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The Level Cap Playguide is a reference for story and battle content associated with each historical level range. It is intended for players who wish to follow the game's story in order and progress efficiently toward Item Level 119 while deliberately experiencing older content near its original level cap. Players wishing to preserve the original difficulty can delay Limit Break quests and move between expansions as their level range overlaps. The Progression Level Reference is a practical level-appropriate route through FFXI. The Expansion Order Level Reference describes the levels at which expansion storyline missions were originally intended for. The Battle Content Level Reference describes the levels at which battle content were originally intended for.

Progression Level Reference

A practical level-appropriate route through FFXI.

Approaches to Rhapsodies of Vana'diel

Rhapsodies of Vana'diel ties together the game's major storylines and encourages players to progress through each expansion in stages, however, chronologically, it was released well after the expansions and can be slightly confusing story-wise for first-time players. Meanwhile, some players may not want to grow so powerful as to one-shot every climactic storyline boss battle so early on in their experience. Its rewards include Experience Point bonuses, additional Trust capacity, earlier access to key features, reductions to certain content timers, and additional items sold by Curio Vendor Moogles. There are three ways to approach it:

Approach
Main Focus	Fastest progression toward Item Level 119 and endgame. Experience an introduction and highlights of each expansion. Full completion of the expansions is not required. Add-on scenarios are not required for progression. Rhapsodies of Vana'diel rewards are obtained as early as possible. See the New Player Leveling Guide.
Alongside Expansions	Complete the expansions in order alongside Rhapsodies of Vana'diel. Complete Rhapsodies in chunks after each expansion. Add-on scenarios may also be completed alongside the expansions. Rhapsodies rewards are obtained incrementally. See here for an expansion-order approach infographic.
Last	Complete the expansions in order, with Rhapsodies of Vana'diel serving as the finale. Rhapsodies can be experienced as a true conclusion to the game's story. Experience Point bonuses and other rewards are delayed, which helps maintain leveling. Even with this approach, there are many reasons to skip ahead to unlock new jobs, travel options, or for time-gated systems.

Benefits to Skipping Around

FFXI allows many systems to be started before they become directly relevant to the player's current level. Starting them early can allow time-gated currencies and progression to accumulate while focusing elsewhere.

• Many zones and side quests are not locked behind story progression. Players may encounter them naturally or may wish to complete them for their own sake.
• Later expansions provide equipment that can be used in earlier expansion content, sometimes with little or no additional story progression. This equipment can be substantially stronger than the equipment available when the older content was current. Players prioritizing efficient leveling can therefore skip much of the historical equipment progression.

At Lv 50, players stop gaining levels until the appropriate Limit Break quest is completed. Further Limit Break quests are required every five levels up to Lv 99. This creates an opportunity for players who want to experience older content near its historical level:

• Delay the next Limit Break when appropriate.
• Move between expansions whose historical level ranges overlap.
• Complete level-capped content before continuing to the next level range.

Note: Uncapped battlefields, including many mission battles, do not permit level synchronization down to another party member. All participants must therefore meet the relevant level themselves.

Lv 30 Job Unlocks

If a particular job is of interest, it can be worth progressing an expansion temporarily to unlock it through its requisite Job Quest. Players simply need to be Lv 30+, typically have a form of Sneak and Invisible (or Spectral Jig, or Silent Oil and Prism Powder, etc.), along with a mount, for traversing dangerous areas.

