You’ve seen it. That wide-eyed, fuzzy little menace soaring through the skies of Tural, looking far too cute for a game where we regularly kill gods. The FFXIV sugar glider mount, officially known in-game as the Sugar Glider, is one of those items that immediately separates the casual players from the folks who are willing to descend into the madness of the market board or the grind of the gemstone traders. It’s small. It’s round. Honestly, it’s one of the best additions to the Dawntrail expansion’s mount roster, even if getting your hands on it feels like a test of patience.
Getting it isn't a mystery, but the "best" way to do it changes depending on how much you value your time versus your gil.
Where the FFXIV Sugar Glider Mount Actually Comes From
Let’s be real: most people see a new mount and assume it drops from a grueling Extreme trial or a rare spawn Fate. Not this time. The FFXIV sugar glider mount is tied directly to the Bicolor Gemstone system, which means you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the new Dawntrail zones. Specifically, you need to talk to the Bicolor Gemstone Voucher trader.
This isn't just about finishing a few Fates and calling it a day.
To even see the mount as an option, you need to have reached Rank 4 in all six Dawntrail areas. That is 66 Fates per zone. Do the math. That’s nearly 400 Fates. It’s a slog. Once you’ve done that monumental task, you head over to either Tural Vidra in Tuliyollal or the specialist in Solution Nine. But here’s the kicker—you don’t buy the mount with gemstones directly. You buy Tural Bicolor Gemstone Vouchers.
You need 500 of them.
Each voucher costs 100 Bicolor Gemstones. So, for the mathematicians in the room, that is 50,000 gemstones. If you’re getting about 14 to 16 gemstones per gold-medal Fate, you are looking at thousands of Fates. It’s an endurance test. Some people love that. Most people find it terrifying.
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The Market Board Shortcut
If you have a mountain of gil and zero interest in grinding Fates until your eyes bleed, you can just buy the FFXIV sugar glider mount whistle on the Market Board. Because the vouchers are tradable, and the mount whistle itself is tradable, it has become a primary way for "gil-capped" players to skip the line.
Prices fluctuate wildly.
On some high-population servers like Balmung or Greg (Gilgamesh), you might see the whistle listed for anywhere between 40 million to 70 million gil. It depends on the week. If a new patch just dropped and everyone is distracted by raiding, prices might dip. If there’s a lull in content, the farmers tighten their grip on the supply. Honestly, if you aren't a crafter or a hardcore gatherer, 50 million gil is a steep ask for a flying squirrel. But it's an option.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With This Specific Mount
Square Enix has a habit of making mounts either incredibly majestic or profoundly stupid. The sugar glider hits a weird middle ground that players adore. It uses a modified version of the "great vessel" or "flying carpet" animation style where it doesn't just hover; it glides with its membranes extended.
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It feels fast.
Even though all mounts in Final Fantasy XIV move at the same speed (once unlocked), smaller mounts often feel quicker because they don't take up half the screen. When you're zooming through the neon streets of Solution Nine or the lush canopy of Kozama'uka, the sugar glider feels right at home.
Comparisons to Other Gemstone Mounts
In previous expansions, we had the Wivre and the Fallen Angel Wings. Those were cool, sure. But they were bulky. The FFXIV sugar glider mount is the first time a "prestige" gemstone mount has felt genuinely "kawaii" in a way that rivals the fat cat or the various carbuncles from the online store.
- Size Advantage: It doesn't block your view during hunt trains.
- Animation: The way it wiggles its nose when idle is top-tier.
- Flex Factor: Seeing one tells everyone you either have too much time or too much money.
The Strategy for the "Free" Grind
If you’re going the "free" route (which isn't actually free because time is money, let’s be honest), you need a plan. Don't just fly around randomly.
Join a Fate train.
Open your Party Finder. Look for groups labeled "DT Fate Grind" or "Gemstone Farm." A group of eight players can clear a Fate in about 60 seconds. In a dedicated train, you can cap your 1,500 gemstones in about two hours. If you do that consistently, you'll chip away at the 500 vouchers needed for the FFXIV sugar glider mount.
It’s also worth noting that you should spend your gemstones as you go. Don't let them sit at the 1,500 cap. Buy the vouchers immediately. It keeps the dopamine hits coming and ensures you don't waste any potential earnings from that extra Fate you joined because you were bored.
Is It Worth the Effort?
Honestly? That depends on your endgame goals. If you're someone who collects every mount in the game, you don't have a choice. You're going to get it. If you're a casual player who just wants a cool way to get around, there are cheaper options. The Alpaca you get from the main scenario quest is free and carries a similar "vibe" without the 50-million-gil price tag.
But there is something about the sugar glider. It’s the eyes. They stare into your soul.
Moving Toward Your New Mount
Stop staring at the Market Board and wishing. If you want the FFXIV sugar glider mount, start by finishing your Rank 4 shared fates in every Dawntrail zone. Even if you decide to buy the rest of the vouchers with gil later, you can't even see the voucher vendor in the major cities until those zones are maxed out.
- Check Party Finder daily: Look for "Train" groups in the "Other" or "Fates" category.
- Compare World Prices: Use tools like Universalis to see if the whistle is cheaper on a different data center. Traveling to Materia or Dynamis might save you 5 million gil.
- Prioritize Zones: Focus on the zones you actually enjoy being in first to prevent burnout. Yak T'el is beautiful, but the verticality can be a pain if you don't have flying yet.
Get into a rhythm. Do five Fates a day. Or fifty. Just keep moving. Before you know it, you'll be gliding through the clouds with the most expensive rodent in Eorzea.