Halloween in Eorzea just hits differently. Honestly, while other MMOs are content with a simple reskin of a hub city and some pumpkins, Square Enix usually goes all out with the atmosphere. If you’ve been hanging around Old Gridania lately, you’ve probably noticed the Continental Circus is back in town for FFXIV All Saints’ Wake 2024. It’s that time of year where the line between the void and the material plane gets a little thin, and we get to dress up like monsters to scare away actual monsters.
The 2024 iteration of this seasonal event, titled "The Grinning Ghost of All Saints' Wake," kicked off with a bit of a spookier vibe than last year. We aren't just chasing around stray imps this time. There’s a legitimate mystery involving a "Nightmarish Apparition" that has the local townsfolk looking over their shoulders. It's quirky. It's a bit dark. It’s exactly what the community needed after the heavy grind of the Dawntrail post-launch patches.
Finding the Start: Don't Get Lost in Gridania
To get things moving, you need to head over to Old Gridania. Specifically, look for the Adventurers' Guild Investigator. He’s standing around at (X:10.4, Y:8.4), looking appropriately concerned about the supernatural happenings. You need to be at least Level 15 to start the quest "The Grinning Ghost of All Saints' Wake." If you’re a sprout who just started playing, don't worry—getting to 15 takes about two hours if you’re following the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ).
Once you talk to him, the questline is pretty straightforward, but the writing is where the charm is. The dialogue is snappy. The NPCs from the Continental Circus—those creepy mummers who definitely aren't voidsent in disguise (wink)—return with their usual unsettling cheer. You’ll spend most of your time running between the Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre and the Greatloam Growery. It isn't a combat-heavy event. It’s more of a "vibes" questline that rewards you for paying attention to the spooky decorations littered across the Black Shroud.
The Nightmarish Party Charm: 2024's Best Reward?
Let’s talk loot because that’s why we’re all here. The big ticket item for FFXIV All Saints’ Wake 2024 is the Nightmarish Party Charm. This isn't just a gear piece; it's a "Necklace" glamour item that actually has a visual effect. When you wear it, your character radiates a faint, ghostly purple aura. It’s subtle. It doesn't scream for attention like some of the glowing relic weapons, but for players into "darker" glams or Reaper mains, it’s a must-have.
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Beside the charm, we got a new emote this year: Next Step: The Pumpkin Pastime. It’s basically your character juggling tiny, glowing pumpkins before one inevitably explodes in a shower of confetti. It’s goofy. Your Lalafell friends will spam it in Limsa Lominsa for the next three months. Get used to the sound effect now.
What’s interesting is that Square Enix leaned more into housing items this year too. We got the All Saints' Wake Mobile. It’s a ceiling-mounted furniture item with dangling bats and ghosts. If you’re lucky enough to own a plot in the Empyreum or Mist, this is the centerpiece for your October redecoration. Honestly, the detail on the tiny wooden bats is surprisingly high-res compared to some of the older 1.0-era assets still kicking around in the game.
Why This Event Feels Different Post-Dawntrail
There’s a weird tension in the community right now. With the Dawntrail expansion being out for a few months, everyone is focused on the new raid tiers and the graphical update. FFXIV All Saints’ Wake 2024 is the first seasonal event to really take advantage of the upgraded lighting engine.
The shadows in Gridania look deeper. The glow from the Jack-o'-lanterns actually casts a warm, orange flicker on your character’s armor. It makes the "Haunted Manor" instance—which makes a triumphant return this year—feel genuinely claustrophobic. If you haven't run the Haunted Manor before, it’s a special masquerade instance where you can transform into famous NPCs like Raubahn or Kan-E-Senna.
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Pro tip: Don't just rush through the manor. There are several "unlisted" NPCs hidden in the side rooms that offer unique dialogue depending on which expansion you've finished. If you’re caught up on the 7.0 MSQ, look for a certain researcher from Tuliyollal lurking in the shadows. It’s a nice touch that rewards long-time players.
Navigating the Seasonal Shop
After you finish the main quest, you’ll unlock the All Saints' Wake Vendor. They aren't just selling the new stuff. This is your chance to pick up items from previous years that you might have missed.
- Magicked Prism (Pumpkin): These are cheap and great for screenshots.
- Stuffed Pumpkin: A tabletop item that looks great in apartments.
- Previous Year Costumes: Sometimes they bring back the werewolf head or the vampire vests for a few thousand Gil.
Keep in mind that some items are "Unique/Untradable." You can't just buy twenty of them and flip them on the Market Board for a profit next July. Square Enix is pretty strict about that. If you want the rewards, you have to play the event. No shortcuts.
The Sneaky Lore Details You Missed
If you read the item descriptions—and you should—there’s a bit of lore-building happening. The Continental Circus claims they are just performers, but the 2024 event hints at a deeper connection to the Thirteenth. For those who spent a lot of time in Endwalker, you know that the void isn't just a place of monsters; it’s a broken world. The "Grinning Ghost" questline implies that some of these spirits are just looking for a way to experience joy again, even if that joy involves scaring a Miqo'te half to death.
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It's this blend of tragedy and comedy that makes FFXIV events stand out. It’s not just "kill 10 bats." It’s "why are these bats sad, and can we fix it with a pumpkin?"
Actionable Steps for Completion
Don't wait until the last day. These events usually end right before a maintenance cycle, and if you miss the window, these items head straight to the Mog Station for real money next year.
- Teleport to Gridania immediately. Use the Aetheryte to get to the Mih Khetto's Amphitheatre.
- Complete "The Grinning Ghost" questline. It takes about 20 minutes if you skip the cutscenes (but don't skip them, the writing is actually funny).
- Run the Haunted Manor instance at least three times. This ensures you have enough event currency to buy the housing items and the prisms.
- Check your Glamour Dresser. The Nightmarish Party Charm takes up the neck slot, so make sure your current outfit doesn't have a high collar that hides it.
- Take your screenshots now. The special lighting and weather effects in Gridania only last as long as the event is active. Once it’s over, the spooky fog disappears.
The event is live for a limited time. Get in, grab your pumpkins, and maybe try not to get possessed by a voidsent while you're at it. Eorzea is weird enough as it is.