Expansion	Jobs	Requirements & Notes
	Ninja Samurai Dragoon	Requires: Kazham Airship Pass to travel to Kazham and Norg. Alternative: Progress Rhapsodies of Vana'diel through 1-1 to 1-5. Optional: Complete RoV 1-6 and 1-7 for an 80% teleport-cost reduction and two additional Trusts.
	Blue Mage Puppetmaster Corsair	Requires: Jeuno Fame 3, see Only the Best. Tenshodo Membership and The Road to Aht Urhgan quest. Alternative: Skip the fame requirement if gifted or by buying a Tenshodo Invite, or RoV 2-5 can skip the earlier steps. Optional: Complete Missions 1 to 3 to unlock Assault and Mog Locker. Azouph Isle Staging Point is the easiest staging point for Mission 2. Eventually collect all staging points, particularly for Blue Mage.
	Dancer Scholar	Requires: Interact with any Cavernous Maw in the Present to be sent back in time. Optional: Collect Survival Guides, Cavernous Maws, and Proto-Waypoints while visiting the three Shadowreign nations. At Lv 75, speak with a Voidwatch Officer to begin accumulating Voidstones.
	Rune Fencer Geomancer	Requires: Complete Seekers of Adoulin Missions 1-1 to 1-2. Optional: Complete Missions 1-3 to 1-5 and see Seekers Grind below.

Lv 30 Traverser Stones and Lv 75 Voidstones

Both of these WotG systems use individual timers, so beginning their accumulation early prevents them from becoming a bottleneck later.

• Starting at Lv 30, Traverser stones allow entry to Abyssea.
  • Complete The Truth Beckons to begin accumulating Traverser Stones.
• Starting at Lv 75, Voidstones allow entry to Voidwatch.
  • Speak with a Voidwatch Officer to begin accumulating Voidstones.

Lv 30 Seekers Grind: Imprimaturs, Fame, and Mog Garden

After Seekers of Adoulin Mission 1-5, Imprimaturs begin accumulating through the Task Delegator.

• Imprimaturs are used for Coalition Assignments.
• Coalitions can be accessed before Lv 99, good for undertaking assignments as a means of storing excess Imprimaturs.
• Some Seekers of Adoulin missions require a certain amount of Coalition Assignment progress.
• Accessible quests to build Adoulin Fame include:
  • It Sets My Heart Aflutter.
  • Western Waypoints, Ho!
  • Wes...Eastern Waypoints, Ho!
  • Completing the Mog Garden Quest Line will take Adoulin Fame from 0 to 4 by itself, simply by progressing in your garden once per Earth day.
• Reja Ygridhi offers rewards for completing Coalition Assignments.
  • The Golden shovel cordon and related progression can require extensive Adoulin quest and Coalition completion together with Mog Garden progress.
  • This progression can eventually open Directive Quests for useful rewards, including a powerful healer Trust, Ygnas, a HQ +1 version of the SoA finale reward, and required progress towards endgame Ergon Weapons for Rune Fencer and Geomancer.

Getting Started

• Complete the Tutorial Quest in your starting Nation to receive a Warp Ring and starting at Lv 5 begin Records of Eminence from the Main Menu → Quests → Objective List → Tutorials → Basics.
  • Grounds of Valor and Fields of Valor provide early leveling support with Field Support buffs and teleports, while Ambuscade and A.M.A.N. Trove are Lv 99 content.
  • Unlock Trusts and join a Unity faction.
• Establish the following Records of Eminence habits:
  • Combat (Region) and Daily objectives to earn Sparks of Eminence for equipment.
    • If desired, exchange Sparks for any equipment and sell them to NPCs for gil.
  • Unity objectives to earn Unity Accolades.
    • If desired, exchange Accolades for Prize Powder and sell them to NPCs for gil.
  • Monthly objectives to earn Deeds of Heroism, which can eventually be exchanged for rewards including a powerful healer Trust, Monberaux.
• Sparks of Eminence vendors should provide adequate leveling equipment, but additional gear can be obtained through:
  • The Auction House.
  • Conquest Points, particularly the Warp Ring incase you haven't completed the Tutorial Quest.
  • Notorious Monsters, such as Leaping Lizzy and Valkurm Emperor.
• Join a recruiting Linkshell by speaking with a Linkshell Concierge.
  • Although partying is no longer a readily available aspect of the early game, joining a Linkshell is great way to meet and chat with other players who can offer help or advice.

