Heading into any new expansion of Final Fantasy XIV, players start looking to level up their characters and Dawntrail is no different. Whether you’re picking up one of the new Jobs, or are finally able to level old ones again like me, there’s some ways to boost that EXP gain.
It can be hard to figure out the best ways to get EXP boosts, and everybody has their own ideas about how to do it. Don’t worry, as someone with extensive experience level capping every Job, I’ve got some tips.
You’re never at your best when you’re hungry, so make sure to eat
All foods, regardless of quality or the amount of effort they take to craft, grant a universal EXP boost of 3% for 30 minutes. Foods also offer stat boosts, which differ depending on the type of food you choose to eat.
If you’re solely in this for the EXP boost, which you most likely are if you’re reading this, then your best bet is to stock up on low-cost (or low crafting effort) foods. Some good options are:
- Lowland Grapes (or turned into Raisins, which triples the amount of food you have)
- Boiled Eggs
- Orange Juice
If you’re planning to purchase these foods from the Marketboard, make sure to stock up before Dawntrail goes live, as prices are likely to get a boost of their own.
Don’t forget about FC Actions
Depending on which type of Job or class you’re trying to update, there’s a corresponding FC Action to help increase the amount of EXP you earn:
- The Heat of Battle for DoW/DoM Jobs
- Earth and Water for Gathering classes
- Helping Hand for Crafting classes
If you’re the leader of your own FC, make sure to stock up on these and activate the appropriate one every day. If you’re not the leader of your FC, now might be a good time to remind the leader that these will be necessary.
Make use of EXP boosting accessories, depending on your level
There’s a few different accessories which can help to boost the amount of EXP you earn, most of which are pre-order bonuses for different expansions. So if you’ve got these items sitting in storage somewhere, it might be worth bringing them out and dusting them off.
Which one you need depends on what your current level is:
| Item | EXP increase | How to get |
| Moogle Cap | 20% up to level 10 | Pre-ordering A Realm Reborn |
| Helm of Light | 20% up to level 10 | A Realm Reborn Collector’s Edition |
| Friendship Circlet | 20% up to level 26 | Recruit a Friend reward |
| Brand New Ring | 30% up to level 30 | Hall of the Novice |
| Ala Mhigan Earring | 30% up to level 50 | Pre-ordering Stormblood |
| Aetheryte Earring | 30% up to level 70 | Pre-ordering Shadowbringers |
| Menphina Earring | 30% up to level 80 | Pre-ordering Endwalker |
| Azeyma’s Earring | 30% up to level 90 | Pre-ordering Dawntrail |
Sanctuaries are for more than changing Glamours
When logging out of Final Fantasy XIV, always make sure to do so in a Sanctuary. In other words, make sure to teleport to an Aetheryte and log out there. You’ll know that you’re in a sanctuary thanks to a crescent moon appearing under your EXP bar.
Doing so will grant you the ‘Rested’ EXP buff, which will gradually accrue a 50% bonus when killing monsters, crafting or gathering. This effect can stack on top of other EXP boosting buffs.
Manuals can be your best friend
If you’re trying to level up Gathering or Crafting classes, I cannot overstate enough how important Engineering and Survival Manuals are. These Manuals will boost your EXP gain by 150% or 75%, depending on what level you are, so you really should make use of these.
Crafting Manuals
| Manual | Effect | How to get |
| Company-issue Engineering Manual | 150% boost to EXP gained from synthesis (up to 250,000). Effect halved after level 40. Lasts three hours. | GC Quartermaster 1,440 Company Seals |
| Company-issue Engineering Manual II | 150% boost to EXP gained from synthesis (up to 500,000). Effect halved after level 50. Lasts three hours. | GC 2,300 Company Seals |
| Commercial Engineering Manual | 150% boost to EXP gained from synthesis (up to 1,750,000). Effect halved after level 70. Lasts three hours. | Purchased from Scrip Exchange |
| Revised Engineering Manual | 150% boost to EXP gained from synthesis (up to 2,000,000). Effect halved after level 80. Lasts three hours. 150% boost to EXP gained from synthesis (up to 2,000,000). Effect halved after level 80. Lasts three hours. | Purchased from Scrip Exchange |
| Squadron Engineering Manual | 20% bonus to EXP earned from synthesis. Lasts two hours. | Reward from Squadron Missions |
Gathering Manuals
| Manual | Effect | How to get |
| Company-issue Survival Manual | 150% boost to EXP gained from gathering (up to 250,000). Effect halved after level 40. Lasts three hours. | GC Quartermaster 1,440 Company Seals |
| Company-issue Survival Manual II | 150% boost to EXP gained from gathering (up to 500,000). Effect halved after level 50. Lasts three hours. | GC Quartermaster 2,300 Company Seals |
| Commercial Survival Manual | 150% boost to EXP gained from gathering (up to 1,750,000). Effect halved after level 70. Lasts three hours. | Purchased from Scrip Exchange |
| Revised Survival Manual | 150% boost to EXP gained from gathering (up to 2,000,000). Effect halved after level 80. Lasts three hours. | Purchased from Scrip Exchange |
| Squadron Survival Manual | 20% bonus to EXP earned from gathering. Lasts two hours. | Reward from Squadron Missions |
