The release of Final Fantasy XIV’s newest patch update is just a few days away. This will raise the limitations on free accounts to level cap 60 and full access to A Realm Reborn and Heavensward. This means many players will be looking for the best ways to fully gear their hero and progress from 50 to 60.

Next: How Adventurer Squadrons Work in Final Fantasy XIV

While one option is to go through the long quest of creating a Zodiac Relic, there are many other means of gaining ultimate weapons and armor from A Realm Reborn content. Best yet, any gained items can be placed into the Glamour Dresser and transmogrified onto future gear.

Equipment from Quests and Raids in Final Fantasy XIV

Allagans attack during Frontlines in Final Fantasy 14

Powerful gear is rewarded for completing questlines or repeating high-level fights like raids and trials.

Main Scenario

By completing the main quests introduced in Defenders of Eorzea and Dreams of Ice players will be able to obtain free sets of item level 110 Soldiery armor and Gerolt Masterwork weapons. However, each quest only allows the selection of a single reward. This will mean that one can likely only gain two full sets of gear divided between Tanks/Melee and Ranged/Casters/Healers. Note that while Stormblood jobs Samurai and Red Mage can use the armor, there is no corresponding weapon.

Additional armor can be bought from Hunt Billmasters within Grand Company headquarters for Allied Seals, won by clearing Hunt marks around Eorzea. Weapons can be purchased from Aelina in Mor Dhona for Poetic tomestones and Unidentified Allagan tomestones dropped in Srycus Tower and the Second Coil of Bahamut. Both Soldiery armor and Masterwork weapons obtained this way will be weathered and will further need to be treated with Sands of Time, also from Srycus Tower and the Second Coil of Bahamut; or by buying Blood Spattered Mark Logs from Hunt Billmasters and trading those to Aelina. Either way, take the weathered gear and Sands of Time to Drake in Northern Shroud and he will restore them to their full quality.

Shiva Extreme

Part of clearing Dreams of Ice will involve a story fight with the powerful primal Shiva. After beating this tame version, meet with Urianger in the Waking Sands and ask about a more deadly version of the fight. This will unlock the level 50 quest Drop Dead Shiva. Once gaining item level 95, players can challenge the ice queen to a rematch. Defeating her will reward item level 120 True Ice Bracelets and item level 110 True Ice weapons. Sometimes Diamond Dust will randomly drop. Trading five Diamond Dust and a True Ice weapon to Aelina for item level 115 Diamond weapons.

Wolves’ Den PvP

At level 30 players can undertake the quest A Pup No Longer from their Grand Company. This will lead them to the Wolves Den Pier and PvP content. These include the Feast arena matches, full-scale Frontline wars like Onsal Hakair and Seal Rock, and Rival Wings MOBAs. All will reward Wolf Marks. While there are many potential items that can be purchased with this currency, those still completing A Realm Reborn will want to acquire item level 110 Liege gear. These are specific to each job from A Realm Reborn and Heavensward, and there are no versions for jobs introduced in Stormblood or Shadowbringers.

Crystal Tower

The Crystal Tower is a series of 24-man raids that reward armor based around Final Fantasy III designs. The questline is mandatory for Shadowbringers, making it important to clear as a fresh level 50. The first mission will be Legacy of Allag from Outlandish Man in Mor Dhona X: 21, Y: 8. Raids unlocked include Labyrinth of the Ancients (item level 50 needed) which drops item level 80 armor, Srycus Tower (item level 70 required) which has item level 100 rewards, and The World of Darkness (item level 90 minimum) which has item level 120 gear. Each party of eight players will have to divide the armor among themselves, while other rewards like minions, Triple Triad cards, and music scrolls are pooled among all three parties.

The Binding Coil of Bahamut

The Binding Coil of Bahamut serves as the ultimate challenge in A Real Reborn. Some encounter mechanics can be difficult for even some well geared veterans, especially the Second Coil Turn 4 and Final Coil Turn 2. Plus the storyline sheds light on the events of the original defunct Final Fantasy XIV and gives small links to Heavensward. Players can start the journey from the level 50 quest Primal Awakening from Urianger in the Waking Sands, after already having defeated the hard versions of Ifrit, Gardua, and Titan. Among the tiers include The Binding Coil of Bahamut (item level 70 min) that grants item level 90 Allagan weapons and armor, The Second Coil of Bahamut (item level 90 min) which drops item level 110 High Allagan gear, and the Final Coil of Bahamut (item level 110 min) which rewards the strongest item level 130 Dreadwyrm armor and 135 weapons.

