Of all the pillars that support the vibrant, yet brutal world of Valisthea in Final Fantasy XVI, few are as universally enticing as the Hunt Board. This classic Final Fantasy staple returns in XVI, not merely as a side activity, but as a vital engine for progression, storytelling, and world-building. Scattered across the realms are several Notice Boards, each serving as a nexus for these coveted "bills" or "notices" that point Clive Rosfield toward the most dangerous and legendary creatures roaming the land. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all Hunt Board locations, ensuring you never miss an opportunity to test your mettle and claim the generous rewards that await.
The Hunt Board system is elegantly simple yet deeply rewarding. Upon accepting a notice, the target’s information is logged in the Hunt menu, accessible from the world map. This menu provides a crucial clue about the monster’s location, often pointing to a specific region within one of Valisthea’s major realms. Finding the exact spawn point within that region becomes part of the challenge, encouraging exploration and familiarity with the game's diverse landscapes. Successfully felling these notorious marks yields a treasure trove of rewards: a significant amount of Gil, Renown (which unlocks valuable rewards from Patron's Whisper in the Hideaway), and, most importantly, crafting materials essential for forging and upgrading the most powerful weapons and gear in the game.
The Central Hub: The Hideaway
Before venturing out, one must know the heart of the operation. The primary and most frequently used Hunt Board is located in The Hideaway, Clive’s ever-evolving mobile headquarters. This board is your central mission control for all Hunts.
- Location: The Hideaway's Mess. After using the fast travel crystal, head down the stairs from the deck and proceed straight ahead into the large communal area. The Notice Board is mounted on a wooden pillar on the right-hand side, near the curry-serving chef and the bustling tables.
- Function: This is the most important board. It is dynamically updated throughout the main story. As you progress through the game's chapters and visit new areas, new and more powerful Hunts will appear on this board. It consolidates notices from across Valisthea, meaning you do not need to return to a specific regional board to pick up its hunt; once a regional board is unlocked, its notices will appear here. It is the most efficient place to check for new contracts.
The Regional Notice Boards
While The Hideaway board is comprehensive, the regional boards serve as your initial introduction to the Hunt system in their respective areas. Interacting with them unlocks their notices for The Hideaway board.
1. The Kingdom of Rosaria - Eastpool
- Location: This is the very first Notice Board you will encounter outside the Hideaway. It is found in the small village of Eastpool, located in the Royal Meadows of Rosaria.
- Unlock Timing: This board becomes accessible during the main story quest "The Gathering Storm," which acts as the point of no return for the game's opening prologue section. It’s a poignant and story-significant location.
- Significance: This board introduces the core Hunt mechanic. The notices here are for early-game marks, offering a relatively gentle introduction to the system and providing crucial early-game Gil and Renown.
2. The Grand Duchy of Rosaria - Martha's Rest
- Location: After the time skip, one of the first new areas you can explore is the region surrounding the impoverished village of Martha's Rest.
- Unlock Timing: The board becomes available during the main story quest "After the Storm," which opens up the area for exploration.
- Significance: The Hunts from this board are a step up in difficulty from Eastpool's, reflecting Clive's increased power and the more dangerous state of the world. The marks here often roam the muddy bogs and rocky outcrops of the Auldhyl Docks and surrounding territories.
3. The Holy Empire of Sanbreque - Northreach
- Location: The bustling, imperial-controlled town of Northreach in the province of Holy Empire of Sanbreque - Royal Isthmus.
- Unlock Timing: You will gain access to Northreach during the main story quest "The Crystal's Curse."
- Significance: As an imperial stronghold, the notices here often pertain to threats that plague Sanbreque's interests. The Hunts in this region are notably stronger, requiring well-upgraded abilities and gear. This is where the challenge begins to ramp up significantly.
4. The Dhalmekian Republic - Dalimil Inn
- Location: The arid and rebellious town of Dalimil, located in the Dhalmekian Republic - The Dhalmekian Hinterlands.
- Unlock Timing: The area and its Notice Board are unlocked during the main story quest "Fire in the Sky."
- Significance: The marks posted in Dalimil are suited for mid-to-late-game players. They often inhabit the vast, open deserts and rocky canyons of the Republic, presenting unique environmental challenges and attack patterns that differ from the creatures of greener regions.
5. The Kingdom of Waloed - Eistla
- Location: The grim, storm-battered village of Eistla, found in the Kingdom of Waloed - The Shadow Coast.
- Unlock Timing: This is a late-game board, accessed during the main story quest "Across the Narrow."
- Significance: Waloed is a land shrouded in darkness and powerful magic, and its Hunts reflect this. The notices on this board point toward some of the most formidable non-S-rank prey in the game. The rewards, however, are commensurate with the extreme risk, often providing materials needed for the final upgrades to Clive's arsenal.
6. The Kingdom of Waloed - The Gilded Path
- Location: This board is found in a small, secluded rest stop on the main road through Waloed, specifically in the Kingdom of Waloed - The Gilded Path area.
- Unlock Timing: It becomes accessible shortly after arriving in Waloed, around the same time as the Eistla board.
- Function: Like the others, it unlocks its specific set of regional Hunts for The Hideaway board. Checking both Waloed boards ensures you have all the available notices for this dangerous end-game region.
Strategy and Progression
A smart Hunter doesn't just charge in. The recommended strategy is to use The Hideaway as your primary hub. Before embarking on any main story quest, check the board for new notices. Accept all available Hunts—this adds them to your menu without any penalty. As you travel to your main objective, you can glance at your Hunt log and see if any marks are located in the region you're about to explore. This allows you to tackle Hunts organically as you progress, efficiently clearing the board while advancing the story. Save the dedicated Hunt-farming sessions for after the main story, when the entire world is open and you can fast-travel freely to hunt down the elusive and devastating S-rank threats like Atlas and The Breaker of Worlds.
In conclusion, the Notice Boards of Valisthea are far more than simple quest-givers. They are gateways to the most thrilling combat challenges Final Fantasy XVI has to offer. By understanding their locations—from the humble beginnings in Eastpool to the foreboding posts of Waloed—you ensure that Clive is always equipped with the best gear, flush with Gil, and renowned as the realm's ultimate Hunter of notorious prey.
