Welcome to Final Fantasy XIV, a massive fantasy MMORPG where you'll embark on an epic adventure across Eorzea and beyond. As a Warrior of Light, you'll master challenging combat, explore vibrant worlds, and progress through countless major expansions. Whether you're a brand new adventurer or a seasoned veteran, there's always something new to discover.
This guide is your go-to resource for navigating the complexities of FFXIV. We'll cover everything from essential beginner tips and leveling strategies, including advice for reaching Level 70 to 80, to optimizing your gear progression. We'll also help you tackle specific challenges like creating your Adventurer Plate and understanding systems like the Housing Lottery, ensuring your journey is as smooth as possible.
The Allagan Tomestone of Strategy
Learn how to improve your Final Fantasy XIV gameplay with The Allagan Tomestone of Strategy guide, covering all Disciple of War and Magic classes at level 50.
This guide is not a walkthrough for the main quest or any battles in Final Fantasy XIV and is 100% spoiler-free. It is current as of Final Fantasy XIV version 2.50 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows.
- Mechanics and strategies in Final Fantasy XIV can change, and new methods are often discovered.
- Feedback is welcome; send it to moc.liamg@namzkcin (spell that backwards for an e-mail address).
License
Understand the terms for copying, distributing, and modifying the Final Fantasy XIV guide under the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or later.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute, and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation. This license includes no Invariant Sections, no Front-Cover Texts, and no Back-Cover Texts.
This means the author makes no warranties regarding the content of this guide. You are free to share and spread it around, but the latest version will always be posted first on GameFAQs.
- The entire license is available online.
- The latest version of the guide is always posted first on GameFAQs.
The Differences Between Game Clients
Explore the key differences between Final Fantasy XIV's PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows game clients, including UI, controller support, graphics, and more.
This guide outlines the major differences between the three current game clients for Final Fantasy XIV: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and Windows.
| PlayStation 3 | PlayStation 4 | Windows | |
| Maximum resolution | 720p | 1920x1080 | Varies depending on GPU |
| UI options | Controller-driven | Mouse-driven or controller-driven | Mouse-driven or controller-driven |
| Default UI option | N/A | Controller-driven | Mouse-driven |
| Controller support | PS3 controller | PS4 controller | Any USB or Bluetooth controller that supports the HID standard; comes with pre-sets for the Xbox 360 controller |
| Max. # of objects on screen | Few | Many | Many |
| Sold on disc | Yes | Yes | Collector's edition only? |
| Sold as a digital download | PlayStation Network | PlayStation Network | Ad-hoc or Steam |
| Requires disc in drive to play | No | Yes (if bought on disc), No (if bought/upgraded on PSN) | No |
| Requires manual intervention to apply game patches | No | Sometimes | Yes (UAC prompts) |
| Requires PSN or Steam to play | Yes | Yes, PS Plus not required | No |
| Settings & hotbar transfer between platforms (for users with multiple clients) | No | Yes, from PS3 only | No |
| Can tell if other players are on PS3/PS4 or Windows | Yes (when viewing a character, if they are on PS3/PS4, their PSN ID will appear in the window) | Yes (same as PS3) | No |
| Voice chat | No | PSN party chat only | Third-party tools only |
| Third-party tool support (excluding Web sites) | No | No | Yes, but some tools are not allowed (parsers & bots) |
| Can run the game and a Web browser at once | No | Yes | Yes |
| Can be played on-the-go | No | Yes, with a PlayStation TV or Vita | Yes, on a laptop |
| Gameplay streaming | No | Yes | Yes, with a third-party tool |
| Graphics API used | libgcm | Don't know, assuming libgnm | DirectX 10 |
The PS4 client is a significant upgrade from the PS3 client, which operates at a low resolution, lacks native mouse-driven UI support (though it can use mice as a secondary input), and deliberately omits drawing objects in busy areas. The Windows and PS4 clients offer comparable graphics and features, with the Windows client potentially performing better on high-end PCs.
Both PS3 and PS4 clients necessitate PSN access and are unplayable if the PSN is offline. Sony permits third parties to utilize the PSN as a conduit to their own networks but prohibits games on their platform from operating solely through a third-party network, a policy stemming from historical laissez-faire approaches that contributed to early console obsolescence.
Purchasing each client separately is required for playing on both PlayStation and PC. Square Enix charges full retail price, which includes an additional month of game time. PS3 and PS4 players must also link their account to a PSN ID; shared PSN IDs require separation for simultaneous play.
Until March 31, 2015, a free upgrade from the PS3 to the PS4 version was available. This required owning both consoles, having installed the PS3 version at least once, and was irreversible.
An FAQ on Abbreviations and Acronyms
Learn common Final Fantasy XIV chat abbreviations like AK (Amdapor Keep), BiS (Best in Slot), and EX (Extreme mode).
- 1Familiarize yourself with the following common abbreviations and acronyms used in Final Fantasy XIV chat. Note that server culture can influence abbreviation usage.
