Primal on a rampage, must be Aether.

Someone has mysterious powers, that’ll be Aether at work.

You may be wondering just exactly what Aether is.

A split image of characters in Final Fantasy 14-1

It’s a brand-new arc with plenty of new faces in Final Fantasy 14’s Dawntrail expansion.

This article contains information that could be considered spoilers.

What Is Aether?

Koana, Sphene, and Cahciua in a split image.

How Does Magic Use Aether?

The practice ofmagic is learning to manipulate Aether.

Adestructive Black Mageand ahealing White Mageget different results, but both manipulate Aether.

The vibrant city of Tuliyollal with a circular rainbow around the Dawnthrone.

Learn all about the Final Fantasy 14 expansions!

In this way,even animals and monsters in Final Fantasy 14 use magic.

Are The Elements Part Of Aether?

The mothercrystal from Final Fantasy 14, a massive glowing blue crystal in a dark landscape.

Scholars have divided the energy of Aether into six primary elements.

NamelyEarth, Fire, Ice, Lightning, Water and Wind.

This applies toliving beings as well as locations.

Wuk Lamat riding a ship in a clear sunny day in FF14 Dawntrail

The other way in which Aether is categorized is with two opposing natures Astral and Umbral.

Astral is often viewed as a form of positive energy, while Umbral is negative.

Alternatively, they can be seen as active or passive, respectively.

The world of Hydaelyn from Final Fantasy 14, as seen from space.

What Are Crystals?

They do happen to form as shiny rocks, but they’re like giant magical batteries.

Don’t eat crystals, kids.

A White Mage using Cure in Final Fantasy 14.

The Aether that pools together to form crystals becomes static, no longer flowing through the Lifestream.

That makes it possible to collect crystals anduse them to power incredible feats of magic.

What Is The Mothercrystal?

A Tidal Wave in Final Fantasy 14.

The Mothercrystal could be considered the heart of the world,the soul of Hydaelyn itself.

What Is The Aetherial Realm?

The Aetherial Realm is parallel to the physical world, known as the Corporeal Realm.

The Crystal Tower at night in Mor Dhona in Final Fantasy 14.

Dawntrail introduces us to plenty of new characters, but which ones are this expansion’s best?

When a new living creature comes to life,energy moves from the Aetherial Realm to the Corporeal Realm.

When that life dies, the Aether transfers back to the Aetherial Realm.

Louisoix Leveilleur in his final moments.

Teleportation magic uses the Aetherial Realm.

Teleporting without an Aetheryte is considered highly dangerous and unreliable.

What Are Primals?

Screenshot of a horned demon-like creature, from the Ifrit fight in Bowl of Embers.

Their true nature, however, is misunderstood for much of the beginning of the game.

If you’re new to Final Fantasy 14,this is your last chance to avoid major spoilers.

This is shown to extend beyond mythology, enabling people to make Primals of ideas or historical figures.

The deserts of Thanalan showing no signs of life in Final Fantasy 14.

An example of this is the historical Shiva compared to the Primal version summoned by Ysayle Dangoulain.

Can Aether Run Out?

If a person runs out of Aether, it almost invariably results in their death.

Final Fantasy 14

There’s still much to be answered in Dawntrail’s future content updates.