The Moogle Chocobo Carnival has finally arrived for Final Fantasy XV. Naturally, there’s a host of new quests to solve, minigames to master, and selfies to pose for. Of course, since this is FFXV, there’s also a fair bit that can be confusing and isn’t explained very well. (As we said in our review, we love this game in spite of -- hell, sometimes because of -- its flaws and quirks.)
We’re here with answers to some of the questions we had during our early experiences with the Moogle Chocobo Carnival, along with general suggestions and some pointers for making the most of FFXV’s limited-time event.
Moogle Chocobo Carnival FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I enter the Carnival?
First, be sure to download the Holiday Pack and/or Holiday Pack Plus from the PSN Store. The newest patch (version 1.04), should download automatically. In the home menu, you’ll see a new option below Load Game -- Special. Select Special, and you’ll be prompted to select a destination save file for the rewards you’ll collect from the carnival. Choose your most recent / furthest save file as the destination for all the rewards (items, photos, fishing skill points) you’ll pick up from the carnival. (You may want to make a duplicate save of your progress, just in case.)
You cannot transfer Carnival data onto another save file; if you initially pick a save that doesn’t have your full progress, you’ll have to start the Carnival over by choosing a new save in the Menu screen.
The Carnival can be accessed from any point in the game. You need to have played enough to have a previous save, but you can access the event whether you're in Chapter 1, Chapter 15, or anywhere in between.
How do I save my progress in the carnival?
The process of saving and resuming can be a little confusing.
In order to go back to the Moogle Chocobo Carnival after playing for a while, you’ll have to start the game via the Special option from the FFXV title menu and reload the save you’re using for your carnival data. You’ll see a little yellow chocobo icon next to the save slot number. If you load your game through the Load Game menu, you’ll resume the game as normal (with your companions and NOT in carnival Altissia.)
For some reason, loading a carnival save doesn’t resume the game in the location you saved, or with Noctis wearing the outfit you last selected for the carnival. You’ll start back near the Altissa docks, and Noctis will be wearing his normal / non-festive outfit. Don’t panic: you haven’t lost your Choco-Mog Medallions or any other progress in the carnival. (Check at the Prize Counter nearby if you need to confirm.)
Hey… where my Chocobros at?! Can Ignis, Prompto and Gladio join the fun?
Sorry kids: Ignis, Gladio and Prompto don’t join Noctis for this little outing. There’ll be no beefcakey Gladio to oogle in his mariachi outfit for those who purchased the Holiday Pack +, and no Ignis to scold his princeling about staying up late and eating too many snacks. And you know it is just going to kill Prompto that Noct went to the biggest Chocobo party in the world and didn't invite him. This might be even more cruel than what happened on the train. (Yes, we wish the guys were along for the party, too.)
What goodies, items and rewards can I get for my Choco-Mog Medallions?
Well, that's a big enough question to warrant a whole other guide, friend! Click here for the full list of items you can redeem your carnival medallions for.
What should I do first?
Anything you want, really. Try out some of the minigames and sidequests and see which you like. Be sure to visit these places as you explore early on: the Prize Counter at the docks, the Square Enix Cafe, the Arena, Maagho restaurant, The Leville, Listro Park, the Chocobo Racetrack and Fontana Padigli. Once you’ve visited all eight attractions, you’ll be able to fast-travel using your mystical kitty-pal, Carbuncle. Carbuncle will alert you once you've visited them all; talk to him anytime afterward to fast-travel.
You'll want to save your first 50 Choco-Mog Medallions to buy the Lodging Voucher to see the fireworks show, completing the main quest of the event ('Interrupted by Fireworks') and unlocking the mysterious Dream Egg. After that, it's wide open until the event ends on Feb. 19. Using the Lodging Voucher will not end the Carnival.
I need help with sidequests!
Well gee, here's a whole other article with all the info you need about the Moogle Chocobo Carnival sidequests!
What do the new outfits do? (Choco-Mog Tee and Festive Ensemble Stat Boosts)
The Choco-Mog Tee boosts HP recovery rate. It doesn’t buff any other stats, so you’re probably better off wearing literally anything else when it comes to combat situations. The Festive Ensemble significantly boosts both HP and MP, so is well worth bringing out into the main game. Also, it’s dead sexy. Unfortunately, both outfits are Noctis-only.
General Tips For The Moogle Chocobo Carnival
-- Keep your eyes peeled and look around. This isn’t just to enjoy the colorful decorations. You’ll be able to Point Warp at some places to save time traversing Altissia, and find numerous Choco-Mog Medallions scattered around the city. Extra Medallions found on the map will respawn periodically.
-- On that note, keep an eye out for crying children. Not because you’re a good samaritan, but if you talk to them you’ll get a Point Warp prompt to retrieve their lost balloons and earn Choco-Mog Medallions. These opportunities will refresh, so you can retrieve the balloons and get the rewards multiple times. Stupid kids!
-- There is no difference in the rewards for mini-games etc. between the Holiday Pack and Holiday Pack + editions of the carnival, other than the bonus Festive Ensemble.
-- There are three Prize Counters, each with three vendors. Each kiosk has has the same items. The vendor on the left sells leisure items and Regalia stuff, the one in the middle sells consumable items (potions, etc.) and the merchant on the right sells everything else: treasures, crafting materials, and rare items you can put toward creating spells and upgrading weapons.
-- The Moogle siblings, NPCs who initiate quests (indicated by the ? icon on the map), and photo posters disappear will from the map once you've completed them.
-- Focus! There’s so many things to do, it’s easy to end up halfway through several different things. Try to focus on one side quest at a time to avoid losing track of your progress.
-- Fishing during the carnival will provide Noctis with skill points, but you have to load into the main game through the title screen and rest to bank any points you acquire.
-- That's not the only skill you can boost. Be sure you eat at the Square Enix Café. The meals are free, and Ignis will gain new recipes to be used later. The foods on offer at the Café offer boosts for Chocobo Racing and Fishing, so be sure to take advantage before hitting up those minigames!
-- You can go back to the main game whenever you like if you get minigame burnout, without losing your progress. Simply return to the title menu and load up your save through the Load menu. When you want to head back to the Carnival, load that save by going through the Special menu from the title screen.
Can’t get enough Final Fantasy XV ? Check out more of our articles and guides about the game.
Final Fantasy XV’s Moogle Chocobo Carnival event runs through Feb. 19 at 4 p.m. PST / 7 p.m. EST. Are you enjoying the event so far? Any tips for the best places to mine for Choco-Mog Medallions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
- Engaging main cast of characters
- Fun, fast-paced combat
- A massive, beautiful world to explore
- The Regalia!
- Continuous updates have addressed some shortcomings of the initial release
- Major aspects of the story feel rushed or absent, particularly toward the end of the game
- Stealth sequences feel out of place
