Leveling your Botanist in Final Fantasy XIV can be an enjoyable journey, allowing you to explore Eorzea’s landscapes and gather valuable materials. However, like any Disciple of the Land, it can also feel slow at times. If you’re looking to speed up the process and reach higher levels quickly, you’ve come to the right place! This guide will cover the essential methods, buffs, and gear you can utilize to maximize your EXP gain and level your Botanist efficiently.
Road to 80 Buff: The Fastest Start
If you’re fortunate enough to be playing on a Preferred World, you’re in for a treat. These worlds offer the incredible Road to 80 buff. This buff grants a massive +100% bonus to ALL EXP you earn, and it remains active until you reach level 80. This effectively doubles your leveling speed, making the initial grind significantly faster. If you’re starting a new character or transferring to a Preferred World is an option, it’s by far the most impactful boost you can get.
Survival Manuals: Your EXP Powerhouse
Survival Manuals are consumable items designed to give you a substantial boost to your gathering EXP. These manuals provide a significant +150% EXP bonus, drastically reducing the time needed to level your Botanist. Keep in mind that Survival Manuals have an EXP allowance and will expire once you’ve earned that much bonus EXP. Also, the bonus EXP is halved if you use a manual beyond its intended level range. Critically, these buffs do not apply to hand-in or Levequest EXP rewards.
Here’s a breakdown of the different types of Survival Manuals available:
- Company-issue Survival Manual: Effective up to Level 40.
- Company-issue Survival Manual II: Effective up to Level 50.
- Commercial Survival Manual: Effective up to Level 70.
- Revised Survival Manual: Effective up to Level 80.
You can obtain Commercial Survival Manuals as rewards for completing level 50 and 60 Botanist Class Quests. Revised Survival Manuals are rewarded for completing Crystarium Deliveries and can also be purchased using White Gatherers’ Scrips. Make sure to utilize these manuals strategically as you level!
Earth and Water II: Free Company Support
If you are part of a Free Company, consider asking your officers to activate the Earth and Water II Free Company buff. This buff provides a helpful +10% EXP bonus specifically for gathering activities. While it’s a smaller boost compared to Survival Manuals or Road to 80, every little bit helps. Like Survival Manuals, this buff does not affect hand-in or Levequest EXP.
Bonus EXP Gear: Equip for Success
Certain pieces of gear offer direct EXP bonuses, further accelerating your leveling journey. These are especially useful in the earlier levels.
- Friendship Circlet: This headgear provides a +20% EXP bonus for all classes, including Botanist, up to level 25. It’s an excellent early-level boost.
- Ala Mhigan Earrings: These earrings offer a significant +30% EXP bonus up to level 50. If you have access to these, they are a fantastic way to power through the mid-levels.
Remember that the EXP bonuses from these gear pieces, similar to the other buffs mentioned, do not apply to hand-in or Levequest rewards.
By combining these methods – utilizing Road to 80 on Preferred Worlds, strategically using Survival Manuals, benefiting from the Earth and Water II FC buff, and equipping bonus EXP gear – you can significantly accelerate your Botanist leveling in Final Fantasy XIV. Happy gathering!
