FFXIV Leveling & Crafting: Definitive Guide

 Though, you can say it is much easier to level up your Crafter job since you do not have to engage in any combat. But do make sure to have at least one of the battle jobs leveled up a decent amount, as you will need them to access some of the methods mentioned in this FFXIV leveling guide: crafting. 

Highlights:

• Start your first ever craft and after reaching level 10, use the Quick Synthesis method to farm experience points.
• Use Leve Quests after Quick Synthesis to continue farming experience points if you have enough allowances.
• You can use Ishgardian Restoration instead of Leve Quests if you do not have enough allowances.
• Utilize all the different daily Beast Tribe Quests available to you, according to your current level. 
• Turn in items for your daily Grand Company Supply Mission for additional experience points.
  

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Why Crafting Is Important?

Crafting is exactly what it sounds like, the making of in-game items. You can craft almost anything at all in Final Fantasy XIV as long as you know what you are doing and have reached a high enough level. That is why you can craft items and save a lot of Gil rather than buying items from the market.

Crafting an item will normally be much cheaper than buying it directly from the market. It will also allow you to create much better gear as crafters can choose to make high-quality items that give a significant boost to your stats. This is the reason why a lot of the players with amazing gear are almost always crafters.

Crafting is indeed very beneficial, but there are a few things you should keep note of before starting out on this leveling journey for your crafting job. You will need at least a couple million Gil on you, so make sure to save some from some side quests or main scenario quests. That is because you will need it to occasionally buy some tools, gear, food, and materials to start your crafting journey.

All Crafting Classes

As with all of the other jobs in Final Fantasy XIV, Crafters also start with several different Crafting Classes that have different purposes. Here is a brief introduction to all of the Crafter classes you can start with:

• Carpenter. This class is excellent at creating wooden materials, such as furniture and weapons used by several classes in FFXIV. These weapons can include bows, staves, clogs, etc. The guild location for the Carpenter class is New Gridania.
• Armorer. This class is excellent at working with metal materials and shaping ores that you can equip. The gear can include metal body armor, ring mail, scale mail, etc. The guild location for the Armorer Class is Limsa Lominsa – Upper Decks.
• Blacksmith. Similar to the Armorer class, Blacksmith also works with metal materials. The difference is they excel at refining the metal and turning it into handheld or off-hand weapons, such as swords, scythes, axes, etc. The guild location for the Blacksmith class is also Limsa Lominsa – Upper Decks.
• Weaver. This class is a master of working with fabrics and fibers. They can convert these materials into very light armor and wearable equipment. The equipment can include shirts, robes, ribbons, etc. The guild location for the Weaver class is Ul’dah – Steps of Thal.
• Leatherworker. This class works with leather-based materials and can make leather-based equipment and armor from monster’s fur. The guild location for the Leatherworker class is Old Gridania.
• Culinarian. This class, living up to its name, works with different ingredients to make edible meals. These exact meals referred to as food, give various jobs buffs. The most notorious of these buffs is the experience points buff. The guild location for the Culinarian class is Limsa Lominsa – Upper Decks.
• Alchemist. This class is a master of magic. It works with different potions, elixirs, wands, etc. The guild location for the Alchemist class is Ul’dah – Steps of Thal. 
• Goldsmith. As expected from its name, this class works with fashionable equipment and weapons full of beautiful jewelry, such as necklaces, rings, earrings, etc. The guild location for the Goldsmith class is Ul’dah – Steps of Thal.

Of course, sometimes there can be exceptions to what each class can craft; this is just a general understanding of what they can work with. You can choose to start out with any of these classes, whichever one interests you the most. Though, some players with big ambitions have the goal of reaching max level with all of these classes. With such a grand goal, it comes with a grand but unofficial name; Omnicrafter. 

This name is shared among all jobs. For example, in the case of Tanks, if you manage to reach max level with all of the tank classes, you will be known as an Omnitank. The name, by itself, has no benefits except maybe bragging rights. But you do get amazing benefits if you max level with all of these classes. You will be able to craft the highest level weapons and equipment for all of your jobs.

