Welcome to the FFXIV Gear Guide, your comprehensive resource for optimizing your character’s equipment in Final Fantasy XIV. Whether you’re progressing through the MSQ, tackling challenging raids, or crafting the best gear, this guide covers everything from leveling gear to endgame equipment. With expansions like Endwalker introducing new gear tiers and item levels, understanding how to equip your character effectively is crucial for success. Dive into the world of Eorzea with confidence, as we explore the best practices for gearing up and staying ahead in the game.
1.1 Importance of Gear in FFXIV
Gear is crucial for maximizing your character’s performance in Final Fantasy XIV. It directly impacts stats, survivability, and damage output, ensuring you can tackle challenging content effectively. With a wide variety of gear options, including artifact armor, tomestone gear, and crafted equipment, players can customize their setup to suit their playstyle. As you progress, higher item levels and better gear become essential for raids, dungeons, and extreme trials. Investing time in acquiring and upgrading gear ensures you remain competitive and prepared for the game’s demanding endgame content.
1.2 Understanding Item Levels and Gear Tiers
In Final Fantasy XIV, Item Levels represent the power of your gear, determining its effectiveness in combat. Higher Item Levels indicate stronger stats and better performance. Gear Tiers categorize equipment into groups based on quality and purpose, such as leveling gear or endgame gear. Understanding these systems is crucial for progression, guiding players on what gear to aim for at different stages. Item Levels often average across all equipped gear, influencing your character’s overall effectiveness. Gear Tiers help identify appropriate equipment for current content, ensuring players are adequately prepared for challenges ahead.
Leveling Gear Guide
This section focuses on optimizing gear for characters progressing through the game, ensuring efficiency and smooth progression. Discover the best practices for equipping your character effectively.
2.1 Best Gear for Leveling (1-50)
When leveling from 1 to 50, prioritize gear that offers a balance of strength, vitality, and your job’s primary stat. Quest rewards and dungeon drops are reliable sources. For melee jobs, focus on strength; for casters, prioritize intelligence or mind. Dexterity is key for ranged jobs; Accessories, though less impactful, still contribute to overall effectiveness. Upgrade gear every 10 levels to maintain optimal performance. Crafting or purchasing gear from the Market Board can fill gaps, ensuring smooth progression through the early game.
- Focus on your job’s primary stat.
- Quest rewards often provide the best early gear.
- Accessories matter but are less critical than weapons and armor.
- Upgrade gear every 10 levels for consistency.
2.2 Job-Specific Gear for Leveling
Job-specific gear is crucial for optimizing performance during leveling. Each job requires specific stats; for example, melee jobs like Gladiator benefit from strength, while casters like Thaumaturge rely on intelligence. Tanks should prioritize vitality for survivability, while healers focus on mind for spellcasting. Ranged jobs like Archer or Lancer benefit from dexterity. Use class quests and quest rewards to acquire tailored gear. Avoid generic items and ensure weapons and armor align with your job’s role for maximum efficiency.
- Focus on stats specific to your job type.
- Tanks: prioritize vitality and strength.
- Casters: focus on intelligence or mind.
- Ranged jobs: rely on dexterity.
2.3 Upgrading Gear During Leveling
Upgrading gear during leveling ensures optimal performance and progression. Replace outdated gear every 10-15 levels, prioritizing weapon and chest armor first, as these provide the most significant stat boosts. Use vendors, quest rewards, or class-specific gear to maintain relevance. Avoid under-item-level equipment, as it hinders stats and effectiveness. Crafting or obtaining dungeon drops can also provide better upgrades. Regularly check your gear’s item level and stats to ensure they align with your job’s needs for smooth leveling.
- Upgrade gear every 10-15 levels.
- Focus on weapon and chest armor first.
- Use quests, vendors, or crafted items.
- Check stats regularly for optimization.
Endgame Gear Guide
Mastering endgame gear is crucial for tackling challenging content. This section covers optimal item levels, BiS gear, and strategies for acquiring and enhancing endgame equipment effectively.
- Discover high-item-level gear sources.
- Learn job-specific BiS recommendations.
- Explore crafting vs. purchasing options.
