Final Fantasy XIV: The Journey of a Goldsmith
In the world of Final Fantasy XIV, creating stunning items is key to success, making Goldsmith a highly sought-after crafting profession. Not only do the elegant pieces made by Goldsmiths enhance the game’s glamour, but they also offer significant benefits to character stats. Each class uses the jewelry crafted by Goldsmiths, and this profession is also responsible for creating weapons primarily for classes like the Monk and Black Mage. While the materials required—such as ores and gems—can be pricey, the potential rewards can be substantial once you reach higher levels.
Leveling any crafting class, especially a Disciple of the Hand like Goldsmith, takes a considerable amount of time and effort. There are more efficient ways to level up, however, and below, you’ll find a clear path for progressing from Level 1 to Level 90, including recommended gear upgrades and the best leveling options.
Getting Started and Leveling to 21
The Goldsmith’s Guild can be found in the Steps of Thal in Ul’dah. To begin the Way of the Goldsmith quest, you’ll need to be at least Level 10 in any combat class.
Upon accepting the quest from the Hyur receptionist, you’ll receive your initial hammer, which is essential for a Goldsmith. At this stage, don’t worry about leves—experience gained from crafting items below level 20 is minimal. Instead, focus on completing job quests, which will also provide you with basic crafting gear if you’re lacking.
Quest Overview:
| Quest Name | Level | Required Items | Materials Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Way of the Goldsmith | 1 | ||
| My First Chaser Hammer | 1 | ||
| Gorgets Rising | 5 | 2x Copper Ingot, 1x Leather | |
| Throw Some Rings on It | 10 | ||
| Objectively Speaking | 15 | 1x Fang Earrings, 1x Brass Gorget | 1x Brass Ingot, 1x Bat Fang, 1x Hard Leather |
| A Melding of the Minds | 20 | 1x Staghorn Staff (melded with Level 1 Materia) | 1x Marbled Eye, 2x Antelope Horn, Any Materia |
As you approach Level 20, consider grinding out some Copper Ingots and Copper Rings. The Goldsmith’s Guild offers Copper Ore at a low price, and many recipes incorporate these materials. You’ll earn extra experience points for crafting an item for the first time or when creating a high-quality (HQ) item.
Tip: Gathering your own crafting materials can save you a lot of gil later on. Leveling Miner alongside Goldsmith is a smart strategy since all crafting disciplines support each other.
Leveling to 53
By now, you should pay closer attention to your equipment. Gear for the Disciple of the Hand influences your Craftsmanship and Control, which are vital for crafting efficiently.
When you hit Level 21, aim to acquire an Iron Chaser Hammer, a Recruit’s Grinding Wheel, and pieces from the Initiate’s and Cotton Crafting gear sets. You can find some of these from job quests, but if you lack them, purchasing from NPC vendors like Yoyobasa and Gwalter on Ul’dah’s Sapphire Strip is an option. This crafted gear applies to all DoH jobs, assuming the level requirement is met.
Leves: In Ul’dah, look for the levemete Eustace in The Quicksand (located at Ul’dah – Steps of Nald X:12, Y:9). You’ll find three types of Tradecraft leves—Constancy, Charity, and Ingenuity.
Charity leves allow you to turn in up to three times the required amount of materials for triple experience. Even though Ingenuity leves offer high experience, they often require you to deliver items to a distant location.
Leveling to 63 (Ishgard)
At Level 53, visit Evrardoux and Norlaise in The Pillars of Ishgard to purchase the following gear: the Mythrite Lapidary Hammer, Garnet Grinding Wheel, and the Holy Rainbow Crafting Set. Subsequently, look out for the Ramie Crafting Set as you progress further into Ishgard content.
Collectables
Once you hit Level 50, you’ll unlock Collectables. These special items can be crafted and traded for Scrips, which are used to buy exclusive items. Unlike HQ items, the emphasis here is on increasing an item’s collectability stat.
For instance, make sure to invest in master recipes with your scrips, as these unlock essential crafting options for your leve quests.
Leveling to 80 (Crystarium)
After reaching Level 71, head to the Crystarium and purchase the Deepgold Cross-pein Hammer, White Oak Grinding Wheel, and the Brightlinen Crafting Set. As you work your way towards Level 80, keep an eye out for components from the Pixie Cotton and Zonureskin Crafting Sets.
Final Steps to Level 90 (Sharlayan)
Before venturing out of the Crystarium, make sure to upgrade your crafting gear one last time with a Dwarven Mythril Lapidary Hammer, Lignum Vitae Grinding Wheel, and the Dwarven Cotton Crafting Set. In Old Sharlayan, the levemete is Grigge (X:12, Y:13).
Beware that there are no Charity leves at Level 80 and above, just Constancy ones. Nevertheless, you’ll encounter Studiun Deliveries, similar to Crystarium Deliveries, which you should actively complete.
Unlocking the Final Crafts
Congratulations! At Level 90, you can craft the Rarefied Chondrite Needle, your ultimate collectable for Goldsmithing, which can be traded for exclusive purple scrips. The best crafting set available at this level is the Artful Afflatus Set, obtainable from Scrip Exchange vendors.
Leveling to 100 (Tuliyollal)
As you approach Level 100, you can anticipate completing familiar tasks with new materials. Here, you’ll engage with the Goldsmithing quests assigned by Rral Soj (X:16.9, Y:11), alongside shared quests with Blacksmith and Armorer classes.
Overall, while reaching Level 100 can be a grind, it won’t feel tedious if you actively utilize various methods such as daily Grand Company turn-ins, regular Tradecraft leves, and crafting collectables that align with your Goldsmith level.
Stay dedicated, and enjoy your crafting journey in Final Fantasy XIV!
