Final Fantasy XIV generally runs smoothly, but occasional lag can occur, especially when interacting with retainers, NPCs, or using emotes. This guide explains potential causes and solutions.

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What Causes Lag in FFXIV During Retainer Interactions or Emoting?How to Resolve Lag Issues in FFXIV

What Causes Lag in FFXIV During Retainer Interactions or Emoting?

Lag in FFXIV, particularly during interactions with retainers or NPCs, or emote usage, can stem from several factors:

• High ping or unstable internet connection: A poor network connection directly impacts responsiveness.
• Server congestion or overload: Overloaded servers can cause delays in processing actions.
• Emote synchronization: Emotes require syncing animations across players in the same instance. Delays here can lead to lag, especially on crowded servers or with performance limitations. Lag during emoting often points to overloaded servers or a PC failing to meet minimum game requirements.

How to Resolve Lag Issues in FFXIV

Assuming your PC meets FFXIV's recommended specifications, troubleshooting lag involves these steps:

1. Verify internet stability: Ensure a stable and strong internet connection.
2. Check server proximity: High ping from playing on a geographically distant server (e.g., a North American server from Oceania) can cause lag. Consider transferring to a closer server if necessary. While playable with high ping, lag spikes are possible.
3. Account for server overload: Server overload, common after major patches or expansions, or during hacking attacks, can cause temporary lag. In such cases, patience is key; the issue will usually resolve itself.

This concludes our guide on resolving lag in FFXIV during retainer interactions or emote usage. For more FFXIV tips and information, including the Dawntrail patch schedule and our Echoes of Vana'diel Alliance Raid review, visit The Escapist.