Lv 1–30

• Progress through Rhapsodies of Vana'diel 1-1 through 1-6.
  • This provides an 80% reduction in teleport costs, making it worthwhile even when following the story out of order.
  • Unlocks Subjobs with Gilgamesh's introductory letter after RoV 1-4, or otherwise from either Elder Memories or The Old Lady quests.
• Travel to Jeuno.
  • Chocobo license and Mount quests can be completed at Lv 20.
  • Race Specific Equipment from The Goblin Tailor quest can be pursued. Chest Keys can be purchased from a Curio Moogle after RoV 1-6 or dropped from mobs in their respective dungeons. Otherwise, RSE becomes purchasable from the Curio Moogle after RoV 1-11.
  • The Kazham Airship Pass can be obtained at Lv 20. Coffer Keys can be purchased from a Curio Moogle after RoV 1-11 or dropped from mobs in their respective dungeons.
  • Pick up the Nexus Cape inside Tenshodo Headquarters in Lower Jeuno with Tenshodo Membership.
  • Traverser stones can begin accumulating at Lv 30.
• Unlock Advanced Jobs at Lv 30.
• Battle content includes BCNMs, Eco-Warrior, Expeditionary Force, Garrison, and PvP Ballista and Brenner.
• Consider Nation Ranks 1 through 3 while using a Lv 1 subjob or alternate job.
  • If in Windurst, the Star Onion Brigade quests can be completed alongside nation missions.
  • Nation Mission 2-3 was historically intended for approximately Lv 25.
• Chains of Promathia can begin at Lv 30. It can be completed on an alternate job alongside the main missions, continuing through Lv 75 or after Rise of the Zilart.
• Assault can also be unlocked early after completing The Road to Aht Urhgan. Coffer Keys can be purchased from a Curio Moogle after RoV 1-11 or dropped from mobs in their respective dungeons.
• Travel to the Wings of the Goddess cities if desired, although this reveals story locations before their main story is reached.
• Seekers of Adoulin progression can also be started early, including the Mog Garden, for its time-gated systems.

Lv 30–50

• Nation Rank 4 is appropriate around Lv 30–40.
• Nation Rank 5 is appropriate around Lv 40–50.
• Artifact Weapon quests become available at Lv 40.
• BCNMs, Expeditionary Force, Garrison, and PvP Ballista and Brenner have additional level ranges.
• Assault belongs to Treasures of Aht Urhgan, although some Assault missions can be started at Lv 50.

Lv 50–60

• Nation Rank 6 and 7 can be completed around Lv 60.
• Limit Break quests must be completed at Lv 50 and every five levels thereafter to continue leveling.
• Artifact Armor quests award armor at two-level intervals from Lv 52–60.
• Lv 60 versions of BCNMs, Assault, Garrison, PvP Ballista and Brenner are available.
• Avatar Quests can be fought at Lv 60 if desired.
• Lv 50–55 battle content includes the historically nicknamed "Baby" HNMs around Jeuno.

Lv 60–75

• Nation Rank 8 and Rise of the Zilart Missions 1 through 7 fit approximately into Lv 60–65.
• Complete Rise of the Zilart Missions 8 through 15 around Lv 65–70.
• Nation Rank 9 and 10 around Lv 70-75.
• At Lv 75, speak with a Voidwatch Officer to begin accumulating Voidstones.
• Rise of the Zilart adds KCNMs, Sky, Dynamis, new HNMs, and Relic Armor.
• Uncapped Assault, Expeditionary Force, and PvP Ballista and Brenner can be attempted at Lv 75.
• Avatar Quests can also be fought at Lv 75.

Lv 30–75 Redux: Chains of Promathia

Chains of Promathia overlaps the other expansion storylines and is particularly well suited to being completed on a subjob or alternate job. It added:

• ENMs.
• Sea.
• Limbus (Original no longer available, now IL119+).
• The Wyrm HNMs: Jormungand, Tiamat, Vrtra.

