Final Fantasy XIV (also known as 1.0) was a 2010 MMORPG released by Square Enix. Following negative reception from consumers, the characters and game systems were reused for the 2013 launch of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. While A Realm Reborn introduces some new characters as part of the relaunch, much of FFXIV's main cast originates from the legacy version.

Arriving in either Ul'dah, Limsa Lominsa, or Gridania depending on the player's choice, the Warrior of Light (Meteor Survivor) becomes embroiled in war with tribes and nations, as Eorzea's barbarian tribes begin hoarding elemental crystals to summon Primals, summoned avatars of their ancient gods, and the highly-advanced Garlean Empire launches attacks on the three city-states to put a forcible stop to the summoning of Primals. While moving to aid the Ala Mhigan Resistance, the
Imperial Legatus Gaius van Baelsar narrowly fails to slay the Warrior of Light, having decimated an Ala Mhigan detachment. In another confrontation with the empire, Nael van Darnus is encountered, who plots to put a permanent end to Eorzea's impurities by dropping the moon Dalamud. The legacy story ends with a clash against the Garlean army at Carteneau Flats, where Bahamut is unleashed from Dalamud, and Louisoix Leveilleur gives his life to seal the dragon and prevent it from devastating the land.

In-game, this ending sequence was accompanied by scripted events including Dalamud being plainly visible in the sky, and the game servers shutting down after a CG cutscene.

While this tag is implied by characters and species originating from the legacy version of Final Fantasy XIV, later forms of early characters (such as Thancred Waters in the Gunbreaker's "Bodyguard" armor) may warrant later expansions being tagged.