Quickstart 1-119 Guide

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Quick Start Header.png

Another crappy guide by Spicyryan of Asura, formerly Pandemonium.


Perhaps you already read the Returning to Vana'diel guide and perhaps even the official Aventuring Primer, but still don't know what in the wild world of sports you are doing. So how about a guide that gets right to the heart of advice players are looking for?

This guide will skip a lot of the fluff (less jokes, o~h no~). No, it won't tell you what to do with your Adventurer Cpn. icon.png Adventurer Coupon, throw it on the ground (seriously).

A lot of this will also be linking to solid resources that exist. For example, "here is the gold world pass page" rather than explain everything about it to you. This guide will rehash things that subjectively need to be, and point you in the direction to answers otherwise.

Forum Discussion

Here is the thread for any questions or comments you may have, come and post.

Before You Start

FAQ

A: We don't use those mentally defective terms here. It is a Character and a Linkshell.
  • Q: What server should I join?
A: Asura. That being said, servers are really what you make of them. Ignore any preconceived notions or rumors. Asura has the best population in these quieter times, and therefore the best economy.
  • Q: I want to play on a small server, which should I join.
A: Just pick one at random then and don't play with people. Fine, Carbuncle is rumored to be as dead as dreams.
  • Q: I just want to play solo for the story can I?
A: Hey, the first real question. Yes, you certainly can do either of those things. I will make certain suggestions about completing the story throughout this.
  • Q: Can I get anything done without spending much time on the game.
A: Yes, the game is more casual than it has ever been and a lot of grind was removed.
  • Q: Do I have to read stuff and figure things out on my own?
A: Yes, you do. If you are spoiled by modern games that hold your hand and mark everything for you then you are out of luck. Make sure to check the Guides section.
  • Q: Is there a free trial?
A: Yes, 14 restrictive days, which is plenty to decide. NA Trial. EU Trial.
  • Q: How do I transfer my trial account over after the trial is over?
A: Buy the game, click here, and select "Add Service Account". Put in your codes, and you should be good.
  • Q: Why is the game updating so slow? I want to play!
A: Back in the early 2000s when 56k was still a thing to consider. Comparable amounts of bandwidth were much costlier to companies than today. So, the process is a single-session FTP transfer that opens and closes the connection for each file. This is also slowed if PO viewer is in the background instead of the active window. So the soundest thing I can suggest to anyone is to plan ahead. When you want to play this game start the update before bed/work, and come back later when it is done.
  • Q: Is there a BG Discord?
A Yes, there is! Come and join us.
  • Q: What is Windower, should I use it?
A: Yes you should. It is a third party launcher for the game with many useful addons and enhancements. Most notably "Gearswap" which I recommend you look into.
  • Q: What job should I play?
A: While not everything is equal, you may succeed at any job in this game with the effort and know-how. No content is so hard that you must bring the very best jobs to it unless you are carrying ill-prepared people. The community often gives certain things a parroted stigma, but honestly the "worst" of jobs easily can be the best of them in the right hands and/or situations. That is a good thing about FFXI.
  • Q:What jobs are popular in endgame?
A: While certain fights may have gimicks that welcome a certain job or shun another there are a general popular group. While this changes, the popular endgame jobs are:
Now this doesn't mean certain groups don't just use whatever they want or even just use Rangers to shoot things dead. It is just a general list, and anything not on it isn't a bad job. Keep in mind that endgame shells have their pick of the liter, and you will need to stand out (with multiple jobs). Otherwise just join a Linkshell (LS) where you can team up to progress and join an "endgame/event" shell later.
A: Players shout for this for a few reasons. Generally it is because they don't want a lesser experienced or weaker job. Often times though it is also because they don't really have a damn clue what they are really doing. If someone is shouting for Easy or even Normal difficulty Ambuscade for example, and is asking for REAM weapons. Then there is a high chance that they are retarded. You don't need to go out of your way to make these weapons for most content in the game.
Relics weapons are easy enough to make, and eventually Aeonics will be the easiest for a veteran player. While Empyrean, Ergon, and Mythic weapons are more troublesome or expensive.
  • Q: Will this guide answer everything?
A: No, it is an informal and informative series of advice, tips, and an outline from 1 to 119. Discussing how to gear your job or play it, what is the best way to make money, or every event in the game is not the goal here.

Gold World Pass

Gold World Passes are invites from existing players in the game. You put in a code provided by an existing player and then an NPC gives you some free and useful stuff. It is detailed on that page, but don't get hung up on this if you don't have one lined up beforehand.

  • You can request a Gold World Pass sponsor Here.

Race and Nations

Pick any race you want for your character. It really doesn't matter at all and is mostly aesthetic. Back in 2014 SE reduced the HP disparity between the races and in an ilvl equipment world and stats differences are entirely negligible.

As far as nations that also doesn't matter much. You get a barely useful level 1 ring for choosing the nation affiliated with your race. The goal should eventually be to do the Missions in all three nations though.
Change your national affiliation at just about any time via an Allegiance Changer NPC.

Nation

Description

Ring

Bastok
Bastok-Flag.jpg
Industrial and technological city inside a rocky, mountainous, and desert-like region.

Home to the Hume and Galkan population as well as Cid and his big teeth.

Bastokan Ring description.png
San d'Oria
San d'Oria Flag.jpg
Walled city and castle overseen by a monarchy. The surrounding area is a lush green forest.

Home to the proud (snobby) Elvaan population. Facilities are arguably the most conveniently placed of the three towns.

San d'Orian Ring description.png
Windurst
Windurst-Flag.jpg
Expansive city built within the greens of nature and around Heavens Tower, a giant and magical tree. Windurst is the birthplace of magic and resides in a region of grasslands.

Home to the Tarutaru and Mithran populations as well as the famous magician and rhyme artist, Shantotto.

Windurstian Ring description.png

Levels 1-5

Goals:
  • Configure Settings
  • In your menu → Config.
  • Home Points and Survival Guides
  • Touch any you see to unlock them for teleportation.
  • Level Up
  • To level 5 right outside
  • Join a Linkshell
  • Records of Eminence
  • Start completing RoE objectives.

After the opening cutscene you will find yourself in one of a few random spots somewhere in your chosen city. Roam around and acquaint yourself with the controls and your surroundings.
When you are ready open your map or type /map.

Pro Tip: Selecting markers while inside your map and toggling left or right will allow you to see markers such as party members (blue), set your own markers (red), or marked items via NPCs (green). You may also select widescan and see NPCs in the area around you if you are looking for one.
Before anything else though change some settings really quick in your Menu → Config:
  • Gameplay
    • Autotarget on - Automatically targets an aggressive monster you are facing after defeating a previous one. Turn this off situationally.
  • Chat Filters
    • Turn Say ~ Shout to the green "Hold".
Anything that ends in "Others" or "NPC" near the middle/end of the list, turn on.
  • Windows
    • This allows you to split your log in two and you should do that so mess around with it.
  • Misc 2
    • Background Aspect Ratio, match your screen to the game. If you are on a modern monitor it is 16:9.
Old square ones (or if you are playing in a smaller window) are 4:3.
  • Misc 3
    • Turn Party Icon Display and Timer Display on. Optionally, Area Dispaly for area radius (AoE) for abilities and spells.
  • Mouse/Cam
    • Screen edge panning off
  • Global
    • Chat language filter and Auto disconnect off.
Pro Tip: If you are ever stuck walking, hit the / on the numpad or the Z key if you are in compact keyboard mode (Misc 2 setting).
Linkshell Concierge.jpg

Make your way to any of the following exits: Bastok Markets (E-11), Southern San d'Oria (G-10), Windurst Woods (J-10) so we can get started.
Use either your map or the position next to your clock (bottom left) to find where you are on the map. If you don't see this type /clock which toggles the visibility of it.

Pro Tip: Select any blue floating crystal Home Points that you find. You may warp between any you have previously selected. These are visible on your map, and ones that blink have yet to be obtained.

On the way to one of the exits you will run into a Linkshell Concierge. These hold linkshells and you can take one out per game day. Each NPC has a different stock to hold and it is cleared out after any maintenance. Start trying them out so you can meet people, get in a group, ask questions, etc.
That or /yell something like: NO WIFE! NO KID! NO HOME! HEEEEEELLLLPP MEEEEEE PLEASE! 1,999k CAN I HAVE IT?!" or you know, "new and need a linkshell, {Help me out!} {Please assist}."
Don't get discouraged by shouts, some people just play this game in order to treat it like an AoL chat room. If you are on the sensitive side you can always /blist add Playername.

