The expanded free trial and complementary first expansion have made Final Fantasy XIV even more popular. Patch 5.3 has granted new storyline quests, including a closer look at the Dwarven Beast Tribe. The update also brought flying mounts to greater Eorzea, which resulted in changes to previous content that required jumping puzzles.
With such an influx of new players, there may be extra confusion about how to access high-level content and see everything Heavensward has to offer. Even current players may be surprised when reaching level 60 with a new job, discovering all of the adjustments Square Enix has made over various patches. Regardless of experience, a fully geared character will allow them to start Stormblood dungeons with greater ease.
Acquired Items in Final Fantasy XIV
Some level 60 items will be handed out as rewards and prizes. A few of these options were updated after the release Stormblood to include Samurai and Red Mage weapons. However, this isn’t true for Gunbreakers or Dancers, who may use the universal armor but cannot gain unique weapons.
Main Story
Players that go through the main scenario quests introduced in patch 3.2 The Gears of Change will have the opportunity to select item level 240 Augmented Primal equipment as rewards. These are divided into six coffer sets: The first contains weapons for tanks or Samurai; the second between Monk, Dragoon, Ninja, or Paladin’s shield; the fourth among Bard, Machinist, Black Mage, or Summoner; the fourth is weapons for healers or Red Mage. For the first armor set options are for tanks, Dragoons, Ninjas, or Monk/Samurai. The final armor selection is among casters, rangers, and healers.
Filibuster’s Dungeons
There are two dungeons that both drop item level 245 Filibuster’s armor. Sohm Al (Hard) can be unlocked from the quest The Fires of Somh Al by Gossamer Moogle in Idyllshire x:4, Y:8.5. Baelsar’s Wall requires completing the main story quest Griffin, Griffin on the Wall from patch 3.5 and leads to Stormblood. Each dungeon has 7 chests scattered around the area or dropped by bosses.
Anima Relics
As with A Realm Reborn, the expansion features its own type of Relic ranging from item level 170 Animated to 275 Lux weapons. This will start with the quest An Unexpected Proposal from Rowena in Idyllshire. Upgrading consists of a long list of objectives that can include FATEs, destroying a Zodiac Zeta, completing Beast Tribe quests, Alexander raids, repeating the Crystal Tower, running daily roulettes, and revisiting dungeons and trials across A Realm Reborn and Heavenward. Players should expect to invest 10,000 Poetics or more depending on random factors in each step. On the plus side, an Anima Lux has fully customizable stats making it potentially stronger than any other level 60 weapon.
Warring Triad
Players can meet with Unukalhai via the quest Gods of Eld from Torsefers in the Pillars. After completing patch 3.1, there will be the follow up quest When the Bough Wakes from Unukalhai. This will pit one against the Warring Triad from Final Fantasy VI. The standard trials don’t give any special rewards but will grant access to Extreme variants with weapon drops. Sephirot has item level 220 Sephirot weapons, Sophia with item level 255 Sophic weapons, and Zurvan with item level 265 Zurvanite weapons. Totems will also drop, which can be traded to Bertana in Idyllshire for specific rewards.
Alexander
Alexander is a multipart series of 8-man raids unlocked from the quest Disarmed from Slowfix in Idyllshire. Players can first embark on the normal difficulty of Gordias, Midas, and The Creator. These drop Tarnished parts that can be traded to Sabina in Idyllshire for Prototype gear of item level 190, 220, and 250, respectively. Each tier also has a Savage difficulty, the hardest content in Heavenwards. The rewards include versions of Gordian, Midan, and Alexandrian armor at item levels 210, 240, and 270; weapons have an additional 5 item levels for 215, 245, and 275. Manifestos will also drop, which can be given to Sabina for items of choice.
Mhachi and Proto Ultima
Heavensward’s 24-man raid is about the voidsent Mhachi society featured in the Black Mage and White Mage questlines. The first part can be unlocked from the quest Sky Pirates given by Unquiet Trader in The Pillars Airship Landing. These quests will unlock Void Ark with item level 200 Void Ark armor, The Weeping City of Mhach plus item level 230 Yafaemi, finally Dun Scaith and item level 260 Diabolic gear.
After completing Dun Scaith the first time, players can undergo the repeatable quest Unidentified Flying Object from Slipslix in Idyllshire. By defeating Proto Ultima mini-boss in Dun Scaith, players can earn item level 270 Proto Ultima accessories. Patch 5.3 removed the previous weekly restriction on this quest.
Purchased Items in Final Fantasy XIV
Those looking for quicker gear options can instead spend Gil or other currencies to acquire items. In many cases, this is the only option for fresh Gunbreakers and Dancers.
Shire Gear
One can use collected Poetic Allagan Tomestones for high-level item level 270 Augmented Shire weapons and armor. Poetics can easily be obtained from level 50 and 60 content (as well as level 70). Before update 5.3, Shire gear was originally sold as item level 260 and required upgrading via Seika on the other side of Idyllshire. Players that hold old pre-patch items can still use her services. Otherwise, 260 items can also be upgraded by Calamity Salvagers in major cities.
Palace of the Dead
Palace of the Dead is one of the first Deep Dungeons that can be used to level up jobs via an endless dungeon. It can be unlocked via the level 17 quest The House That Death Built from Nojiro Marujiro in New Gridania X:12, Y:13. Opening Silver Chests may reward Aetherpool Arms or Armor up to a stack of 99. After clearing floor 50, players can trade in 30 Arms and Armor for an item level 235 Padjal weapon; after floor 100, the weapon can be upgraded to item level 255 Kinna for another 60 Arms and Armor.
Ship Voyages
Free Companies can deploy airships and submarines to collect rare and exclusive crafting items. Many of these rewards are necessary to create high-end item level 250 equipment. A player who has also leveled their Disciple of the Hand classes to 60 may be able to fully outfit their combat jobs. Because of the time and resource commitment, it may instead be more beneficial to sell crafted items for a profit instead of binding them to one’s own character.
Additionally, weekly Wondrous Tales may offer Ornate body armor to characters who haven’t reached level 70. These are special versions of the crafted gear featuring five guaranteed materia slots without the need of extra melding.
Garo Repurchase
Item level 235 Garo armor and weapons were temporarily available during Heavensward and Stormblood to promote the show Golden Knight Garo. While the crossover was discontinued after the release of Shadowbringers, characters that previously obtained the PvP gear can reclaim it from any Calamity Salvager in exchange for Gil. Because these were intended for old PvP systems, almost no items feature Direct Hit or Piety; only the tank belt contains Tenacity.
The Pillars Merchants
Several stores in Ishgard will sell item level 255 equipment within the Jeweled Crozier. This includes Elbert for weapons, Norlaise with armor, and Seghuie who has accessories. However, these are of normal quality and far weaker than rare (blue) and scare (green) equipment. Players that have installed Stormblood can gain high-quality versions via story quests or Disciple of the Handcrafting. They can then sell them to other players via the Market Boards, but often at a highly inflated price.
Using a combination of questing, Gil, and instanced content players can fully arm multiple jobs. This will allow many options once venturing into higher-level content and expansions.
Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers are available now on PC, Mac, and PlayStation 4.