If you wish to be an Omnicrafter, the general strategy would be to keep all of your crafters at the same level. You can then craft equipment for any of your other classes that need it for their questlines or any other requirements.

Whether you are chasing the Omnicrafter name or just trying to reach max level with 1 job, you can follow this guide for both purposes. With all of the general details covered, we can now talk about the best methods to level up your crafting job in this FFXIV leveling guide: crafting.

Quick Synthesis

This is an alternative method to crafting and is much faster compared to regular crafting. In the crafting log, you will see the option “Quick Synthesis,” as shown in the screenshot provided above. This will allow you to synthesize a large number of items very quickly. The catch is that you need to have crafted those items at least once. 

To get started, you will need to find a level 1 recipe in your crafting log, then take a look at all the materials you need for that specific recipe. They will be displayed right alongside the recipe you choose. Once you have taken note of the materials you need, you can talk to the vendor in your respective guild and buy all of those materials. It will be incredibly cheap.

As mentioned previously, you will only need to synthesize this item once. After you have crafted the item, you can use Quick Synthesis instead to craft as many of these items as you want. Afterward, try to find higher-level recipes with materials and Quick Synthesize them over and over until you unlock new recipes. Of course, the higher level of the recipe, the more experience points you get.

The experience points you will get from just crafting items using this method alone will be enough to give you a head start in your FFXIV leveling journey. You should use this method with all of your crafting classes when you start out. Keep repeating this method until you no longer see any progress with Quick Synthesis. 

How To Unlock Quick Synthesis

The requirement to access quick synthesis is to be at level 10 with your crafter. If you are a complete beginner, you can quickly get to level 10 by just crafting. You need to make sure to have the “company-issue engineering manual“; you can get it by trading in company seals at a grand company vendor. You will also need a boiled egg, which can simply be purchased from a guild vendor.

When you have acquired these items, use them to start your first craft. You can also put in a free company bonus, which you will most likely have. This step is optional, but it will give you extra experience points and make the process much faster. Once the craft is started, repeat it until you have reached level 10, this will unlock quick synthesis for you.

Tradecraft Leve Quests

These quests are a very efficient way to level up your crafters quickly; in theory, you can max out your crafters all the way to level 90 just by doing Leve Quests. But that is technically not possible because, unfortunately, Leve Quests are limited to the number of allowances you have with crafters. You can look at the number of allowances you have at the bottom of your Leve Quests menu, as shown in the image above.

If you have never done Leve Quests, you most likely have the full limit of 99 allowances, which should be enough to go from around level 20 to 90. That is why we recommend doing these Leve Quests once you have reached either level 20 or 26 using the Quick Synthesis method provided above. Though, you are provided with 3 new allowances every 12 real-life hours. So, if you are short on Leve Quest allowances, you can save some up accordingly. 

Since you are a crafter and not a battle job, these Leve Quests only require you to turn in a specific item. You will be able to see the name of that item in the Leve Quest details. Sometimes it can be more than 1 item, but usually, it is just 1. You are allowed to submit either a normal-quality item or it can be a high-quality item. Of course, a high-quality item will net you much greater rewards, which will heavily increase the value of every single allowance you spend.

You should try to find Leve Quests that only require you to submit items such as potions, yarns, ingots, and anything that is not gear. That is because you can buy a lot of these items from the market board, which can be relatively inexpensive.

So, once you accept the Leve Quests requiring these items, head over to the market board to check the prices, we always recommend submitting high-quality items, but if the prices for some of the high-quality items are bad, you can just submit the normal-quality version. 

These Leve Quests used to be an even better way of farming experience points to level up your crafter. But with the release of Endwalker, they were slightly nerfed in terms of the overall rewards they provided, including experience points. But they are still a great way to level up your crafter while also being able to get other amazing rewards. 

How To unlock Leve Quests

To unlock the Tradecraft Leve Quests. You have to continue with the main scenario quests until you reach a certain quest. You also have to be level 9 to access this quest. The quest is different depending on your starting city and your crafting job. 