Once you reach an exit grab Signet from one of the NPCs with a title at the end of the name near the exit (I.M., T.K., or W.W.). Then we will go over your new routines.
Signet being one of those routines. Regions in this game have a buff like Signet. They are not all the same, but all you need to know is it allows you to collect crystals from monsters in nation controlled regions.
Since inventory is tight, sell these crystals at an Auction House (AH) or in an Ephemeral Moogle. Moogles all share the same inventory.

Speaking of inventory, read over Inventory 101.

Records of Eminence

Or RoE as it is known will be your bread and butter. It will provide you with free exp, occasionally an item (depending on objective), a currency named Sparks, etc.
Sparks are the most important as they provide you with easy access to equipment and money via selling said equipment to the NPC. All ordinary equipment that you can buy with sparks resells for the same ratio as the cost is equal to the NPC resale price. So just buy and sell the highest costing item (Acheron Shield)Acheron Shield description.png in the future when you build up sparks.
  • See Sparks for a list of items from RoE NPCs.
Open up your quest menu and select Objective list → Tutorial → Basics. Begin completing these objectives. The goal is to do the entire Basic section. More will open up as you complete them.
You may skip the "Stepping into an Ambuscade" objective for now.
So your goal is to reach level 5 at this point while doing those Basics RoE objectives. Head outside (did you remember Signet?) and we can tackle the final part of this section.

Floating Books!

These floating books outside near the entrance have an immediate value. The bobbing black Survival Guides work similar to Homepoints in that you can warp between them and yes they also show up on your /map.
Fields of Valor (FoV) books are simply small repeatable zone based objectives that allow you to gain some extra EXP. They are in the Basics objectives so you will come across them and need to complete an objective.
Otherwise the last note of these are that they provide points (Tabs/gil) once per game day for an objective. You may notably spend these tabs on "Repatriation" which warps you to your home nation.
Grounds of Valor (GoV) is nearly the same as FoV just in different, and dungeon areas or higher level zones. Subsequent completions of these objectives provide you with minor enhancements (noted by a book with stars icon) while you are in the zone. They also use Tabs like FoV and can warp you to your home point as well as repatriate you.

Once you reach level 5 via RoE and maybe a small defenseless monster or two, get ready to head back inside for the next part. After you reach level 3 and zone back inside your nation you will also get a cutscene for Rhapsodies of Vanadiel Missions. Just ignore this for a moment.

Note: At some point you will need to increase how famous you are in order to unlock certain quests such as Avatars for Summoner. You do not need to worry about this right now, but see the Fame page at some point when you do need fame.

Login Campaigns

The final thing to note are Repeat Login Campaigns. These have been regular for years now. Basically every time you log in, you get points. You get to use these points during the month to exchange for items via Greeter Moogles.
These items generally help new players much more than existing players so take advantage and check that page each month the campaign changes to see what is offered.

Note: Story time level suggestions in the following level ranges are in general, best educated guesses for a solo player. The level you can do them really depends on your main job, strategy, knowledge, skill, equipment, etc. A job like PUP or BLU will fare much better at completing something solo over a job like WHM. If you are having too hard a time for something then rethink your approach, get some help, improve your equipment, or level a little bit then try it again.

Overall, these levels are here for people who don't want to just faceroll the game and get a lot more out of it.

Also, a lot of these missions are directly tied into the advice provided within this guide too. If you are looking to just rush up to level 99 then know this is not a "speed run" guide.
No, the irony of a "Quick Start" guide not being about the quickest way to get something done isn't lost on me. Rushing is meaningless in my eyes though.


Levels 5-10

Story Time:
  • Nation Mission 1-1 of your nation:
  • This may be completed around level 5.
  • Nation Missions 1-2
  • This may be completed around level 8. Earlier with Trusts.
  • Nation Missions 1-3
  • This may be easily completed around level 10 with Trusts.

Nation missions aren't the most exciting story, but they are where you get your start.

Goals:
  • Unlock Trusts
  • At level 5
  • Join a Unity
  • As soon as possible.
  • Level Up
  • Achieve Nation Rank 2
  • This is a prerequisite for things later.
TrustsQSG.png

Acquiring Trust Magic:

Upon reaching level 5, a player may begin to unlock Trust magic by completing one of these three initiation quests:
Trusts are an essential part of the game. They are summonable NPCs of characters in game that will fight along side you in place of party members.
The Basics RoE objectives will provide you with some solid starter trusts to use, but there are better ones and plenty to unlock. Utilize the Trust page for more details.
Trusts are considered spells and thus may not be used if you are silenced, and their recast is greatly impacted via Haste and Fast Cast+.
Certain trusts are also only available during special periods in the game, and this is noted on the Trust page. Some of these trusts are very good such as Cipher: Amchuchu or Cipher: King. Certain events to watch for are:
There are other events outside of this such as random appreciation campaigns that provide a Red Mog Pell, but this is not a consistent thing. There is also the anniversary every March which grants a few Trusts.
Pro Tip:The level of your Trusts does not increase when you level up. You must release and resummon them.

Macros:

Something people take for granted, but you may not understand are Macros. There are just customizable buttons. See the Macro page for more on macros, but some basic example are:
/ja "Job Ability Name" <t> (for your target) or <me> to use it on yourself.
/ma "Spell/Trust/Ninjutsu Name" <subcommand>
/pet "Pet Command" <t>
You may add a wait between lines at any time by adding <wait 1> to 60.
So if you are making a macro for trusts you would put:
/ma "Mihli Aliapoh" <me> <wait 8>
/ma "Valaineral" <me>, and so on.
Pro Tip:Type /itemsearch "Exact item name here" to see if an item is in your posession. For example: /itemsearch "Earth Crystal"

Unity:

Unity is an extension of Records of Eminence and utilizes Accolades. Accolades are used to spawn Notorious Monsters (NMs) for rewards of Sparks and items.
Most importantly, and the reason I mention this is because unity allows you to quickly warp to areas you haven't even been before as a new player. Which saves you an immense amount of time.
By selecting to warp to a zone next to Jeuno like Batallia Downs you can walk right into Jeuno for the first time without all the running on foot and death, if you so choose.
Simply speak to one of the Unity NPCs and ask to be brought to one of the areas for a price of 100 accolades.
If you lack Accolades, then a single Copper Voucher rewarded from Records of Eminence (Other → Daily Objectives → Vanquish 30 enemies, for example) may be exchanged at one of the RoE NPCs. Select currencies, and 1 Copper Voucher is able to be redeemed for 1,000 Accolades.
After joining your unity you may also gain an instant 195 accolades by typing anything into the unity channel (/u hello) after flagging the Unity → Unity (Shared) → U. Communique objective. If it is greyed out that is because it is full of people at the moment.
In order to join a Unity you must be at least level 5, and have completed 10 different RoE objectives. Simply speak to one of the Unity NPCs (next to the RoE NPCs) and select which one you want to join.
I would recommend starting off with Apururu or Yoran Oran as they are the best White Mage trusts in the game.
If you are short on the 10 required objectives then you can speak to some of the guild master NPCs under Tutorial → Synthesis

Skipping Missions:

Certain nation missions are skippable by trading a few crystals to the NPC. These are the second of three missions generally, and are noted in the green story box for the section if skipping is possible.
While you may not want to do this certain missions like San d'oria missions 3-2 requires you to go fishing for a Crystal Bass. That isn't something I suggest you get stuck on.
On the flip side, you do NOT want to skip Windurst mission 3-2 as it provides you access to a Portal charm which opens a pesky gate that you need to pass for those missions or unlocking Fenrir.

Leveling:

Refer to the Fantastic EXP guide leveling spots.

Levels 10-20

Story Time: You may complete most of Rank 2 for your nation.
Assume now that trusts are always factored in to the level range.
  • This may be completed around level 15.
  • Nation Missions 2-2
  • You may skip mission 2-2 by trading some extra crystals to the gate guard.
  • Otherwise This may be completed around level 20.
  • This may be completed around level 15.
Goals:
  • Unlock your Sub Job
  • Level Up
  • Complete Missions
  • Nation and RoV.

