How to Mine in FFXIV

(Featured Image credit: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy XIV by Square Enix is among the best MMORPGs ever made. It has such a dedicated fanbase and has certainly proven to be a worthy entry in the Final Fantasy series.

If you’ve just started playing FFXIV, then things like mining might seem a bit confusing.

So I’ve created this FFXIV mining guide to help you learn how to mine copper ore and many other mineral deposits and rocky outcrops in the game.

Let’s dig in and get some GIL.

Also, check out how to hide the UI in FFXIV.

What is a miner in FFXIV?

A miner belongs to the gathering class (aka Disciples of the Land), similar to a botanist and fisher. Mining traits and botanist traits are similar.

Miners can mine a mineral deposit with a pick-ax (main hand) and a rocky outcrop with a sledgehammer (off-hand).

The raw materials are used by members of a crafting class (aka the Disciples of the Hand class), such as Blacksmiths, Armorer, and Goldsmiths to craft better gear and other high-quality items.

The miners’ guild is located in Ul’dah, which is no coincidence. The rich soil of the desert region of Thanalan just outside Ul’dah is enriched with multiple veins of high-quality ore.

How to become a miner in FFXIV

Here are the steps you need to complete to become a miner:

1. Reach level 10 as a Disciple of War or Magic
2. Complete the level 10 quest for your class
3. Visit the Miners’ Guild in Ul’dah
4. Speak to Linette, the guild receptionist (x11: y14)
5. Complete the quest she assigns you
6. Change your class to miner

You’ll be handed an old crappy pickaxe, but hey… the tool will get the job done, and you’re on your way to becoming a rich gatherer.

When you’ve changed your class to a miner, you get the ability to locate the closest gathering node.

Also, check out how to overmeld in FFXIV.

Mining Abilities

It is a great idea to activate these abilities in your buff bar. This will help you get stuff faster and provide better yields depending on the node.

Also, check the Quick Gathering checkbox in the Mining pop-up window, so you don’t have to click an item repeatedly.

The first five abilities you can always have activated in the beginning when mining, but the further you get down the list, the more node specific they’ll be.

If a node has a high Gathere’s Boon stat, throw on something like Nald’thals’s Tidings to get the most from that node.

• Triangulate (lvl. 1): Find nodes easily
• Lay of the land (lvl. 3): Directs you to the nearest node you can harvest
• Sneak (lvl. 8): Avoid aggro enemies up to 4 levels above your own
• Field Mastery III (lvl.10): Increases your chance of obtaining items from a node dramatically
• Sharp Vision III (lvl. 10): Increases your chance of obtaining items from a node dramatically
• Clear Vision (lvl. 23): Increases the chance of obtaining items on your next gathering attempt by 15%.
• Bountiful Yield (lvl. 24): Increases the number of items obtained on your next gathering attempt by one.
• Solid Reason (lvl. 25): Grants another gathering attempt. When gathering collectables, restores 1 integrity. It basically repairs the nodes.
• King’s Yield II (lvl. 40): Increases the number of items obtained when gathering by two.
• Truth of Mountains (lvl. 46): Find special nodes
• Mountaineer’s Gift [I, II] (lvl. 50): Increases your chances of getting a Gatherer’s Boon (extra item) by 30% (stackable)
• Nald’thal’s Tidings (lvl. 81): Increases the yield from Gatheres Boon by 1.
• Wise to the World (lvl. 90): Grants another gathering attempt. When gathering collectables, restores 1 integrity. It basically repairs the nodes. You get the most of this by performing two actions on the nodes before using it.

Into MMORPG games? Check out this article on Fallout 76.

Leveling up Your Mining Skill – a brief overview.

As of Final Fantasy 14 v. 6.05 and Endwalker, there are three ways you can level up as a gatherer, aka miner:

1. Use the gathering log (Overworld), aka Miners’ Class Quests
2. Use Levequests
3. Use Diadem

Here’s a short description of each:

Gathering Log, aka Miners’ Class Quests

This is the simplest way to begin mining. All you need to do is to gather items in your gathering log. As you progress through the levels, you’ll need to upgrade your mining gear to mine new stuff continuously.

