Over the past few years, Final Fantasy XIV has morphed into one of the best MMORPGs available today, thanks to the several updates and remakes it has undergone. For instance, the developers recently expanded the free trial for beginners from level 35 to level 60.

However, it can still be challenging, especially if you are a new player. We put together a few tips on how to ace this game:

Always Stay Out of the Area of Effect (AOE)

One of the most vital survival techniques you need to master while playing this game is to dodge the Area of Effect (AOE).

In Final Fantasy games, an AOE refers to the situation where magic spells and other attacks affect several targets within a particular area instead of a single target.

There are different types of AOEs in Final Fantasy XIV.

• Basic Ground Areas of Effect
  • These are the simplest types of AOEs. They are usually circular, and you have to stay out of that circle to avoid being a target.
  • It’s always easy to identify them since the enemies using them will show you a casting bar. In simple terms, if you see a red circle randomly appear, move as far away from it as possible to avoid getting hit.
• Donut Areas of Effect
  • This kind of AOE has a safe zone where player characters can step in to protect themselves from being attacked. While you can still move out of this area completely, it is advisable to step into the safe zone.
• Sequential Areas of Effect
  • Sequential AOEs are harder to dodge as they come in all shapes and sizes. They usually come one after another in a specific sequential pattern, forming an arc or a straight line in the arena.
• Chasing Areas of Effect
  • Like sequential Areas of Effect, chasing AOEs also appear continuously. However, they form an appearing pattern depending on a player’s movements.
• Target Areas of Effect
  • Similar to chasing AOEs, target Areas of Effect also follow player characters as they move. The only difference is that they stick to the ground for a certain amount of time before attacking. This gives you time to dodge them before they go off.
  • The key to successfully dodging any of these Areas of Effect is staying focused and being as fast as possible. Luckily, Final Fantasy XIV introduces AOEs slowly as you level up, giving you time to get more accustomed to them and learn how to dodge them.

Make Sure You Log Out in an Inn or Sanctuary

Like most other MMORPGs, logging out in a sanctuary or inn is a great way to boost your experience points (XP), especially as a beginner. To be more specific, logging out in any of these areas can add a 50% boost to your XP points the next time you log back in.

Aim At Spirit Bonding With Your Gear

This is another underestimated advantage that can help you level up quickly in FFXIV.

Spirit bonding is a system in Final Fantasy XIV that indicates how much you’ve used a particular equipment or gear. Once you’ve 100% spirit bonded with your gear, you can convert it into Materia, which will boost your equipment.

Materia are simply items that can be slotted into eligible or qualified gear, therefore enhancing their potential. And the more powerful your equipment or gear is, the higher your chances are of leveling up quickly in the game.

Ensure You Have As Much FFXIV Gil As You Can

FFXIV Gil is the main currency in the game. It enables players to buy better weapons, armors, cool hairstyles, and even houses. So, it is essential to have a good amount of it at all times.

There are tons of ways you can earn FFXIV Gil in Final Fantasy XIV, from selling items to slaying enemies to completing quests, dungeons, and challenges.

However, getting Gil through these tasks can be challenging, especially if you are a newbie.  That is why many gamers opt to buy FFXIV Gil. Sites such as MmoGah are trustworthy and can deliver Gil quickly to help you get ahead in the game.  

Get Yourself a Chocobo As Soon As You Can

Having a Chocobo by your side is also a great way to level up quickly in FFXIV since they provide a ton of benefits.

A Chocobo is a large bird in the game that is unlocked once the player reaches level 20, completes the “My Feisty Little Chocobo” quest, and joins a Grand Company.

The good thing about them is that, unlike rental Chocobos, there’s no time limit on when players will be utilizing them. What’s more, once you meet all the qualifications we mentioned earlier, you get a Chocobo whistle that you can use to summon your Chocobo.

A Chocobo can be utilized in many ways. For starters, you can use its saddlebag as extra storage space to store your items. And as you may now know, the more possessions you have, the more FFXIV Gil you can get by selling them.

You can also use the bird as a fighting companion, but only after you’ve completed the “ My Feisty Little Chocobo” quest.

Take Advantage of Your Hunting Log

Another excellent way to gain experience in Final Fantasy XIV is to use your hunting log.

This feature allows you to gain experience and level up in the game by hunting down and slaying monsters displayed on the log.

This hunting log will show you the monsters, their locations, how difficult or strong they are, and the number of XP points you get by slaying them. While the log doesn’t give the exact location of these beasts, it still gives you an idea of where they are.

Don’t Do Every Quest You Come Across

A lot of sources on the internet insist on players doing as many quests as they can, but that may not be helpful, especially if you’re a beginner working hard to gain experience.

It is recommended not to dwell so much on side quests. This is because they do not give as much experience as other types of quests, such as feature quests.

Side quests are marked by an upside-down teardrop icon with a brown background and a gold border.

Conclusion

Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most exciting MMORPGs you can play today. And you don’t have to be an experienced gamer to enjoy the game. But leveling up can be a challenge for some people.

The key is to have an open mind and a willingness to learn. The tips we have provided in this article are by no means exhaustive, but they should give you somewhere to start. Practice as much as you can and don’t forget to have fun.