Deep guide
How Long Each Relic Takes: Complete Time Breakdown
FFXIV relic time estimates: Manderville 9–14h, Zodiac 20–31h, Anima 40+, Eureka and Resistance. Casual vs hardcore breakdowns.
How Long Each Relic Takes: Complete Time Breakdown
Planning your relic journey? This guide provides realistic time estimates based on various playstyles.
TL;DR: Quick Summary
| Relic | Casual | Moderate | Hardcore |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manderville | 2 weeks | 5-7 days | 2-3 days |
| Zodiac | 3-4 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 4-5 days |
| Anima | 6-8 weeks | 3-4 weeks | 1-2 weeks |
| Resistance | 4-6 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 1 week |
| Eureka | 5-7 weeks | 2-3 weeks | 1 week |
Detailed Breakdowns
[Item]
Total Time: 9-14 hours
Stage Breakdown:
- Unidentified Gear: 2-3 hours
- Elemental Core: 3-4 hours
- Unidentified Armor: 1-2 hours
- Totem Collection: 2-3 hours
- Final Assembly: 1-2 hours
Playstyles:
- Casual: Spread across 2 weeks (1-2 hours daily)
- Moderate: 5-7 days (2-3 hours daily)
- Hardcore: 2-3 days (8+ hours daily)
Zodiac (Classic)
Total Time: 20-31 hours
Stage Breakdown:
- Atma: 2-3 hours
- Animus: 3-5 hours
- Novus: 2-3 hours
- Nexus: 4-6 hours
- Glowing: 2-3 hours
- Brightly Glowing: 2-3 hours
- Augmented: 3-5 hours
- Zeta: 2-3 hours
Playstyles:
- Casual: 3-4 weeks (1-2 hours daily)
- Moderate: 2-3 weeks (2-3 hours daily)
- Hardcore: 4-5 days (8-10 hours daily)
Anima (Long Journey)
Total Time: 40+ hours
Playstyles:
- Casual: 6-8 weeks (1 hour daily)
- Moderate: 3-4 weeks (2-3 hours daily)
- Hardcore: 1-2 weeks (4-6 hours daily)
Resistance (Mid-Length)
Total Time: 25-35 hours
Playstyles:
- Casual: 4-6 weeks (1-2 hours daily)
- Moderate: 2-3 weeks (2-3 hours daily)
- Hardcore: 1 week (4-5 hours daily)
Eureka (Challenging)
Total Time: 30+ hours
Note: Includes time spent in Eureka zone, which requires group activities and can vary wildly.
Playstyles:
- Casual: 5-7 weeks (1 hour daily)
- Moderate: 2-3 weeks (2-3 hours daily)
- Hardcore: 1 week (5-6 hours daily)
Factors That Affect Time
Speeds Up Farming
- Free Company group farming
- Efficient routes (knowing where to farm)
- High-end gear (faster clears)
- Experienced team
- Avoiding distractions
Slows Down Farming
- Solo farming
- Getting lost/inefficient routes
- Queue times (during off-hours)
- Disconnections/crashes
- Casual playstyle (frequent breaks)
Real-World Examples
Player A: Casual (1 hour daily)
- Manderville: 2 weeks
- Zodiac: 4 weeks
- Anima: 8 weeks
Player B: Moderate (3 hours daily)
- Manderville: 5-7 days
- Zodiac: 2-3 weeks
- Anima: 3-4 weeks
Player C: Hardcore (8+ hours daily)
- Manderville: 2-3 days
- Zodiac: 4-5 days
- Anima: 1-2 weeks
Strategies to Save Time
- Join a Free Company - Group farming is 20-30% faster
- Learn Efficient Routes - Reduces travel time significantly
- Farm During Peak Hours - Faster dungeon queues
- Use Quality of Life Macros - Teleport, gathering automation
- Multitask - Listen to streams, podcasts, audiobooks
- Focus on One Relic - Jumping between relics wastes time
Is the Time Investment Worth It?
Absolutely Yes If:
- You like the glamour
- You want a long-term project
- You’re a completionist
- You’re gathering with friends
Maybe Not If:
- You’re only chasing DPS stats (relics aren’t BiS)
- You have limited playtime
- You’re easily burnt out
Conclusion
Start with Manderville if you want a quick win. The 9-14 hour grind is manageable even for casual players, and the glamour is genuinely excellent.
Then consider Zodiac for a more substantial challenge. The 20-31 hour grind is achievable in 2-4 weeks with moderate play.
Use our Relic Tracker to calculate how long you personally need for your target relic.
Next: Which relic should you start? — or see our glamour rankings to pick by looks.