FFXIV Patch 7.21 Cosmic Exploration Guide – Quick Start & Progress Overview

Cosmic Exploration has just been released along with FFXIV patch 7.21, and this guide will help you jump right in and progress efficiently. The content is from Cole Evyx's YouTube video. If you find it helpful, be sure to subscribe to his video.

Why Do Cosmic Exploration?

There are many reasons to participate in this content:

• Level up your ff14 crafters and gatherers
• Earn and upgrade crafter/gatherer relic weapons
• Obtain valuable marketable rewards such as:
  • Glamour outfits
  • Mounts
  • Housing items
  • Orchestrion rolls (music scrolls)
  • Materia
• Contribute to your server's progress, which is similar to the Ishgardian Restoration.
• And, of course… maybe you just like space stuff.

Requirements

Requirements to access Cosmic Exploration are minimal:

• Level 10 crafter or gatherer
• Completion of the Endwalker main scenario quest. (You do not need to complete Dawntrail)

Also, don't worry about gear. You can purchase a full set for your level from an NPC named Godgyth.

Unlocking Cosmic Exploration

To unlock Cosmic Exploration, you need to head to Old Sharlayan, near Coordinates X: 12.6, Y: 13.6, and speak to Namingway. You'll then be transported to the Moon. To return to the Cosmic Exploration zone later, use Drivingway in Bestways Burrow (Mare Lamentorum) - Coordinates: X: 22.0, Y: 13.4.

Cosmic Exploration Basics

Upon arrival, you'll receive a lot of information. Here's a simplified breakdown:

1. User Interface

Blue Square UI Window - Central hub for all activity

2. ? Question Mark

Opens in-game help documentation

3. Fish & Saw Icon

Opens the Cosmic Class Tracker and shows your progress for each crafter and gatherer job.

4. Cosmic Research:

• Tied to relic weapon progression
• Each job has its own relic track
• There's a cap on how many research points you can store
• Deposit points at Researchingway to avoid overcapping

5. Infrastructure Index

• Tracks your server's progress building up the Cosmic zone
• Includes a global progress bar

6. Stellar Successes (Daily Quests)

Rewards:

• Cosmocredits
• 1,000 Lunar Credits

Long-Term Quests (Standard daily quests):

• Appear under the same tab as dailies
• Span the entire lifecycle of the content

7. Mech Ops Interface

• Apply as a Mech Pilot
• Or teleport to Mech missions if selected

8. Stellar Missions – The Core of the Content

This is where you'll spend most of your time, and each job (e.g., Miner, Botanist, etc.) has independent progression. Each mission includes rewards like EXP, Cosmocredits, Lunar Credits, and

job-specific cosmic currency. Objectives vary from collecting items within a time limit to triggering Gatherer's Boon.

Mission Progression Example:

• Start at Class D Missions
• Complete 3 D missions to unlock Class C
• Complete 5 Class B missions (with three gold-ranked) to unlock Class A

Ratings:

• Checkmark = completed (but not gold)
• Gold = best rank
• Blank = not attempted or failed

Important Buttons

• Display on Map: Shows the mission location. Use this! It's especially helpful for gatherers.
• Initiate: Start mission — make sure you're in the right zone!
• Mission Log: Track total job progress

Currencies & How to Use Them

Cosmocredits: You can spend them to get items like glamours, materials, or items to sell on the Market Board at Mesouaidonque (NPC). Don't let the Cosmocredits overcap! Spend regularly.

Lunar Credits:

• 1,000 = 1 Pilot Ticket (used for Mech Ops)
• 1,000 = 1 Spin at Orbitingway for rare RNG loot

Mech Ops Events

How to Become a Pilot:

• Talk to Alerot.
• Spend 1,000 Lunar Credits to receive a Pilot Ticket.
• Use the Mech Ops Event tab to queue and try to become a pilot.
• It's not guaranteed — selection is randomized.

Ground Ops Participation:

• If you're not selected as a pilot, you can join as Ground Ops.
• Run around and complete smaller support tasks during the event.
• Turn in collected items at the green or gold post hubs.
• Do not overcap your inventory — it may prevent you from completing objectives.
• After completing tasks, you'll receive your rewards.

Critical Tip:

• DO NOT RUN to Mech Ops Events.
• Always teleport — never run across the map to these events.
• Use Stellar Return to return to base quickly. If you're in Ground Ops, talk to Alerot and he will teleport you to the event area.
• If you're a pilot, you'll be instantly teleported once selected — no need to talk to anyone.

Mech Ops Rewards — Worth It?

At first glance, the rewards may seem underwhelming - 40 Cosmocredits and 40 Lunar Credits. But here's the real value for Ground Ops - participating as Ground Ops gives you a special buff, which boosts credit rewards for Standard Stellar Missions (your bread-and-butter content). The buff lasts for 20 Stellar Missions. So, only do Ground Ops if you don't already have the buff. You can check this from the Stellar Missions tab:

• The Initiate button will show an upward arrow when the buff is active.
• Hover over it to see how many boosted missions you have left.
• The buff carries across jobs, so you won't lose it by changing classes.

Infrastructure Index & Major Progression Events

When a major event tied to the Infrastructure Index starts:

• Drop what you're doing and participate on the job you want to level.
• The EXP rewards are massive and incredibly efficient for leveling.
• The game gives you plenty of advance notice, and the event runs for a long time, so you won't miss it if you plan accordingly.

Random Meteor Event (Red Sky)

There's a rare event where the sky turns red, and meteors fall:

• It seems to be completely random (RNG).
• It hasn't occurred often (if at all) for many players.
• When it does happen, the rewards are rumored to be incredible, so join it if you see it!