Patch 6.1 removed the battle with Lahabrea from The Praetorium and overhauled it into a solo quest battle. Unlike the original fight, Lahabrea's encounter is now a lengthy fight with actual mechanics and dangerous abilities that should be watched carefully.
Phase 1
Ancient Fire III: Lahabrea starts by casting this high damage ability and creating a ring of fire around the edge. If you walk onto the fire, you will be inflicted with a temporary Burns debuff.
Dark Thunder: Lahabrea creates small circle AOEs, which will grow and leave circular puddles of darkness. Avoid stepping in these puddles.
End of Days: A large line AOE, get out of the way to avoid damage.
Nightburn: This will inflict unavoidable moderate damage
Devouring Dark: Nightburn will add this debuff, which reduces your health and damage dealt.
Firesphere: Creates flames around the area, which will soon each have point-blank circle AoEs. There will be one safe area where the flames are farther apart. Go to that safe spot to avoid the AoEs.
Ancient Eruption: Lahabrea uses a series of circle AoEs to appear under you, one after the other. This is accompanied by Fluid Flare, which creates four cone AoEs from the center. Try to drop each circle AoE near the edge of a Fluid Flare cone to give yourself more room
Ancient Cross: This causes four large circle AoEs to cover the middle of the area, followed by another set of large circle AoEs moving outward from the first set. The areas between the two lines of circle AoEs are safe at first, but then another set of circle AoEs appears in the center, eventually covering the safe areas. Move carefully to the small safe spots left behind by the first set of circle AoEs.
Burst Flare: Knocks you back from the center of the area. Move close to Lahabrea or use a knockback-prevention move such as Surecast or Arm's Length to avoid being knocked into the flames around the edge.
Grip of Night: This is a very large cone AoE. Run behind Lahabrea to avoid getting hit.
Illusory Creation: Lahabrea causes Phantom Lahabreas to appear around the edge. They all cast large line AoEs toward the center. Move into one of the safe spaces between the lines. Lahabrea will then cast End of Days, a large line AoE at you. Quickly move to a safe area to avoid getting hit by it.
※ When Lahabrea finishes cycling through the above abilities, he will cast Double and then Nightburn, giving you two stacks of the Devouring Dark debuff. Lahabrea then becomes untargettable and casts Arcane Revelation, spawning four Arcane Spheres. You will be unable to kill the spears before Lahabrea's gauge reaches 100%, and Lahabrea will trap you in chains and cast Dark Meltdown, which is accompanied by an unskippable cutscene.
Phase 2
After the cutscene, you will receive a Blessing of Light Buff that increases your damage and health, making survival easier. Lahabrea will continue to fight with modified abilities until his defeat:
Nightburn: Lahabrea immediately casts Triple and strikes you with this spell three times, but Devouring Dark will no longer impact your health or damage.
Firespheres: The flames will spawn round the edge, so go to the center.
Illusory Creation: The Phantom Lahabreas will then cover the middle of the area with their line AoEs. You will need to move to the edge as soon as the Firesphere AoEs have disappeared, to avoid getting hit by the line AoEs.
Dark Thunder: This will still create temporary puddles on the floor
Illusory Creation: You will not only have to avoid stepping in the puddles, but you will also have to find a safe spot between the line AoEs cast by the Phantom Lahabreas. Lahabrea will then cast the line AoE, End of Days, so you will need to quickly find a safe spot away from this line AoE as soon as the Phantom Lahabreas' line AoEs have disappeared.
Ancient Cross: This will make large circle AoEs that move in lines outward from the center.
Grip of Night: Lahabrea will cast this from far away, so you will need to quickly move behind him as soon as there is a safe spot after the Ancient Cross circle AoEs.
※ He will cast Firesphere, accompanied by the Burst Flare knockback, so make sure to be knocked back to the safe spot between the flames. This is also accompanied by Grip of Night, the large cone AoE, so you will need to quickly move behind him as soon as the Firesphere AoEs have disappeared.
You are ready to depart for the Praetorium, the stage upon which the fate of the realm shall soon be decided. Fight your way into the depths of the structure, in search of the Ultima Weapon, and when you find the Allagan relic...send a piece of it to each of the seven hells.
※Challenge the Praetorium with other players via the Duty Finder, or with a party of NPCs via Duty Support. Both systems are accessible from the main menu as well as the dungeon's entrance point.
