Determining the optimal method for leveling Disciples of War/Magic or gathering in FFXIV depends heavily on your specific goals, available resources, and tolerance for repetition.
FATE Grinding: Pros & Cons
- Pros: Zero Gil cost, passively earns region-specific currencies (e.g., Bicolor Gemstones), decent EXP per time investment especially in active zones or during peak hours, contributes to Shared FATEs progress, very accessible anytime.
- Cons: EXP/hour fluctuates wildly based on zone population, FATE levels, and competition. Solo completion is significantly slower. Minimal gil income. Highly repetitive with long travel times.
Levequests (Leves): Pros & Cons
- Pros: Consistent, reliable EXP per leve, especially for gatherers/crafters. Many Battlecraft leves allow rapid completion with optimized routes. Excellent source of supplementary Gil at certain levels.
- Cons: Requires Gil investment for allowances (sometimes significant for HQ turn-ins). Limited by daily allowance regeneration (3 every 12 hours). Setup time (obtaining levequests, travel). Gatherer Leves generally superior to Battlecraft Leves for pure EXP efficiency.
Current Verdict
For Battle Jobs:
- Optimal EXP/Hour: Dungeon Spam + Duty Roulettes remains king, particularly with rested EXP and Armory bonus. FATEs serve best as filler while queueing.
- FATEs vs. Leves: Leves offer faster burst EXP per minute invested if you have abundant allowances and target high-turn-in, nearby leves. However, FATEs provide better long-term value due to zero gil cost, Bicolor Gemstones, and Shared FATE rewards. Leves run out; FATEs do not. Gil-conscious players prefer FATEs.
For Gatherers:
- Gathering Leves are vastly superior to FATEs for leveling speed and ease.
Recommendation:
- Prioritize Daily Duty Roulettes (Leveling, Frontline, MSQ).
- Fill queues with FATEs in Endwalker zones (for Gemstones/Shared FATEs) if that progression is desired.
- Use Battlecraft Leves only if you have surplus allowances, prioritize speed (specific leves known for fast turn-ins like "Adamantoise Tears"), and can afford the Gil. Avoid for DPS with fast dungeon queues.
- Use Gathering Leves extensively for Miner/Botanist.
