Synergy (FFXI)  

Overview

Synergy is an advanced form of synthesis wherein up to six players, each with unique skills, cooperate to create and augment items inside of a synergy furnace. This synthesis technique requires players with different synergy techniques and crafting skills, as well as rare stones known as Evolith.

Synergy skill -- which caps at level 50 -- determines your ability to safely and effectively handle synergy furnaces. Players can raise their synergy skill by applying synergy techniques to manipulate elemental concentration levels inside the furnace. Proficiency in these techniques, too, can be raised to a degree corresponding to your synergy skill level. Attempting a high-level synergy synthesis without possessing the proper skill can result in an explosion of the furnace that can cause damage to your party.

Certain synergy recipes demand expertise in specific crafting disciplines, but the character depositing the ingredients need not possess any. Synergy will be possible so long as a participating party member possesses the requisite skill in question.

Accessing Synergy Furnaces

Synergy furnaces are communal apparatuses available in several cities, and eligible players can also summon private furnaces in field areas.

Communal Furnaces

Communal synergy furnaces are accessible to players who have completed the quest Synergistic Pursuits, which is offered by the Metalworks NPC Hildolf.

Communal synergy furnaces are available in the following cities:

• Bastok Mines: G-6, J-8
• Bastok Markets: F-7, H-8
• Port Bastok: I-8
• Windurst Waters North: L-11
• Windurst Waters South: G-8
• Windurst Walls: I-12, J-9
• Port Windurst: D-7, H-7
• Southern San d'Oria: M-7, D-7
• Northern San d'Oria: J-8, F-3
• Port San d'Oria: H-9
• Upper Jeuno: H-9, G-8
• Lower Jeuno: H-8, G-9
• Port Jeuno: H-8, I-8

Private Furnaces

Players who have advanced their synergy skill levels to Level 5 or above will become eligible to undertake the quest The Wondrous Whatchamacallit offered by the Bastok Mines NPC Selliste. Completing this quest gives you a Portafurnace, an item that allows the summoning of a private furnace for use in field areas.

Using Communal Furnaces

Listed below are the various steps for using a communal synthesis furnace.

1. Obtain the "synergy crucible" key item: The synergy crucible serves as the receptacle for different varieties of elemental "fewell," the source of power for the synergy process. Characters need only acquire the crucible once by completing the aforementioned quest offered by the NPC Hildolf.

2. Prepare ingredients for the recipe: Recipes corresponding to a character's synergy skill level can be learned by talking to a "Synergy Engineer" NPC.

3. Recruit party members: Synergy is a joint activity that requires the cooperation of other players. The party leader should seek fellow synergists with the right skills needed for a particular recipe and invite them to join a party.

4. Check your synergy crucible's fewell supply: Check your synergy crucible's current supply of elemental fewell by either examining the synergy furnace prior to depositing the ingredients, or by speaking with a synergy engineer. If required, synergy engineers can replenish your store in exchange for gil. Alternatively, it is also possible to directly replenish the crucible using either crystals or the new synthesizable item version of fewell (alchemy skill required). Depositing such items directly into the furnace will affect only the fewell supply of the character whose synergy crucible is currently installed.

5. Claim usage of a synergy furnace: To use a communal synergy furnace, you must first lay claim by examining it. At this point, you will be allocated a period of time to deposit the ingredients and commence the synergy process. When this has been done, your group will have exclusive access to the furnace until the synergy process is complete.

• Private synergy furnaces summoned using the aforementioned item can be used only by you and your party members.

6. Deposit the ingredients: Only the claim-holding character may deposit ingredients into the furnace. Similarly, at the conclusion of synergy, the resultant product will be obtainable only by that character. While it is possible to attempt synergy at a level above your own capacity, keep in mind that the risk of failure will increase proportionally.

7. Operate the furnace: Now comes the most invigorating and rewarding part of the process: the operation of the synergy furnace itself. Throughout the course of synergy, players must keep a close eye on the furnace's readings and skillfully manage the parameters listed below.

• Elemental balance: Burning fewell will unleash the power of the elements (fire, ice, wind, earth, lightning, water, light, and dark) into the belly of the furnace. Approach the elemental balance dictated by the synergy recipe you are following, and watch as your desired item takes form.
• Impurity ratio: An unfortunate side effect of fewell combustion is the introduction of dangerous impurities to the mix. A high ratio will increase the likelihood of an explosion.
• Internal pressure: Pressure within the furnace will build as the synergy process continues, rendering any explosions that may occur even more damaging.
• Durability: A potent energy field within the furnace serves to keep the elemental maelstrom in check, but it cannot be sustained indefinitely. Should its durability reach zero, no explosion will occur, but the reaction will fizzle and your synergy attempt will end in failure.

Tricks of the Trade

Skillful application of the techniques below will ensure that your synergistic exploits remain undeterred by explosions or failed reactions. These skills can be honed by receiving training from synergy engineers, and new synergy techniques can be unlocked from certain pieces of equipment.

• View furnace readings: Compare current elemental balance with objectives, and monitor pressure and impurities.
• Feed fewell: Deposit fewell into the furnace to increase elemental strength.
• Thwack furnace: Apply a time-honored (if low-efficiency) method to ward off potential accidents.
• Operate pressure handle: Consume dark fewell to lower furnace pressure.
• Operate safety lever:''' Consume dark fewell to cleanse furnace of impurities.
• Repair furnace: Consume light fewell to increase furnace durability.
• Recycle strewn fewell: Render strewn fewell into a reclaimable state, increasing the amount of reclaimable cinder.

Potential Complications

In the hands of the untrained, synergy may prove to be a painful exercise. If left unchecked, the swelling of elemental forces and the accumulation of impurities inside the furnace will lead to explosions and leakages. An explosion inflicts considerable damage on both the furnace and participating synergists, and ultimately shortens the time available to you and your and comrades for the synergy attempt.

Such complications can be averted by improving your synergy prowess and applying the knowledge and techniques you have acquired to the fullest extent.

Completing the Process

Should you succeed in approaching the required elemental balance, the synergy furnace will shimmer to signal your triumph. From this point, you may select "End synergy" to retrieve your finished product, or continue working to achieve even closer elemental equilibrium—and potentially a more desirable reward. Synergists are encouraged to keep a close eye on furnace durability as they ascertain the ideal time to conclude the operation.

Outcomes of Synergy

Success

The successfully synergized product will be entrusted to the supplier of ingredients, while all participants will be awarded with "cinders," a synergy by-product. Cinder acts as points that can be accumulated and traded to synergy engineers in exchange for items that will aid you in your synergistic endeavors.

Failure

Should your reaction fail, any fewell consumed will be lost forever, and no cinder may be obtained. All is not lost, however—your precious ingredients will remain intact, allowing you to make another attempt provided your fewell reserves permit.

Final Fantasy XI Wikibase™