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A ton of content is coming in Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker, including new Beast Tribes such as the matanga. Every expansion of Final Fantasy 14 has hosted between three and five Beast Tribes with unique stories and daily quests that offer different rewards. However, matanga are not a new race, as the elephant people have been wandering enemies in the Azim Steppe since Stormblood.
In Endwalker, there will be friendlier variants, as well as possibly other Beast Tribes with their own importance. The matanga reveal has also made some fans theorize that they could connect to the main story in some manner. The particular tribe players will interact with are called the Arkasodara, and while players have not met friendly matanga before, the Encylopedia Eorzea does have a page that may shed some light on what to expect.
What The Encylopedia Eorzea Says About Matanga
According to the second Encylopedia Eorzea, matanga have never been well studied, but are assumed to come from the Near East. Despite their large size, they are fast enough to run around Eorzea at the speed of a galloping horse. Ordinary speech is difficult due to their huge vocal cords, which has created the misunderstanding that they are not intelligent. However, they communicate with each other through both words and foot stomps. Their voices are so deep, some of their words cannot be heard by non-matanga. In terms of hierarchy, every matanga tribe has a "grand regant" that commands the herd. Most else about how they are led is lost in translation.
The matanga has a history of being slaves to both the Garlean Empire and Near Eastern warlords. The Garleans do not deem matanga people, and warlords have fed them drugged hay before training them as slave soldiers. Those seen at the Azim Steppe escaped Garlean slavery. For reasons unknown, these matanga hate Au Ra, and this is what made them hostile enemies in the Azim Steppe since the player allies themselves with the various Au Ra tribes.
Outside of the Encyclopedia Eorzea, there are also instances of matanga within the MMO itself. There are the level 66 hostile matanga of the Azim Steppe, but also more. There is a wind-up matanga minion players can get as a drop from the Hidden Canals of Uznair. There is also another drop from the Hidden Canals of Unzair that is matanga related; a lamp that is a large housing item.
The Upcoming Beast Tribe
What is known about the Arkasodara is that they are indigenous to the isle of Thavanair and are interested in alchemy. They also helped found the city-state of Radz-at-Han with Au Ra and Hyur. All of this sets them apart from the matanga of the Azim Steppe, but knowing information from the Encylopedia Eorzea makes fans wonder how difficult it will be to communicate with the tribe. There could be a translator on-site, or the Arkasodara may just manage on their own.
Based on their clothing from the reveal, the Beast Tribe may offer Middle East-inspired rewards like mounts, housing items, minions, and gear. As for what their story will be, it is entirely up in the air. Possibilities based on what is already known could include a story of alchemy, freedom from slavery, or helping out at Radz-at-Han. Previous Beast Tribes stories have ranged from making a hot air balloon to building tanks, so the possibilities are truly open.
Final Fantasy 14 is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, and PS5.