Chocobo Racing

Chocobo Racing is an activity released with the Gold Saucer in patch 2.51. During this activity players act as breeders, trainers and jockeys of their chocobos. Players can enter their well-bred and carefully trained chocobos into races to increase their ranks and win Manderville Gold Saucer Points.

Note that the Chocobo you use in Chocobo Racing is NOT your companion/mount chocobo.

Unlock

Players must complete the level 15 questline starting with So You Want to Be a Jockey. Players can start the quest by talking to Race Chocobo Registrar in Gold Saucer (x6,y4). Players must have completed It Could Happen to You previously.

Levels

Rank

As Chocobo earns EXP from racing, it will increase in Rank. Every time its rank increases, it earns 5? points in its stats. The stat points are distributed randomly and automatically. It also earns a feeding opportunity. It allows the player to feed the chocobo and increase one of its stats by 1 - 3 points depending on its feed. Grade 1 Feed increases 1 points, Grade 2 increases 2 while Grade 3 increases 3 points.

• For example a Chocobo fed with Grade 2 Feed - Speed Blend will increase its Maximum Speed by 2 points.

At Rank 10 your chocobo earns a random ability.

At Rank 40 you can retire your Chocobo and use it for Covering (breeding).

Currently the max rank is 50. After that your chocobo will no longer earn EXP or rank up.

Rating

Rating is how strong your chocobo is. It is the average number of your 5 stats. (Maximum Speed + Acceleration + Endurance + Stamina + Cunning) / 5.

It determines what type of races your chocobo can enter. Maiden Class is for Rating 1 - 20, R-40 Class is for Rating 1 - 40, R-60 requires Rating 41 - 60 and R-80 requires Rating 41 - 80. Your chocobo will earn far greater exp and slightly more MGP in higher tier races.

Stats and Abilities

Stats

Stat	Effect
Maximum Speed	Affects how quickly your chocobo can run.
Acceleration	Affects how quickly your chocobo can attain maximum speed.
Endurance	Affects how long your chocobo can run before becoming exhausted.
Stamina	Affects how quickly your chocobo’s stamina bar drains.
Cunning	Affects how effectively your chocobo can navigate a course without slowing down.

Abilities

Ability	Effect
Choco Dash	???
Speedy Recovery	???

You chocobo will learn an ability at Rank 10. You can force your chocobo to unlearn its ability by using Lethe Water purchased from Track & Feed Trader for 800 MGP. On the next Rank increase your Chocobo will randomly learn a new ability.

Feeds

Chocobo feed can be used to increase its stats. They can be crafted by culinarian or purchased from the Tack & Feed Trader NPC in the Manderville Gold Saucer at the Chocobo Square (x6,y4).

Item	Icon	Effect	Acquired By
Grade 1 Feed - Acceleration Blend		Acceleration +1	????
Grade 1 Feed - Balance Blend		???	????
Grade 1 Feed - Endurance Blend		Endurance +1	????
Grade 1 Feed - Speed Blend		Maximum Speed +1	????
Grade 1 Feed - Stamina Blend		Stamina +1	????
Grade 2 Feed - Acceleration Blend		Acceleration +2	????
Grade 2 Feed - Balance Blend		???	????
Grade 2 Feed - Endurance Blend		Endurance +2	????
Grade 2 Feed - Special Acceleration Blend		Acceleration +2?	????
Grade 2 Feed - Special Balance Blend		???	????
Grade 2 Feed - Special Endurance Blend		Endurance +2?	????
Grade 2 Feed - Special Speed Blend		Maximum Speed +2?	????
Grade 2 Feed - Special Stamina Blend		Stamina +2?	????
Grade 2 Feed - Speed Blend		Maximum Speed +2	????
Grade 2 Feed - Stamina Blend		Stamina +2	????
Grade 3 Feed - Special Acceleration Blend		Acceleration +3	????
Grade 3 Feed - Special Balance Blend		???	????
Grade 3 Feed - Special Endurance Blend		Endurance +3	????
Grade 3 Feed - Special Speed Blend		Maximum Speed +3	????
Grade 3 Feed - Special Stamina Blend		Stamina +3	????

