"Previous versions of this guide have helped countless adventurers find their footing. This updated version incorporates the latest changes and systems to Final Fantasy XIV Gil ensure you start your journey on the right foot."
Table of Contents
Character Creation & Server Selection
Understanding Jobs, Roles & Combat
Questing & Progression Systems
Movement & Transportation
Gear, Glamour & Appearance
Group Content & Social Systems
Interface & Customization
Advanced Systems & Endgame Preview
Chapter 1: Character Creation & Server Selection
Choosing Your Data Center
Regional Restrictions: NA, EU, JP, and OCE data centers cannot play together
World Visit System: You can visit other worlds within your data center (right-click character → "Visit Another World Server")
Preferred Worlds: Look for stars (★) indicating bonus XP (90-day Road to 80 buff)
Free Companies: Join guilds only on your home server
Race & Clan Selection
Important: Racial stats are cosmetic only. The 1-2 point differences are irrelevant at level 90 where gear provides hundreds of stats.
Available Races: Hyur, Elezen, Lalafell, Miqo'te, Roegadyn, Au Ra, Hrothgar, Viera
Fantasia Potions: You receive 1-2 through story progression to completely redesign your character
Starting Class Selection
Class Evolves Into Role Starting City
Gladiator Paladin Tank Ul'dah
Marauder Warrior Tank Limsa Lominsa
Pugilist Monk Melee DPS Ul'dah
Lancer Dragoon Melee DPS Gridania
Archer Bard Ranged DPS Gridania
Thaumaturge Black Mage Magical DPS Ul'dah
Arcanist Summoner/Scholar Magical DPS/Healer Limsa Lominsa
Conjurer White Mage Healer Gridania
Key Concept: One character can level ALL jobs. Your starting choice only determines your beginning experience.
Chapter 2: Understanding Jobs, Roles & Combat
Job Unlock System
Base Classes: Start at level 1, evolve at 30 (requires completing class quests)
Expansion Jobs: Unlock via quests at certain levels (ex: Dark Knight at 50, Gunbreaker at 60)
Blue Mage: "Limited job" with different rules—great for solo content
Role Colors & Icons
Tanks: Blue icons (hold enemy attention, mitigate damage)
Healers: Green icons (restore HP, provide buffs)
DPS: Red icons (deal damage)
Aggro Numbers: The A indicates current target, numbers show threat priority
Combat Fundamentals
Global Cooldown (GCD): 2.5-second base cooldown on most abilities
Off-Global Cooldown (OGCD): Instant abilities between GCDs
Positionals: Some melee abilities deal more damage from flank or rear
Job Gauges: Unique resource systems unlocked as you level
Pro-Tip: Early combat feels slow—this improves dramatically as you unlock more OGCDs and abilities.
Chapter 3: Questing & Progression Systems
Quest Types & Priority
Symbol Type Priority Notes
![MSQ] Main Story Quest (MSQ) Highest Unlocks virtually everything
![Job] Job/Class Quest High Unlocks abilities every 5-10 levels
![Blue] Feature Unlock Quest Medium Unlocks dungeons, systems, jobs
![Side] Side Quest Low Save for alt jobs
![Repeat] Repeatable Quest Situational Daily/weekly content
Golden Rule: Follow MSQ → Do Job Quests → Complete Blue Quests for features you want
Leveling Your First Job
MSQ Provides: 90%+ of needed XP for your first job
Duty Roulette: Excellent for alt jobs after MSQ is complete
Hunting Log: Optional early-game XP boost
FATEs: Good for breaking up questing (remember to Level Sync!)
The Aether Current System
How Flying Works:
Collect 10 "aether currents" in each expansion zone
Complete 5 "aether current quests" (blue quests)
Use Aether Compass (in Key Items) to locate currents
Check progress in Travel Menu → Aether Currents
Note: You cannot fly in a zone until completing its main story.
