You're standing in the middle of a literal moon, looking at a map that feels like it’s lying to you. We’ve all been there. Final Fantasy XIV loves to make us work for our progress, and the FFXIV Occult Crescent survey points are no exception. If you’re pushing through the Mare Lamentorum side quests, specifically "One Step at a Time," you’ve likely realized that the quest markers on your mini-map are more like suggestions than actual locations.
It’s frustrating. You’re scanning the horizon, dodging lunar monsters, and clicking on every suspicious rock hoping for a prompt. Honestly, the game doesn't hold your hand here. The Occult Crescent is a beautiful, eerie sub-zone, but its verticality and crater-filled landscape make pinpointing specific interaction nodes a bit of a nightmare.
Most players get stuck because they’re looking at the X and Y coordinates without considering the Z-axis. In a zone like Mare Lamentorum, elevation is everything. If you’re standing right on the golden circle but see nothing, you’re probably on the wrong floor of a crater or missing a ledge that’s tucked away just out of sight.
Where the FFXIV Occult Crescent Survey Points Actually Are
Let’s get straight to the coordinates. You need three points.
The first one is usually the easiest but can be missed if you’re rushing. Check around (X: 23.3, Y: 22.8). It’s nestled near some of the lunar flora. You aren't looking for a massive glowing pillar; it’s a small, subtle "Destination" spark. If you have your effects turned down to "Limited" to save your eyes during raids, these can be surprisingly hard to spot against the shimmering ground of the moon.
The second point is at (X: 24.5, Y: 22.1). This one tends to trip people up because of the jagged terrain. You might find yourself circling the rim of a crater while the actual point is sitting slightly lower on a natural shelf. Don't jump all the way to the bottom! Just a slight drop down usually does the trick.
Then there's the third at (X: 25.6, Y: 23.4). By the time you get here, you’re basically halfway to the Watcher’s Palace. It’s easy to get distracted by the view of Hydaelyn hanging in the sky, but stay focused.
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Why do we even do this?
Questing in Endwalker isn't just about the XP, though at level 80-plus, every bit helps. These survey points are part of the world-building for the Loporrit civilization. Understanding how they view their "Occult Crescent"—a place that feels mystical even to these advanced lunar bunnies—adds that layer of flavor that makes FFXIV more than just a fetch-quest simulator.
Why the Map Markers Are So Misleading
It’s the craters. It’s always the craters.
The Occult Crescent isn't a flat field. It’s a series of bowls. If a survey point is at the bottom of a deep depression, the map icon looks identical to one sitting on the very top of the ridge. I’ve seen players spend ten minutes running in circles because they didn't realize there was a cave entrance or a slope leading downward just twenty yalms away.
Kinda makes you wish the map had a 3D toggle, right?
One thing to keep in mind: The "One Step at a Time" quest is often a prerequisite for unlocking further Loporrit interactions or even some of the more obscure "yellow" side quests that eventually lead to aether currents or tribal quest unlocks. If you skip these because the survey points are annoying to find, you’re basically handicapping your future flight capabilities in the zone.
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Nobody likes running on foot on the moon. It’s slow. It’s tedious. Do the survey, get the credit, and get closer to flying.
A Few Tips for Spotting These Nodes
If you’re struggling to see the sparks, try these three things.
- Change your camera angle. Sometimes the "Destination" glow gets swallowed by the ground texture if you’re looking top-down. Go for a more horizontal view.
- Look for the purple quest circle. It’s big. It’s obvious. But the actual point is rarely in the dead center. It’s almost always tucked against a wall or near a rock formation at the edge of the circle.
- Listen for the sound. FFXIV has great directional audio. If you’re close to a quest objective, there’s often a subtle shimmering sound effect. Turn your music down for a second if you’re really lost.
Actually, there’s a fourth tip. Watch the other players. If you see a stray Dragoon or White Mage standing perfectly still in a random spot and then suddenly mounting up and flying away, they just found the point. Just follow their lead. It’s the unofficial "community-driven navigation" system we all rely on during expansion launches.
The Bigger Picture: Surveying Mare Lamentorum
The Occult Crescent is more than just a quest hub. It’s one of the most visually distinct parts of the moon. While the Mare Lamentorum "base" (Bestways Burrow) is all neon lights and carrots, the Crescent is raw, untouched lunar surface. It represents the "occult" or hidden side of the moon’s history.
When you’re clicking those FFXIV Occult Crescent survey points, you’re technically helping the Loporrits assess if the moon is actually ready to house the people of Etheirys. It’s a heavy lore burden for a simple click-and-wait mechanic, but that’s the charm of the writing. Every little interaction contributes to the "final days" tension.
Some people think these points are bugged. They aren't. They’re just small.
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If you get to a coordinate and the point isn't appearing, check your quest log. You might have missed a previous step, like talking to an NPC or triggering a cutscene. The game won't let you interact with the Crescent survey nodes if you haven't officially been told to "go look at things."
Actionable Next Steps for Efficient Surveying
Stop wandering aimlessly.
First, ensure you are on the quest "One Step at a Time." Open your map and look at the Occult Crescent (northeast of Bestways Burrow). Instead of aiming for the center of the quest circles, head directly to the coordinates: (23, 22), (24, 22), and (25, 23).
Once you click the third point, don't just teleport away. There is usually a follow-up NPC interaction nearby that moves the quest to the next phase. Look for the green checkmark or the next gold icon immediately. Finishing this specific chain is a major step toward clearing out the "busy work" in Mare Lamentorum so you can focus on the heavier Main Scenario Quests.
If you are trying to find these for an Aether Current quest—which often overlaps with these survey areas—keep your Aether Compass on a hotbar. Sometimes the survey point and a current are right next to each other. It’s way more efficient to grab both at once than to make two trips across the lunar dunes.
Mount up, stay high until you hit the coordinates, and then drop straight down. It saves time and keeps you away from the level 83-84 mobs that love to aggro while you’re trying to read your map.
Clear the points. Talk to the Loporrit. Move on to the next adventure.