- 2AK: Amdapor Keep (dungeon).
- 3Alt: Alternative adventurer (another character owned by the player). This is less common in Final Fantasy XIV than in some other MMOs due to the job system.
- 4AoE: Area of Effect.
- 5AV: Aurum Vale (dungeon).
- 6BiS: Best in Slot (a piece of gear that is the best a class/job can be equipped with at the moment).
- 7Bray: Brayflox's Longstop (dungeon).
- 8CM: Castrum Meridianum (dungeon).
- 9CT: Crystal Tower, or Labyrinth of the Ancients. Some veterans use "CT" to refer to the Labyrinth of the Ancients because it was the Crystal Tower until Syrcus Tower launched.
- 10CTx, 1 <= x <= 3: Refers to the three turns of the Crystal Tower: 1=Labyrinth of the Ancients, 2=Syrcus Tower, 3=World of Darkness.
- 11DD: Dzemael Darkhold (dungeon) or Damage Dealer. In Final Fantasy XI, attackers were called DDs instead of DPSes, so some veterans of that game still use this acronym.
- 12DF: Duty Finder.
- 13DoH: Disciple of the Hand (crafting classes).
- 14DoL: Disciple of the Land (gathering classes).
- 15DoM: Disciple of Magic (magic DPS and healer classes/jobs).
- 16DoT: Damage over Time.
- 17DoW: Disciple of War (physical DPS and tank classes/jobs).
- 18DPS: Damage Per Second. This can also be used as an adjective for classes/jobs that primarily attack the enemy.
- 19Dread: Clockwork Dreadnought (a monster that appears in some raids, resembling a Warmech from previous Final Fantasy games).
- 20ER: Expert Roulette (a type of duty roulette).
- 21EX: EXtreme mode (used for primals).
- 22FC: Free Company (a player-made guild).
- 23FF: Final Fantasy.
- 24GC: Grand Company.
- 25HLR: High Level Roulette (a type of duty roulette).
- 26HM: Hard Mode (used for primals and dungeons).
- 27HoT: Healing over Time.
- 28IEx, GEx, TEx, etc.: Ifrit Extreme, Garuda Extreme, Titan Extreme, etc. This naming convention was used on some servers but fell out of use after the battle with Shiva was introduced.
- 29Lala: Lalafell (an in-game race).
- 30Limsa: Limsa Lominsa (the capital city of La Noscea).
- 31LF: Looking For...
- 32LS: Linkshell (a type of chat channel).
- 33LoS: Line of Sight.
- 34LotA: Labyrinth of the Ancients (raid).
- 35Mat(s): Crafting material (item(s)).
- 36MT: Mis-Tell (when someone sends a message to the incorrect chat channel).
- 37Myth: Allagan Tomestone of Mythology (an obsolete scrip currency; deprecated in patch 2.40 and to be removed in a future patch).
- 38Nobuo: Nobuo Uematsu (composer for most Final Fantasy games, partially involved with Final Fantasy XIV's soundtrack).
- 39Philo: Allagan Tomestone of Philosophy (an obsolete scrip currency removed in patch 2.40).
- 40PF: Party Finder.
- 41PSN: PlayStation Network.
- 42PST: Please Send Tell (meaning you should send a whisper to that player).
- 43PUG: Pick-Up Group. Sometimes incorrectly used for Pugilist.
- 44Shroud: Shroud of Saints or Black Shroud (an overworld area), depending on context.
- 45SS: Stoneskin or Super Slug (a strategy for clearing a turn of the Second Coil of Bahamut), depending on context.
- 46ST: Syrcus Tower (raid).
- 47SVP: French acronym for "if you please".
- 48Tx, 1 <= x <= 13: Divisions, or "turns," of the three Coils of Bahamut. T1-5 are the original 5 turns, T6-9 are the four turns of the Second Coil of Bahamut, and T10-13 are the four turns of the Final Coil of Bahamut.
- 49TxS, 6 <= x <= 9: The Second Coil of Bahamut, Savage Difficulty (raid).
- 50Than: Thanalan (an overworld area).
- 51Tome: Allagan Tomestones (scrip currencies for end-game gear).
- 52Toon: Adventurer. This term comes from other MMOs and is not common among players new to the genre.
- 53W: Japanese acronym for "double" or "LOL," depending on context (e.g., "wwww" = "LOLOLOLOL").
- 54WoD: World of Darkness (raid).
- 55WP: Wanderer's Palace (dungeon).
- 56XM: eXtreme Mode (used for primals).
- 57Yoshi-P: Naoki Yoshida (the game's producer and director).
- Pay attention to context when deciphering abbreviations, as some have multiple meanings (e.g., DD, SS).
- Be aware that some abbreviations may be specific to certain servers or player groups.
- Standard English chat acronyms like "LOL" and "IDK" are generally not included in this list.
- Class and job acronyms are covered in the Disciples of War & Magic section.
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