Final Fantasy XIV: A Beginner's Guide

After its relaunch in 2013, Final Fantasy XIV became one of the most famous MMORPGs in the world. with an average of 1.6 million daily players. With a remarkable story spread across five expansions and the sixth, Dawntrail, expected to be released in the second half of 2024, the game continues to attract the attention of newcomers and fans of the franchise who have never had the experience of an online game.

In this article, we have prepared a guide with everything you need to know about Final Fantasy XIV to start your journey in Eorzea!

Final Fantasy XIV is available for download on PC, Mac, Steam, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. A version for the XBox Series is scheduled for release in 2024, with the open beta scheduled for the beginning of the year.

You can download the game for free on any of these platforms and create an account on the Mog Station, where you can manage your account, purchase the full version, update your payment details for monthly subscription, among other options.

Yes, to a certain extent.

Final Fantasy XIV has a Free Trial, where players can register and begin their journey at no cost. Today, the free trial encompasses the game's first three expansions: A Realm Reborn, Heavensward and Stormblood, and guarantees progress up to level 70, in addition to 16 playable jobs.

To play the other expansions, Shadowbringers and Endwalker, which extend progress up to level 90 and increase the number of jobs to 20, the player will have to purchase the full version and pay the subscription after 30 days.

Final Fantasy XIV registration is divided into two modalities: Entry and Standard.

Entry costs US$12.99 per month and guarantees the creation of up to eight characters per continental data center.

The monthly price for Standard is US$ 14.99, and the game offers discounts on bulk purchases, with US$ 13.99 in the quarterly modality and US$ 12.99 in the semi-annual modality. All guarantee the creation of up to eight characters per server, while quarterly and semi-annual subscriptions can create up to 40 characters per continental data center.

Subscription payments can be made using credit cards, game time codes, or Crysta, a currency usable on Square Enix servers, which can be purchased with a credit or debit card.

The first thing we need to do when logging in to FFXIV is choosing a server. The game has hubs in North America, Europe, Oceania and Japan, and we recommend selecting the one with time standards closest to your region to avoid long waiting times on activities, quests and bosses where a party is required.

Server selection is less important, and you can even do a quick search to see which server has the most players from your region and/or country before choosing one. In general, the only thing that matters in this selection is that the server has space to create new characters.

Creating a new character

When entering the character creation screen, you will first need to choose your race: Hyur, Elezen, Lalafell, Miqo'te, Roegadyn, or Au Ra. The most important point here, especially for those who like to explore the mechanics, is: there is no significant difference in your choice of race or gender. Optimization in Final Fantasy XIV is very role and equipment based. Your job, weapon, armor and accessories will matter much more to your stats than any other choice you make at this point.

So, choose the race that suits you best. The other physical customizations are also irrelevant to your progress, but they define what your in-game avatar will look like, so we recommend spending a few hours creating them until your avatar looks like the one you envisioned in your mind.

After choosing your character's appearance, choose a birthdate for them and a deity. Both choices do not have any significant changes and are only for immersion and lore.

What are the roles and starting classes in Final Fantasy XIV?

All Final Fantasy XIV classes and jobs can be divided into five categories:

Tanker - Tankers are classes with high resistance and moderate damage. Their main role in the party is to attract damage from enemies towards you and ensure good positioning for the DPS to deal more damage.

Healer - Healers are supporter classes, whose function is to guarantee the sustainability and survival of the party. Its position is one of the most challenging and requires good harmony with the Tanker and good resource management to guarantee the team's victory.

Melee DPS - Melee DPS are close-range damage classes. Many of them are based on an efficient combination of skills and rotations to cause the highest amount of damage in the shortest possible time. Positioning is essential for these classes, as many of their attacks receive bonuses for attacking from behind and/or from a certain distance.

Ranged DPS - Ranged DPS are long-range physical damage classes. Their mobility is the most efficient of all categories, and they specialize in area-of-effect attacks, making them better against multiple enemies compared to Melee.

Caster DPS - Caster DPS are magic damage classes, where positioning matters due to the charge time of their spells and the need to charge them without moving. Its damage potential is very explosive, and there is a good variety of methods and play styles for this role.

When starting your adventure, the following classes are available:

Disciples of War

Marauder (Tanker) - Marauders are the classic archetype of warriors, they fight with axes and have a greater focus on high amounts of damage and self-sustainability. At level 30, a Marauder can become a Warrior.

Gladiator (Tanker) - Gladiators are traditional swordsmen, their damage is moderate, but they have the best early defensive skills for themselves and the party. At level 30, a Gladiator becomes a Paladin.

Lancer (Melee DPS) - Lancers are warriors who fight with spears, have high mobility and cause a lot of damage with their skills. Lancers become Dragoons at level 30, whose rotation is one of the most engaging in the game.

Pugilist (Melee DPS) - Pugilists are martial arts fighters. This is a class where movement and knowledge of possible combinations in combat make a huge difference, and guarantee an interactive but difficult to master experience. Pugilist becomes a Monk at level 30.