Endgame gear in FFXIV is essential for tackling challenging content like raids, extreme trials, and savage dungeons. It significantly boosts your character’s stats, enhancing performance in high-level activities. Endgame gear typically starts at item level 500 and scales up to 600+ for the latest content. Sources include tomestone gear, crafted items, and dungeon or raid drops. Understanding the differences between best-in-slot (BiS) gear and more accessible alternatives is crucial. This section provides a foundation for navigating the complex world of endgame equipment, helping you optimize your character’s power and efficiency.
3.2 Best-in-Slot (BiS) Gear for Each Job
Best-in-Slot (BiS) gear represents the highest-performing equipment for each job at a given patch. It varies by job and patch, but BiS gear maximizes stats like strength, intelligence, or critical hit rate. Sources include raid drops, crafted items, and tomestone gear. While BiS gear is ideal, alternative pieces can still perform well. Players often prioritize BiS items for optimal performance in high-end content. However, accessibility varies, and some BiS pieces may require significant effort to obtain. Always consult job-specific guides for the most up-to-date BiS recommendations.
3.3 Crafting vs. Purchasing Endgame Gear
Crafting and purchasing endgame gear are two viable options for players. Crafting allows for cost-effective, high-item-level gear tailored to specific jobs, especially with skilled crafters. However, it requires time, materials, and expertise. Purchasing from the Market Board offers immediate access but can be expensive, especially for rare or high-demand items. Both methods have merits, with crafting being budget-friendly and purchasing offering convenience. Players often mix both strategies based on availability, budget, and urgency, ensuring they can progress without delays in endgame content.
Gear Sources
Gear can be obtained through various sources, including dungeons, trials, raids, tomestone vendors, crafting, and the Market Board, each offering unique item levels and equipment.
4.1 Tomestone of Poetics Gear
Tomestone of Poetics gear is a reliable source of high-item-level equipment, accessible through vendors in major cities like Ul’dah and Gridania. These items are crafted with Allagan technology, offering balanced stats suitable for most jobs. While not the highest-tier gear, it provides a solid foundation for endgame content. Players can acquire sets without participating in difficult raids, making it ideal for casual players. However, BiS gear often requires additional sources like crafting or drops. This gear is a great starting point for progressing through endgame activities, ensuring accessibility for all players.
4.2 Crafting Gear with High Item Levels
Crafting high-item-level gear in FFXIV requires advanced crafting classes and rare materials. Players can craft gear using high-quality ingredients, such as Collectibles or rare drops from dungeons. This method allows for full customization of stats, making it ideal for min-maxing. However, crafting endgame gear is time-consuming and resource-intensive, often requiring expertise in crafting rotations and access to expensive materials. While not always the most cost-effective, crafting offers a sense of accomplishment and can produce gear comparable to or even better than raid drops in certain cases;
4.3 Raid and Dungeon Drops
Raid and dungeon drops are a primary source of high-item-level gear in FFXIV. Savage raids, Extreme trials, and dungeons reward players with gear tailored to their jobs. These drops often feature high stats and are essential for progressing through endgame content. While drops are random, focusing on specific encounters increases chances of obtaining desired pieces. Regular clears and farming are necessary, as multiple runs may be required to acquire full sets. This method is rewarding but time-consuming, making it a staple for dedicated players seeking optimal gear.
Artifact Armor and Weapons
Artifact gear in Final Fantasy XIV offers unique bonuses and visual aesthetics tailored to each job, enhancing gameplay and character appearance significantly as players progress.
5.1 Understanding Artifact Gear
Artifact gear in Final Fantasy XIV represents a unique set of weapons and armor tied to a job’s identity. These sets are typically obtained through expansion-specific story progression or special events. Unlike regular gear, artifact pieces often feature distinctive visual designs and bonuses that complement a job’s playstyle. While they may not always offer the highest item levels, artifact gear provides a cohesive aesthetic and gameplay experience. They are particularly valued for their lore significance and role in shaping a character’s appearance and performance.
5.2 Endwalker Artifact Armor
Endwalker artifact armor is a visually stunning set tied to the expansion’s story and themes. Each job’s artifact armor features unique designs reflecting their roles and the narrative’s aesthetic. Obtained primarily through main story quests, these sets are highly sought after for their cohesive appearance. While not the highest item level gear, they often provide balanced stats and are viable for early endgame content. Artifact armor is particularly valued for its lore significance and appeal to collectors, with intricate designs that enhance character customization and roleplaying experiences.
