There are plenty of ways you can participate in Final Fantasy XIV endgame, from Extreme and Unreal trials, all the way to Savage and Ultimate raids. What I feel we don’t talk about enough though, is how to actually get yourself prepared for that kind of content, and I’m not just talking about the gear. If you’ve been on the fence on whether or not you should dip your toes (or paws) into FFXIV endgame, and you’re a bit anxious about it, this is a good read for you. I’ll be going over some quick tips on how to get yourself prepared, both mentally and in-game.
When it comes to FFXIV endgame, the most important thing for you to realize is that it was created for you too, and not just everyone else who you feel are better at you at the game for some reason. You can absolutely get yourself into any kind of endgame content, and you can also get good at it, if you’re not quite there yet. The results are never instant, but for as long as you put time and effort into it, you can absolutely do anything you set your mind to!
If you haven’t decided on your main job in FFXIV yet, getting started with the endgame is probably a good reason to make that choice. Having multiple jobs to go into raids and trials sounds like a good idea, but if you’re a beginner at endgame, it’s best to start with one job and get yourself on a level where you can comfortably clear all the content you’ve been wanting to. Make sure to dedicate some time for research, learning about your rotation, ideal raid openers, and everything you need to know to become the best version of yourself when it comes to that job.
Unfortunately though, not everything is about the attitude, as you do need to get gear in order to enter the endgame. Sometimes, you won’t be limited by the actual game, but the Party Finder groups might have item level requirements you want to make sure you’re surpassing in order to get into a group. You can start by doing some easier content like your daily Expert Roulettes, and using the Tomes to buy the best possible gear that you can also upgrade with tokens from Alliance Raids, for example.
When it comes to endgame content, gear isn’t everything per se. There are more things you can do to make sure you’re ready, and that includes food buffs, putting materia into your gear, and making sure your armor is repaired before you enter a duty. These things may sound like a hassle at first, but the more you tap into endgame, the more you’ll notice that people actually do these things and care about them, so you should too.
Choosing the content you want to do might sound like the easy part, but sometimes players who are new to endgame fall into the trap of wanting to do everything. You queue for Extreme trials, Savage raids, Unreals, anything and everything you have access to, and you end up disappointed and discouraged as you’re not really good at anything. So instead of spreading yourself too thin, what you should do is pick one thing to get freakishly good at, and stick to it until you get whatever it is you’re after, like a clear, or a mount, title, achievement, anything really.
Avoiding spoilers when you’re doing content for the first time is fine, but if you choose to come back, watching or reading some guides is not only polite, but also kind of necessary, especially if you’re choosing to do Extreme and Unreal trials, and not just your Normal MSQ clear or a duty roulette trial. Make sure to come prepared, as you’ll feel more confident, and therefore, you’ll have a lot more fun progging with others. Not to mention the fact that you won’t feel like you’re a burden to your group because watching a 10 minute video felt like a hassle!
Joining an FC that does the activities you’re interested in is a good way to break the ice and ease your way into endgame content, if that’s something you feel comfortable with. You might not be friends with everyone, but you’re bound to find at least a couple of people to run content with, and sometimes, having a familiar face in a random party finder group who’s progging along with you can make you feel so much better!
If you’re not really in the mood to apply for different FC’s, you’re left with Party Finder, which is not the worst possible thing in the world. Think of it this way: everyone there is working towards the same thing you are, and the fact that they’re not out there with their FC members if they are in one to begin with, means they’re largely in the same boat as you. So what’s stopping you from queueing for those high end duties? As long as you’ve come prepared, and with at least a grain of confidence, you’ll have a great time, you’ll learn a bunch of stuff, and will possibly meet cool new people along the way!
These are some things that can help you prepare for FFXIV endgame, but everyone has their own way of breaking the ice and getting better. What are some of your tips on how to start with endgame content? Let me know in the comments, and if you’re more of a visual person, and you don’t mind getting easy wins in-game, you can check out all of this in my video – and subscribe for more awesome FFXIV stuff!
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