There’s way more to MMORPGFinal Fantasy 14than fighting monsters and riding chocobos. Frenetic activities likethe PvP Crystalline Conflict, taking on the most intense gameplay challenges in the Unreal raids, or the wild minigames of the Gold Saucer draw a lot of attention, but there are more subtle, tranquil ways to enjoy the setting of Eorzea as well.
One of the few ways the game encourages players to slow down and enjoy the world comes in the form of the Disciple of the Land classes, dedicated to mining, botany, and fishing. In these classes, players take a break from the frantic life ofa renowned Warrior of Lightto simply venture into the world and quietly do their thing. Of these, perhaps the most unique class is the Fisher.
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Fruity Snacks, a self-described Fisher main inFinal Fantasy 14(“There’s literally dozens of us,” he joked), finds his peace at the waterside. He spoke about the craft with GameRant.
“We always say that getting big fish is a marathon, not a race, not a sprint. It takes you places in the game that no quest takes you, and it puts you in those zones in very uncommon times… If this fish is up during rare weather for 10 minutes, you have to sit there for like 15 minutes and you just cast your line out, wait for a bite, then move back so you have a little bit of time to look around and soak everything in. Like the Lochs during thunderstorms? That is one of the rare fish, and it’s gorgeous because it’s right at sunset as well.
While many games feature fishing to some degree, Fruit stresses that fishing inFinal Fantasy 14is more than an average reflex minigame. That depth is shown in the fish themselves, Fruity explained.Final Fantasy 14features over 1,000 fish, each with unique behaviors and preferences for different types of bait. While fish will respond to a variety of bait and lures, they will respond faster or slower depending on their preferences.
And true to real fishing, no matter a player’s stats, a catch is never guaranteed. Fruity said this is one of many ways the gameemulates real-world fishing. He compares fishing to the Blue Mage limited job in the game, as both are similar to their more mainstream counterparts, but developed with more complexity and a playstyle totally apart from their peers.
“It’s actually closer to a fishing sim like Ultimate Bass Hunter or something. It’s a little bit closer to that than sayStardew ValleyorGuild Wars 2. InGuild Wars 2fishing, you cast into a hole, and you have to have a certain type of bait. There’s like a fishing power to make sure you have the right ability to catch, but it really comes down to a reflex game where you have to keep a bar within another bar as it moves around. Final Fantasy 14 is nothing like that … It’s a communication of the environment, a reflection of the environment that the game is taking place in, and it builds mechanics around that.”
But that shouldn’t scare away a new angler. The mechanics are taught well by the fishing quests the game provides, and those quests also go a long way to put players in the right mindset for fishing. Fromstanding on Limsa Lominsa’s dockcasting away to spearfishing, ocean fishing, and other variations on the theme, the quests guide players through the subtle mechanics while also focusing on the way the class is designed to bring players into communication with the natural world inside the game.
Fruity not only makes guides for fishers but operates the in-game Eorzea Aquarium, which shows off the various fish that anglers can land inFinal Fantasy 14as well as hosts events to help new Fishers learn the trade and land some of their own big fish. As for Fruity, he recently landed a fish called the Cinder Surprise in one try, a mean feat that earned him both praise and envy from the game’s fishing community. He’s eager to help share that sense of triumph with new fishers, and his aquarium has been making it happen.
At the heart of it, fishing isn’t just a matter of casting a line for manyFinal Fantasy 14players; fishing helps people appreciate thedepth of the Eorzea’s worldbuilding, aesthetics, and of course, fish.
“Fishing is just a ton of fun, please do it … if you enjoy the game, fish, because then you’ll enjoy the world even more.”
Final Fantasy 14is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
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