5.3 Dawntrail Artifact Weapons
Dawntrail artifact weapons are a series of weapon skins introduced in Patch 6.2, tied to the Dawntrail Relic weapon questline. These weapons feature a sleek, ethereal design with a faint glow, making them highly desirable for cosmetic purposes. They are obtained through a dedicated questline and can be equipped by all jobs, offering a unified appearance. While they initially have a moderate item level, they can be enhanced to remain relevant in endgame content. Dawntrail weapons are praised for their lore significance and visual appeal, making them a favorite among players for both aesthetics and functionality.
Gear Progression
Gear progression in FFXIV involves strategically planning and acquiring better equipment to enhance your character’s effectiveness at higher levels, ensuring you stay competitive in challenging content.
6.1 Early Endgame Gear (iLevel 500-560)
Early endgame gear (iLevel 500-560) is crucial for transitioning into high-level content. Tomestone of Poetics gear is a reliable starting point, offering balanced stats for most classes. Crafting or purchasing augmented gear from previous expansions can also provide a solid foundation. This tier bridges the gap between leveling and late-game content, ensuring your character is prepared for initial Savage raids and extreme trials. Focus on acquiring a full set of 500-560 gear before progressing further, as it significantly improves performance in challenging encounters. Accessories and jewelry from this tier are also essential for maximizing stats early on.
6.2 Mid-Game Gear (iLevel 570-590)
Mid-game gear (iLevel 570-590) represents a significant upgrade from early endgame sets, offering enhanced stats and improved performance. This tier is often obtained through high-end dungeon drops, Tomestone of Astronomy or Mythos gear, and crafted sets. Materia melding becomes more critical here to optimize stats for specific roles. This gear prepares players for challenging Savage raids and extreme trials, ensuring competitiveness in progression content. Prioritize acquiring a full set of 570-590 gear to maintain effectiveness in demanding encounters, as the jump in item level notably increases power and survivability.
6.3 Late-Game Gear (iLevel 600+)
Late-game gear (iLevel 600+) represents the pinnacle of equipment in FFXIV, offering the highest stats and best-in-slot (BiS) options. Obtained primarily through extreme trials, Savage raids, and the Ultimate series, this gear is essential for top-tier content. Players often progress from mid-game gear by upgrading through tomestone gear or high-end crafted sets. Materia melding is crucial at this stage to optimize stats for maximum performance. The late-game meta is highly competitive, with players striving for perfect melds and high-stat gear. Accessories and weapons also reach their maximum potential, making them key investments for success.
Materia and Melding
Materia allows players to customize gear stats, enhancing performance. Melding strategies are crucial for optimizing gear, with careful planning to maximize effectiveness for specific jobs and playstyles.
Materia is a system in FFXIV that allows players to enhance their gear by infusing it with magical properties. Obtained through various means, such as crafting, quests, or drops, materia can be melded into equipment to boost stats like strength, intelligence, or critical hit rate. Each materia type corresponds to specific attributes, and higher-tier materia provides greater enhancements. Players can also convert materia into higher tiers using certain items, making it a vital tool for optimizing gear performance and tailoring it to specific playstyles or job requirements.
7.2 Best Materia for Each Job
Choosing the best materia for your job in FFXIV involves understanding each role’s primary stats. Tanks benefit most from strength and vitality, enhancing their damage and survivability. Healers prioritize mind or intelligence to boost their healing capabilities. DPS jobs focus on dexterity or intelligence to increase damage output. Secondary stats like critical hit rate or spell speed can also be important. Higher-tier materia offers greater enhancements, and optimal setups often depend on current game meta and patch updates. Always refer to recent guides or patch notes for the most accurate information.
7.3 Melding Strategies
Melding strategies in FFXIV focus on optimizing stat allocations for your job. Prioritize critical stats like critical hit rate or spell speed, as these enhance damage output. For tanks, focus on strength and vitality to balance damage and survivability. Healers should prioritize mind or intelligence to improve healing. Always consider stat caps to avoid wasting materia. Use higher-tier materia for primary stats and lower-tier for secondary stats. Crafting or obtaining duplicate materia allows for efficient melding. Plan your melding in advance to maximize resource use and avoid unnecessary costs.
Accessories and Jewelry
Accessories and jewelry significantly enhance character performance by providing essential stats. They can be obtained through dungeons, raids, crafting, or the market board, with high-end pieces requiring specific materials.