To follow this path, you’ll need to have unlocked flying in Endwalker, Heavensward, Shadowbringers, and Stormblood maps.

Levequests

Levequests are repeatable quests that are assigned to you by an NPC. They award you a lot of Experience Points (XP), but can be quite time-consuming. They’ll also provide you with cool gear you can buy from normal traders.

These also require flying.

Diadem

This takes place on the map of Diadem.

When you reach level 20, you must complete the Ishgardian Restoration sidequest in the housing district of Ishgard.

It’s a great place to stack up on XP.

I’ll mostly cover the first two in this guide, as the latter is a bit tedious and not well-suited for beginners.

Check out how to take screenshots in FFXIV here.

Level 1-9

You start at mining level one. You can level up quickly during this stage.

If you do the class quest, you’ll need to focus on copper ore and bone chips.

Here’s a table with what you need to collect for the class quest level 1-10:

Level	Class Quest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
1	Way of the Miner	Linette	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:11, Y:14)	Speak with Adalberta, the master of the Miners’ Guild.
1	My First Pickaxe	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Copper Ore, Quota: 10
5	Know Thy Land	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Bone Chip, Quota: 10

If you do the levequests you need, there are more items to dig for.

Here is a table with the Mining Levequests from 1-5:

Level	Levequest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
1	Rubble Bubble	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Undamaged Brick, Nodes: 8
1	Miners’ Holiday	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Copper Ore, Quota: 35
1	The Primrose Path	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Yellow Copper Ore, Quota: 35
1	Who Needs the Paperwork	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Wind-worn Slab, Nodes: 8
5	Do They Ore Don’t They	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Rock sample, Nodes: 8
5	I Don’t Zinc It’s a Coincidence	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Rich Zinc Ore, Quota: 32, Nodes: 8
5	Pipikkuli’s Ship Comes In	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Brown Clod, Quota: 35
5	Vanishing Point	Graceful Song	Western Thanalan, Scorpion Crossing	(X:26, Y:24)	Undamaged Brick, Nodes: 8

Level 10-19

Getting to level 15 will take a bit more effort, but it’s not that hard overall.

If you do the class quest, you’ll need to focus on copper ore and bone chips.

Here’s a table with what you need to collect for the class quest level 1-10:

Level	Class Quest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
10	The Cutting Edge	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:11, Y:14)	Obsidian, Quota: 10
15	Getting in Deep	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Cinnabar, Quota: 10

Here is a table with the Mining LeveQuests from 10-15:

Level	Levequest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
10	Break It Up	Totonowa	Western Thanalan, Horizon	(X:23, Y:16)	Undamaged Bondstone, Nodes: 8
10	It Peiste to Listen	Totonowa	Western Thanalan, Horizon	(X:23, Y:16)	Peiste Molt, Quota: 35
10	That’s Why They Call It Fool’s Gold	Totonowa	Western Thanalan, Horizon	(X:23, Y:16)	Rock Sample, Nodes: 8
10	We Do This the Hard Way	Totonowa	Western Thanalan, Horizon	(X:23, Y:16)	Wind-worn Slab, Nodes: 4
15	A Man’s Gotta Dream	Poponagu	Eastern Thanalan, Camp Drybone	(X:13, Y:24)	Sample Rock, Nodes: 8
15	Earth Sprites Are Easy	Poponagu	Eastern Thanalan, Camp Drybone	(X:13, Y:24)	Earthen Power Stone, Quota: 35
15	Eiderdown for Eidolons	Poponagu	Eastern Thanalan, Camp Drybone	(X:13, Y:24)	Gravestone Block, Quota: 35
15	The Doom That Came to Belah’dia	Poponagu	Eastern Thanalan, Camp Drybone	(X:13, Y:24)	Magicked Stone, Nodes: 4

Level 20-29

For the class quests between level 20 and 30, you’ll focus on Carbonized Matter and Effervescent water.

