Ultimate Level 90 Gear Guide for FFXIV

Reaching level 90 in Final Fantasy XIV marks the gateway to true endgame challenges, where superior gear defines your success in raids, trials, and high-stakes content. This guide breaks down the entire gearing journey, starting from your first post-Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) rewards and climbing to the pinnacle of best-in-slot (BiS) equipment. Whether you’re a fresh 90 or optimizing for savage raids, you’ll find actionable steps, currency farming tips, and stat priorities to maximize your damage, healing, or tanking prowess.

Starting Strong: Your Initial Level 90 Kit

Upon completing the Endwalker MSQ, particularly after the level 89 dungeon, your gearing adventure begins immediately. Head to Varasudu in Old Sharlayan for a complete set of item level (ilvl) 560 gear, including a weapon and left-side pieces. This free artifact armor set provides a solid foundation with balanced stats suitable for early endgame duties.

For jobs leveled after your initial MSQ run, the same NPC offers this gear on demand, allowing you to equip it before tackling relevant dungeons. Don’t overlook accessories—grab a basic ilvl 530 ring from your Grand Company quartermaster using a handful of tomestones if needed. This bumps your average item level (ailvl) to around 565, making you viable for level 90 roulettes and hunts.

• Key Locations: Varasudu (Old Sharlayan, X:11.8 Y:11.3)
• Cost: Free for MSQ completers
• Ailvl Boost: ~560 average

Pro Tip: Equip this set before queuing for duties to meet minimum requirements and start earning currencies right away.

Currency Essentials: Tomestones and Beyond

Endgame gearing revolves around currencies like tomestones, hunt marks, and raid tokens. Causality Tomestones, earned from level 90 roulettes, dungeons, trials, and Extreme content, are your first major milestone. Aim for 1500 to purchase ilvl 620 accessories from Chianti in Radz-at-Han—these pieces offer the biggest ailvl jump per gil spent.

Farm efficiently by prioritizing Duty Roulette: Expert and Leveling, which yield high tomestone returns. Combine with daily hunts for tombstones to fill gaps quickly.

Raiding Your Way to Power: Normal Mode Tokens

Level 90 normal raids, like the Pandaemonium series, drop tokens exchangeable for ilvl 580 gear. Prioritize rings and left-side pieces from the first two circles (Anabaseios: The Twelfth through Tenth), as they provide the most ailvl efficiency. NPC Teveia in Radz-at-Han handles unsung relic trades, while Navas offers totem-based accessories from hunts.

Weekly lockouts mean consistent farming—clear all eight normal fights per week for maximum tokens. This path upgrades your ailvl to 575+, essential for progressing into savage content via Party Finder.

1. Complete MSQ for 560 gear.
2. Farm tomestones for 620 accessories (ailvl ~580).
3. Run normal raids for 580 tokens (ailvl 585+).

Upgrades and Refinements: Pushing to ilvl 600

Ilvl 590 gear from vendors can be upgraded to 600 using radiant materials from savage raids. Chaldean in Radz-at-Han performs these upgrades: radiant robberant for weapons, twine for armor, and coating for accessories. Initially savage-exclusive, Patch 6.1 introduced alternative sources like alliance raids.

Weapons demand special attention—trade seven unsung blades for a Discord Tombstone with Dijejha, then combine with tombstones at Chianti for your ilvl 590 base, upgradable to 605. BiS often mixes upgraded tomestone gear with savage drops, tailored to job stats like Critical Hit, Direct Hit, or Determination.

For non-raiders, market board crafted gear (ilvl 640 in later patches) fills slots affordably, though melding with materia is key for optimization.

Best-in-Slot Optimization: Stats and Melding

BiS isn’t just highest ilvl—it’s the stat balance maximizing your job’s DPS, HPS, or mitigation. Most jobs prioritize Crit > DH > Det, avoiding SS/PS unless specified (e.g., Black Mage favors SS). Use tools like The Balance Discord or job guides for exact pieces.

• DPS BiS: ilvl 605 weapon + 600 upgraded armor + savage drops
• Healer/Tank: Similar, but Tenacity/Skill Speed variants
• Melding: Overmelding with grade 8 materia for +substats

Party Finder expects 575+ for early savage prog, scaling to 600+ for later tiers. Ultimates demand true BiS.

Casual vs. Prog Paths: Flexible Gearing Strategies

Not everyone raids savage. Casual players can hit ilvl 650+ with alliance raids (e.g., ilvl 655 weapons from extremes) and nuts from hunts. High-quality crafted sets from the market board skip early grinds, ideal for deep pockets.

Step-by-step casual track:

1. 560 artifact → 620 accessories (tomestones).
2. Alliance raid gear (ilvl 660).
3. Extreme trials for weapons.
4. Meld for BiS casual output.

Materia Mastery: The Final Polish

Materia extraction from old gear fuels your BiS. Guides recommend specific melds—e.g., Savage Aim II for Crit slots. Prioritize weapons first, as they amplify damage most. Use the in-game meld simulator or community spreadsheets for precision.

Common Pitfalls and Pro Tips

Avoid over-investing in outdated gear; always check ailvl requirements. Join a Discord for job-specific BiS. Track patch notes—6.4+ introduced ilvl 640 crafted baselines.

FAQ

What is the minimum gear for level 90 savage raids?

Ailvl 575-580 for prog groups, 600+ for farms.

Where do I get radiant upgrade materials?

Initially savage raids; later from alliance raids and vendors.

Is crafted gear worth it?

Yes for speed and flexibility, especially HQ versions.

How long to full BiS?

2-4 weeks with consistent raiding; longer casually.

Best tomestone farm?

Roulette: Expert + daily hunts.