8.1 Importance of Accessories
Accessories play a crucial role in enhancing a character’s effectiveness by providing critical stats such as strength, intelligence, or vitality. They are essential for maximizing damage, healing, or survivability, making them a vital component of any endgame setup. Unlike weapons and armor, accessories cannot be melded, emphasizing the importance of acquiring high-quality pieces. While their individual impact may seem small, their cumulative effect significantly influences overall performance, especially in challenging content like Savage raids or Ultimate fights. Accessories are often job-specific, further tailoring their benefits to a player’s role. Investing in superior accessories is a key step in optimizing your character.
8.2 Best Accessories for Each Job
Accessories are optimized for specific roles, with jobs favoring stats like strength, intelligence, or critical hit rate. For example, melee DPS jobs often prioritize strength and critical hit rate, while healers focus on mind and piety. Certain accessories are considered “best-in-slot” due to their high stats and bonus effects. Universal accessories, such as earrings or necklaces, can benefit multiple jobs, offering flexibility. High-end accessories are typically obtained through extreme trials, dungeons, or crafting. Always check the latest meta for your job to ensure you’re equipping the most optimal pieces for your role.
8.3 Obtaining High-End Accessories
High-end accessories are typically obtained through challenging content like Savage raids or Extreme trials. Crafting is another viable option, requiring high-level crafting skills and rare materials. The Market Board often has these accessories listed, though prices can be steep. Some accessories are also available via Tomestone of Poetics, offering a more accessible route for players. Regardless of the method, acquiring high-end accessories is a significant milestone in optimizing your gear setup for endgame content.
Market Board and Economy
The Market Board is a vital part of FFXIV’s economy, allowing players to buy and sell gear. Prices are influenced by supply, demand, and player activity, making it a dynamic system where understanding trends can help you make informed decisions.
9.1 Using the Market Board Effectively
The Market Board is a powerful tool for acquiring and selling gear. To use it effectively, regularly check prices for desired items and compare across worlds. Timing purchases during off-peak hours can often yield better deals. Set a budget and avoid overpaying by waiting for listings that match your price range. Additionally, consider using retainers to sell unwanted gear, as this can help fund your upgrades. Understanding market trends and being patient can significantly enhance your gear progression without breaking the bank.
9.2 Understanding Gear Prices
Gear prices in FFXIV fluctuate based on supply and demand, item level, and rarity. High-end gear, such as crafted or raid-dropped items, tends to be more expensive due to its superior stats and limited availability. Prices also vary by server economy, with some worlds seeing higher demand for certain items. Timing purchases during off-peak hours or after major patches can sometimes yield better deals. Additionally, high-end accessories and rare items often command premium prices due to their scarcity and performance benefits.
9.3 Investing in Gear
Investing in gear wisely requires understanding your progression goals and budget. Prioritize purchasing items during key progression points, such as before a new raid or extreme trial. Focus on high-impact pieces like weapons and accessories, as they significantly boost performance. Consider crafting or purchasing gear that will remain relevant for multiple content patches. Avoid overspending on items that will soon be replaced. Timing investments when new gear releases can help you acquire pieces before prices inflate. Always compare prices across servers if possible to secure better deals.
FAQs and Common Mistakes
Common mistakes include neglecting item level requirements and ignoring materia melding. FAQs often address optimal gear progression and how to avoid wasting resources on outdated equipment.
10.1 Common Gear-Related Mistakes
Players often overlook item level requirements for content, leading to reduced effectiveness. Another mistake is prioritizing aesthetics over stats, which can hinder performance. Neglecting materia melding is also common, as many underestimate its impact on gear potency. Additionally, some players focus too much on Accessories early on, while others skip upgrading weapons, which are critical for damage and healing. Overlooking job-specific stats and failing to replace outdated gear are frequent errors that can slow progression in FFXIV.
10.2 Gear FAQ
Common questions include where to obtain the best gear, with Tomestone of Poetics, crafting, and raid drops being top sources. Players often ask about item level priorities, emphasizing that higher item levels generally mean better stats. Another frequent inquiry is whether to upgrade gear immediately or wait, with experts advising to check Market Board prices and prioritize weapon upgrades. Additionally, many wonder about the role of materia, which enhances gear stats but isn’t required for base functionality. Addressing these FAQs helps players optimize their gear effectively in FFXIV.