Expansion	Level Range	Mission
	Lv 30	Chapter 1
	Lv 40	Chapter 2 and 3
	Lv 50	Chapter 4 and 5
	Lv 60	Chapter 6
	Lv 70	Chapter 7
	Lv 75	Chapter 8
		Epilogue to RoZ and CoP

Lv 75

Treasures of Aht Urhgan

• Treasures of Aht Urhgan was released during the Lv 75 cap. It added:
  • ISNMs.
  • Assault.
  • Besieged.
  • Zeni.
  • Einherjar.
  • Salvage.
  • Nyzul Isle Investigation.
  • Treasures of Aht Urhgan HNMs.
  • Near Eastern Beastmen Overlords.

Wings of the Goddess

The early Lv 75 portion of Wings of the Goddess covers Missions 1 through 38. It added:

• ANNMs.
• Campaign Ops.
• Campaign Battle.
• Stronghold Invasions.
• Voidwalkers.
• Walk of Echoes.
• Moblin Maze Mongers.
• Shadowreign Beastmen Overlords.

Add-on Scenarios

The three non-Abyssea add-on scenarios were released during WoTG, however although their opening content begins below Lv 75, their level requirements increases quickly.

• A Crystalline Prophecy
• A Moogle Kupo d'Etat
• A Shantotto Ascension

Lv 75–99

Abyssea accompanies the increases to the level cap from Lv 75 through Lv 90. Wings of the Goddess continues through its remaining missions during this period.

Expansion			Level Range	Mission
			Lv 75–80	Nation Quests 11 and 12 Vision of Abyssea Walk of Echoes 1 to 7
			Lv 80-85	Missions 39 to 44 Scars of Abyssea Empyrean Armor
			Lv 85-90	Missions 45 to Epilogue Heroes of Abyssea
Post Abyssea Content			Lv 90	KCNMs Voidwatch Chapter I
			Lv 95	HKCNMs Walk of Echoes 8 to 11 Voidwatch Chapter II
			Lv 99	SKCNMs Walk of Echoes 12+ Voidwatch Chapter III+
			Lv 99	All Missions

Lv 99 and Beyond

At Lv 99, the focus shifts to Item Level 119 and modern endgame progression from Seekers of Adoulin going forward. Rhapsodies of Vana'diel can be completed alongside Seekers of Adoulin, if not already pursued earlier. See the Fresh 99 Guide and the Endgame Progression Guide for a full list of Lv 99+ content.

Expansion Order Level Reference

This table describes the levels at which expansion storyline missions were originally intended for.

Expansion	Level Range	Mission
	Lv 10	Rank 1
	Lv 25	Rank 2
	Lv 30	Rank 3
	Lv 40	Rank 4
	Lv 50	Rank 5
	Lv 60	Rank 6 and 7
	Lv 65	Rank 8
	Lv 70	Rank 9
	Lv 70-75	Rank 10
	Lv 60	Missions 1 to 3
	Lv 65	Missions 4 to 7
	Lv 65-70	Missions 8 to 15
	Lv 70-75	Missions 16 and 17
	Lv 30	Chapter 1
	Lv 40	Chapter 2 and 3
	Lv 50	Chapter 4 and 5
	Lv 60	Chapter 6
	Lv 70	Chapter 7
	Lv 75	Chapter 8
		Epilogue to RoZ and CoP
		All Missions
		Missions 1 to 38
	Lv 30-75	All Missions
	Lv 40-75	All Missions
	Lv 50-75	All Missions
	Lv 75-80	Nation Quests 11 and 12 Vision of Abyssea
	Lv 80-85	Missions 39 to 44 Scars of Abyssea
	Lv 85-90	Missions 45 to Epilogue Heroes of Abyssea
	Lv 99	All Missions
	Occurs Roughly After:	Chapter 1-1 to 1-6
		Chapter 1-7 to 1-11
		Chapter 1-12 to 1-18
		Chapter 2-1 to 2-6
		Chapter 2-7 to 2-13
		Chapter 2-14 to 2-41
		Chapter 3 to Epilogue
	Lv 99	All Missions

Battle Content Level Reference

These tables describe the levels at which battle content were originally intended for.