Having swept aside all enemies in your path, you finally come face-to-face with Gaius van Baelsar himself. The confrontation concludes with the man's retreat, and you chase him to the Ultima Weapon's chamber.
Taking control of the fearsome weapon, the Black Wolf sets upon you once more. Do what you have come to do, and see that the magitek monstrosity never threatens Eorzea again.
※Challenge the Porta Decumana with other players via the Duty Finder, or with a party of NPCs via Duty Support. Both systems are accessible from the main menu as well as the trial's entrance point.
Shielded by Light, you weather the Ultima Weapon's relentless onslaught and succeed in laying it low. But your struggles are not yet over, for Lahabrea now intends to eliminate you himself, that none may prevent his god's rebirth.
As the Praetorium collapses around you, the Ascian descends to extinguish your flame. Strike down the servant of Darkness, and free your comrade Thancred from his enthrallment.
With Gaius van Baelsar slain, and the Ultima Weapon destroyed, it would seem that Eorzea may finally look forward to an era of peace. Yet even as the people of the three city–states gather to celebrate their deliverance, a deafening roar reverberates throughout every corner of the realm...
What fearsome primal is this that has been roused? Perhaps Minfilia will be able to shed some light on the mystery.
In troubled tones, Minfilia reveals to you that shortly after the roar was heard around the land, an aetheric disturbance was observed, bearing a disquieting similarity to a phenomenon recorded five years ago. It would seem that your struggles are far from over. Steel your resolve anew, and set forth to shine the Crystal's light upon the realm.
For the final phase of the operation, my Flames will storm Castrum Meridianum and suppress what is left of the imperial garrison. If all goes well, this will allow you to reach the Praetorium unopposed─fit and ready for your encounter with the Ultima Weapon.
Yours is the most dangerous mission of all, but the best must bear the heaviest burden, and you're the best we have. There's not another soul in this realm that could see this deed done, and Merlwyb and Kan–E are of the same mind as me.
Though all hangs on your success, you must not let our plight make you desperate. Victory belongs to the bold, not the reckless. Bards are wont to sing of heroes who valued their life at naught next to honor, love, and liberty, but I tell you now: that which men value at naught, they sell cheap. Risk no more than you must, you hear me?
Now, best you were off─we have work to do, the both of us. See that your preparations are in order, then report to Cid. He awaits you with the Enterprise at the Ceruleum Processing Plant. May Rhalgr grant you strength.
The Enterprise is at your disposal. When you're ready to head for the Praetorium, you need only say the word.
If we succeed in destroying the Ultima Weapon, it will deal a crippling blow to the Empire's hopes of conquest. After that, the XIVth Legion would not dare to move against us─barring the discovery of further Allagan doomsday devices, that is...
Let's be on our way, Forename! Gaius and his plaything await!
In the winter of his years, Midas came to abhor his part in Meteor. He told me that he wanted nothing more than to wash his hands of the whole sordid business.
Come now, Cid...you must know that he did not have the luxury of choice. By the time he realized his error, it was too late. Meteor had him completely in its thrall.
Shortly before his...transformation, mayhap sensing that something was amiss, your father confided to me all the regrets of his life. Most of them concerned you.
Early on in your career, he realized that while you had a talent for devising armaments, it would never fulfill you. Long before you knew your own mind, he saw that you would be far happier using your knowledge for peaceful purposes, and the thought touched him. He was a changed man for it, though he could not let it show.
A pity. And what of you, adventurer? Will you not consider making common cause with me?
With your powers joined to mine, we might do much for this realm. Together, we could bring order to Eorzea, and usher in a lasting peace.
No? And I can expect no better answer than this? So be it. It was your strength that made me proffer my hand in friendship, and it is your strength that makes me proffer now my blade. Save as an ally, you are too dangerous to be let to remain.
Run, Cid. Or stay. It makes no matter. You cannot escape the past.
Don't play the fool with me. Ever since the Academy, I have been condemned to live in your shadow.
By all objective measure, I was the more talented of the two of us, yet that fact counted for naught beside your privileged birth. You were admired as the young prodigy simply because your father was the great Midas nan Garlond!
When you defected, I felt sure my star would finally rise...
But by disappearing, you acquired the status of a legend─your reputed genius gaining credence merely by dint of your absence! Instead of cursing you for a traitor, the people actually came to think of you more fondly! To this day, you are still the young prodigy of magitek!
