Since the first announcement about its impending release, the Voidwatch battle event has sparked intrigue and debate. This morning, Square Enix released comprehensive new details about what adventurers can look forward to, ranging from further information about locations and battlefield requirements to bolstering the quality of the spoils of victory, and much more.

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From the official Final Fantasy XI Forums:

What Is Voidwatch?
In Voidwatch, bands of six to eighteen members will square off against “Voidwalkers,” savage entities that have breached planar bounds to invade multiple landscapes spanning past and present. By slaying these manifestations of terror, you and your stalwart comrades will gradually come to discover the true nature of the threat that has all of Vana’diel up in arms.

The May 9, 2011 version update introduces the first installment of this new challenge, and readies eighteen fields whereupon you will duel the dreaded Voidwalkers. The battle will expand to yet more areas in ensuing releases.
*Accessing this content requires the purchase and registration of the “Wings of the Goddess” expansion.

Participation Requirements

• Level 75 or above.
• Possession of the following key items:
  Adventurer’s Certificate / Stratum Abyssite / Voidstone
• Affiliation with the Allied Forces of Altana.

Progressing Through the Ops
Voidwatch Ops are broken down into three distinct jurisdictions as follows:

[1] Acquiring the Key Items
The “stratum abyssite” and “voidstone” key items can be acquired by speaking to one of the Voidwatch officers posted at the following locations:

Southern San d’Oria [S] (L-9) / Bastok Markets [S] (G-5) / Windurst Waters [S] (G-5) / Southern San d’Oria (F-9) / Bastok Markets (D-11) / Windurst Waters (G-5)

• Stratum Abyssite
  Stratum abyssite are permanent key items and need only be obtained once. There exist three types, each corresponding to a jurisdiction as follows:

  • San d’Oria: Crimson Stratum Abyssite
  • Bastok: Indigo Stratum Abyssite
  • Windurst: Jade Stratum Abyssite

• Voidstones
  These magicked stones find use across all jurisdictions. Information regarding voidstone stock and issuance can be confirmed by speaking with a Voidwatch Officer NPC.

[2] Undertaking Voidwatch Ops
Voidwatch Officer NPCs will assign you an operation based on your current progress, after which you must make your way to the designated operation site. Players may choose to utilize the teleportation service offered by the nearby Atmacite Refiner NPC in exchange for cruor (the same substance as that found in Abyssea).

[3] Battling Voidwalkers
Each Voidwatch operation takes place at one of three predetermined “planar rifts,” weak points in the fabric of space. Enemy strength and spoils obtainable will not be affected by the choice of rift.

To spawn a Voidwalker and initiate battle, simply examine a planar rift while in possession of the requisite key items. Combatants have thirty minutes to dispatch their foe, after which time the Voidwalker will disappear and the operation will be deemed a failure.
*A single voidstone will be expended for all who possess one, and not only the character who initiated battle. While those without a voidstone can still participate, their reward will be limited to experience points and cruor.

The “Voidwatcher” status will be bestowed upon players for the duration of a Voidwatch operation.
*Players will be unable to benefit from the effects of Signet and Sigil during this time.

[4] Obtaining Spoils
At the successful completion of battle, a mysterious “riftworn pyxis” will manifest from the planar rift and remain for three minutes. All combatants may examine the pyxis, the contents of which will differ for each person. Players can improve both the quantity and quality of their spoils as well as obtain rare atmacite and periapt key items by manipulating “spectral alignment” values as outlined below.

Spectral Alignment
There exist five lights in the existential spectrum. Their alignment values can be enhanced to produce the following benefits:

• Blue: Increases reward quantity.
• Red: Increases reward quality.
• Yellow: Increases experience yield.
• Green: Increases cruor yield.
• White: Increases chances of atmacite and periapt obtainment.

The alignment values for the above can be enhanced via the two methods below.

(1) Trading “ascent items” to a planar rift ahead of battle. Doing so will enhance alignment values for that player only.

• Ascent items can be obtained in the following ways:

  • Purchased with cruor from a Voidwatch Officer.
  • Purchased with Conquest Points from a Conquest Guard.
  • Purchased with Imperial Standings from an Imperial Guard.
  • Purchased with Allied Notes from an Allied officer.
  • Found in a treasure casket.

(2) Striking Voidwalker weaknesses.
Doing so will enhance alignment values for all combatants.
*Alignment values increased via ascent items are reset when the player opens a riftworn pyxis.
*Alignment values increased by striking enemy weaknesses are reflected in pyxis content and reset at the end of battle.
*Enhanced values will not benefit combatants who did not expend a voidstone at the commencement of battle. In this case, the portion of alignment enhanced via ascent items will be carried over.

• Atmacite and Periapt

  • Atmacite
    By infusing yourself with atmacite using a specific key item, it is possible to enhance your fighting prowess during Voidwatch Ops. Furthermore, atmacite can be upgraded in stages by enriching it with cruor. Detailed information on the infusion, purging, and enrichment of atmacite can be obtained via Atmacite Refiner NPCs and planar rifts.
  • Periapt
    These talisman-like objects bestow myriad benefits upon their bearers, such as reducing waiting time for voidstone issuance and enhancing the bonuses granted by ascent items.