Racing

Up to 8 players and their chocobos can enter into a race, allowing you to enter a race as a full party.

During the race, your chocobo will run alone the course automatically. Players can increase the speed of their chocobos by spending stamina. Stamina refills overtime when it is not in use. You can steer your chocobo left or right but they have slow turn speed. You want to steer your chocobo into speed boosts and out of speed decreases. When you pick up an item, you will be able to use it from your hotbar.

Your chocobos will have ratings based on their stats and abilities. As the rating increase, you'll be able to race your chocobo in higher classes but become ineligible to race in lower classes.

• Note that you cannot bet on races!

Accessing Chocobo Square

To acquire a racing chocobo, register your chocobo, and begin racing, players must first proceed to the Chocobo Square by speaking with the lift operator Saethrith at the Entrance Square of Gold Saucer (x4,y6).

Preparing for Chocobo Racing

Obtain a Registration Form

After completing the prerequisite quest, players can register their racing chocobo. Over the course of the quest, players will receive either Fledgling Chocobo Registration G1-M or Fledgling Chocobo Registration G1-F depending on the preferred gender of their chocobo.

• In the event you accidentally discard your registration form, or wish to acquire a new racing chocobo, a new registration form can be purchased from the Feathertrader NPC at Bentbranch Meadows in Central Shroud (x20,y22).

Register Your Racing Chocobo

After acquiring your registration form, speak with the Race Chocobo Trainer NPC at the Chocobo Square (x6,y4) to complete registration for your chocobo and give it a name.

• A fixed fee in gil is required for each name change.

How to Enter a Race

To enter a race, speak with the Race Chocobo Registrar NPC at the Chocobo Square (x6,y4) to select from the races available at your rating. Players who wish to practice the basics of chocobo racing can repeat the training course as many times as desired.

• Please note that you cannot register for duties when queuing to enter a race.

As you continue to enter races and your chocobo gains experience, it will grow stronger, and its rating will increase. A higher rating will earn you entry to races in higher classes. By the same token, however, your chocobo will become barred from participating in races in a lower class.

To view your race chocobo’s rating, select Character from the main menu, followed by Gold Saucer, then select Chocobo from within the interface.

Controls

Steering

To steer your chocobo left and right, press the following buttons or keys:

Steer Left

• A (Move Left)
• Q (Strafe Left)
• Left Analog Stick

Steer Right

• D (Move Right)
• E (Strafe Right)
• Left Analog Stick

Speed and Stamina

To accelerate, press any of the following buttons or keys:

• W (Move Forward)
• LB (L1) Button
• Left Analog Stick Up

Be warned, however, that accelerating increases the rate at which your chocobo’s stamina gauge depletes. If you run out of stamina, your speed will drop, and you will be unable to accelerate for the remainder of the race.

Magicked Panels

Magicked Panels have beneficial and detrimental effects. The green and blue ones are beneficial while the red and pink ones are detrimental.

Racing Items

In addition to magicked panels, you may come across treasure coffers containing race items. Race items will be added to your hotbar automatically. While some offer beneficial effects for you and your chocobo, others can be used to hinder your opponents.

Item	Effect
Choco Potion	Instantly restores stamina by 10%.
Stamina Tablet	Prevents stamina reduction for 10 seconds.
Sprint Shoes	Summons a quick burst of speed.
Choco Aether	Allows a previously used race ability to be executed again.
Bacchus's Water	Sends the forerunning chocobo into a Frenzied state.
Graviball	Inflicts the forerunning chocobo with Heavy.
Briar Caltrop	Surrounds your chocobo with a ring of thorns which will sap the stamina of any chocobos that enter.
Hero Tonic	Invigorates your chocobo for 15 seconds, increasing its overall performance while nullifying any enfeeblements.
Choco Meteor	Summons a meteor from the heavens to wreak havoc on all other chocobos.