Here’s a table with what you need to collect for the class quest level 1-10:

Level	Class Quest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
20	Old Wisdom, New Ways	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:11, Y:14)	Grade 1 Carbonzied Matter, Quota: 15
25	Water from Stone	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Effervescent water, Quota: 15

Here is a table with the Mining LeveQuests from 20-25:

Level	Levequest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
20	Elemental Housekeeping	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Moss-covered Stone, Quota: 40
20	Location, Location, Location	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	High-density Siltstone, Quota: 40
20	Look How They Shine For You	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Sparkling Sand, Nodes: 8
20	Rock My Wall	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Wall Stone, Quota: 32, Nodes: 8
25	Baby, Light My Way	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Unseeing Stone, Quota: 32, Nodes: 8
25	Fool Me Twice	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Engraved Stone, Nodes: 8
25	Can’t Start a Fire	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Sharpened Flint Stone, Quota: 40
25	Tag, You’re It	Nyell	South Shroud, Quarrymill	(X:25, Y:20)	Wall Stone Shard, Quota: 32, Nodes 8

Level 30-44

Here’s a table with what you need to collect for the class quest level 1-10:

Level	Class Quest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
30	Obsidian Race	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Wyvern Obsidian, Quota: 15
35	Amethysts Are Forever	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Raw Amethyst, Quota: 20
40	To Die For	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Jade, Quota: 20

Here is the table with the Mining LeveQuests from 35-40:

Level	Levequest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
30	I Kidd You Not	Nahctahr	Eastern La Noscea, Costa del Sol	(X:30, Y:30)	Brown Glass Shard, Nodes: 8
30	That’s What the Money is For	Nahctahr	Eastern La Noscea, Costa del Sol	(X:30, Y:30)	Iron Ore, Quota: 40
30	The Midden Fair	Nahctahr	Eastern La Noscea, Costa del Sol	(X:30, Y:30)	Mollusk Fossil, Quota: 32, Nodes: 8
30	Shell Game	Nahctahr	Eastern La Noscea, Costa del Sol	(X:30, Y:30)	Moraby Oysters, Quota 32, Nodes: 8
35	There are No Good Answers	Cimeaurant	Coerthas Central Highlands, First Discasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena	(X:26, Y:28)	Block of Snow, Quota: 32
35	Rocks for Brains	Cimeaurant	Coerthas Central Highlands, First Discasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena	(X:26, Y:28)	Repair Stone, Nodes: 8
35	Mythril Madness	Cimeaurant	Coerthas Central Highlands, First Discasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena	(X:26, Y:28)	Blue Mythril Ore, Nodes: 4
35	Eye for an Eye	Cimeaurant	Coerthas Central Highlands, First Discasterial Observatorium of Aetherial and Astrological Phenomena	(X:26, Y:28)	Highland Limestone, Quota: 32, Nodes: 8
40	Nature is a Monster	Voilinaut	Coerthas Central Highlands, Whitebrim	(X:12, Y:16)	Clear Snowcloak, Nodes: 8
40	Brother in Arms	Voilinaut	Coerthas Central Highlands, Whitebrim	(X:12, Y:16)	Marcasite, Quota: 40
40	Not Losing Our Heads This Time	Voilinaut	Coerthas Central Highlands, Whitebrim	(X:12, Y:16)	Permafrost, Nodes: 4
40	Breach and Build	Voilinaut	Coerthas Central Highlands, Whitebrim	(X:12, Y:16)	Building Stone, Nodes: 8

Level 45-50

Here’s a table with what you need to collect for the class quest level 45-50:

Level	Class Quest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
45	Gulley of Woes	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Electrum Ore, Quota: 20
50	Canyon of Regret	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Darksteel Ore, Quota: 3
50	Breaking New Ground	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X:10, Y:14)	Speek with Linette and deliver the envelope to the night outside Fortemps Manor. Then speak with Haimirich at the Forgotten Knight.

