Final Fantasy 14 Tips: How To Get Started In FFXIV

These Final Fantasy 14 tips are what you need for the one MMO that has been on everyone's mind lately. Thanks in large part to dedicated content creators and curious streamers, Final Fantasy 14 has seen a massive influx of players and a huge boom in popularity and gaming relevance. With the release of the game’s latest expansion, Endwalker, on the horizon, now is the perfect time for beginners to pick up the MMORPG that has captured the hearts and minds of millions around the world. But if you're just jumping in, where do you start? Our FF14 tips are here to help.

Starting a new MMO can be scary, it can feel like a huge undertaking, and especially for a game like FF14 that’s been running for a little over eight years, might be very confusing for some. Thankfully for you, everything you need to know about starting the game, progressing through the story, tips and tricks, and as well as what to look forward to as you approach higher levels is contained within this guide to our top FF14 tips.

FF14 Tips: Should I Pay Or Should I Go?

First things first, it’s important to understand that FF14 at patch 5.5 is composed of base game A Realm Reborn, and three expansions, with the latest expansion, Endwalker, going live on December 3^rd. While the game does require you to pay for the four titles, as well as a monthly subscription to access the game in its entirety, there is actually a very generous free trial for anyone looking to get a solidified experience of the game.

Essentially, this means that around 40-50% of the game is free to play, without ever having to pay a single cent to access the gameplay. You will miss out on social aspects like joining a Free Company, sending friend requests, and trading with other players, but these are small matters compared to what you can play through for free. The majority of the content covered here will mostly be accessible through the free trial as well, meaning potential players can get a hefty serving of the game, without having to pay a subscription just to try the game out.

FF14 Tips: You Don't Need To Have Played Another Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy has always been a series that seems incredibly intimidating for newcomers. Because of its now almost 16 main titled games and dozens of spin-offs and sequels, at first glance, you might feel like you’ll need multiple lifetimes just to catch up with the story of FF14. However, it’s important to know that you do not need to understand a single thing about any other Final Fantasy game coming into this one.

The fact of the matter is, Final Fantasy works as a sort of anthology series, where every numbered entry is its own universe and unique story, they just so happen to share a lot of similarities between each instalment. Final Fantasy 14 is its own narrative, and while there may be series staples or sometimes an event themed after a different numbered entry, the game will always present any similarities as events that happen within 14’s universe. Prior knowledge of things will enhance the narrative experience but is by no means necessary to enjoy the game.  

FF14 Tips: Questing, Jobs, And Leveling

Now, the bulk of the gameplay in FF14 revolves around progressing through the main story, or Main Scenario. This means that if you want to access things like raiding, dungeons, expansion jobs, or any other type of content, you will have to go through the game’s story up to level 50 to unlock the initial heap of original content, which is where you really can begin to sink your teeth into what XIV has to offer. 

Progressing through the story requires for your character to have at least one battle job, to which there are eight you can access in the initial character creation, and an additional eight you can unlock at higher levels and with purchasing the expansions.

The biggest suggestion for choosing your job is not to focus on how the job feels when first starting, but to look into what the job will play like at later levels, because that’s essentially what you’re aiming for. Of course, your hotbar is going to feel a bit emptier at the start than how it will feel down the line so don’t let that early slog get to you. Plus, you can change to any job you want on one character, provided you have the base level and expansions to do so.

If something doesn’t work out for you, feel free to try something new, as the job system’s fluidity in FF14 is one of its biggest draws. You can experience the game however you want, as long as you’re having fun and trying your best.

FF14 Tips: Dungeons And PvP

As you progress through the FF14 story, you’ll eventually come across the content that makes an MMO. In FF14, dungeons are a part of the story, the majority of dungeons will unlock as you progress through the Main Scenario, and they’re some of the easiest content in the game. Modified, harder versions of dungeons exist, but in reality, the challenging aspect of the game comes from later content.

It doesn’t necessarily mean everything will be a cakewalk, but for the most part, dungeons are cool set pieces that showcase a certain area of the story, which you can use to help level other jobs on your character, and maybe find slightly better gear with a neat aesthetic.

PvP is similar in this aspect. Unlike a game like World of Warcraft, where PvP instances are a main draw of gameplay, PvP in FF14 is not a core part of the game’s design. The developers have expressed interest in improving and expanding PvP in the future, and it certainly is a fun mode, with its Heroes of the Storm-esque objective focused gameplay. However, for now, PvP really only primarily serves as a way to help level your chosen job and farm currency for exclusive gears, mounts, and titles.

FF14 Tips: Raids And Trials

While surprisingly not the “true” endgame of FF14, raiding is certainly a feature with the most difficult content in the game, and the bastion of the game’s most elusive and satisfying rewards. Accessible to all players with the required gear level and completion of the main scenario, but only cleared by people who have the mettle, all types of raids and trials are available for players who reach the max level for their current place in the story. There are 8-player trials and raids, 24-player raids, and multitudes of difficulty levels to really put your skills to the test.

What’s great about FF14, is that even older content can provide a satisfying effort and a relevant challenge for those looking to experience that content as they make their way through the game. There are plenty of collaboration raids or raid-tiers that still provide engaging gameplay and story, even if they don’t offer the best-in-slot gear anymore.

All of the raids in Final Fantasy XIV, provide a bombastic experience with excellent music and at its hardest, could take months to clear, but will absolutely give you the fight of your life.

FF14 Tips: Crafting, Gathering, And The Gold Saucer

Finally, one of the nifty things about FF14 as a game is its willingness to embrace the weird and the quirky. Now, crafting and gathering abilities exist in other MMO’s, but in FF14, they essentially act in the same way as the battle jobs do. Level your crafter or gatherer just like you would a battle class, sell your crafts or gathered materials on the market, and watch the money roll through. It’s entirely possible to ignore everything outside of the main scenario in FF14, and just spend your time dominating the market boards with your competitive pricing for high-quality equipment and gear.

If that weren’t enough, Final Fantasy 14 also has its own dedicated casino called The Gold Saucer, where players can spend hours upon hours, playing minigames and earning area currency to buy some of the wackiest and goofiest gear or mounts in the game. With so many games to choose from, and an extremely social atmosphere, The Gold Saucer is almost an essential visit for any player looking to find a variety of ways to have fun, while claiming some sweet rewards in the process.