Chocobo racing is an exciting competition at the Gold Saucer that makes use of specially trained chocobos. From improving their abilities through rigorous training to breeding retired chocobos for their traits, you can raise the champion chocobo you've always wanted.

Requirements

So You Think You Can Ride This Chocobo

• Level 15
• Central Shroud (X:20.4 Y:22.8)
• Katering
• Players must first complete the quest “So You Want to Be a Jockey."

Where to Participate

To acquire a racing chocobo, register your chocobo, and begin racing, players must first proceed to Chocobo Square by speaking with the lift operator Saethrith at the Entrance Square (X:4.4 Y:6.7).

Preparing for Chocobo Racing

How to 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 (X:20.4 Y:22.8).

How to Register Your Racing Chocobo

After acquiring your registration form, speak with the Race Chocobo Trainer NPC at Chocobo Square (X:6.0 Y:4.7) 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 Chocobo Square (X:6.1 Y:4.7) 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. It is also possible to enter races via the Duty Finder, providing that you have played through the chocobo race tutorial.
* Please note that you cannot register for duties when queuing to enter a race.
* When participating as a party via the Duty Finder, chocobo attributes will be synced to the lowest-rated chocobo.

* These conditions apply to Chocobo Races and Chocobo Races (Party Member).

Ratings

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.

Finishing a 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.

* The roulette does not grant additional MGP.
* You cannot rejoin a race in the event your connection is lost.
* Participation in Chocobo Races (Party Member) does not grant MGP or experience.

All race chocobos will carry their rider to the finish line. However, only a skilled jockey can guide his steed to victory.

Gamepad Controls

Keyboard & Mouse

• Accelerate/Decelerate

  W, S

• Steer Left/Right

  Q, E, A, D

• Jump

  Spacebar

Gamepad Mode

• Accelerate/Decelerate

  Left Stick Up and Down
  LB (L1) Button

• Steer Left/Right

  Left Stick Left and Right

• Jump

  Y(△) Button

Speed and Stamina

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.

When neither accelerating nor decelerating, the chocobo will gradually return to its normal running speed.

Magicked Panels

Scattered throughout the course are magicked panels which bestow various effects when triggered. Be mindful, however, that magicked panels can bestow both beneficial and detrimental effects. Should you choose to avoid one of these panels, you can either steer away from or jump over them.

Race 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	Instantly restores stamina while preventing 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.
	Graviball	Afflicts the forerunning chocobo with Heavy.
	Bacchus's Water	Sends the forerunning chocobo into a Frenzied state.
	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.
	Stamina Swapper	Interchanges your chocobo's stamina with that of a forerunning chocobo. Swap is made only if the forerunning chocobo has more stamina than yours.
	Spiderweb	Renders the chocobo running immediately behind you unable to use items.

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.

Chocobo Racing UI

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

• Position
• Stamina Gauge
• Race Item Notices

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

You can improve your race chocobo's performance in two ways:

Participating in Races

As you continue to enter races and your chocobo gains experience, its rank will increase, improving its attributes and occasionally granting a new ability. You will also gain entry to races in higher classes, and will have the option to retire your race chocobo after rank 40 to be used for covering.

Training

Should you wish to develop a given attribute, you can give your race chocobo a special feed. This feed can be crafted or purchased from the Tack & Feed Trader NPC in the Manderville Gold Saucer at Chocobo Square (X:5.9 Y:4.7).

Race 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 chocobos 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.

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.

Covering

If you choose to retire your race chocobo, you can arrange a covering with another chocobo to produce fledglings of a higher pedigree.

Before a covering can be arranged, players must complete the following quest:

Like Sire Like Fledgling

• Level 15
• The Gold Saucer, Chocobo Square (X:6.2 Y:4.7)
• Chocobokeep
• Players must first complete the quest "So You Think You Can Ride This Chocobo," and own a racing chocobo rank 40 or higher.

To arrange a coupling, you must be in possession of at least one retired chocobo registration form, which can be obtained by retiring a rank 40 or higher race chocobo. A covering can be arranged between two of your own retired chocobos, or between one retired chocobo and a breeding chocobo hired at the Manderville Gold Saucer. To retire your race chocobo, speak with the Race Chocobo Trainer NPC in the Manderville Gold Saucer at Chocobo square (X:6.0 Y:4.7).

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.

1. 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.

2. Arranging the Covering

When you have prepared the chocobos for covering, speak with Katering in the North Shroud at Moogle's Gift Mounts (X:20.4 Y:22.8). Please note that arranging a covering will incur a fee.

3. 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.

4. Collecting Your Fledgling

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

Entry Requirements

Challenge races will be available upon speaking with the race chocobo registrar in Chocobo Square (X:6.1 Y:4.7).
* Chocobo ratings must exceed a certain threshold to participate.

Rules

Special opponents will appear in each race. Challenges can only be cleared by placing higher than these special opponents.
* Players will be matched with other players and regular NPCs in addition to special opponents.

Special Racing Opponents

Special racing opponents will be denoted by a unique icon next to their name, as well as a different colored nameplate. Multiple special racing opponents may be present depending on the challenge selected. In such cases, players must place higher than all special racing opponents to clear the challenge.
* The color of their display names can be adjusted by selecting Engaged Enemies under the NPCs tab of Display Name Settings in the Character Configuration interface.

Participating

Speak with the race chocobo registrar in Chocobo Square (X:6.1 Y:4.7) and select your desired challenge race.
* Players cannot register for challenge races while in a party.

Challenge Races

Increasingly difficult challenges will be made available as players complete each race. Please note that your chocobo's rating must exceed a certain threshold to participate in each race.
Players will only receive a reward for first-time completion.