Here is the table with the Mining LeveQuests from 45-50:

Level	Levequest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
45	Crystal Mess	K’leytai	Mor Dhona, Saint Coinach’s Find	(X:29, Y:12)	Overgrown Crystal, Quota: 40
45	Hybrid Hypotheses	K’leytai	Mor Dhona, Saint Coinach’s Find	(X:29, Y:12)	Crystallized Trunk, Quota: 40
45	Metal Has No Master	K’leytai	Mor Dhona, Saint Coinach’s Find	(X:29, Y:12)	Dreadnaught Heatshield, Nodes: 8
45	Sucker Seer	K’leytai	Mor Dhona, Saint Coinach’s Find	(X:29, Y:12)	Scratched Allagan Runestone, Quota: 32, Nodes: 8
50	The Merits of Upcycling	Eloin	Falcon’s Nest	(X:10, Y:10.4)	Jagged Stone, Nodes: 6
50	The Road to Pilgrimage	Eloin	Falcon’s Nest	(X:10, Y:10.4)	Head-sized Stone
50	Taken for Granite	Eloin	Falcon’s Nest	(X:10, Y:10.4)	Solid Volcanic Rock
50	Breaking Beacons	Eloin	Falcon’s Nest	(X:10, Y:10.4)
50	The Basics of Forgergy	Eloin	Falcon’s Nest	(X:10, Y:10.4)
50	Bloodsport	Eloin	Falcon’s Nest	(X:10, Y:10.4)

Reaching the Upper Levels – Level 50-90.

Of course, you can still keep grinding the logbook. But including all the materials here will make this blog post too long.

So I decided to focus on the class quests of the upper levels only.

Here’s a table with the Mining Class Quests Levels between 50-90:

Level	Class Quest	NPC	Zone/Area	Coordinates	Items/Objective
53	Sellspade	Haimirich	Foundation	(X:12, Y:12)	Mythrite Ore, Quota: 10
55	The Sane Vein	Haimirich	Foundation	(X:12, Y:12)	Titanium Ore, Quota: 10
58	Digging Deeper	Haimirich	Foundation	(X:12, Y:12)	Hardsilver Ore, Quota: 10
60	The Hole Truth	Haimirich	Foundation	(X:12, Y:12)	Adamantite Ore, Quota: 3
60	Gift of the Gob	Adalberta	Ul’dah, Steps of Thal	(X: 10.8, Y: 14.3)	Speak with Linette, then present the guild papers to Nonowato in Idyllshire. Speak with Stickqix and Nonowato.
63	Thick Skin	Nonowato	Idyllshire	(X: 7.1, Y: 5.9)	Beggar’s Mythril, Quota: 3
65	Pedal to the Metal	Nonowato	Idyllshire	(X: 7.1, Y: 5.9)	Feather Iron Ore, Quota: 5
68	Where the Money Takes You	Nonowato	Idyllshire	(X: 7.1, Y: 5.9)	Serpentine, Quota: 8
70	A Miner Success	Nonowato	Idyllshire	(X: 7.1, Y: 5.9)	Pummelite, Quota: 5

In Closing

You now have a better idea of what you need to do to level up your mining skill in FFXIV. The act of mining is simple, and you don’t even need to buy a full set of mining gear to get started.

As you level up, you’ll want to have the mining gear to make things easier and keep leveling up. Focusing on mining ore worth more experience points will be for the best.

Depending on your level, it’ll be better to mine certain types of ore. Always pay attention to the best ore you can mine based on your current level.

If you can try to mine that ore, then you’ll gain the most experience toward your next level. Eventually, you’ll be able to max out the mining skill by doing this repeatedly.

It would likely be better not to focus exclusively on leveling the mining skill. Mining is an action you can do while doing other things in the game.

If you work on leveling up your mining skill naturally as you play with friends, then it won’t feel like as much of a slog. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t worthwhile to go out of your way to mine rare materials from time to time, though.

Read more about FFXIV and cross-platform play here.

Final Fantasy XVI has so many different things that you can do. You can experience many quests to break things up as you work on becoming the best miner that you can be in the game.

You’ll reach your goal over time. It just isn’t something that will occur overnight due to how long the process takes.