Sub Jobs:

Ordinarily Support Jobs AKA subjobs AKA subs, were unlocked at level 18 by players via a quest players generally needed help with. Nowadays though you can unlock it sooner (and alone) via completing Rhapsodies of Vanadiel Mission 1-4, Set Free.
Sub jobs are exactly what you might expect, a secondary job that grants you the traits, spells, and abilities of that class. The only catch is that subjobs:
  • Are half the level of your main job.
  • Level separately. You must change jobs at your moogle and level other jobs separately.
Pro Tip: Instant Reraise from the Gate Guards that provide Signet will, if used before death, allow you to raise back up after being knocked out, regardless of your current job.

Levels 20-30

Story Time: Finish nation Rank 2.
  • 1-7 Requires Rank 3 in your nation.
  • Semih will be one of your best early DD trusts.
Goals:
  • Unlock Chocobo Licence and Mounts:
  • Level Up
  • Complete Missions
  • Nation and RoV Missions

Optional:

  • Unity warp
  • To Jeuno for the first time to save time running.
  • Utilize Curio Moogles
  • Access granted after RoV mission 1-7

Remember Signet?:

After fighting enemies in conquest zones with the aforementioned Signet on you will gain Conquest Points.
After gathering 5,000 conquest points buy a Warp Ring icon.png Warp Ring from the Signet Gate Guard. This is one of the most useful items in the game (returns you to your Home Point) and the first thing you should buy with these points before an Emperor Band (EXP Boost).
Pro Tip: Type /rmap to quickly open the Conquest Map and view your Conquest Points
Mount.jpg

Chocobo License and Mounts:

Utilize the Unity warp level 125 → Batallia Downs to be placed right outside of Upper Jeuno where you will unlock your Chocobo license via the quest Chocobo's Wounds. This will allow you to rent a Chocobo from the Stables.
After obtaining your license you may then unlock Mounts via the quest Full Speed Ahead!. Mounts are much more convenient than chocobos as you can use them in the same area and call them in the field. You can not be attacked while riding a Chocobo or a Mount either, but they can not be called in dungeons.

In Living Rhapsody Color:

After obtaining Rank 3 in your home nation and completing RoV 1-7 you will be granted the "Rhapsody in White" key item. There are 9 RoV KIs and each provides you with a boost.
For example this white on will provide you with double the rate of skillups, 30% more EXP gaining, a lower home point warp cost, and the ability to call a fourth Trust. Forever, that is it, just get the key item.

Curio Moogles

Curio Moogles sell very useful items for your benefit. Their inventory is increased the more you obtain RoV KIs.
Pro Tip: Remember that you can only hold on top 99,999 sparks, any more are simply lost. Spend them on new armor and weapons from a Sparks NPC or Acheron Shields (71-98) to NPC if you have excess.

Levels 30-40

Story Time: Complete Rank 3 Missions
  • This may be completed around level 30.
  • Nation Missions 3-2
  • You may skip mission 2-2 by trading some extra crystals to the gate guard.
  • Nation Missions 3-3
  • This may be completed around level 40.

  • You may complete chapter 1 of CoP around level 35+.
  • CoP's story line is known for being good if that is your thing.
  • This will become a prerequisite for RoV missions.
Goals:
  • Level Up
  • Complete Missions
  • Nations, RoV, and CoP
  • Windurstians should do 3-2 and other nations should skip.

Optional:

Abyssea

Abyssea is a series of 9 zones with a small storyline. It premiered shortly after the level cap was raised from level 75. A few important things are still linked to this zone such as a set of armor for your jobs you will need to pick up. You don't need to worry about Abyssea until a much higher level though as you won't be doing anything in there for now.
You do however need to complete The Truth Beckons quest starting at level 30 in order to begin obtaining Traverser stones. You see, one does not simply walk into Abyssea. You must spend traverser stones in order to be in the zone. Each stone grants you 30 minutes in the zone. After you complete the quest you will begin accumulating a stone every 20 real hours.
There are various ways to increase your stone gain rate or even stay in the zone longer, but we will cover Abyssea more later, just unlock access to the stones for now.

Unlocking Jobs

Any Job you don't have may be unlocked at 30. Each quest for a job is listed on their page.
Pro Tip: Store your Beastmen's Seal icon.png Beastmen's Seals with Shami in Port Jeuno to save inventory space. Shami will hold all of these varieties. They are used for special fights or certain Limit Breaks later.
Goblins.jpg

Nation Missions:

Once again if you are from Windurst do not skip 3-2 Written in the Stars. It provides you with access to the Portal charm which is important to have.

Gobbie Bag:

Gobbie bag quests will expand your inventory by 5 per quest which you likely are dying for right now. The main issue with these will be the cost of items, but if you have been taking advantage of seeking out various RoE objectives then you should be able to NPC some Acheron Shields (NPC → 71-98) for ~27k per shield and get one.
Pro Tip: Mog Sacks do not automatically increase with a Gobbie bag like Mog Cases do. You must speak to an Artisan Moogle to increase your sack size. Don't have a sack yet? Why not? It only costs ~10,000 gil from the same moogle.

RSE Armor

Also in the same building as the Gobbie bags is your RSE quest, The Goblin Tailor. For those of you who have never heard of RSE (Race Specific Equipment) it is an all but forgotten old school throwback. Fortunately, RoV KIs (and Survival Guide warps!) has made this quest worthwhile again. Your RSE will provide quality armor (pieces are levels 29-33) for awhile and is wearable by all jobs if you wish to obtain it. Each piece is designed to compliment your racial shortcomings so only certain pieces may be good for a particular job. Given leveling speed though it honestly doesn't matter so this stuff is great to throw on for awhile.
All you must do is pick up a key from the Curio Moogle and unlock a chest for a key item, return to the goblin, and repeat immediately. This is of course really easy and cheap to do as the keys costs 2,500 gil after you have your rhapsodies in white key item.
The kicker is that you must wait for a time period to open the window before you may obtain these pieces. Every race gets a game week (about 8 hours IRL) in which they are eligible to obtain the key item through the quest. Basically the quest cycles each race in a row for a period of a little under every 8 hours earth time. Three zones are also cycled so the zone for your race won't repeat next window. This eligibility period means you may have to wait a real day or two before you may actually quest this armor.
On The Goblin Tailor quest page there are links to some ancient and somehow still functional websites which will tell you when your pattern will occur though so you may plan ahead. There are probably also mobile apps or something out there that may have it, who knows.

Money:

Since we are on the subject with the Gobbie bags and their cost for new players we can talk money for a moment. Yes, sparks are going to probably be the best way of making it at this point. This is best done during the "Gain EXP" RoE objectives where you can complete them frequently. See the calander on the RoE page to find out when that happens three times a week.
However, you have a few other options that will very depending on your server. Crystals (x12) tend to sell for a bit of money on the Auction House (AH) if you are accumulating them from monsters and feel desperate. You should be saving these in your Case, Sack, or Satchel in the field and storing them when you get back to town in an Ephemeral Moogle as was mentioned.
There are a few things you can easily craft at low levels. Namely things like Copper Ingots or Sheep Leather. Certain base materials like Gausebit Grass are easy to farm and right at this moment on Asura they are 0 singles in stock which sell fast at 10k a pop. Tiger Hides would be a good choice too depending on the crafting market, as things tend to change in time.
Of course anyone reading this will have already swamped the market on good items that I list and the price may have crashed so there isn't much use in me listing out ways to make money besides "sell extra sparks". So just remember to NPC old sparks armor and things to try and pay the bills in the meantime.

Levels 40-50

Story Time: Start Rank 4 Nation Missions
  • This may be completed around level 45+
Goals:
  • At level 40+.
  • Level Up
  • Complete Missions
  • Nation missions

Artifact Weapons:

Artifact Weapons and armor (AF or AF1) are weapons crafted specifically for your job. These weapons are pretty mediocre, but they are a prerequisite for unlocking your Artifact Armor. Depending on what you are using they may be an upgrade. You may begin questing them at level 40+.

Levels 50-60

Story Time: Obtain rank 5
  • This may be completed around level 50-55+.
  • Sneak and Invis is recommended.
  • Nation Missions 5-1
  • This may be completed around 55+
  • This may be completed at any level with sneak and invisible.
  • This is the farthest you must progress in CoP missions for RoV mission prerequisites.