Archer (Ranged DPS) - Archers use arrows to attack their enemies from a long distance. Positioning isn't as important to them, and there are advantages to not needing to get close to enemies to deal damage. An Archer becomes a Bard at level 30, with highly flexible skills for the party.

Disciples of Magic

Conjurer (Healer) - Conjurers are the base class for healers, and while their abilities to interact with enemies ensure their usefulness in solo content and for main and side quests, their real highlight and learning in the game is in team management. Conjurers become White Mages at level 30.

Thaumaturge (Caster DPS) - Thaumaturges are sorcerers with knowledge of destructive magic. Their skills have considerable damage compared to other classes, but at the price of needing to remain still while casting them. At level 30, a Thaumaturge becomes a Black Mage.

Arcanist (Caster DPS or Healer) - Arcanists use magical tomes to conjure familiars to fight by their side. Since they use these creatures, Arcanists are the most complicated starting class among the Disciples of Magic, but their mastery as a Summoner after level 30 makes them one of the most flexible in the game. Arcanists can also become Healers at the same level if a player chooses the Scholar route.

What is the best class/job to start with in Final Fantasy XIV?

The answer to this question is subjective and depends on how accustomed someone is to MMOs and what role they like. When considering someone with zero experience in online games and even with the possibility of playing on a console with a controller instead of a keyboard, the best options are:

Gladiator - Gladiator works almost like a "standard hero" in Final Fantasy. Their attacks are decent, the equipment guarantees good survival, and the Tanker role is very objective. Additionally, Paladins are a good introduction until a player can get more advanced jobs from other expansions, such as Dark Knight and Gunbreaker.

Archer - Archers are an excellent gateway to Ranged DPS, and their evolution into Bard offers a lot of flexibility during battles, added to an easy-to-learn rotation, making this class one of the best options for beginners.

Lancer - Lancers are very efficient at dealing damage and their initial rotation is straightforward. When transformed into Dragoons, however, the class becomes one of the most efficient in eliminating powerful enemies and bosses, in addition to having access to armor that guarantees considerable defense.

Arcanist - In addition to guaranteeing two distinct routes for the player with a single class, Arcanists have a companion who serves as support to deal with enemies. The Summoner route allows for a significant increase in damage and an expanded range of companions, while the Scholar route allows for more integration with other players in support roles on raids and other duties.

The City-States: where will your adventure begin?

At the start of Final Fantasy XIV, a player is introduced to three city-states: Ul'dah, Gridania and Limsa Lominsa. Choosing your class also determines in which region your adventure will start, based on the location of your guild.

Ul'dah - The sultanate in the south of the Aldenard Deserts, in Thalanan. Notoriously known for its commerce, it is the wealthiest of the city-states and home to guilds for the Gladiators, Thaumaturges, and Pugilists.

Gridania - Located on the continent of Aldenard, Gridania is a city-state in the middle of a gigantic forest known as the Black Shroud. It is home to the guild of Archers, Conjurers and Lancers.

Limsa Lominsa - The pirate port of Limsa Lominsa is an independent city-state surrounding the island of Vilbrand. It is home to the Arcanists and Marauders guilds, as well as the Rogues guild, a Melee DPS class available after reaching level 10 with any other, of which becomes a Ninja after level 30.

You will spend the first few hours of the game in the region pre-determined by your class, but you will travel to others as the story progresses.

Now, everything is ready to begin your adventures in Eorzea! Check out some of our general tips for enjoying the game below!

Quests

Like other MMORPGs, progression in Final Fantasy XIV occurs with quests. They are divided into: Main Scenario Quests (MSQ), Side Quests, Content Unlock Quests and Repeatable Quests.

Main Scenario Quests are those that progress the story and development of the game's plot. They tend to offer a good amount of experience and some require spare time to complete them.

Side Quests are those that do not progress the story, but have their own sub-themes, and their rewards, alongside experience, range from extra money to new equipment and items.

Content Unlock Quests unlock new features for the player. These range from mounts to new skills and jobs. It is recommended to play these whenever possible.

Repeatable Quests are activities that a player can perform several times, usually with some time restriction, such as only once a day or week.

Exploration

Exploration is the most important part of Final Fantasy XIV. If a player only focuses on getting from point A to point B with the main quests, the experience becomes repetitive and tedious. So, take your time to explore new regions, learn map details and find hidden secrets.

Aetheryte

Walking and mounts (they are unlocked as the story progresses) are the most efficient way to discover new regions and territories, but going from one point to another in this way is tiring and time-consuming. The Aetheryte system is your best friend at these times.

Whenever you arrive in a new region, try to attune to their crystals. So, whenever you need to return there, you will be able to use the Teleport ability to the crystal closest to your destination, with a cost in Gil.

Furthermore, in large capitals, there are smaller crystals that we can attune to transport us from one to another within the city. They are essential for saving time during quests, as well as helping with mobility.