Lv 20–60+

Level	Eco-Warrior	BCNMs	Expeditionary Force	Avatar Quests	ENM	Garrison	Assault	Ballista & Brenner
Players	1	1-3/6	3-18	1-6	1–6	1-18	1–6	Up to 72
20		✓				✓
25	✓
30		✓	✓		✓	✓		✓
40		✓	✓		✓	✓		✓
50		✓	✓		✓	✓	✓	✓
60		✓		⚠✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
70			⚠✓				✓
75					✓	✓		⚠✓
Expansion								PvP

✓ = Intended level.
⚠ = Uncapped content. Attempt before the relevant Limit Break, if desired.

Lv 60–75+

Content	Expansion	Players	Lv 60	Lv 70	Lv 75
Battlefields
KSNMs		1-6/18			⚠✓
Divine Might		1-18			⚠✓
ISNMs		1-6	✓		⚠✓
ANNMs		1–18	✓	✓	⚠✓
Offense / Defense
Besieged (May scale up to IL119+)		1–18+			⚠
Campaign Ops		1–18+			⚠✓
Campaign Battle		1–18+			⚠✓
Notorious Monster Systems
Sky		1-18+			⚠✓
Sea		1-18+			⚠✓
Zeni		1-18+			⚠✓
Stronghold Invasion		1-18			⚠✓
Voidwalker		1-18			⚠✓
Large-Scale / Zone Content
Dynamis		1–18			⚠✓
Limbus (Original no longer available, now IL119+)		1-18			⚠
Einherjar		1–36			⚠✓
Salvage		1–18			⚠✓
Nyzul Isle Investigation		1-6			⚠✓
Moblin Maze Mongers		1-6			⚠✓

✓ = Intended level.
⚠ = Uncapped content. Attempt before the relevant Limit Break, if desired.

Lv 50–75 HNMs

High Notorious Monsters are particularly difficult Notorious Monsters that historically required a full party or entire alliance(s) to defeat. At Item Level 119, they are soloable.

• HNMs are overworld NMs and therefore generally uncapped.
  • For FFXIV players, HNMs are broadly analogous to S- and SS-rank Hunts.
• Some HNMs respawn after a window of 21 or more hours up to several Earth days, while others require a specific item or pop condition.
  • See the Notorious Monster Systems table above for systems containing elaborate pop HNMs.
• Some were designed for alliances, grant unique titles, have rage timers, and drop (historically) desirable equipment.

Note: Level information is included as a reference and should not be treated as a difficulty recommendation.

Expansion	HNM	Party/Alliance Level Range
	King Arthro Serket Roc Simurgh Lumber Jack	Lv 50-60
	Overlord Bakgodek Tzee Xicu the Manifest Za'Dha Adamantking	Lv 70-75
	Capricious Cassie Lord of Onzozo Cemetery Cherry Voluptuous Vivian King Vinegarroon Cactrot Rapido	Lv 65-70
	Adamantoise, Aspidochelone Behemoth, King Behemoth Fafnir, Nidhogg	Lv 70-75
	Bahamut Jormungand Tiamat Vrtra Xolotl	Lv 70-75
	Cerberus Hydra Khimaira	Lv 75
	Gurfurlur the Menacing Medusa Gulool Ja Ja
	Sandworm Dark Ixion Zirnitra	Lv 75+

Lv 80–99

Expansion	Content	Players	Lv 80	Lv 90	Lv 95	Lv 99
	Salvage (Level 99)	1-18				⚠✓
	Nyzul Isle Uncharted Area Survey	1-6				⚠✓
	Walk of Echoes	1–36	⚠✓ Tiers 1–7		⚠✓ Tiers 8–11	⚠✓ Tiers 12+
	KSNMs	1–3/6		⚠✓ Kindred	⚠✓ High Kindred	⚠✓ Sacred Kindred
	Voidwatch	1–18		⚠✓ Chapter I	⚠✓ Chapter II	⚠✓ Chapter III+
	Meeble Burrows	1–6				⚠✓

✓ = Intended level.
⚠ = Uncapped content. Attempt before the relevant Limit Break, if desired.