The Minstrel’s Ballad: Hydaelyn’s Call is the Extreme version of The Mothercrystal trial, unlocked by speaking to the Wandering Minstrel in Old Sharlayan after completing the Endwalker main scenario. The fight consists of five distinct phases with a 60-minute time limit.
Hydaelyn
Phase 1 - Opening
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|
| Heros’s Radiance | Raidwide | Heavy party-wide damage. Mitigate and heal. |
| Shining Saber | Stack | Party must stack to split damage. |
| Dawn Mantle (Chakrams) | AoE | Mousa’s Mantle - Red chakrams create a donut AoE. Move into Hydaelyn’s hitbox. |
| Dawn Mantle (Staff) | AoE | Magos’s Mantle - Green staff creates a point-blank AoE. Move to arena edges. |
| Dawn Mantle (Sword) | AoE | Heros’s Mantle - Blue sword creates a cross-shaped AoE. Move to corners. |
| Crystallize | AoE | Displays an element then a weapon. The weapon attack resolves before the element attack. |
| Mousa’s Scorn | Tankbuster | Stack marker on a tank requiring both tanks to share with cooldowns. |
Phase 2 - Crystals & Chakrams
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|
| Crystals of Light | Adds | Destroy crystals before the Conviction gauge fills. |
| Chakrams | AoE | Chakrams appear between phases. Ranged DPS and off-tank stack together; melee DPS stack with main tank and primary healer. |
| Crystalline Water III | Stack | Water stacks position on west and east sides of the arena. |
| Crystalline Blizzard III | Spread | Ice mechanics require ranged DPS and healers to spread outward. |
| Crystalline Stone III | Stack | Earth requires all players to stack close together. |
Phase 3 - First Lightwave
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|
| Lightwave | AoE | Waves of light travel across the arena. Healers stay closer, DPS move to mid, tanks run across to maximize uptime. |
| Parhelion | AoE | Line AoEs that travel out and return. Track their paths. |
| Parhelic Circle | AoE | Ring of AoEs appears at arena edge. Stay toward center. |
Phase 4 - Enhanced Mechanics
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|
| Crystallize Combos | AoE | Multiple Crystallize casts with overlapping elements and weapons. Resolve in correct order. |
| Enhanced Lightwaves | AoE | Lightwaves combined with other mechanics. Position precisely. |
Phase 5 - Second Lightwave
| Mechanic | Type | Description |
|---|
| Final Lightwave | AoE | More complex lightwave patterns with additional overlapping mechanics. |
| Enrage | Enrage | Clear before the enrage timer or wipe. |
Notes:
- Split into two light parties: 1 tank, 1 healer, 2 DPS each.
- Assign number positions (1-4) for towers—melee take positions 1-2, ranged take 3-4.
- Crystallize always resolves weapon first, then element. Memorize the sequence.
- The arena edge is instant death throughout the fight.