Leveling Up

The leveling system in FFXIV is based on traditional experience progression, where your stats increase and new skills are unlocked as levels increase. Here, levels also define restrictions on using equipment.

However, unlike other titles in the franchise, defeating monsters is not the main way to earn experience, as they offer very little reward for their effort, while there are other more efficient methods.

Play the Main Scenario Quests

Main Scenario Quests (MSQ) offer a good amount of experience, and there is enough availability of them to make a character reach the maximum level for that expansion. This is the most linear and least efficient method for players eager to try new jobs, but it works for those who just want to enjoy the game at their own pace.

Use the Duty Roulette

Specific quests where a party is needed will become available as you progress through the main story. By enabling them, you will also unlock Duty Roulette, where players can participate in a random Dungeon or Trial with other players and receive a good amount of experience for their effort, as well as other rewards that only exist in this modality, such as Allagan Tomestones.

Join the Fates

Fates are conflicts with a completion time that players encounter while exploring certain regions. Normally, they have a specific mission and a time required to complete them, guaranteeing a bonus in experience for all participating players, proportional to their contribution to it.

Completing these tasks along the way are rewarding and guarantee collaborative immersion, or a fun challenge.

Log Out at Sanctuaries and eat Food

Sanctuaries are any location, usually cities, where there is a Crystal. Logging out on them grants you the Well-Rested status when you connect again the next day, symbolized by a blue line in your experience bar, and grants you a bonus gain for your activities.

Furthermore, before entering a Dungeon, it is recommended to consume food that guarantees some bonus experience gain. It's a small addition, but it makes a difference in the long run, especially if it's your first time going through that dungeon.

Teamwork

While most quests can be completed alone, FFXIV has its layer of activities and bosses that must be faced by a team of players. Therefore, social interaction is one of the key points of the game. Below are some team activities and other events.

Free Companies

Free Companies, or FC, are the traditional guilds of Final Fantasy XIV. A player can only participate in one at a time, and they offer the best interaction with other players, with ranks based on your active participation and contribution to the team. Free trial players cannot participate in Free Companies.

Dungeons

Dungeons are quests where a party of four players explore a designated location and defeat monsters and bosses. This team is always made up of a Tanker, a Healer and two DPS. Players receive a good amount of experience upon completion.

Trials

Trials are battles against powerful enemies, such as Primals, where a party of eight players is needed to defeat them. Here, planning, positioning and teamwork are essential to achieve victory.

Raids

Raids are similar to Dungeons, but with the participation of 8 to 24 players. It takes a long time before you have access to your first Raid, and it's normal for them to seem chaotic and confusing at first. However, once you get used to them, they become one of the most fun quests in FFXIV.

Communication

Despite offering very efficient solo gameplay, Final Fantasy XIV is an MMORPG which becomes more interesting and fun when we interact with other players. It's natural to be afraid of an online community being toxic or unfriendly, but the FFXIV community is very receptive to newcomers and players are willing to be polite with them and teach them how to complete tasks.

It is important to highlight: on most servers, communication in FFXIV is done in English!

Let them know you are a beginner

Communication is the best resource for teamwork. So, if it's your first time in a Dungeon or Trial, let other players know! There are always people with more experience in these missions and willing to help you understand what you should do and how to do it!

Follow their advice

In Trials, it is common for some people to not know the boss's movement patterns, or not know the best way to position themselves. Taking a wipe (special attack that defeats all members) and having to start over from scratch is exhausting, but it happens. Normally, the team starts to draw up a plan, or give tips on what should be done to overcome this challenge.

Follow the advice of the most experienced players, your role there is essential to guarantee the party's victory!

Remember to be polite

Did you manage to defeat the boss? Did you get past that dungeon you were in for the last 40 minutes? Remember to thank the players for their teamwork! A "thanks" is good enough.

Also, don't be arrogant. Treat other players with the same politeness that you want from them.

One of the biggest criticisms some new players have with Final Fantasy XIV is that its story feels slow - and it is, to a certain extent. As we mentioned in our ranking, the base expansion, A Realm Reborn has the least interesting premise of all the game's expansions, as all the characters and inherent elements of the world are being presented.

A Realm Reborn comprises around 50 hours of gameplay with the main story, and while it brings a coherent plot, it is inevitable not to mention the gigantic leap in quality in the game's writing after the events that paves the path to the next expansion, Heavensward.

Think of FFXIV's plot as a shōnen anime similar to some classics, such as Dragon Ball or Naruto: the first season is never the best, but it serves to introduce you to that world and to the main characters, conflicts and other matters. As the plot develops and matures, it improves considerably and becomes one of the best storytelling experiences of a generation.

Final Fantasy XIV has this mold. Its story starts off slow, and each expansion adds new layers as it develops its arcs until their culmination in one of the best plots in the franchise, with one of the best villains the series has ever had.

That's all for today.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or recommendations for this guide, be sure to leave a comment. And to beginners, we wish you a good journey into the vast universe of Final Fantasy XIV!

Thanks for reading!