• For Alchemist, Goldsmith, and Weaver. You have to complete the Quest “Way Down in the Hole” found in Ul’dah.
• For Armorer, Blacksmith, and Culinarian. You have to complete the Quest “Just Desserts” found in Limsa Lominsa.
• For Carpenter and Leatherworker. You have to complete the Quest “Spirithold Broken” found in Gridania.

Once you have completed the quest corresponding to your crafting job, you can head over to your city’s adventurous guild and find the levemate NPC. The NPC will allow you to accept a level 10 quest that will unlock the tradecraft Leve Quests for you. This quest is also specific to your Crafting job. 

• For Alchemist, Goldsmith, and Weaver. The quest that will unlock the Tradecraft Leve Quests is “Leves of Horizon” found in Ul’dah.
• For Armorer, Blacksmith, and Culinarian. The quest that will unlock the Tradecraft Leve Quests is “Leves of Swiftperch” found in Limsa Lominsa.
• For Carpenter and Leatherworker. The quest that will unlock the Tradecraft Leve Quests is “Leves of Bentbranch” found in Gridania.

Ishgardian Restoration

The Ishgardian Restoration was added in patch 5.11. Your basic job is to craft collectibles for the people in Ishgard. The collectibles mentioned are just your normal crafts. But instead of the quality bar you get on a normal craft, you get a collectability rating. Everything else is the same as a normal craft. You will be able to earn experience points based on the rating your collectible receives. Do keep in mind you need a minimum amount of collectability rating for you to be able to receive your experience points and other rewards.

You can find the crafts in your crafting log; go under special recipes then you can find the Ishgardian Restoration. After crafting your collectible, you will need to hand it in over to the collectible appraiser called “Potkin”. You will, of course, need ingredients for these crafts, which can only be sourced by the gatherers. You can access them from the market board. 

Macros

To save as much time as possible while you are crafting, you should be using the Macro system in FFXIV. The macros allow you to set multiple different inputs into 1 single input. You can set up to 15 commands in a single macro, allowing you to do all those commands with a press of a single button. This will save you hours of time in the long run. You can find the macro section by going to System Settings and then User Macros. 

You can craft your own macros on this website; you simply have to enter the name of the item in the Crafting Simulation and search. Once you have found the item, you can click on it and enter the stats you have on your current crafting job. You can find all the information needed for this on your character screen inside the game. Then click on rotation finder and it will list all the possible macros you can use for the item you have entered. 

You can copy and paste these macros in the user macros section and start crafting at a press of a single button. Of course, you are still able to craft the item manually, but our goal is to level up as fast as possible, so the macros will help us reach our goal much faster. 

How To Unlock The Ishgardian Restoration

To unlock the Ishgardian Restoration, you need to have at least 1 of your jobs at level 60. It can be any class or job. As we mentioned at the start of this FFXIV leveling guide: crafting is very helpful to have a combat job leveled up a decent amount. You also need to have completed the main scenario Quest, “Litany of Peace.”

You can then go to the Foundation (X:9.7 Y:11.5) and accept the Quest called “Towards the Firmament.” Once you have completed the quest, it will unlock The Ishgardian Restoration for you.

Tribal Daily Quests 

Beast Tribe Quests are an excellent way to make some extra Experience points daily. As mentioned in our combat job leveling guide, you should be using these quests along with the other methods mentioned in this FFXIV leveling guide: crafting. Since The Beast Tribe quests are daily quests, there is a limit to how many you can do per day. That is why we recommended supplementing them with other methods. 

The limit to how many quests you can do per day is 3 quests per tribe. Though, the actual number of quests each tribe has to offer you is nearly endless. The daily 3 quests are rotated from within the endless amount of quests in each tribe. You are able to surpass the 3 Quests per day limit, though.

There is something called reputation points with each tribe and these allow you to rank up with the tribe. If you rank up, you can do 3 additional quests on the same day, essentially allowing you to surpass the 3 quests per day limit. Do note there is still a limit to how many quests you can do per day. That is 12 quests at max, even if you somehow keep ranking up on the same day. 