Optional:

  • This may be completed around level 55+
  • This may be completed around level 55-60
  • This may be completed around level 55-60
Goals:
  • At level 50, 51+, and 56+.
  • Level Up
  • At level 52, 54, 56, 58, and 60.
  • Complete Missions
  • Nation, RoV, and CoP missions
Limitbreak.png

Limit Breaks:

Time for your first Limit Breaks. Starting at 50 and beyond, there is one every 5 levels all the way to 99.
  • You must be past Nation mission 4-1 for this limit break.
  • You may start and complete each limit break for the next limit, one level after completing the previous break. E.g. Atop the Highest Mountains may be completed at level 51.

Artifact Armor

Back to the Artifact Armor (AF). At least this stuff serves a long lasting purpose. You will upgrade it several times all the way to level 99. Now you can look the part too.
So what I would recommend is doing your first limit break and level up. Then after that you can do your first AF quest for your level 52 piece. Then you can complete RoV up to 1-11 for the "Rhapsody in Umber" key item and buy the coffer keys for your level 54, 56, and 58 pieces from the Curio Moogle.
  • You may obtain these 3 coffer pieces before you may actually wear them once the quest has been started.
Note:GEO and RUN obtain their Artifact, Relic, and Empyrean armor differently via quests and commissions.
Pro Tip: You can check where your homepoint is in your menu under Status → Profile.

Some Useful Key Items:

You will need all of these at some point in the game. Some of them for your AF armor even:
  • Loadstone - Allows non-galka players to pass through the weighted doors in Quicksand Caves solo. Thus eliminating the only reason to ever be a Galka.

Leveling:

Around your mid 50s when you unlock Escha - Zi'Tah I would reccomend leveling in there from ~52-60 on Dhalmels and Coeurls (as per the EXP guide). Just so you can earn a preliminary amount of Silt, a currency accumulated similar to Conquest Pointss. You will need Silt for level 99+ so you can buy the key items required to fight eschan monsters for better armor. Otherwise, I enjoy leveling in Aht Urhgan areas personally.

Welcome to Whitegate:

If you haven't already unlocked access to Whitegate (once known simply as "WG") then now is the time. Complete the quest The Road to Aht Urhgan and either unity warp over to Wajaom Woodlands or ride the correct boat from Mhaura (the galka flips the sign where you pay to board to the snake).
After completing Aht Urhgan (ToAU) Missions 1 and 2 you will gain access to the Mog Locker and Sanction.

Optional Missions:

Since RoV is the most important to any new player the guide is built focusing on progressing through it for the Key Item bonuses. As such all missions that are now required are listed as "optional".
  • Progressing through these optional missions without finishing the story line will block progressing through RoV at certain times.

Levels 60-70

Story Time: Obtain rank 6
  • This may be completed around level 65+.
  • This is the farthest you must progress in Nation missions for RoV mission prerequisites.
  • This may be completed around level 60+
  • Watch out for Imps as they see through invisible.
  • This is the farthest you must progress in Aht Urhgan missions for RoV mission prerequisites.

Optional:

Goals:
  • At level 61+ and 66+.
  • Level Up
  • Complete Missions
  • Nation, RoV, and ToAU missions
  • Don't forget to keep doing different objectives for points.

Limit Breaks:

  • The level 70 limit break varies based upon your job, see the Limit Break page.
  • Job testimonies are good for three tries now instead of just one like they used to be.
Pro Tip: Macro in equipment sets before weapon skilling, casting spells, using abilities, etc to improve performance. Menu → Macros → Edit Equip Set. is where you find these equipment sets.

Example:

/equipset 2
/ja "Vorpal Blade" <t> <wait 1>
/equipset 1
  • In this example equipset 1 is your TP set, and 2 is your WS set.

Levels 70-80

Story Time:
  • This may be completed around level 75+.
  • This is the farthest you must progress in Rise of the Zilart missions for RoV mission prerequisites.
  • Complete the cut scenes to reach mission 5.
  • This may be completed around level 70-75.
  • This is the farthest you must progress in Wings of the Goddess missions for RoV mission prerequisites.
  • Complete the cut scenes to reach mission 8.

Optional:

  • Rank 10 Nation missions
  • This may be completed around level 70-75
  • This may be completed around level 80.
  • You may complete all missions, skip Divine Might, and then come back later to do it at a higher level.
  • This may be completed around level 80+.
  • These may be completed with two players and trusts around level 80+.
  • They were challenging to a party of level 75s at the time. Depending on your gear, trusts, and job you may need to do this at a higher level. You likely may solo it with trusts and preparation at closer to 85-90.
Goals:
  • At level 71+ and 76+.
  • Level Up
  • Nomad Moogle next to Maat at level 75.
  • Voidwatch
  • Join a Nation
  • Complete Missions
  • RoV, RoZ, and WotG missions

Optional:

  • Add on Scenario Missions

Moving on from 75 upwards will open up a lot of content for you. Historically level 75 was when players began endgame before the level cap was increased back in mid 2010 so there is a lot of group content focused around that level range. The only thing that is really relevant to you will be the story lines which should be manageable solo as early as at 80+ with trusts.
No one would blame you for wanting to take in some of the level 75 experience (okay, do at least one real Campaign Battle!) as it was a big part of this game at one time. Feel free to keep leveling though if you want to come back and tackle it more efficiently later though.

Armor
Your armor is likely due for a refresh by this point as the RoE sparks NPC only starts selling weapons at this point. You may check the AH for some frankly overpriced items to help you out. Also, there are three Unity Notorious Monster (UNM) battles that are level 75 you can take on with your trusts for a few piece that may be relevant to you so check their pages:
If you are a bit confused about the +1 versions for those UNMs. The level 75 normal quality (NQ) items may be traded to the Unity NPC that warps you to the zones along with 3 trophy items (dropped from it) named after that NM and 1,000 accolades. After a game day they will return the +1 version for you. Higher level Unity pieces upgrade the same, but cost more.

The level 75 At level 78 there are the following sets of gear from Abyssea which are probably an upgrade to anything you have. They are purchasable by anyone with Cruor and also found on the Auction House:

Aurore Set  
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Aurore Beret icon.pngAurore Beret description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
Aurore Doublet icon.pngAurore Doublet description.png Aurore Gloves icon.pngAurore Gloves description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
32x32.png 32x32.png Aurore Brais icon.pngAurore Brais description.png Aurore Gaiters icon.pngAurore Gaiters description.png
Perle Set  
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Perle Salade icon.pngPerle Salade description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
Perle Hauberk icon.pngPerle Hauberk description.png Perle Moufles icon.pngPerle Moufles description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
32x32.png 32x32.png Perle Brayettes icon.pngPerle Brayettes description.png File:Perle Solerets icon.pngFile:Perle Solerets description.png
Teal Set  
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Teal Chapeau icon.pngTeal Chapeau description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
Teal Saio icon.pngTeal Saio description.png Teal Cuffs icon.pngTeal Cuffs description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
32x32.png 32x32.png Teal Slops icon.pngTeal Slops description.png Teal Pigaches icon.pngTeal Pigaches description.png
  Set: Fast Cast +10%
Do NOT exchange copper vouchers for Cruor. Sparks are a more valuable exchange for selling and buying this instead. Ask a friend to buy these for you as they likely have millions of cruor they can't even use.
  • It is also worth trying this in one of the towns: /yell Hello, I am a new player and don't have any cruor, could someone purchase the <xyz> set for from Abyssea for me please?

Limit Breaks:

Merit Point-Icon.png

Starting at level 75 you can begin obtaining merits. These will enhance your abilities beyond your current limits as well as gain your new bonuses and abilities.
  • You may only obtain EXP or Merit points at once. You may change the mode from EXP to Merit points in the Status → Merit Points menu.
  • If you are maxed out on EXP then you will automatically begin obtaining merits.
I wouldn't go too nuts with obtaining merit points at your level. You will need to obtain a couple of them later for Limit Breaks, but otherwise it makes more sense to put most pf this off for now until obtaining more EXP boosts from RoV KIs which also increase your merit point gains. Eventually gaining merit points becomes a joke because of this. It will be obtaining Job Points which takes you forever, but that is a later topic.

