Ten tips for newcomers to Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

Starting off fresh in a brand-new MMO can be a daunting task. And, even though Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn isn’t technically new (the original XIV came out back in 2010), with the massive overhaul it’s since received, it may as well be.

To help our dear friends and fellow Realm Reborn-ers find their footing, we’ve compiled this guide of ten tips.

Attune to aetheryte as soon as possible

When you enter a new town, you’ll generally see a giant blue magically floating crystal called an aetheryte. You can attune yourself to each one, and this links that location up with your Teleport spell. Sure, it’ll cost you some gil to travel this way, but it’s a hell of a lot more convenient than walking across the fantasy landscape like some silly hobbit with an evil ring in tow.

Also, in the major cities, there is a smaller version of these stones, which allow you to tap into a swift-travel system called the aethernet. Bad pun aside, this is a lifesaver for those hard-to-find guilds that always seem to be tucked away in back corners of gigantic labyrinthine alleyways and such. And the aethernet is free to use, so go nuts.

Talk to the Chocobokeep

Like the aetheryte, Chocobos can be used as an interconnected hub of travel locations. All you have to do to initiate this line of travel is to just talk to the Chocobokeep in each town you visit. Don’t be shy, these guys don’t bite. And they wear adorable Chocobo armor. Seriously, just go talk to them.

Don’t fret over your class

Picking a class can be hard. An MMO is a long haul, after all, and you don’t want to find yourself stuck in a playstyle you don’t particularly enjoy.

But A Realm Reborn makes the decision easier with its nifty multi-classing system. Once you progress your character to level 10 or so, you’re given the option to head on over to a guild leader NPC and start a new class. Yes, these classes stack, and they’re all available on a single character. In fact, there are some bonuses that carry over from one class to another. (You’ll definitely want that level 2 Cure spell from the Conjurer.)

In theory, you could roll a single character and end up with every single class in the game. It’s a grind, sure, but it’s an option for completionists.

Choose whichever crafting profession sounds the most fun

The thing I can’t stress enough about A Realm Reborn is just how flexible its class system is. You can really couple any class with any crafting profession, or no crafting profession at all.

When deciding on a profession, choose whichever one you think sounds the most fun. If it’s not your cup of tea, you have the option to start a new profession from scratch without losing any progress at all.

Seriously, there is absolutely no stress in figuring out which profession suits you the best.

Levequests are lifesavers

When you start multi-classing like a mofo, one problem you’ll probably encounter is that you realize you’ve already done all the low-level quests with your other classes. This is where levequests come in handy. Sure, there’s a daily limit to how many you can partake in, but you’ll thank the Twelve for the option to take on some repeatable, customizable quests to nudge up your XP once you start building several classes at once.

Keep your level 1 gear

As soon as you add an additional class to your repertoire, that class starts at level 1. That means hang onto your level 1 gear. If you don’t, you’ll end up naked every time you start a new class. And that’s just embarrassing.

Learn your Jobs

Before you start that second class, take a bit of time studying the game’s Job system. Jobs are basically A Realm Reborn’s “Prestige” classes, and each one requires a particular class to be at level 30 and a particular second class to be at level 15. Understanding how this system works will let you unlock the Job you want without all the hassle of trial and error.

Don’t be afraid to double-tap

Did another player beat you to that mob you needed to kill for a quest? Fear not, you can still contribute to the kill and have it count towards your quest. The other player won’t even be penalized for your contribution, so not only are you helping out, but you’re not hurting anyone either. Be a pal. Double-tap a mob.

Study your log books

You have a stack of books in your menu that log the things you do over the course of the game. Your hunter’s log, for example, tracks the beasts you’ve killed out in the field. For DuckTales fans, these are basically your Eorzea version of The Junior Woodchucks Guidebook. Pay attention to these logs, because they’ll give you easy objectives that will grant you bonus XP. And bonus XP is always welcome.

Relax and take a deep breath

It’s easy to get caught up in the grind to level cap, but I implore you to just pause once in a while, take a deep breath, and enjoy the scenery. The world in A Realm Reborn is fan-freaking-tastic to look at. Seriously, the environment design is incredible, and it’d be a shame to just bulldoze through it like a stone troll on a bender. Even if you don’t want to pay the subscription fee, you’ve still got a month to wander around. Take advantage of that.