Unlike most content, armor rewards are scattered among roles. A melee DPS might gain their body armor at the first fight, but jewelry near the end; a ranged DPS may instead have access to their belt and boots quickly, bracelets and gloves in the middle, and pants in the finale.

Purchased Items in Final Fantasy XIV

Ironworks party battles Shiva in Final Fantasy 14

High-level equipment can also be bought with a mixture of gil and earned currency from daily activities.

Grand Company Officer

Players can gain exclusive item level 130 Captain rank weapons by advancing in their Grand Company. This process will involve donating a total 44,000 Grand Company Seals, killing all monsters of Rank 1 and 2 in the Grand Company Hunting Log, clearing the level 44 quest Shadows Uncast for the dungeon Dzemael Darkhold, followed by the level 47 quest Gilding the Bilious that unlocks Aurum Vale. Afterwards, one can start Adventuring Squadrons and train a team to level 40 and undergo the Squadron Mission Crystal Recovery. For the final promotion, players will need to clear any five Command Missions.

Once gaining Captain status, the Quartermaster will sell powerful weapons for 35,000 Grand Company seals. All of these can be further enhanced for up to three hours by consuming Sanction, sold under the Petty Officer Materials tab. Also note, if one changes Grand Companies they will have to re-advance to Captain to buy weapons from their new Grand Company.

Crafting and Market Boards

Level 50 Disciples of the Hand can create item level 115 weapons and armor. Standard synthesized items are weak compared to rare (blue) and scarce (green) goods of the same level. However, if a crafter can manage a High-Quality version then even its common status (white) will be powerful. Those who push beyond A Realm Reborn’s level cap and gain level 52 can also create item level 125 gear. If someone can’t make items themselves they can work with their Free Company, Linkshell, or purchase the same goods from world Market Boards but at a markup. The following classes can forge certain items:

  • Blacksmith: Swords, Axes, Great Swords, Knuckles, Katanas, Daggers, Guns
  • Carpenter: Spears, Bows, Canes (50)
  • Armorer: Shields, Sallets (50: Fending, Maiming), Hauberks (50: Fending, Maiming), Gauntlets (50: Fending, Maiming), Tassets (50: Fending, Maiming), Sabatons (50: Fending, Maiming)
  • Leatherworker: Masks (52: Casting, Striking, Fending, Maiming), Halfgloves (50: Scouting), Cuffs (52 all), Belts (50: Striking, 52 all), Breeches (52: Fending, Maiming), Boots (50: Healing, Casting, Aiming, Scouting, Striking; 52 all)
  • Weaver: Caps (50: Healing, Casting, Aiming, Scouting; 52: Healing, Aiming, Scouting), Shirts (50: Healing, Casting, Aiming, Scouting, Striking; 52 all), Gloves (50: Healing, Casting, Aiming, Striking), Sashes (50: Healing, Casting, Aiming, Scouting), Sarouel (50: Healing, Casting, Aiming, Scouting, Striking; 52 all), Ribbons (50)
  • Goldsmith: Staves, Rapiers, Globes, Circlets (50: Striking), Earrings, Necklaces (52), Bracelets, Rings
  • Alchemist: Grimoires, Canes (52), Codex

Garlond Ironworks Equipment

As players complete level 50 and above content, they will receive various amounts of Allagan Poetic tomestones. This can include dungeons, trials, raids, PvP, hunt marks, and more. Auriana in Mor Dhona will trade Poetics directly for item level 120 Ironworks armor. Aelina will also sell Rowena Tokens, and trade said token along with Encrypted tomestones for 120 Ironworks weapons. While Aelina does sell Encrypted tomestones herself, they also drop for free in The The Final Coil of Bahamut or by completing the weekly quest The Gift of the Archmagus from clearing the entire Crystal Tower. It is also important to remember that Poetics are the same currency needed for high-level equipment in Heavensward and Stormblood, so it may be good to not spend it all.

Ironworks equipment can be further enhanced by Drake in Northern Shroud. He will require Carboncoat for accessories and Carbontwine for all other gear. These drop from The Final Coil of Bahamut and as a The Gift of the Archmagus reward. Drake will transform the equipment into item level 130 Augmented Ironworks.

Next: How to Master Rival Wings in Final Fantasy XIV (Tips & Tricks)

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers are available now on PC and PlayStation 4.