I, meanwhile, have ever been made to feel second-rate─I who have continued to serve our nation faithfully. Whenever I fail to excel─why, it is only to be expected! Yet when I exceed all reasonable expectations, people proclaim that I walk in the footsteps of the great Cid nan bloody Garlond!
It matters not a whit what I achieve. Your existence has rendered mine worthless. Even Lord van Baelsar saw fit to offer you a place at his side─and this in spite of your betrayal! Did he extend any such offer to me─the man who has remained loyal to him for all these years? Why, no. He did not.
Long have I endured this injustice...but no more.
Lord van Baelsar is in the midst of activating the fully powered Ultima Weapon.
It is my magnum opus─the creation that will win me the recognition I am due. I will not let anyone interfere.
Eorzea's unity is forged of falsehoods. Its city-states are built on deceit. And its faith is an instrument of deception.
It is naught but a cobweb of lies. To believe in Eorzea is to believe in nothing.
In Eorzea, the beast tribes often summon gods to fight in their stead─though your comrades only rarely respond in kind. Which is strange, is it not?
Are the “Twelve” otherwise engaged? I was given to understand they were your protectors. If you truly believe them your guardians, why do you not repeat the trick that served you so well at Carteneau, and call them down?
They will answer─so long as you lavish them with crystals and gorge them on aether.
Your gods are no different from those of the beasts─eikons every one. Accept but this, and you will see how Eorzea's faith is bleeding the land dry.
Nor is this unknown to your masters. Which prompts the question: why do they cling to these false deities? What drives even men of learning─even the great Louisoix─to grovel at their feet?
The answer? Your masters lack the strength to do otherwise!
For the world of man to mean anything, man must own the world.
To this end, he hath fought ever to raise himself through conflict─to grow rich through conquest.
And when the dust of battle settles, it is ever the strong who dictate the fate of the weak.
Knowing this, but a single path is open to the impotent ruler─that of false worship. A path which leads to enervation and death.
Only a man of power can rightly steer the course of civilization. And in this land of creeping mendacity, that one truth will prove its salvation.
Come, champion of Eorzea, face me! Your defeat shall serve as proof of my readiness to rule!
It is only right that I should take your realm. For none among you has the power to stop me!
I sought the life force of the primals for no other reason but to quicken the core. For the true power of the Ultima Weapon lies within its now-beating Heart!
You boasted of unrivaled power. You were entrusted with the ultimate weapon. The ultimate magic!
And still you failed. So much for the glory of man.
The growing imbalance afflicting the planet must be redressed.
If it is permitted to worsen, the very laws of existence─both aetheric and physical─will be warped beyond all recognition.
Know you the root of this corruption? Hydaelyn!
Like a parasite, She must be burned out if the planet is to recover.
And naught but the return of the one true god will ensure Her complete excision.
Yet to pave the way for the master's return, a chaotic confluence of untold proportions must needs be brought about. And that will necessitate the presence of the primals.
Needless to say, both you and your Scion accomplices can not be suffered to interfere in this endeavor.
The Archons have conducted a preliminary investigation into the origin of the roar that rang out during the celebration. Their findings strongly suggest that a new primal has appeared.
The roar generated a distinctive wave pattern in the aether, a pattern observed only once before in history─five years ago, to be precise. I should like to think it mere coincidence, yet we cannot discount that possibility... Well, I trust I need say no more.
At great sacrifice, we have delivered Eorzea from the threat posed by the Empire and the primals, and thereby secured peace. We cannot well allow the realm to be plunged into chaos once more.
You have given your all for our cause, risking life and limb on I know not how many occasions, yet our struggle continues, and we need you now no less than before.
Please continue to stand with us, and together we shall safeguard the future of the realm─of this very star!
You can now fly while mounted in La Noscea, Thanalan, the Black Shroud, Coerthas central highlands, and Mor Dhona.
I reckon a lot more folk'll take up adventurin' after hearin' about what you've done. Brave men and women all hopin' to become the next Forename Surname.
Welcome back, Warrior of Light. We, all of us, prayed for your safe return.
The Seventh Astral Era has dawned, setting in motion a myraid of new beginnings. I suspect our paths will diverge for a time... Have you said your farewells to the Scions?
The land my master sheltered from oblivions hath been delivered unto a new beginning by the hand of the Warrior of Light. Thus doth history mark the passing of an era.
The dawn doth brighten the sky, and shineth o'er this nascent age of hope. And though the clouds gather to mute the sun's rising glory, I would walk far with thee under its gentle glow.