GUIDE
FFXIV Submarine Sector Unlock Guide: Deep-sea Site to the Northern Empty
How does sector unlocking work?
The submarine exploration map consists of 7 maps, and you open the next map by exploring a specific gate sector on the current one.
The basic rules are simple.
•Exploring a sector opens the sectors connected to it.
•Every sector has a rank requirement — a low-rank fleet cannot enter.
•Some sectors also have exploration stat (surveillance) requirements; weak builds miss the higher-tier results.
In short, unlocking is the process of ranking up while exploring the gate sectors in order. It is much easier with the full map open next to you.
Map unlock order at a glance
The 7 maps with their gate sectors and rank requirements. Exploring a gate sector opens the first sector of the next map.
| Map | Rank range | Gate sector to next map | Gate rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Deep-sea Site | 1-50 | AD sunken vault | 50 |
| 2. Sea of Ash | to 70 | R the Slipped Anchor | 67 |
| 3. Sea of Jade | to 90 | T the Devil's Crypt | 90 |
| 4. Sirensong Sea | to 105 | T the Crystal Font | 105 |
| 5. Lilac Sea | to 120 | T west Dodie's Abyss | 120 |
| 6. South Indigo Deep | to 135 | T Startail Trench | 135 |
| 7. The Northern Empty | to 145 | (final map) | - |
STEP 1: Deep-sea Site → Sea of Ash (rank 50)
The first map, the Deep-sea Site, covers ranks 1-50. Early on, just explore the sectors as they open at your rank — leveling and unlocking progress together.
The gate to the Sea of Ash is AD sunken vault (rank 50). Exploring it opens A South Isle of Zozonan, the first Sea of Ash sector.
Shortest unlock chain (exploration order, rank in parentheses):
B deep-sea site 1 (1) → E deep-sea site 3 (7) → J unidentified derelict (20) → N the Central Rimilala Trench (27) → O the Wreckage of Discovery I (30) → S deep-sea site 5 (37) → T Purgatory (40) → Y Flickering Dip (47) → Z the Wreckage of the Headway (50) → AA the Upwell (50) → AB the Rimilala Trench Bottom (50) → AD sunken vault (50)
STEP 2: Sea of Ash → Sea of Jade (rank 67)
The Sea of Ash covers ranks 50-70. From here, part builds start to matter a lot for range — use the build calculator to check whether your fleet can actually reach the target sector.
The gate to the Sea of Jade is R the Slipped Anchor (rank 67). Exploring it opens A the Isle of Sacrament.
Shortest unlock chain (exploration order, rank in parentheses):
A South Isle of Zozonan (50) → B Wreckage of the Windwalker (50) → C North Isle of Zozonan (54) → F Sea of Ash 2 (57) → G Sea of Ash 3 (60) → H Ascetic's Demise (60) → K Sea of Ash 4 (60) → L the Midden Pit (63) → P the Open Robe (65) → R the Slipped Anchor (67)
STEP 3: Sea of Jade → Sirensong Sea (rank 90)
The Sea of Jade covers ranks 70-90. The gate is T the Devil's Crypt (rank 90); exploring it opens A Mastbound's Bounty in the Sirensong Sea.
Surveillance requirements also rise from this point — check the T2/T3 requirements on each sector detail page and build accordingly.
Shortest unlock chain (exploration order, rank in parentheses):
A the Isle of Sacrament (70) → C Sea of Jade 1 (70) → E the Stone Barbs (72) → G Tangaroa's Prow (74) → J Sea of Jade 3 (75) → M Sea of Jade 4 (80) → R Wyrm's Rest (88) → T the Devil's Crypt (90)
STEP 4: Sirensong Sea → Lilac Sea (rank 105)
The Sirensong Sea covers ranks 90-105. The gate is T the Crystal Font (rank 105); exploring it opens A Weeping Trellis in the Lilac Sea.
Shortest unlock chain (exploration order, rank in parentheses):
A Mastbound's Bounty (90) → B Sirensong Sea 1 (90) → F Thrall's Unrest (93) → J Sirensong Sea 4 (97) → L the Beak (99) → P the Frozen Spring (102) → T the Crystal Font (105)
STEP 5: Lilac Sea → South Indigo Deep (rank 120)
The Lilac Sea covers ranks 105-120. The gate is T west Dodie's Abyss (rank 120); exploring it opens A the Indigo Shallows in the South Indigo Deep.
Shortest unlock chain (exploration order, rank in parentheses):
A Weeping Trellis (105) → B the Forsaken Isle (105) → F Bellflower Flood (108) → J Corolla Isle (113) → L the floral reef (115) → Q Proudkeel (119) → T west Dodie's Abyss (120)
STEP 6: South Indigo Deep → the Northern Empty (rank 135)
The South Indigo Deep covers ranks 120-135. The gate is T Startail Trench (rank 135); exploring it opens A eastern Blackblood Wells in the final map.
The Northern Empty is currently the last map, with sectors up to rank 145. Once you are here, nearly every high-profit farming route is on the table.
Shortest unlock chain (exploration order, rank in parentheses):
A the Indigo Shallows (120) → B Voyagers' Reprieve (120) → F the Central Blue (123) → I southern Central Blue (127) → M Startail shallows (130) → N Moonshadow Isle (131) → R Startail shelf (134) → T Startail Trench (135)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Do I need to unlock every sector?
A. No. If your goal is reaching the next map, you only need the path leading to the gate sector. For farming, though, it is worth opening the profitable sectors along the way.
Q. My rank is high enough but a sector will not open.
A. Besides the rank requirement, a sector only opens after you explore a connected previous sector. Check which sector leads where on the submarine map.
Q. I cannot reach the gate sector.
A. Insufficient range is the usual cause. Select the target sector in the build calculator to reverse-search part combinations that can reach it.
Q. How do I level and unlock at the same time?
A. The best XP sectors and the gate sectors are often different. A comfortable pattern is leveling on the recommended XP routes, then making one unlock voyage each time you hit a gate rank.
What to read next
Once a map is fully unlocked, farming becomes the main job. Pick your next goal from the pages below.