Zone
Zones are self-contained areas in Final Fantasy XIV that must be "zoned" (i.e. loaded) into or out of by the player. Generally large and making up most of the world of Hydaelyn, players spend most of their time in zones. They are further divided up into areas.
Field Operations are zone-like areas that have time limits and are technically classed as duties by the game, so they are not listed here.
Overworld Zones
The Overworld consists of zones with hostile enemies, FATEs, settlements, landmarks, and Aetherytes that can be used as teleport points. Players will visit most parts of the overworld through the Main Scenario Quests.
Players will earn a small percentage of Experience Points for exploring blank areas of an overworld zone, and "Mapping the Realm" achievements for completing the map of each overworld zone. In A Realm Reborn, the map is automatically filled when players enter a new zone, while zones in following expansions require players to explore the zone to complete the map.
Overworld zones in Patch 1.23b were seamless and continuous, with zone changes being masked by long tunnels and the like. This was abandoned in favor of smaller, richly detailed zones due to Playstation 3 memory limitations upon A Realm Reborn's launch.
Overworld zones in A Realm Reborn include the regions of La Noscea, The Black Shroud, Thanalan, parts of Coerthas, and Mor Dhona. La Noscea, The Black Shroud, and Thanalan are divided into 4-6 smaller overworld zones, while Coerthas and Mor Dhona have one overworld zone. All A Realm Reborn overworld zones are accessible at the beginning.
All expansions from Heavensward include 6 main overworld zones that are significantly larger than zones from A Realm Reborn. However, Main Scenario Quest progression is required either to unlock the next zone or to unlock the full area of a given overworld zone. To avoid spoilers at an expansion's launch, many players will generally refer to an overworld zone by its order of unlocking in the Main Scenario Questline (example: zone six).
Heavensward is set in northern Aldenard, comprising the remainder of Coerthas, Abalathia's Spine, and Dravania.
Stormblood's overworld zones are evenly split between Gyr Abania in northeastern Aldenard and Othard in the Far East.
Shadowbringers is set in Norvrandt, a continent in the First's reflection.
Endwalker consists of overworld zones that span a variety of locations across vast distances, including one overworld zone in The Northern Empty northwest of Aldenard, two in or near the Ilsabard continent, two in outer space (The Sea of Stars), and one in the distant past (The World Unsundered).
Dawntrail is set in Tural (also known as The New World), a continent far to the west of Vylbrand.
List of Zones by Region
La Noscea
- Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks
- Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks
- Mist
- Wolves' Den Pier
- Middle La Noscea
- Lower La Noscea
- Eastern La Noscea
- Western La Noscea
- Upper La Noscea
- Outer La Noscea
The Black Shroud
Thanalan
- Ul'dah - Steps of Nald
- Ul'dah - Steps of Thal
- The Goblet
- The Gold Saucer
- Western Thanalan
- Central Thanalan
- Eastern Thanalan
- Southern Thanalan
- Northern Thanalan