After acquiring an item, you can activate it through your hotbar.

Weather Effects

Chocobo races are held outdoors, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions. However, certain chocobos can turn this to their advantage. For instance, some chocobos perform well under cloudless skies, while others thrive in storms. Players can receive a number of beneficial effects when racing in their birds’ preferred conditions.

Completing the Race

A race will conclude when all participants have crossed the finish line, or 30 seconds after the winner is decided. The results will be determined at this time, with MGP and experience points awarded based on your performance. Furthermore, among those who finished 2nd to 7th, one person will be selected via roulette to receive bonus experience points.

Racing UI

The following unique UI elements will be displayed during chocobo races.

• Position in Race, top left corner by default
• Stamina Gauge, center bottom of the screen by default
• Race Item Notices, bottom right corner by default

These UI elements will be displayed in place of the currently existing UI elements:

• Party List --> Position in Race
• Parameter Bar --> Stamina Bar
• Notices --> Race Item Notices

Covering

Retired racing chocobos can breed with other chocobos of opposite sex. Their offspring will inherit the traits gained through the ranks of the parents. The breeding process allows the player to raise stronger chocobos.

Only chocobos that are at least rank 40 can retire and become breeders. You want to retire chocobos both both genders, male and female, in order to breed.

You can also breed with pre-made chocobos from Gold Saucer in exchange for Manderville Gold Saucer Points.

• In the future Square Enix planned to allow you to breed with other players' chocobos.

Unlock

To unlock Covering, players must complete the quest Like Sire Like Fledgling. They can start the quest by speaking to Chocobokeep in Chocobo Square (x6,y4) in Gold Saucer. Players must have completed the So You Think You Can Ride This Chocobo quest and has a rank 40 or higher Chocobo.

When retiring your race chocobo, you will be given the opportunity to offer parting words to your chocobo, praising one of its two abilities. The ability praised will remain as its hereditary ability to be passed down through covering.

• Please note that a race chocobo cannot be re-registered once retired.

Preparing Chocobos for the Covering

Both a male and female chocobo are required when arranging a covering. Furthermore, only one of the pair may be a breeding chocobo from the Manderville Gold Saucer.

Arranging the Covering

When you have prepared the chocobos for covering, speak with Katering in the North Shroud at Moogle’s Gift Mounts (X:20 Y:22). Please note that arranging a covering will incur a fee.

Receiving a Proof of Covering

Upon payment, Katering will take the two chocobos into her care and you will receive a Proof of Covering, which indicates when you can retrieve your fledgling chocobo. Speak with her again at the appointed time to receive your new racing chocobo.

• The fledging chocobo will inherit its color from one of its parents.

Collecting Your Fledgling

After the appointed time, speak with Katering to exchange the Proof of Covering for your fledgling.

Abilities

Race chocobos can possess two types of abilities: hereditary and acquired abilities, and are allowed one of each. Hereditary abilities are inherited by the offspring of chocobo used in covering, while acquired abilities are learned as your bird increases in rank, and via training manuals. Certain abilities are always active during the race, while others must be used at the rider’s discretion.

• Manually activated abilities may only be used once per race.

List of Abilities

Abilities Learned from Rank

From rank 10 onward, race chocobos that have yet to learn an acquired ability may do so at random upon gaining in rank.

Abilities Learned from Training

To teach your race chocobo a specific ability, players can use training manuals purchased with MGP.

Hereditary Abilities

A race chocobo acquired through covering will inherit one ability from its parents.

Unlearning Race Abilities

To unlearn a race ability, players must first purchase a bottle of lethe water, then speak with the Race Chocobo Trainer NPC in the Manderville Gold Saucer at the Chocobo Square (x6,y4). Please note, however, that only acquired abilities can be unlearned.