As you may have guessed, unlike the quests combat jobs get, as a crafter, you do not actually have to engage in any battle in these Beast Tribe Quests. You only have to craft. We recommend doing different Beast Tribes depending on your level range.

• For level 1-50 Crafters, you should do Ixal Beast Tribe Quests
• For level 50-60 Crafters, you should do Moogle Beast Tribe Quests
• For level 60-70 Crafters, you should do Namazu Beast Tribe Quests
• For level 70-80 Crafters, you should do Dwarf Beast Tribe Quests

Ixal Beast Tribe

This Beast Tribe’s Quests are located at Ehcatl in the North Shroud (X: 24, Y: 22). This tribe’s quests are best done if you are between levels 1 and 50 with your crafting job. Your objective for the quest will, of course, be crafting items for the Ixal Beast Tribe.

You will need to make use of special crafting facilities in order to craft the item that they require. After you have obtained the materials you need in the quest, you must give them to the workshop supervisor so that you can use their crafting facilities. 

How To Unlock Ixal Beast Tribe Quests

To unlock the Ixali Tribe Quests, you need to complete the level 41 main scenario quest called “In Pursuit of the Past.” Once completed, you can go talk to Scarlet in New Gridania (X: 9.9, Y: 11.4) to start the quest “A Bad Bladder,” which will unlock the Ixal Beast Tribe Quests for you.

Moogle Beast Tribe

Once you have reached level 50, you should move over to the Moogle Beast Tribe quests instead of Ixal. You should do this tribe’s quests from level 50 until level 60. Other than that, Moogle Beast Tribe’s Quests work exactly the same as the Ixal Beast Tribe. 

How To Unlock Moogle Beast Tribe Quests

Unlocking this Tribe’s quests is a bit complicated since you have to follow a long series of questlines before you can reach the quest that will unlock Moogle Beast Tribe Quests for you. You can start the questline by going to the Churning Mists (X: 29.7, Y: 35.3) and talking to the NPC called Mogleo. There are a total of 3 questlines you have to complete. 

The first questline is this:

• “A Pebble for Your Thoughts” | Quest giver: Mogleo. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 29.7, Y: 35.3)
• “Spineless Wadjets” | Quest giver: Mogleo. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 21.0, Y: 25.0)
• “Far From Home” | Quest giver: Mogleo. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 10.0, Y: 29.2)
• “A Nutty Initiation” | Quest giver: Mogleo. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 10.0, Y: 29.2)

Now to find the second questline, you have to talk to another NPC called “Mogloo” who can be found at X: 30, Y: 36. He will give the questline. This is the list of the quests you have to complete:

• “Protecting the Pom” | Quest giver: Mogloo. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 30.0, Y: 36.0)
• “Save the Pomguard” | Quest giver: Mogkul. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 30.0, Y: 36.0)
• “An Urgent Message” | Quest giver: Mogkul. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 8.6, Y: 27.9)
• “A Moogle’s Intuition” | Quest giver: Mogok. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 7.6, Y: 28.9)
• “An Uneasy Feeling” | Quest giver: Mogga. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 9.3, Y: 25.9)
• “Trouble at Zenith” | Quest giver: Mogkul. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 8.6, Y: 27.9)

When completed, you need to go to Ishgard (The Pillars) and talk to the Unflinching Temple Knight (X: 11.5,  Y: 11). He will give you the final questline. This is the list of the quests you have to complete:

