How to level up fast in FFXIV: Leveling guide for Final Fantasy 14

❘ Updated: 2022-08-18T14:00:00

Square Enix (via Twitter: Espressolala)

FFXIV is designed to appeal to newer players.

Leveling up is one of the most important things you can do in FFXIV. It allows you to improve your character so that you can take on new quests, start new jobs, unlock dungeons, and more. However, in later levels especially, grinding up to the next can feel like a massive chore. Here are the best ways to level up fast in Final Fantasy XIV.

It’s a common problem in FFXIV, you go to start the next story quest and it’s locked because you’re not at the right level yet. Or worse, you start the quest only to fall at the first hurdle because your character isn’t powerful enough to tackle its enemies yet. Time to grind!

Thankfully, there are multiple ways to gain Experience Points in the game, and many are easier and less time-consuming than you’d think. Here’s our detailed FFXIV leveling guide to help you level up fast in Square Enix’s MMO masterpiece.

How to level up fast in FFXIV

How to level up fast in FFXIV

There are 13 main ways to level up quickly in Final Fantasy XIV and you can use a combination of all of them to boost your leveling frequency and be on the path to greatness in no time.

You can also start most of these from level 1, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re a new player or a seasoned veteran looking to boost their subclass – you can employ these tactics whenever you need to.

Main Scenario story quests

ffxiv alphinaud

Always remember that main story missions are an EXP goldmine. Working through these can be an effective way to rise up the ranks. So, if you’ve been exploring the world and have hit a bit of a leveling wall, go and progress the story a bit for a nice experience boost.

These quests are especially important in the early stages of FFXI and they’ll also help teach you the game’s mechanics. Don’t forget to talk to everyone and accept every quest you see, you’ll complete many of them passively by just by progressing through the game and talking to others – this too means lots of easy EXP.

Class & Job Quests

Every class in FFXIV has Class Quests every few levels. Not only do they unlock new moves every now and then, but they also net you a good chunk of Experience Points.

After around level 30, you can start your Job Quests which are basically the same thing, and they award a hefty chunk of EXP too. If you’re not progressing fast enough, complete a few of these to rank up a few levels.

FFXIV Duty Roulette

ffxiv duty roulette

The Duty Roulette is a seasoned Final Fantasy XIV player’s best friend. It’s essentially this game’s version of daily quests. The Duty Roulette selects a quest at random, whether that’s a previously completed dungeon, Raid, Frontline, or a boss fight and lets you tackle this either solo or as part of a team.

Finishing these daily quests provides EXP, Gil, Grand Company Seals, and more, meaning it’s a great way to earn a few levels up if you need them.

FATEs

FATEs are one of the most enjoyable ways to level up. They appear at random on the map and consist of an activity that must be completed, whether that’s a boss fight, a mission, or another event.

The reward depends on how well you perform the task, so it would be wise to bring a friend along to help get the most out of it. Or jump in and help a group of players complete whatever the goal may be.

Guildleves

ffxiv guildleves

Guildleves are a quick and easy way to gain levels. These are quick quests that reward a decent amount of EXP upon completion. They can be done repeatedly, provided you have enough Levequest Allowances.

You can get six Allowances per day, with three given to you every 12 hours. You can accept these from NPCs in settlements, as well as members of your Grand Company. Learn to take advantage of these when you can to bump yourself up a level or two.

Guildhests

Guildhests are unlocked after completing a Guildleve for the first time. Guildhests are group quests that involve boss fights and dungeons. They are a tutorial of sorts, as they focus on teaching players about a certain action or skill.

While this may sound tedious, they also appear in the Duty Roulette, meaning you’ll get extra Experience Points for finishing them. So don’t just run away from them, embrace them, learn the skills and enjoy the EXP.

FFXIV Hunting Log

ffxiv hunting log

The Hunting Log is a sure-fire way to level up fast, and those who’ve played FFXII or FFXV will feel right at home with these monster hunting quests.

The Log lists enemies that you must hunt down and slay which then awards you with EXP once the task is done. It shows you their location and the recommended level you should be before taking them on.

After you’ve finished a page and moved up to the next rank, you’ll get a huge amount of Experience Points so make sure you do it. Not only is this a fantastic way to level up, but it’s also one of the most fun parts of FFXIV, either solo or in co-op.

FFXIV Challenge Log

Similar to the Hunting Log, the Challenge Log asks you to perform certain objectives, whether that’s finishing dungeons or Guildhests, or participating in PVP fights.

It isn’t available straight away, though – it is unlocked after beating the level 15 quest, Rising to the Challenge. After that, you can pick these up anytime to help you level up fast in FFXIV.

Food

Food has an EXP bonus.

Possibly the most overlooked and easy way of them all, consuming food should be something you do often. Almost all food items give the same EXP bonus so make sure you’re stocked up. Eat some before you go out questing and when the effects wear off, be ready to eat another. This way you’ll always be maximizing your EXP gains.

Orange Juice is a popular item as it’s also cheap, selling for just 1 Gil. Buy a bunch of them in bulk and keep them on hand at all times. Drink some every time you begin a quest, especially when you tackle one of the Main Scenario quests or the Hunting Log.

Join a FFXIV Free Company

Free Companies in Final Fantasy XIV are basically clubs that you and other players can belong to, similar to Guilds in World of Warcraft. They are a great way of making friends and finding people to run through dungeons with.

A Free Company can also offer a buff to all its members that provides an EXP boost, so it’s worth being in one even if you’re a lone wolf. Even if you have no intention of questing in that Free Company, join them for the buff alone. This could make a major difference and help you level up fast.

Item buffs

Select items give you a buff up to a certain level.

Item buffs are a fantastic way of gaining an EXP bonus because all you have to do is wear it and you’ll automatically feel the benefit.

Unfortunately, many of them are preorder bonuses for expansions so you may be out of luck. However, you can always keep an eye open for the next expansion and the items on offer.

Moogle Cap: +20% experience up to level 10 (A Realm Reborn preorder)
Helm of Light: +20% experience up to level 10 (A Realm Reborn collector’s edition preorder)
Friendship Circlet: +20% experience up to level 26 (recruit a friend to FFXIV or be recruited and stay subscribed for 30 days)
Brand-new Ring: +30% experience up to level 31 (complete Hall of the Novice)
Ala Mhigan Earrings: +30% experience up to level 51 (Stormblood preorder)
Aetheryte Earring: +30% experience up to level 71 (Shadowbringers preorder)
Menphina’s Earring: +30% experience up to level 80 (Endwalker preorder)

FFXIV Rested Bonus

The easiest way to gain lots of EXP is to log out when you’re in a Sanctuary. This will give you a stored bar of Experience Points which are awarded to you as a 50% bonus the next time you log in.

So, there you have it! By following this guide, you should level up in no time. Interested in FFXIV? Check out everything you need to know before you start and these other guides: