The Final Fantasy 16 Blacksmith’s Blues side quest might seem a bit confusing at first. That’s because you’ll need to partake in a Hunt for a creature, and the clues aren’t that clear. Our FF16 Blacksmith’s Blues and Dozmare Griffin guide discusses various quest steps, as well as where to find your target.
Where to Find the Dozmare Griffin for the Blacksmith’s Blues Quest in Final Fantasy 16
The FF16 Blacksmith’s Blues side quest has the following key objectives:
- Talk to Blackthorne.
- Ask Nektar the Moogle about Griffin sightings.
- Find the Dozmare Griffin’s location.
- Defeat the Dozmare Griffin.
- Speak to the Wounded Tanner and get the Drakeslayer’s Belt design.
Talk to Blackthorne
Blacksmith’s Blues will only become available once you’ve reached a certain point in the campaign. Specifically, it’s the Here Be Monsters main quest. From there, you can talk to one of the marked NPCs in the Hideaway hub, who’ll then direct you to Blackthorne, the smithy.
Ask Nektar the Moogle About Griffin Sightings
The next step in the Final Fantasy 16 Blacksmith’s Blues side quest is to ascertain the Dozmare Griffin’s location via the Hunt Board. Talk to Nektar the Moogle about it, and you’ll see a parchment that has the information. However, even after reading the document, the quest objective won’t progress. I’m not sure if this is a bug or if it’s working as intended.
What you’ll need to do, though, is take note of the clue: “While passing along the trail from Lostwing to Caer Norvent, one of our order was met with a sudden blast of wind…”
Find the Dozmare Griffin’s Location
Here’s where things can get a bit tricky. Given that the clue mentions a trail from Lostwing to Caer Norvent, your first instinct might be to check the narrow pass and grasslands between the two Obelisks. If this is what you’ve been doing, don’t worry, you’re not alone. I made the same mistake as well when I initially attempted this task.
The actual location of the Final Fantasy 16 Dozmare Griffin is the southern tip of the pathway from Lostwing. That’s because the small zone also leads to Caer Norvent, albeit one that doesn’t have a visible Obelisk on the map. You can see the correct location in the image below:
Defeat the Dozmare Griffin
Make sure you’ve already unlocked your Chocobo mount to speed things up. Then, from the Lostwing Obelisk, continue heading south past the narrow riverside paths, all the way to the southern clearing. There, a cutscene will play, and the Dozmare Griffin will appear.
To beat the FF16 Dozmare Griffin, you’ll want to take note of the following abilities:
- Aero Blast — Strikes you with an aero attack.
- Claw Swipes — Glides quickly before slashing you with its sharp talons.
- Swirling Gust — Strong winds will buffet your character, followed by AoE damage.
- Noble Dive — Zips to the top, followed by a streaking dive straight to the ground. This also causes an AoE tremor that you’ll want to evade.
As usual, make use of your favorite Eikon abilities. Likewise, don’t forget to do a Takedown Stagger by casting Deadly Embrace when its Will Gauge reaches 50%. Also, once you fully deplete its Will Gauge for a Full Stagger, continue wailing away at it by activating your Limit Break.
Speak to the Wounded Tanner and Get the Drakeslayer’s Belt Design
After eliminating the Dozmare Griffin, you’ll receive 1x Meteorite and 1x Scarletite (which is an important crafting material for a particular item that I’ll discuss below). In any case, there’s a Wounded Tanner NPC nearby. Talk to him to obtain the Treated Leather that Blackthorne needs.
Next up, just return to the Hideaway hub and give the Treated Leather to Blackthorne. This completes the Final Fantasy 16 Blacksmith’s Blues side quest. For your efforts, you’ll receive 250 XP and 10 renown. Moreover, you’ll acquire the Drakeslayer’s Belt blueprint.
The Drakeslayer’s Belt grants +74 defense and +23 HP. To craft it, you’ll need:
- 1x Dragon Talon
- 1x Electrum
- 20x Briar Clam Shell
- 1x Scarletite (the material you picked up after beating the Hunt target)
In any case, that’s all you need to know about the Blacksmith’s Blues side quest and Dozmare Griffin Hunt in Final Fantasy 16. For more tips and strategies, you can visit our FF16 guides hub.