• “Into the Mists” | Quest giver: Unflinching Temple Knight. Found in Ishgard, The Pillars (X: 11.4, Y: 11.0)
• “Bitter Is the Night” | Quest giver: Maenne. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 22.8, Y: 16.2)
• “Cleaning House” | Quest giver: Maenne. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 22.8, Y: 16.2)
• “Finders Keepers” | Quest giver: Northeastern Scouting Party Dragoon. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 29.1, Y: 12.9)
• “These Things Take Time” | Quest giver: Maenne. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 22.8, Y: 16.2)
• “An Unwelcome Surprise” | Quest giver: Southern Scouting Party Dragoon. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 7.4, Y: 19.1)
• “A Meter Too Far” | Quest giver: Southern Scouting Party Dragoon. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 11.4, Y: 9.0)
• “Thar Be Dragons” | Quest giver: Maenne. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 22.8, Y: 16.2)
• “Laying the First Brick” | Quest giver: Maenne. Found in The Churning Mists (X: 22.8, Y: 16.2)

Once you have finally completed all 3 of these questlines, you can do the Quest “Tricks and Stones” which you can start by talking to Seething Stonemason in The Churning Mists (X: 27, Y: 34). After completing, it will unlock the Moogle Beast Tribe Quests for you.

Namazu Beast Tribe 

As mentioned earlier, the Namazu Beast Tribe’s quests are optimally done if you are between level 60 and level 70. The tasks are the same as the previous 2 tribes as well, you have to craft some items for the Namazu Beast Tribe, and they will give you experience points and some other rewards in exchange. The only difference is that the Namazu Beast Tribe’s quests can also be done by Gatherers. You can find this tribe’s quests in The Azim Steppe at Dhoro Iloh (X: 5.8, Y: 23.4, Z: 1.2).

How To Unlock Namazu Beast Tribe Quests

To unlock Namazu Beast Tribe Quests, you have first to complete 2 questlines. One of these questlines starts with the quest called “Courage the Cowardly Lupin,” and the other is called “Perchance to Hanami.” Both of these quests can be found in Yanxia. 

Once you have completed both questlines, you will unlock the Quest called “Kurobana vs. Gyorin” found at (X: 29.3, Y: 17.5). Finally, after completing that quest, you can complete the Tribal quest called “One Size Fits All” as a level 60 crafter. That will unlock the Namazu Beast Tribe Quests.

Dwarf Beast Tribe

Finally, we have the Dawarf Beast Tribe Quests, introduced in the shadowbringers expansion. You can use the Dwarf Tribe Quests from level 70 to level 80 after finishing the Moogle Beast Tribe. This Tribe’s quests also work the same as the previous 3 tribes mentioned.

How To Unlock The Dwarf Beast Tribe Quests

To unlock the Dwarf Beast Tribe quests, you have to complete 2 split questlines. They start with the 2 quests called “Village of Woe” and “A Disagreeable Dwarf.” Once completed, You can do the Tribal quest called “It’s Dwarfin’ Time”, after completion, it will unlock The Dwarf Beast Tribe Quests.

Grand Company Supply Missions

As we’ve learned with the daily Beast Tribe Quests, a crafting job has several daily and weekly methods for you to gain extra experience points. The grand company supply missions are no different; they are also a daily activity and are limited to once per day. These supply missions can earn you an absurd amount of experience points.

To access them, you can head over to your timer’s menu, then click on Next Mission Allowance, and then check out the items you can turn in to your supply officer. You are allowed to turn in 1 item per day. We recommend you turn in the high-quality version of the item; it will multiply the number of experience points you get.

The items you need to turn in to your supply officer can also be bought from the market board, but we do not recommend doing that. The market board prices for these items are incredibly overpriced. You are much better off crafting the item yourself. If you lack the ingredients, you can buy them from the market board instead, as the ingredients themselves will be much more affordable.

Wrap-up

A Crafter Job is also known as the disciple of the hand officially. The methods you use to level up your crafter job are entirely different from your regular battle job. Crafting in FFXIV is possibly the most complex and in-depth crafting system out of all MMORPGs. But that is exactly what makes leveling your crafter job all that more intriguing and fun to explore; it can also be a very relaxing activity. On the contrary, as it is a very in-depth system, it is understandable that you feel intimidated to approach crafting. We hope this FFXIV leveling guide: crafting helped alleviate some of that intimidation factor. 

NEXT:

• FFXIV Leveling Guide 1-90
• FFXIV BEST Retainer Class
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• FFXIV Trust System Guide