Important Side Quests in FFXIV Level 50-80

TL;DR

  • Main Story Quest level must match or exceed your character level to access side content
  • Use Gamer Escape for precise NPC locations and reward information tracking
  • Heavensward expansion unlocks three new jobs at level 50 through specific quest chains
  • Focus side quest completion on your primary battle class for optimal progression efficiency
  • Job quests and main story content take priority over optional side activities

As you advance beyond level 50 in Final Fantasy XIV, understanding the relationship between character progression and quest availability becomes crucial. Many players mistakenly believe reaching the appropriate level alone grants access to all available content, but there’s an additional layer of requirements you must satisfy.

Critical Prerequisites for Quest Visibility

  • Main Story Synchronization: Your Main Scenario Quest progression must align with your character level. If you’ve reached level 60 but your main story remains at level 55, numerous side quests will remain hidden until you bridge this narrative gap.
  • External Resource Utilization: When quest locations prove elusive, copy the quest name directly into Gamer Escape’s search function. This invaluable tool provides exact NPC coordinates alongside comprehensive reward breakdowns, typically including experience points, FF14 Gil currency, and various equipment or consumable items.
  • Content Priority Framework: This guide deliberately excludes content automatically unlocked through Main Scenario Quests or class-specific job quests, as these represent your fundamental progression path and should receive primary attention.
  • Class Focus Strategy: These recommendations specifically target your initial combat class progression. Crafting and gathering professions can be developed subsequently without impacting your battle class advancement.

Expansion Job Access Points: Upon reaching the Heavensward narrative arc within the main story, three distinctive combat roles become available through dedicated quest lines. Each offers unique gameplay mechanics that significantly diversify your combat options.

Astrologian Specialization: This celestial magician role unlocks through the Stairway to the Heavens side quest, introducing card-based buff management and flexible healing capabilities.

Dark Knight Specialization: Access this emotionally-charged tanking class by completing Our End side quest, featuring mana management through damage absorption and powerful defensive cooldowns.

Machinist Specialization: Unlock this technologically advanced ranged damage dealer via Savior of Skysteel side quest, emphasizing gadget deployment and rapid-fire mechanics.

Job Unlock Strategy: Each Heavensward job begins at level 30, requiring immediate catch-up gameplay. Prioritize unlocking during rested experience bonuses or through Palace of the Dead for accelerated leveling. These roles cannot be accessed until your character physically reaches Ishgard through main story progression, regardless of your level attainment.

Efficiency Optimization Techniques: When tackling the level 50-80 side quest journey, implement strategic approaches to maximize your time investment. Group geographically proximate quests to minimize travel time between objectives. Complete quests that reward gear upgrades during content lulls to maintain combat effectiveness.

Common Progression Pitfalls: Many players encounter these frequent obstacles:

  • Attempting to access expansion content before reaching the corresponding main story milestones
  • Overlooking job-specific quests that provide essential abilities and gear
  • Spreading attention too thinly across multiple battle classes instead of focusing on primary advancement
  • Ignoring dungeon unlock quests that provide crucial endgame preparation

Reward Assessment Framework: Evaluate side quests based on multiple factors: experience yield relative to time investment, gear upgrades for your current level range, and unlockable content access. Some quests provide mounts, minions, or glamour items that offer long-term value beyond immediate progression benefits.

Time Management Guidelines: Allocate approximately 2-3 hours for each expansion’s primary side quest chains. Heavensward content typically requires 45-60 minutes for job unlocks alone, while Stormblood and Shadowbringers introduce additional role-specific quests and feature unlocks.

Stormblood three-star Hunts Access: Unlocked upon completion of Three-star Veteran Clan Hunt side quest. Pro tip: Complete this immediately upon reaching level 70 to maximize hunt currency earnings.

Flying in The Fringes: Unlocked after finding field Currents and completing The Silence of the Gods main quest, Magiteknical Failure, The Hidden Truth, Unexpected Guests, and Eyes Bigger than Her Stomach side quests. Common mistake: Players often miss ‘Eyes Bigger than Her Stomach’ as it’s easily overlooked near the riverbank.

