The Egg Hunt Begins!

Want a Chocobo of rare color? Specific information can be found here.

Similar to Tamagotchi games, Chocobo Raising is the fun, intricate sub-game recently incorporated into FFXI. If you are a person who loves animals, this virtual pet will have you hooked for life!  When your Chocobo reaches his 29th day of raising, you can earn your whistle and call him as a mount. He will then be your transportation companion for as long as you have your character. Next stop? The races!

This guide contains game-specific terms in italics. These can be referenced in the Glossary below.

Q.#1. Where do I get a Chocobo Egg?

A. There are four ways to choose from:

PURCHASE - (Low Cost, Low Effort) Make your way to Ru'Lude Gardens at F-9 and shop for a Chocobo Egg from 'Dabih Jajalioh'. She has them in three temperatures for 1040 gil each.  This Mithra child is a little hard to find. Follow your map down the stairway that begins near the Auction House. Occasionally she doesn't have them in stock but they reappear without prompting from the regional count. Just come back at a later time.

MATCHMAKING - (High Quality) Acquire one Male and one Female ChocoCard. Color and Abilities can be inherited so be sure to get information about the parents' traits. (Someone who doesn't do any digging with Chocobos wouldn't want one or both Ability slots usurped by "Burrow" or "Bore.") Visit the Elvaan child, 'Finbarr' outside the Upper Jeuno Chocobo Stables.  Make Date Plans that increase your odds of getting a Chocobo you'll really like.  Cost is 5000 gil. Now you have a Honeymoon Ticket. Trade all three, (Male card, Female card and Honeymoon ticket) back to Finbarr to complete the Matchmaking Quest. Your egg will be ready for you to bring home tomorrow, real life time.

ISNM - (Rare Egg) If you have a character over level 60 and own the "Treasures of Aht Urhgan" expansion, you can obtain eggs of rare temperatures from Imperial Standing Notorious Monster (ISNM) battles. See "Shajaf" at F-8 in Aht Urhgan, Whitegate to trade in your Imperial Standing points for access to these fights. Don't ask this guy anything until you are willing to be relieved of at least 2000 Imperial Standing before you realize what is going on.

QUEST - (Free Option) Start the "Chocobo on the Loose" Quest with "Brutus" outside the Upper Jeuno Chocobo Stables. He's the guy you got your Chocobo License from, if you have one.  Don't worry about whether or not you should set his restless Chocobo free. You will be held hostage by this cut scene until you get the right answer or disconnect. Follow the runaway into La Theine Plateau. In the southeast corner of E-4, right against the mountain, you will find 'Chocobo Tracks.' Clicking on them begins another cut scene. Return to Brutus in Upper Jeuno. He will send you to San d'Oria to speak with Hantileon at I-11 inside the Chocobo Stables.  It is worth noting here that you may feel like you're getting the runaround from the Vana'diel Chocobo Society until they have finished having their fun with you. Once that's over you can return to Brutus for the last time to receive your handsome reward: a Chocobo Egg, ('a bit warm' version)

Q #2. O.K. got it! How do I make my egg grow into a Chocobo I can ride?

A. Trade your egg to a VCS Trainer in one of the three nations' Chocobo Stables to be raised there.

San d'Oria - "Hantileon"

Windurst - "Pulonono"

Bastok - "Zopago"

CONVENIENCE: You'll probably fare best by doing this in your Nation of Allegience. I found this choice optimal since I have all my Supplies Quests done and can Outpost Warp or use the "Pay Warp Taru" (Kaduru-Haiduru at G-10) from Aht Urhgan, Whitegate to get home to my ChocoChick quickly. Setting your Home Point in the Nation you want to raise your chick in would be another great option. If you cannot easily get to your ChocoBaby, you could possibly, (gasp) forget to do any parenting. Negligence of your new addition will result in one or more of the following: 1) loss of Chocobo's affection, 2) illness, 3) Chocobo loneliness and depression.  Any of these status abnormalities result in a decreased ability for your Chocobo's stats to rise. Notice: If your Chocobo reaches its 19th day in a neglected condition, he may revoke your right to raise him by running away.

