You’re grinding through the Bozjan Southern Front, your inventory is a mess of lockboxes and stray clusters, and then you see it. A thin, rectangular piece of cermet. The Gabriel α Identification Key. Honestly, if you’re a Final Fantasy XIV player, this little item is either the highlight of your week or the source of absolute frustration.
It’s one of those rare drops that feels mythic until it finally lands in your lap. But there’s a lot of confusion floating around about what it actually does, how to get it without losing your mind, and why some people are selling them for millions of gil while others can't seem to give them away. Let’s get into the weeds of what the Gabriel α Identification Key really is.
What is the Gabriel α Identification Key anyway?
Basically, it’s a summoning item. In the lore of FFXIV, project engineers were trying to build a full-sized transforming armor called "Gabriel." Before they went all-in on the big version, they made this scale test model to see if it would actually fly. It did, but it had a nasty habit of running hot.
When you use the key, you "activate" the machine, which then becomes a permanent addition to your mount collection. It’s a sleek, mechanical beast that looks like something straight out of a mecha anime. It transforms when you take flight, shifting its frame to become more aerodynamic. It's cool. Really cool.
How do you actually get one?
You can’t just walk up to a vendor and buy this with gil. Well, you can on the Market Board, but we'll talk about that later. If you want to earn it yourself, you’re heading into the Bozjan Southern Front.
Most players find their Gabriel α Identification Key inside a Southern Front Lockbox. These are the rewards you get for participating in Skirmishes and Critical Engagements within the zone. You take those boxes to the Resistance Lockpicker, hold your breath, and hope the RNG gods are smiling.
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It’s a rare drop. Like, "I’ve opened 500 boxes and only seen sparklers" rare for some people. Others get it on their tenth try. That’s just how Bozja works.
Other ways to find it
- The Occult Crescent (South Horn): It has been known to pop up here during specific duties.
- Moogle Treasure Trove: Occasionally, Square Enix adds the key to the event rewards. If "The Second Hunt for Genesis" is active, you might be able to trade Irregular Tomestones for it. Honestly, this is the "easy mode" way to get it if you hate RNG.
The Market Board Trap
If you've checked the Market Board lately, the price for a Gabriel α Identification Key swings wildly. Because it’s a tradable item, it’s a favorite for flippers.
One day it’s 2 million gil, the next it’s 400k. Why? Because when the Moogle Treasure Trove events happen, the market gets flooded. If you're looking to buy one, wait until an event is running. If you're looking to sell, wait six months after an event ends. Don't be the person who buys high right before a price crash.
Why people get frustrated with Gabriel α
There’s a bit of a misconception that the Gabriel α is the same as the Gabriel Mark III. It’s not.
The Gabriel α (the one this key summons) is the white and blue version. It’s the "prototype." The Mark III is the black and red version, and it is significantly harder to get. You usually have to tackle the Delubrum Reginae (Savage) or get extremely lucky with high-tier reward sacks.
If you see a giant black mech flying over Limsa Lominsa, that’s not your Gabriel α. Yours is the sleek, experimental white one. Personally, I think the white looks better anyway—it shows off the mechanical detail of the cermet plating way more effectively.
Using the key: A few things to remember
- Level Requirement: You only need to be level 1 to use the key, but you have to be level 71+ just to enter Bozja to find it yourself.
- One-time Use: Once you use the key, it’s gone. You can’t sell it after you’ve learned the mount.
- The Music: The mount plays "Imperial (Zodiac Age Version)." It’s a banger. If you’re a fan of Final Fantasy XII, this mount is a must-have just for the nostalgia trip.
Is it worth the grind?
Honestly, yeah. In the landscape of FFXIV mounts, the Gabriel series stands out because of the transformation animation. Most mounts just... fly. Gabriel actually changes shape. It feels like a high-end reward because, for a long time, it was.
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If you’re currently stuck in Bozja, keep grinding those lockboxes. The drop rate feels low, but the more you participate in the "back-and-forth" of the war zone, the more chances you get. Just don't burn yourself out. Take breaks, do some Zadnor, and eventually, that thin piece of cermet will show up in your inventory.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Market Board: Before you spend ten hours grinding, see if the price has crashed. If it's under 500k gil, your time might be better spent elsewhere.
- Verify Active Events: Check the Lodestone to see if a Moogle Treasure Trove event is active. If it is, check the rewards list first.
- Farm Lockboxes: If you’re going the DIY route, focus on Critical Engagements in the Bozjan Southern Front. They provide the highest density of lockboxes per hour.