frequent antagonists in the Black Shroud. Players encounter them as standard enemies in areas like the North Shroud and during FATEs. They are also integral to the primal trial against Garuda, as the Ixal are the beast tribe responsible for her summoning. Their forces, including Ixali warriors, sorcerers, and the fearsome Ixali Chieftain, are commonly found guarding their territories and crystal harvesting operations.
Trivia
- The Ixal's design and their obsession with reclaiming flight are reminiscent of the classic Final Fantasy enemy family, the "Ahriman" or "Evil Eye," though they are culturally and biologically distinct in FFXIV.
- "Ehcatl" is derived from the Aztec word for "wind," fitting the tribe's aerial theme.
- The Ixal beast tribe questline was added in patch 2.35, during the A Realm Reborn patch cycle.
- Their unique focus on crafting quests established a model that would be followed by later beast tribes like the Moogles (Heavensward) and the Qitari (Shadowbringers).
- The success of the Dezul Qualan project represents one of the few unambiguous, positive resolutions for a beast tribe's central conflict in the early game, highlighting a path away from primal dependence.