If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest trend, let us introduce you to Moo Deng, the lovable pygmy hippo calf from the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand. This adorable creature has taken the internet by storm and is now making waves in the world of the MMO Final Fantasy 14. Players are going crazy over the in-game hippo calf minion, driving prices to unprecedented levels.
A report from GamesRadar highlights a screenshot shared by user Cerulean, revealing a significant surge in prices for the hippo calf minion within Final Fantasy 14. Prices have skyrocketed from 17,400 gil in early September to nearly 300,000 gil by the end of the month.
Square Enix, the game’s developer, has joined in on the fun by sharing a gif featuring the hippo calf, reminiscent of the viral videos from the Khao Kheow Zoo showcasing Moo Deng’s charm.
The hippo calf made its debut in the game with the Endwalker expansion in 2021 and can be obtained as a loot drop at the end of the level 85 Vanaspati dungeon. However, due to its low drop rates, players are willing to pay top gil for this aquatic companion. Prior to Moo Deng’s surge in popularity, the average price for the minion was around 40,000 gil, varying based on the server.
It’s rare to see a minion from a previous expansion gaining such widespread attention, but it’s clear that players are eager to add Moo Deng to their collection. Expect to see an increase in dungeon runs in Vanaspati as players try to secure this sought-after minion before the next viral craze takes over.