Rise of the Zilart:

Go through these missions and skip the Divine Might quest for now. That was designed for an alliance of 75 players, and you may complete the story and come back to do Divine Might later for the earring reward.
Wings of the goddess lilisette.png

Wings of the Goddess:

Also known as "the past". Wings of the Goddess is an expansion that released the Shadowreign ([S]) areas. These are areas that exist in an era during the Crystal War between the four nations and the forces of the Shadow Lord, linked to present day by Cavernous Maws. It was released at level 75, but the story was not finished until about level 90. This means it scales up in difficulty, somewhat like CoP, but in a smaller scale.
There are some fun things you can do here like Campaign if you feel like it and the story is the longest in the game. Partly due to the quests for your chosen nation that are required for progress in Wings of the Goddess Missions. You also must choose the nation you wish to alliance to, it is independent of your present day nation, but that is covered on the Wings of the Goddess Missions page.
Overall, the most important thing for you to know now is that you must reach mission 8 In the Name of the Father, in order to progress through RoV.

Voidwatch:

Voidwatch (VW) is a battle system with a mini story line that came out on the heels of Abyssea. You won't be completing this content anytime soon, but much like with Abyssea it uses a stone system per NM encounter. So at 75+ you may speak with a Voidwatch Officer near the Records of Eminence NPCs to obtain a colored abyssite and begin collecting Voidstones for later.
You will need to do VW later in order to unlock some Weapon Skills. There are also special events occasionally during adventurer campaigns from Square Enix where all of the spectral alignments will become maxed during the campaign. VW becomes a lucrative money maker during these times for people, so it is wise to begin collecting your stones now. You can even use two Voiddusts to jump start the process.

Add-On Scenarios:

A Crystalline Prophecy, A Moogle Kupo d'Etat, and A Shantotto Ascension are three mini stories that were released at 75. The armor rewards quickly become irrelevant by level 99 though except for a macro piece for a couple of jobs like Beastmaster or /lockstyle. So if you did want to take this on, it is fun, but only if it is a challenge still. The final fights can probably be soloed around 85-90 with trusts or duoed with trusts around 80+.
This means you have to actually go in with a strategy. You will need sleepga for the Henchman Moogles, and so on. Overall, I felt I had to list these here due to the fact they quickly become irrelevant later.
Pro Tip: Use /lockstyle to lock on the appearance of your current equipment set. You may also /lockstyleset <number> a set from your Menu → Macros → Edit Equip Set.
  • You may do this even if the items are away in your mog house.

Levels 80-90

Story Time:
  • This may be completed at any level pretty much.

Optional:

  • These epilogue quests may be completed around level 85+
  • This may be completed around level 90.
Goals:
  • At level 81+ and 86+.
  • Level Up
  • Complete Missions
  • RoV, SoA.
City of Adoulin.png

Limit Breaks:

Arriving in Adoulin:

Welcome to the untamed wilderness of Adoulin and yet another expansion and story line. If you read ahead to this then you could have unlocked Adoulin at any time, whether it was for the Crafting skill up rate bonus from Ionis or some other factor. However, around level 90+ Mandragora's are a popular way to level to 99. Ionis also grants a skill gain rate increase so your skills can catch up if you were rushing up in levels.
Until 90, the main purpose in Adoulin for you will be completing Seekers of Adoulin Mission 1-5 and then speaking to a Task Delegator in one of the coalitions to begin collecting Imprimaturs. These accumulate every 6 real hours and are spent on Coalition Assignments. Which provide you with EXP, Bayld (the currency of Adoulin), and are a requirement in progressing through the Seekers missions which in turn is required to Behind the Sluices for RoV missions.
This imprimatur to Adoulin mission requirement is eased by gaining fame in the city as well from completing Adoulin Quests later. Some of which provide some good rewards. All in all you can complete something basic like the Couriers' Coalition supply assignments at any level once you unlock a bivouac to warp to and deliver the supplies then warp back, hint-hint.
Pro Tip: Type /focustarget <playersname> to see the status effects active on a party member. Use the same name again to turn it off.
  • Only one target may be selected at a time, and this overrides the ability to see status effects of any other target (you may change the target at will), but it works well for those already in combat.
  • This may not be used on Trusts.

Levels 90-99

Story Time:

Optional:

  • This may be completed around level 95+ solo with trusts, but you might as well wait for level 99.
  • This may be completed around level 95.
Goals:
  • At level 91+.
  • Level Up
  • See Maat's Nomad Moogle again.

Optional:

  • Upgrade your Aurore, Perle, or Teal to +1
  • Most people probably will and should skip this.

Limit Breaks:

  • Pick up an Olde Rarab Tail icon.png Olde Rarab Tail or two in the sidequest for this fight. It makes the fight trivial if you are having trouble.
  • The items for this are reguarly available through Repeat Login Campaigns under 10 points.
  • Congragulations on completing your limit breaks.
Update06-21-2010 10.jpg

Armor:

By most accounts you are still rightfully using your level 78 Abyssea armor since most armor in the 76-90 range are all from NMs in Abyssea.
You have neither the stones (oho~!) nor the proper assistance for going after that stuff just yet. This is also partly due to the Weakness Targeting system AKA "Proc"ing that was invented with Abyssea.
  • More on procing in the next section.
So this leaves you with two choices:
  • Get your last 9 levels and replacing everything instantly.
  • The most efficient route.
  • Not a bad choice if you can avoid the main issue with this.
The main issue with upgrading to the level 90 pieces, assuming you have the few (easy) items already is the game day wait. When trading unity items to upgrade you lose that piece of armor to the NPC until the next game day.
So there are three ways around this:
  1. Have a spare piece available. You can't hold more than one Rare-Icon.gif rare item at a time, but you can send it to yourself in the delivery box and get another or get one another after trading it.
  2. Trade the item to upgrade right before the day changes. As soon as it changes you can take your item back.
  3. Trade the item before going AFK and come back to get it.
  • Otherwise, don't bother upgrading the level 78 armor.

Job Point-Icon.png

Starting at level 99 you may unlock access to Job Points. Think of them as hardcore Merit Points. They are essentially earned the same way except slower, with a higher requirement per point. Once again these offer significant bonuses to your job and eventually will grant you three stars over your head signifying that you have Mastered that job.
Pro Tip: Type /jobmasterdisp off/on to hide/show the stars over your head from master status.
  • /displayhead off also removes the visibility of your headgear while you wear it.

Levels 99-119

Step 1

Primary Goals:
  • To "Always Stand on 117".
  • Obtain Merit Points:
  • Start maxing out merit categories.
Secondary Goals:
  • Complete random assignments of your choosing.
  • Explore Adoulin

Optional:

Story Time:

Optional:

Intermediate RoE:

This is your first stop after reaching 99. Follow the RoE Intermediate Guide and you should be square. This will leave you with a new weapon and full Sparks ilvl 117 armor.
Pro Tip:The level of your Trusts is based off of your current ilvl.
Dynamis 1.png

RoV and VW

Next, complete RoV chapter 2. Afterwards you will obtain a "Rhapsody in Mauve" which allows you to purchase Phase Displacers for a mere 1,000 gil per pop from Ardrick at the Outpost in Jugner Forest. Displacers are traded to a Voidwatch NM conflux before spawning it to significantly weaken it.
So, take some displacers with you and go easily complete the quest Guardian of the Void with your trusts. This will reward you with some Cruor for Abyssea as well as enable you to unlock Empyrean Weapon Skills for your jobs.
You may go about completing the mini story for Voidwatch, but you should probably just save your stones for a max lights campaign to join shouts to farm these NMs and make money.

Relic and Empyrean Armor:

Obtain Relic Armor and Empyrean Armor so that you may later reforge these lower level pieces into their ilvl 119 versions.
Dynamis is a simple event in which you enter with an hour, gain another hour by defeating five statues for time extensions and then proc enemies based on some simple factors for currency to build Relic Weapons. You do not need to proc mobs for the armor, and with the Treasure Hunter trait it drops pretty easily. Also, you should not be building a Relic Weapon until later.
  • DNC Trusts that use steps are useful for procing JA weakness to increase coin output if you are trying to sell the currency.
Note:GEO and RUN obtain their Artifact, Relic, and Empyrean armor differently via quests and commissions.
Abyssea is a bit less simple as the procing takes is a little more complex and you have a limit to how long you may be in the zone based on a timer. While you can just go to town right away in Dynamis, you should make a detour before you start farming Empyrean Armor.
You may reduce the recast time on your Traverser stones via three key items; each taking off four hours per key item:
Now, when it comes to obtaining the papers for your job's Empyrean Armor you should really bring at least a BLM to The chance of seeing drop is increased after procing yellow abilities on the monster. proc. BLM has the most spells that trigger yellow out of any of the jobs. Around Thundersday, Lightsday, and Darksday, a WHM may also be useful for their procs. You may also deaggro the NM via a conflux warp and reclaim it to change the weakness.
You may obtain no more than 1~2 seal without staggering the yellow weakness. With a yellow proc this changes to 2~5 (TH also helps). Each NM drops four different seals and you need 8 for your piece. Even while proced the monster might just drop four seals for a different job. So make the most of your time and stones, and other people need it to so /yell to team up.
Pro Tip:During random adventurer campaigns from SquareEnix, sometimes Abyssea is included. During these campaigns a box full of bonuses will be stationed next to Joachim in Port Jeuno. Select it to gain a one time bonus of abyssea items including a Lunar abyssite and 100,000 cruor.