Chapter 4: Movement & Transportation
Mount System
First Mount: Chocobo from "My Little Chocobo" quest at MSQ level 20
Mount Speed: Upgraded via Riding Maps (purchased with Bicolor Gemstones from FATEs)
Flying: Unlocked per zone via aether currents
Fast Travel Network
Aetherytes: Large crystals for inter-zone travel
Aethernets: Small crystals for intra-city travel
Cost: Minimal gil—teleport freely!
Home Point: Set at any aetheryte for free returns (15-minute cooldown)
Fall Damage Rules
Out of Combat: Reduces to 1 HP, never kills
In Combat: Can be fatal
Gear Damage: Occurs on death—repair at menders (hammer icon)
Chapter 5: Gear, Glamour & Appearance
Gear Basics
Item Level (iLvl): Primary indicator of strength
Recommended Gear Button: Automatically equips best available
Gear Sets: Save loadouts for quick job switching
Armory Chest: Separate storage for gear (Ctrl+I)
The Glamour System (Fashion Fantasy)
How It Works:
Unlock glamour at level 50 via quest
Use glamour prisms to store appearances in dresser
Apply glamour plates for complete outfits
Dye items at the aesthetician or using dyes
Pro-Tip: Dye and glamour your plates, not individual items, for consistency.
Retainers: Your Bank & Market
Unlock: "Scions of the Seventh Dawn" at level 17
Functions: Storage, market board selling, venture missions
Venture Coins: Purchase with Grand Company seals
Market Tips: Use "Compare Prices" and check sale history
Chapter 6: Group Content & Social Systems
Content Types
Type Party Size Description
Dungeons 4 players Story-focused, 3 bosses
Trials 8 players Single epic boss fights
Raids (Normal) 8 players Story continuation
Alliance Raids 24 players Larger-scale episodic content
Duty Support NPC party Story dungeons with AI companions
Loot Etiquette
Need: Only available for your current job's gear
Greed: Available for any gear
Pass: Decline the item
Rule of Thumb: Need if you'll use it, Greed for desynth/materia, Pass if unsure
Social Systems
Free Companies: Guilds with buffs and community
Linkshells: Cross-FC chat channels
Crossworld Linkshells: Server-spanning chat
Community Guidelines: FFXIV has strict harassment policies—be excellent to each other
Chapter 7: Interface & Customization
Essential UI Elements
Quest Tracker: Click quest name for journal, description for map
Duty List: Track objectives in instanced content
Mini-map: Shows weather (important for rare spawns)
Hotbars: Multiple configurable bars (right-click numbers to change shape)
Must-Have Settings
Character Configuration → UI Settings:
Display job icons next to names
Open all inventory panels simultaneously
Adjust battle effects (set "Others" to limited in raids)
Enable damage numbers
HUD Layout: Press Escape → HUD Layout to move/resize everything
Gear Sets: Drag to hotbars for one-click job switching
Keybinds Strategy
Recommended Setup:
1-6: Primary abilities
Shift+1-6: Secondary abilities
Ctrl+1-6: Utility/defensive abilities
Q, E, R, F, Z, X, C, V: Frequently used skills
MMO Mouse: Highly recommended but not required
Chapter 8: Advanced Systems & Looking Ahead
Endgame Progression
At Level 90:
Current Tomestones FFXIV Gil for sale: Exchange for best available gear
Normal Raids: Unlock weekly for upgrade materials
Extreme Trials: Challenge mode for weapons/mounts
Savage Raids: High-difficulty 8-player content
Ultimate Raids: Peak difficulty content (cosmetic rewards)
Optional Content Deep Dive
Golden Saucer: Mini-games, Triple Triad, Chocobo Racing
Ocean Fishing: Relaxing group activity with great rewards
Deep Dungeons: Palace of the Dead/Heaven-on-High
Ishgardian Restoration: Crafting/gathering focus
Bozjan Southern Front: Large-scale instanced content