Flying in The Peaks: Unlocked after finding field Currents and completing Liberty or Death main quest, Saint Sayer, Out of Sight (Quest), A Hunger for Trade, and Closing Up Shop side quests. Time estimate: Approximately 45 minutes to complete all prerequisites if planned efficiently.

Flying in The Lochs: Unlocked after finding field Currents and completing Stormblood (Quest) main quest, Are They Ill-tempered, If I Were a Fish, It’s a Zu Out There, and A Rite to Rest side quests. Strategy: Complete these quests while working on your main scenario to minimize travel time.

Stormblood Elite Hunts Access: Unlocked upon completion of Elite Veteran Clan Hunt side quest. Advanced tip: Elite hunts require proper gear preparation – aim for item level 360+.

At level 70, It is the same as Level 50 and 60, so there are many side Dungeons, Trials, and Raids too, but you can put them off till later. If you want to do some of them, I recommend Ivalice Raids storyline, which is for your Shadowbringer’s relic weapon later. To unlock Ivalice Raids, you have to complete Dramatis Personae side quest first. Critical insight: Ivalice raids provide essential materials for Bozjan Southern Front progression in Shadowbringers.

Shadowbringers one-nut Hunts Access: Unlocked upon completion of Nuts to You side quest. Optimization: Complete within first 2 hours of reaching Shadowbringers areas for early currency advantage.

Flying in Lakeland: Unlocked after finding field Currents and completing Logistics of War main quest, A Jobb Well Done, An Unreasonable Request, Imperative Repairs, and The Astute Amaro side quests. Pitfall avoidance: ‘The Astute Amaro’ requires specific crafting materials – gather them beforehand.

Flying in Il Mheg: Unlocked after finding field Currents and completing Acht-la Ormh Inn main quest, The Forbidden Lran, Delightful Decorations, The Path to Popularity, and A New Amaro side quests. Mechanics analysis: Flying here requires careful navigation of fae territory politics in quest dialogue choices.

Shadowbringers two-nut Hunts Access: Unlocked upon completion of Two Nuts Too Nutty side quest. Progression tip: Two-nut hunts significantly increase reward quality – prioritize after establishing flying access.

Understanding the progression patterns between expansions reveals systematic design improvements. Stormblood introduced the three-tier hunting system that Shadowbringers refined with the nut-based progression. Strategic insight: Each expansion’s hunting system follows similar unlock patterns but with escalating complexity.

Efficient Path Planning: Group quests by geographic location rather than completion order. Complete all field currents in a zone before starting prerequisite quests to minimize backtracking. Time savings: Proper routing can reduce flying unlock time by 30-40% per zone.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid: Many players attempt to complete flying prerequisites without first discovering all field currents, forcing unnecessary return trips. Critical mistake: Attempting elite hunts without proper gear preparation leads to frustrating failures and wasted time.

Content Prioritization Framework: Focus on Ivalice raids early for long-term relic weapon advantages. Complete hunting unlocks immediately upon availability for consistent currency income. Advanced optimization: Schedule hunting activities during peak server times for better party finder success rates.

Mechanics Deep Dive: The hunting system’s currency economy is designed to reward consistent participation rather than binge completion. Pro strategy: Allocate specific play sessions for hunting versus story progression to maintain balanced advancement.

Action Checklist

  • Verify Main Story Quest progression matches or exceeds your current level
  • Complete Heavensward job unlock quests upon reaching Ishgard in MSQ
  • Use Gamer Escape to locate elusive quest givers and preview rewards
  • Prioritize dungeon unlock quests for endgame preparation
  • Group geographically clustered quests to minimize travel time between objectives
  • Complete Three-star Veteran Clan Hunt quest immediately at level 70
  • Discover all field currents in each zone before starting flying quest chains
  • Prioritize Ivalice raids by completing Dramatis Personae quest
  • Unlock Shadowbringers one-nut hunts within first 2 hours of expansion access
  • Complete elite hunt prerequisites with proper gear preparation (iLvl 360+)
  • Schedule hunting activities during peak server hours for better matchmaking

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