Exploratory Mission

Exploratory Missions are a type of in Final Fantasy XIV. They are large-scale public duties that allow multiple individuals or parties to share a single instance, generally without role restrictions. The objectives in exploratory missions can vary greatly between each mission, and they often feature mechanics unique to them. Originally designed for both combat and gathering disciplines, the concept underwent several revisions until they were split into separate categories for the respective disciplines—s and s.
Exploratory missions contain several FATEs that make up the bulk of their content. Under certain circumstances, special dungeons within the mission area may become accessible, called open dungeons or large-scale battles. Similar to s, these areas are large "duties within a duty" that allow multiple alliances-worth of players to enter, with their own time limits to complete separate from the mission which houses them. Much like the exploratory mission themselves, they can be entered by multiple parties of any size without role restrictions.
== The original Diadem ==
Introduced in patch 3.1, was the first exploratory mission, and it has undergone several revisions in its history. It originally allowed up to 72 players of any role, and featured activities for both combat and gathering disciplines. Patch 3.4 introduced the Diadem Hunting Grounds, a combat-only version of the Diadem that existed in addition to the original. In patch 3.55b, all prior versions of the Diadem were removed and replaced with the combat-based Trials of the Fury and the gathering-based Trials of the Matron. Despite their focus, players could still freely switch between role in the Trials. The 3.55b version of the Diadem also featured what was called an Emergency Mission that could spawn in either version of the duty, which allowed players to enter a previously inaccessible area to challenge a raid boss, being the precursor to open dungeons.
The Hunting Grounds and the Trials would be a precursor to the split of exploratory missions into adventuring forays and gathering forays, while the Emergency Mission would be the predecessor to open dungeons. The original version of the Diadem was removed in patch 5.1, replaced with a new version that was exclusively a gathering foray.
Banner	Name	Player Limit	Level	Item Level	Open Dungeon 	Unlock	Release	Removed
 	 	72 	60 	179 	 	 	3.1 	3.5
 	 	72 	60 	179 	 	 	3.1 	3.5
 	 	72 	60 	179 	 	 	3.1 	3.5
 	 	72 	60 	179 	 	 	3.4 	3.5
 	 	72 	60 	179 	 	 	3.4 	3.5
 	 	72 	60 	220 	Emergency Mission	 	3.55b 	5.1
 	 	72 	60 	179 	Emergency Mission	 	3.55b 	5.1
== Field Operations ==
Field Operations, previously known as Adventuring Forays, are special duties available in Final Fantasy XIV designed for Disciples of War and Magic. They borrow many aspects of overworld maps, including mount traversal and FATEs (repurposed in various formats). Though the instances have no set goal within them, various gameplay elements specific to them are used to progress relics and side stories.
Banner	Name	Player Limit	Level 	Item Level	Open Dungeon 	Unlock	Release
 	 	144 	70 	 	 	 	4.25
 	 	144 	70 	 	 	 	4.36
 	 	144 	70 	 	 	 	4.45
 	 	144 	70 	 	The Baldesion Arsenal	 	4.55
 	 	72 	71 (80 sync)	430 	Castrum Lacus Litore 	 	5.35
 	 	72 	71 (80 sync)	430 	The Dalriada 	 	5.55
Note: For the Bozjan Southern Front and Zadnor, players must be a minimum of level 71 to enter, but will be synced upwards or downwards to level 80. There is no minimum item level requirement, but all equipped gear will be synced upwards or downwards to item level 430.
A new field operation is set to be relased during 7.X patch cycle, but no further details have been announced.
== Gathering Forays ==
Banner	Name	Player Limit	Level	Discipline 	Unlock	Release
 	 	24 	1 	 	 	5.2
 	 	72 	10 	Disciples of the Land	 	5.21
== Open Dungeons ==
Open Dungeons are special large-scale raids that cannot be queued for via the Duty Finder, and usually (but not always) tied to an Exploratory Mission. Unlike most instances in the game, Open Dungeons cannot be done using using an unrestricted party (i.e., with character and item level sync disabled), although there are no role restrictions when forming parties for these.
Name	Player Limit	Level 	Item Level	Region 	Final Boss 	Unlock	Release	Removed
 	72 	60 	 	The Diadem - Trials of the FuryThe Diadem - Trials of the Matron	Buer 	 	3.55b 	5.1
 	56 	70 	 	The Forbidden Land, Eureka Hydatos 	Proto Ozma 	 	4.55 	
 	48 	71 (80 sync)	430 	The Bozjan Southern Front 	Lyon the Beast King and Dawon	 	5.35 	
 	24 	80 	430 	The Bozjan Southern Front 	The Queen 	 	5.45 	
 	48 	80 	430 	The Bozjan Southern Front 	The Queen 	 	5.45 	
 	48 	71 (80 sync)	430 	Zadnor 	The Diablo Armament 	 	5.55 	
Category:Final Fantasy XIV