Weapon Skills!:

This will vary depending on your job. Not all Weapon Skills you can unlock are good or even useful. This will take researching your job to find out something like Savage Blade and Resolution are great while a WS like Exenterator is not.

Step 2

Primary Goals:
  • Stopgap armor and weapons
  • Don't waste tons of gil on augments.
  • Levels 99-128
Secondary Goals:
  • Stopgap armor and weapons

Optional:

  • Just do this for the RoE Intermediate objectives.
  • May be better than what you are using.
Story Time:
  • You must complete up to mission 2-7-1 Behind the Sluices in order to progress through the last of RoV.
  • For the most part this may be done solo with 119 gear.
  • There will be a few missions later on that you likely need assistance with.

Intermediate RoE:

Continue on with and finish these with the RoE Guide. Wildskeeper Reives (WKR) will probably be your largest obstacle. Go check if the NM is up (select the area you enter and view progress) then go back to town and do a few /yells. People generally show up, otherwise during WKR campaigns from SE people will spam the fights for HP Bayld either for money or making an Ergon Weapon.
WKR.png

Wildskeeper Reives:

Wildskeeper Reives are accessed after Seekers of Adoulin Mission 1-6 Life on the Frontier. You will need to do Coalition Assignments and Reives to build up bayld in order to start doing these.
  • Old Adoulin bayld gear or WKR armor/weapons may be traded to Runje Desaali for free bayld.
  • Make sure you flag the Content → WKR RoE objectives.
WKRs also drop good starting armor which is augmentable via Prah Janimhar in Western Adoulin at the Inventor's Coalition. Don't be fooled by the fact the item level is 115 (give Runje the ilvl 106 junk) and lower than the ilvl 117 and 119 gear you may obtain right now. The stats are what counts, and something like the ilvl 115 Otomi Helm or Ejekamal Boots after augments from Prah are easily better than the sparks 117 or bayld 119 pieces. Mix and match the best pieces along the way up, comparing stats should be easy on these pieces.
Also, as long as you have accuracy, the WKR 115 weapons with an augment of occasionally attacks twice (OAT) are the best stopgap weapons you can use atm. This is especially true for offhand weapons for 1H jobs, for instance the Atoyac with OAT. When you are in need of accuracy these weapons quickly drop off in performance, and good 119 gear replaces them later regardless.

JSE Capes

JSE Capes are best obtained from WKRs, but may also be obtained from Reives in Marjami Ravine, Yorcia Weald, Kamihr Drifts, and Ra'Kaznar at a lower frequency. They also drop from Incursion coffers except those already will have augments on them.
Capes may be augmented via trading Detrovio a Refractive Crystal (from the AH or Unity NM coffers) along with your cape.
Lastly, Makel-Pakel in the Celennia Memorial Library will exchange three unagumented capes for one of your choice. You may also have him remove the augments from a cape.

Bayld Sets

After a few Reives you will easily have enough bayld to start picking up some quick ilvl 119 weapons from Craggy Bluff and armor from Vesca in Eastern Adoulin at the Peacekeeper's Coalition. These will work fine for now, but are about some of the lowest quality 119 items there are.
Shneddick Set  
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Shned. Chapeau +1 icon.pngShned. Chapeau +1 description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
Shned. Tabard +1 icon.pngShned. Tabard +1 description.png Shned. Gloves +1 icon.pngShned. Gloves +1 description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
32x32.png 32x32.png Shned. Tights +1 icon.pngShned. Tights +1 description.png Shned. Boots +1 icon.pngShned. Boots +1 description.png
Gorney Set  
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Gorney Morion +1 icon.pngGorney Morion +1 description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
Gorney Haubert +1 icon.pngGorney Haubert +1 description.png Gorney Moufles +1 icon.pngGorney Moufles +1 description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
32x32.png 32x32.png Gor. Brayettes +1 icon.pngGor. Brayettes +1 description.png Gor. Sollerets +1 icon.pngGor. Sollerets +1 description.png
Weatherspoon Set  
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Weath. Corona +1 icon.pngWeath. Corona +1 description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
Weather. Robe +1 icon.pngWeather. Robe +1 description.png Weath. Cuffs +1 icon.pngWeath. Cuffs +1 description.png 32x32.png 32x32.png
32x32.png 32x32.png Weath. Pants +1 icon.pngWeath. Pants +1 description.png Weath. Souliers +1 icon.pngWeath. Souliers +1 description.png
Keep in mind that some of these ilvl pieces may have no real relevant stats to your job. A piece like the Thurandaut Chapeau +1 may be 109, but comes with accuracy (to make up for the DEX loss) and 5% dual wield on it. Assuming you can cap your gear haste at 25% (26% due to rounding) then it is easily a better piece for you. While we are on the subject of Dual Wield, it serves to understand it really quickly.
  • There is an 80% delay reduction cap, and understanding how to hit that is pretty important, see Attack Speed.
As for Dual Wield though it is pretty simple. You want to meet the 80% delay cap, but not go over it as dual wield reduces your TP gain while decreasing delay, but will still continue to reduce your TP gain per hit despite being capped delay if you have too much of it. No one wants to math just to play the game though, yes I know.
Luckily there is a Dual Wield Cheat Sheet on the wiki and that is all you really need most of the time. Match your tier DW trait up with how much haste you are receiving, and bam there is your instant answer to how much DW you need.
Pro Tip: Always pay attention to Accuracy vs DEX. Accuracy provided from DEX is simply DEX * 0.75. So if a piece has 10 DEX over another then that is 7 to 8 accuracy depending on your total DEX before you put it on.
  • This is also how ranged accuracy from AGI or attack from STR is calculuated.

Alluvion Skirmish

You will come across Skirmish and Alluvion Skirmish as a result of your progression and the RoE Guide. As a result this will serve as the immediate boost to your gear after the last step. Use some of the stones available to you from the event or maybe even do a couple of rounds. Remember /yelling for things is your friend and how you actually make them to get things done.
  • Stones are overpriced due to a lack of supply so do not go nuts trying to get augments for what is probably better than anything you currently have on. You will replace this gear soon enough with Escha Rewards.

SKCNMs

Or Macrocosmic Orb battlefields are what you should be teaming up to farm after you finish your Intermediate RoE objectives. These are easier than other battlefields, and will grant you Rem's Tales for Reforged Artifact Armor.
Tackle these on Normal with a couple of people and your trusts. This provides a good effort to reward ratio for newer players. If you are solo then you will have to spend more seals on less reward. Not to mention you will get free Rem's Tales by teaming up. Other people using their orbs in the group will still grant you a personal pool of free chapters based on the difficulty selected.
  • Completing one of these on "Dificult" will unlock access to JSE Weapons.

Unity

Meanwhile, there is Unity. which you should head back to tackle. Ironhorn Baldurno drops a Bleating Mantle for DDs. So depending on your equipment there is a lot of stuff here you can pick up.
Alternatively there are a few uses for the trophy rewards from these coffers. They are not simply just for upgrading that UNMs rewards, but are also used in popping common NMs in Escha or reforging AF +3. This means if you have spare accolades, you and your trusts can go about making some decent gil AHing the trophy items. Not to mention the sparks from defeating UNNs.

Delve

Delve will provide you temporarily with some armor and weapons for your jobs. However, given the other options mentioned before this you will likely pass most of it on the way up. Given that it takes three people to enter Delve you will have a slight barrier to entry. Trusts can be called in here though after entering. You may even take in mules and disband to call 5 trusts.
Important materials for popping some Escha NMs, to crafting, and more over upgrading some of your Reforged Armor come from Delve.
  • Completing any Delve also unlocks access to JSE Weapons if you want to go this route.
Pro Tip: A.M.A.N. Reclaimer NPCs will accept most ilvl gear you don't want and trade you back points for Copper Vouchers.