MORE CONVENIENCE: Choose an opportune time to trade in your egg. Your Chocobo's energy will be refreshed at that time every real life day. It's nice to log on and have your ChocoBaby ready for your attention rather than waiting around in town for your Chocobo's day to change over. My advice? Trade your egg to the VCS trainer on your day off, about an hour before you will be able to log in on work/school days. As a side note, game updates often make your Chocobo's day turn over earlier or even jump ahead a day.

Q #3. Do I need to do anything before it hatches and how long does that take?

A. A great Chocobo needs a great start and that means building 'Affection'.

WATCHING OVER YOUR EGG:  This is the only option as far as 'Caring for your Chocobo' for three real life days.  You'll notice that watching over it several times each day will change the next days message to you.

Day 1 - "Your egg feels the tender warmth of your gaze."

Day 2 - "The chick inside the egg seems to want out."

Day 3 - "The chick inside the egg seems to want to meet you!"

Day 4 - Congratulations! Somebody loves ya! You now have a baby Chocobo. You can feed and walk him/her tomorrow.  Feel free to tell the trainer what you want happening in your absence through setting a 'Care Schedule.'  The plans you select will decide the stats your Chocobo builds.  Taking a walk around town builds strength and endurance. Listening to music builds discernment and receptivity. 

Happy Chocobo Raising!

Glossary

• Abilities: Chocobo abilities include, Auto Regen - increases the rate at which energy is restored, Burrow - scooping dig, seems to get more items, Bore - poking dig, seems to get better items, Gallop - increases speed, Canter - more efficient running but slower than Gallop, Treasure Finder - increases your chance of finding the digging spot in the 'Hot 'n' Cold' game.
• Chocobo egg: The Exclusive item required to begin raising a Chocobo in FFXI.
• ChocoCard: A medical certificate purchased from a VCS Trainer for 500 gil. It avails the holder rights to use the Chocobo named on the card for Matchmaking.
• Chocobo License: The key item quested at the Upper Jeuno Chocobo Stables from 'Brutus' at job level 20. It allows you to rent a Chocobo or ride your own.
• Date Plans: A Matchmaking process completed through 'Finbarr' at the Upper Jeuno Chocobo Stables. Different Date Plans increase your odds of inheriting specific traits. The plans are as follows: Jeuno Tour - Female's traits and Receptivity, Sport's Plan - Male's traits and Endurance, Gourmet Plan - Male chick, Hiking Plan - Female chick.
• Exclusive: An item that cannot be sold or mailed once it is in your possession, although it takes up one storage space.
• Honeymoon ticket: The item received after making Date Plans with Finbarr in Upper Jeuno.
• Hot 'n' Cold Game: A Chocobo treasure hunting game. Free to play but only available once each real life day. Can be a great gil maker.
• Key Item: An item acquired through a quest and required for other processes.  Does not require any storage space to obtain and is used automatically when needed.
• Nation of Allegiance: Your home country. Either the place your character began the game or paid gil to be relocated to. The country you receive Signet from and do Missions for.
• NPC: Non-player character. 
• Outpost Warp: (OP Warp) A convenient way to return to your Nation of Allegiance without having your Home Point set there. A job over level 20 can OP Warp from any outpost where a Supplies Quest has been successfully completed.(unless the area's level is too high for the job level you have equipped at the time.)
• Supplies Quest: A quest you can obtain by selecting it from the options given by the NPC officer who gives Signet in your Nation of Allegience. Choose a region your level can travel in safely to receive the key item, '(Region Area's Name) Supplies'. Talking to the NPC officer at the Outpost in that region will complete the quest and give you some Conquest Points.
• VCS Trainer: The NPC responsible for enacting the Care Schedule you designate for your Chocobo. Hantileon - San d'Oria, Pulonono - Windurst, Zopago - Bastok.
• VCS: Vana'diel Chocobo Society

More relevant Guides by this author can be found here.

This guide is intended for educational and commentary purposes and is therefore protected under "Fair Use" as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law. Final Fantasy XI is a trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. registered in the U.S. and other countries. The information contained within this guide is offered by a third party individual and is not endorsed, supported by or authorized by Square Enix Co., Ltd. All trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners. (c) 2002 - 2006 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD All rights reserved. FINAL FANTASY and VANA'DIEL are registered trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd.  SQUARE ENIX, PLAYONLINE and the PlayOnline Logo are trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd.

I LOVE THIS GAME.