To increase your item level in Final Fantasy XIV, you can complete dungeons, raids, trials, and PvP content to earn better gear with higher item levels. You can also use tomestones to purchase gear from vendors, participate in treasure hunts, or craft items with high item levels yourself.
Understanding Item Level in Final Fantasy XIV
Item Level, commonly referred to as iLevel, is a crucial aspect of Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) as it indicates the overall strength of your character based on the gear they are equipped with. Your iLevel is determined by the average item level of all the equipment you currently have equipped, including weapons, armor, accessories, and other items. The higher your iLevel, the more powerful your character becomes in terms of combat effectiveness and survivability.
1. Leveling up and progressing through the Main Story Quests (MSQ)
One of the most straightforward ways to increase your iLevel in FFXIV is to continue progressing through the Main Story Quests (MSQ). As you complete quests and defeat enemies along the main storyline, you will be rewarded with gear upgrades that will naturally boost your iLevel. MSQ rewards often include significant gear upgrades that will help you to steadily increase your iLevel as you advance through the game.
2. Participating in Dungeons, Trials, and Raids
Engaging in instanced content such as dungeons, trials, and raids is another effective method to increase your iLevel in FFXIV. These activities offer gear rewards upon successful completion, which can significantly boost your character's overall iLevel. By consistently participating in these challenging encounters, you will not only improve your gameplay skills but also acquire better gear to enhance your character's strength.
3. Engage in PvP Activities
Participating in player versus player (PvP) activities such as Frontlines, the Wolves' Den, or the Feast can also provide opportunities to increase your iLevel. PvP rewards include gear and items that can help improve your character's iLevel, allowing you to compete effectively against other players while progressing your gear progression.
4. Crafting and Gathering
Another way to increase your iLevel in FFXIV is through crafting and gathering professions. By leveling up your crafting and gathering classes, you can create high-quality gear for your character or sell it on the marketboard to earn gil. Crafting gear is often on par with or even better than gear obtained from dungeons or other content, providing you with additional avenues to improve your character's iLevel.
5. Tomestones and Token Systems
Tomestones are a type of currency in FFXIV that can be exchanged for high-level gear at specific vendors. By participating in various content such as dungeons, trials, and other activities, you can earn tomestones to purchase gear upgrades. Additionally, some content features token systems where you can collect tokens by repeating certain encounters to exchange for gear, allowing you to steadily increase your character's iLevel over time.
6. Augmenting and Melding Gear
Augmenting and melding gear with materia are advanced methods to further enhance your character's iLevel in FFXIV. Augmented gear typically offers increased attributes and stats compared to their base counterparts, providing a significant boost to your overall iLevel. Materia melding allows you to enhance your gear with additional stats, further improving your character's performance in combat.
Conclusion
Increasing your iLevel in Final Fantasy XIV is a gradual process that involves a combination of completing content, engaging in various activities, and continuously improving your character's gear. By following a structured approach that includes progressing through quests, participating in dungeons and raids, engaging in PvP activities, utilizing crafting and gathering professions, acquiring tomestones, and augmenting gear, you can steadily enhance your character's iLevel and become a formidable warrior in the realm of Eorzea.