Incursion

Last and somewhat least here is Incursion. Also known as "WHERE ARE WE RUNNING TO?!" and it "F*CKING TOOK MY WEAPONS OFF AGAIN!!".
Incursion has some useful pieces from it still, even at 99. You also may farm augmented and improved JSE Capes from it, and the Grand Coffers are used for popping Reisenjima Tier 2 NMs for good weapons.
Most important though is that you obtain Mecistopins Mantles from the coffers in this event. These are randomly augmented back pieces with one purpose, and that is to increase your Capacity Points by up to 50% depending on which augment you get. This is the back piece which you will wear during "CP PTs" aka "Capacity Point Parties" where people earn Job Points together.

Walk of Echoes (Surged Walks)

Yeah, almost forgot old WoEs. An event that used to be popular at 75+, was decently fun, then died, and then was made an endgame level 99 event via "Surged" WoE Battlefields. Which made it popular again, and then ilvl came out, ann~nnd it is dead.
A couple of the Walk of Echoes Battlefield Rewards accessories are still the best for certain jobs such as the Windbuffet Belt +1 or Flume Belt +1. However, no one does WoEs until an event that keeps the battlefields in constant Surge is active. Which then drives down the price of currency for Walk of Echoes Weapons, used to unlock Empyrean Weapon Skills to dirt cheap levels. So basically you get to skip the whole event! Surely you will check it out some time. Just imagine how it was fun it must have been for a zone of strangers to go mostly pet jobs and die a lot for nearly 45 minutes. Only to get a mahogany log (what is this, Voidwatch?!).

Step 3

Primary Goals:
  • Level 135
Secondary Goals:
Story Time:

Optional:

  • This involves a lot of work and will take months. Aside from the Mog Garden part it is fun.

The Arciela Directive

The Mog Garden part was not thrilling, but it wasn't hard and just took time. Spam Revival Tree Roots and your Garden Furrows will level faster than the other areas.
There are several Adoulin Quests that you will want to do for the rewards anyway, and I enjoyed the stories personally. If for nothing else you get the Ygnas Trust which is the healer I use since I chose Syvlie (GEO) as my Unity Trust and not Yoran or Apururu.

High-Tier Battlefields:

High-Tier Mission Battlefields are all the fights you know and love, but repurposed. These fights grant some useful armor and the Rem's Tales #6-10 for Reforged Armor. With TH on "Normal" difficulty, the drop rate for armor from the fights is mediocre, and poor without it. On "Difficult" and beyond a piece of gear will always drop, even without TH. So once again, team up with your trusts here. You don't need a full party for "Difficult", but a trio should work fine with trusts.

Sinister Reign:

Sinister Reign is something you can enjoy on a weekend while you get high or something. It is another random augment system that provides some good pieces of gear as well as some trusts, most notably Cipher: August as he is one of the best tank Trusts.
If anyone is asking in /yells for this and asking for an Ultimate Weapon DD, A.K.K REAM DD then please send them something mildly insulting and say that it came from me. This event is old news, and came out when the best weapons and armor were from Alluvion Skirmish, and Mighty Guard didn't even exist yet. Players have far better gear now, and those REAM DDs don't need this content. So don't be discouraged by "that guy".

Vagary:

Vagary is an event players seem to have a harder time with. It also favors mage setups over DDs most of the time. This event unlocks players ability to make 119 Empyrean Armor which is the only set of the three that requires the 119 being unlocked before reforging. Otherwise a couple of useful items come from Vagary, but overall the boss materials for reforging or crafting are the most important.
  • Remember to set your Vagary RoE objectives when you do it for a free one time material.

Ambuscade:

Ambuscade is likely where you will start really upgrading your equipment. By the end of Step 2 you are just some DD in Alluvion Skirmish Armor and misc items. So now it is time to work towards NQ (normal quality), +1, and +2 Ambuscade Armor.
Make or join Volume 1 E (easy) shouts and you can reach NQ gear pretty quickly with +1 soon to follow. After that N should be getting within in reach for even more points. Once again if people are asking for "Master" or REAM jobs for Volume 1 on EASY, then please give them the old Sinister Reign greetings on my behalf. Don't worry about being new or crappy for Easy, it isn't "Normal" or beyond so you should expect other people on Easy to be just like you.
Points are lost after each version update (not from random maintenance) and the fight changes monthly. So sometimes GEO, RDM, BRD, etc may be in huge demand, and other months it may be made useless by that month's fight mechanics.Don't be upset if your job is super popular one month, and unwanted the next. Eventually, you will have multiple jobs and that won't be an issue.
Ambuscade takes a little bit of research each month for people as the fights are never really basic and tend to have some rather significant mechanics/gimmicks (maybe endeath, or a massive regen, etc) that need to be understood. Some players quickly set their minds to it and publish that info. Typically the information for Volume 1 is updated well on the wiki too as well as some strategies. So it is understandable if you feel a bit intimidated about shouting for a fresh month of Ambuscade, but after doing a couple you shouldn't have an issue taking what you learned and making a group.
Finally, while you can upgrade NQ armor to +1, this is a big waste. You may only upgrade two pieces of equipment to +2 a month, and it costs half of the materials to make a +1 as it does a +2. Which means you essentially can make 0-1 +2s an entire month if you upgrade an NQ piece to +1. Conversely +1 pieces are regularly available from grinding out some extra Gallantry. This isn't a bad thing as Ambuscade is flush with items to spend extra Hallmarks on and sell on the AH. Ambuscade is a real money maker if you spam it well.
Spicy Escha.jpg

Escha:

Escha was listed as a secondary Objective for the same reason Omen was. The primary objective content is clearly in a different (easier) league than the other events.
Many players with help from senior players can skip right to Escha or even team up with farily newer players and take on Tier 1 Escha NMs. Thus skipping past a good deal of things, but others need more progression so that is how this was designed.
Since you already have some acquaintance with Escha from RoV and possibly leveling here there is less mystery to this event. As for the NMs, you just look at the Escha page and trade the pop item listed to the NPC at the start. Grab a Tribulens (good for one NM) or Radialens, go beat up the NM, and repeat. As a new player you will need to team up with other players to get your foot in the door and pick up better gear here.
  • Beware of dead weight as increasing the number of people in the party past 3 increases the HP of the foe.
Generally you don't want to start taking a second and incomplete party to NMs you may be struggling with if they don't offer a real benefit. Such an example of benefit would be sticking the tank and WHM in the outside party to get more DDs into the main party for buffs.

Omen:

Omen is a bit of a dream come true for solo-minded players. While you can't solo your way to the bosses or something of the sort, there is another option. Players may either join an alliance or just solo it themselves, and enter into a "card farm". Which is basically Omen with the NMs taken out and just ordinary monsters with objectives left. Completing more objectives results in obtaining more cards. These cards are used for creating Reforged Artifact Armor +2 and +3. Meaning players can solo their 119 +2 AF if they really want to.
  • Increasing the number of participants does not increase the HP of the opponents in Omen like it does in Delve or Escha.
So the great news is that farming cards is the biggest bulk of making a +3, and AF 119 +2 requires no boss materials. However, +3s require a boss drop in order to forge. The good news is that the item is a 100% drop and people already want these NMs for armor and crafting materials. So changes are good that no one else in your group really wants a scale. Even then, you can farm up all the cards on your own in your spare time, +2 your AF armor, and be ready for +3ing all by yourself if you choose to.
Otherwise Omen boss runs and their rewards are for Eschan tier geared players. The bosses drop some of the best armor/accessories as well as materials for crafting.
  • Remember to set your Omen Boss RoE objectives when you do it for a free one time scale.
Pro Tip: Research your job, the game, and improve your equipment. Don't be afraid to ask real questions. We have a collection all notable job guides from around the web on our Job Guides page.

