Starting a new adventure in Final Fantasy XIV isn’t as complicated as it looks at first glance. There are plenty of new menus to navigate, combat classes to choose from, hundreds of quests, and players that seem to know where they’re going. However, going the story’s pace is the best way to learn the game, as the majority of features are introduced in it.
A seasoned player will find new things to do beyond their class and story quests, but it takes time to get there. If you’re a new player eager to find out what Final Fantasy XIV has to offer, here are a few tips to help you along the way.
Follow the Story Before Side Quests
The MSQ or Main Scenario Quest is the story-driven part of every adventure, and it’s the perfect place to start. It introduces you to other characters, locations, and dungeons. In addition, it unlocks key features that might not be available at your level. Fortunately, MSQ’s unique icon and story quest tag on your quest log make it easy to find them in your inventory. Side quests are good for adding new characters to your adventuring party, but there’s no need to complete them all before getting to the next story mission.
Select Your Preferred Combat Job Or Class
Combat jobs in Final Fantasy XIV fall under three different specializations: Tank, Healer, and DPS (Damage per Second). Tank characters keep enemies at bay, so that their allies can deal and survive more damage. Healers are a supportive class that keeps their allies alive while dealing extra damage when possible. Then there’s the DPS classification; it deals heavy damage via melee, ranged, or magical attacks. Furthermore, while the starting class determines your equipment, switching to another class is entirely possible. This is recommended, especially since you unlocked the required features to level a different class.
Use Duty Support To Learn All About Dungeons
Dungeon expeditions teach you what enemies to watch out for while providing you with experience and rewards. However, there are specific main scenario dungeons that require multiplayer parties of four characters or two characters. When completing these parts of the story or other group quests, you can use the Duty Support feature instead of finding fellow adventurers to complete them with. Additionally, there are guides at the official website that give you the requirements, objectives, and battle mechanics of specific activities. While the NPC squad is excellent at teaching you what to do, you still need other players for some story missions.
Equip Your Adventurer Appropriately
Most classes in Final Fantasy XIV require you to use specific weapons. Furthermore, this gear has level requirements, experience, and sometimes unique effects. Fortunately, you can find gear by exploring dungeons, completing quests, and purchasing them from various shops. Additionally, before completing your next set of missions, or story quest, you can check your stats, and replace any weapon or armor that seems too weak. It’s recommended that newer players use the feature, “Recommended Equipment,” to find the gear that fits you the best and is available in your inventory.
Finish All The Activities You Can Explore
While completing story quests and dungeons is the primary focus for most story-driven players of Final Fantasy XIV, you’ll find other activities to join in on the fun. Crafting and gathering specialties are great ways to gain resources, weapons, and armor, and even gold, through fishing and completing minigames.
This is especially true for the Gold Saucer, which offers a wide variety of mini-games and sub-activities. These add to your adventure, giving you something else to do during your time in Eorzea. However, you shouldn’t attempt to learn all the available classes and activities at once. Doing the next available story mission and side quest is more than enough to continue making progress.
Final Words On Final Fantasy XIV’s Learning Curve
New players and even those that have been playing Final Fantasy XIV for some time may not know all about the adventure at hand.
The free trial of the online series provides plenty of story content without an ongoing subscription. Anyone participating in the program can enjoy the adventures of the eighth main game, Shadowbringers. However, the characters under the trial status have limits when using features like trading with NPCs, market boards, the Free Company, and more. Furthermore, the most common questions new Eorzean adventurers ask revolve around playing without friends.
A new player can enjoy every corner of the land without relying on others, as every part of the MSQ can be completed with Duty Support. Moreover, players don’t have to complete side quests to make it to the end of the line as the game’s primary story is only a fraction of the total quests. Finally, every new player should know that job changes are an easy thing in this game; there is no need to start a new character for every class of your preferred designation. All one has to do is research and unlock the different classes and combat jobs provided by the game that suit one’s character’s needs and skill level.
Learning all the adventures one has to undergo can quickly turn into a turn-off, but it doesn’t need to be. Starting your journey in Eorzea is full of uncertainty, but the best thing to do is follow the story at your leisure and enjoy the adventures of your favorite characters.