Dynamis - Divergence:

Or simply known as Divergence, is the old and long gone level 75 era Dynamis (it was completely remade into what Dynamis is today) reborn for the highest content levels. This is where you will go to reforge your 119 relic armor to +2 and +3. There are no time extension statues or procing to worry about this time.
The event somewhat scales be design where you can enter with an initial one hour time limit and simply pull statues (which spawns enemies) and beat them up for Rusted I. Card icon.png Rusted I. Cards and "shard" item drops. Shards are used for +2 items with the slot based on the zone. Shards may not be traded or purchased like rusted cards, but rusted cards are available and are used to purchase shards from Aurix in Ru'Lude.
At any point you may fight the zone mid-boss statue which is much harder than ordinary monsters, but honestly not that crazy for any decent group to take down. The statue just chills at some point in the zone waiting for you, and upon defeat grants you a 30 minute time extension. All other statues will despawn and then respawn. Now the monsters from these new statues are noticeably more difficult than before. They will also now drop Black. I. Card icon.png Black. I. Cards instead of Rusted I. Cards. Furthermore a new zone boss will spawn near the mog house of the zone. This zone boss is of a significant difficulty to even the most well geared players. If you need a comparison, Omen bosses are a walk in the park compared to Divergence bosses. After the defeat of one of these bosses you will be granted a final 30 minute time extension.
Some things to keep in mind:
  • You must unlock access to reforging each slot of gear for each job:
    • Reforged Relic Armor +2 may be unlocked simply by entering the zone on the job on the job you wish to reforge with.
    • Reforged Relic Armor +3 may be unlocked by defeating the mid-boss statue on the job you wish to reforge with.
    • There is nothing to keep track of this other than the fact Aurix won't reforge for you until you unlock the armor slot on that job.
  • Aurix will allow you to exchange your rusted and black cards (100:1) for Beastmen's Medal icon.png Beastmen's Medal and Kindred's Medal icon.png Kindred's Medals respectively and then for the shards and voids (3:1) you need to upgrade items.
    • These may be purchased from the AH so you may just unlock the slot once then farm the gil up if you choose. Shard and Void items have a terrible drop rate, and only drop from the monster of the same job/sub job.
  • You may receive medals in a personal pool, each player in the alliance obtaining the win for the first time will open up a drop slot which drop multiple medals directly to players (mid boss is beast, end boss is kindred).
For more information read through the Divergence page. Each zone divergence zone page is also done nicely with maps, details, etc.

Step 4

Primary Goals:

Secondary Goals:

  • Level 145

Optional:

  • And other random stuff.
  • Why not?! You can even turn it into a Mount
  • It will be a fun binge obsession.
  • Then you burn out and never do it again.
  • Solo Hard Content
  • Push yourself to the limit.
  • Use Gearswap .luas
  • Windower 4 addon.
Story Time:

Optional:

  • Troll in /yells.
  • Wait for SE to add more story/content or complete things you haven't done.
  • Help others.
  • You know, between yelling for REAM jobs only for Bubbly Bernie and stuff.
Abyssea albumen.jpg

REAM Weapons:

Ultimate Weapons should be the last thing you make for your character. Yet it is the thing many people get distracted with due to their perceived status and inflated importance. The large majority of your equipment slots obviously aren't your weapon. It is this majority that you should focus on as that is where your damage is coming from. Yet for some reason sometimes you will see players running around fighting in poor choices for equipment, but sporting one of these weapons. Don't be like one of those people.
Just because you see shouts or linkshells asking for these weapons doesn't mean you need to obsess about it. Everything in due time, and move at your own pace. You aren't ever at the mercy of what people want. You are only at the mercy of the extent of your own knowledge and your resolve to get out there and do what it takes to get what you want.
That being said Relics are the cheapest and easiest to make. Mythics and Empyreans are much more expensive and Mythic Weapons are more time involved than Empyrean weapons. Aeonics are something that may be difficult for you or really easy for you depending on the typical factors of the game. Each weapon category varies in value for each job. Some are situational, some are the best, some are niche, and some just aren't worth making. Don't be fooled, rarely some are so mediocre (I am looking at you, Ryunohige...) for the job that they are barely any better than the best ordinary weapons.
You will have to do research or crunch real numbers to find out which weapons are the best for your jobs.

Master Trials:

Master Trials have the making of everything serious players want and need in this game. An event that requires you master the jobs (obtain and spend all Job Points) you wish to take. Provides a real challenge over what other content does for up to an hour straight. With an entry item that costs time to get (250 merit points given to an NPC per attempt) and when it is all said and done you gain nothing except a unique lockstlye piece that does absolutely nothing besides look cool.
Honestly, it is really fun, and I hope SE continues to add them into the game.

Augmenting Reisenjima Gear:

Oseem, I hate you. I hate you. I don't even know you, and I hate your guts. I hope all the bad things in life happen to you and nobody else but you.

Gearswap:

I heard you like packets dawg so we injected yo precast along with yo midcast packet so you can use quick cast with yo fast cast while yo midcast still gets on, yah dig?
Yes, Gearswap (GS) is one of those wonderful things where the first thing everyone says is "YOU NEED IT BECAUSE IT LETS YOU USE QUICKCAST GEAR!". Sure, that is true, but GS lets you do so much more if you have a good Gearswap .lua file.
For example, you may automate things, such as canceling a weaponskill if you are at a certain range in order to not lose TP as often. It also allows you to create key combinations to use items or abilities, and automatically swaps equipment based on your rules. For instance, anytime I become terrorized, petrified, asleep, or stunned my equipment automatically becomes a full -Damage Taken set, and when the ailment wears off I return to the set I was in.
These equate to things you eventually never want to live without, and boost your performance by increasing your efficiency as a player. There is simply no way to do what Gearswap does with the ingame equipsets.
The catch is that first this requires using Windower, a third party tool. The second is that there is a learning curve, and you will have to figure things out. Luckily there are premade files people share, and all you really need to do is just put in your gear and go for the most part.

GS Instructions:

  • Configure your resolution and basic options via the pencil icon.
  • Click "Addons" and scroll down to Gearswap and turn it on. This will download it and autoload it.
  • Look around in here for other addons you may want to spice up your life.
  • Locate your GS folder. Likely under C:\Program Files (x86)\Windower4\addons\GearSwap
  • Right click the "data" folder and either pin it to the quick access, to start (in Windows 10), or add it to another library. This will allow you to quickly access it in the future.
  • Your .luas go inside the data folder of your GS folder.
  • Your GS .lua will load based on your job/character.
  • Naming something WAR.lua will autoload it to any character on that computer who changes jobs to a WAR.
  • Naming something Buttchug_DNC.lua will only load it for any character on that computer named Buttchug when they are a DNC.
  • I share my BLU, RUN, and DRG .luas in my Pastebin if you need want one for either of those three jobs.
  • Edit this .lua in your preferred text editor and save it.
  • You must reload GS if you are currently in game and want the changes enacted.

Useful Gearswap Commands:

  • //gs reload - reloads GS
  • //lua unload (or load) GearSwap
  • //gs showswaps - toggles on and off a text based check in your chat log to show if your GS is actually working. Cast a spell or perform an action and it should show you that your gear is changing, and lists out what changes. :*If something is on during precast, and not listed in midcast/aftercast then the same piece is being used.
  • //gs validate - compares your inventory against items called in the gearswap file and reports what isn't in your inventory.
  • Useful for finding spelling errors or missing gear.
  • //gs export - exports your current set into a lua file within the data folder in an export folder.
  • Useful for adding augmented gear to gearswap, or just for adding sets via copy paste.

Common Gearswap Problems:

  • IT ISN'T WORKING
  • Did you File → Save As a .lua? Did you reload GS? Did you spell things wrong?
  • It loaded fine, but after putting in my gear I am getting an error.
  • You likely forgot to close quotation marks around the "armor" or forgot each "armor", must have a comma after it before the next piece.
  • Some other error.
  • Load the GS before you even put in your gear to make sure it works. If not, and if you can't fix it then ask for help or find a new one.

Ashitacast

Windower alternative that is separate from the Gearswap and the Windower team. It functions via .xml instead of .lua, and some people use it over Gearswap for whatever reasons they may have (generally they are more knowledgeable). I do not use it, and there is less community support for it, but if you want to use it there here is the tip off.

In Conclusion

Enjoy Final Fantasy XI.

If you appreciated this guide then please join the wiki. Help contribute information to it as you go through your journey so that others may benefit too.

  • Even if you don't know anything about editing, the biggest help is from people who simply use the wiki while doing missions, quests, etc and add a line of information they think should be there.
  • You can always reach out to us for help with this via the discord below or talk pages of the staff.
  • Joining the Forums is also nice for keeping the community alive. Besides, I am banned from all the other ones :P