Geodes (can someone help me understand)

hi, can someone help me out here

Geodes other than matching weather and/or day, what helps a geodes to drop?

I have fought mobs left right and centre on these days and i can't get geodes to drop at all, before they used to drop all the time now they hardly exist?

and also do geodes react to TH or not, i have farmed with on my own dnc 99 and with a 99 thf friend who was putting TH 6-7+ on each mob and still no drops???

Did SE do something to the drop rate or something and does anyone have any suggestions??

I'm honestly not sure if TH affects them. They've always been a pain to get to drop; I went on my BST because I didn't feel like changing jobs last time, and went to Grauberg to farm Breeze Geodes. Needed about ten more for my trial so I started farming there since there was a bunch of wind weather (usually is, too!) and it took me a good two hours to get those ten geodes. The T2 Geodes (the -ites) only drop from higher level mobs, and even in an Abyssea party I'm lucky to see more than a handful of them in the pool. Really, as far as I know it's just weather/day that determines which can drop, and I don't think TH has anything to do with it. I haven't tested that, though.

The theory has been put forth a couple of times that there's a mechanism in place for Geodes and "Element"-ites beyond a simple drop rate, similar to how Seals and Crests work. I hope someone can show me this has been disproved, because it would suck very much.

If such a fearful mechanism is in place, Treasure Hunter wouldn't help much over time even if it does affect the drop rate.

The common understanding is

Geodes - Are affected by TH. Can drop at a low rate from any experience wielding mob on day of the week, chances during matching weather are multiplied roughly by 10. Weather always takes priority over day of the week. Additionally, they drop on the seal system, in other words only one per party per 5 minute period. Personal experience shows roughly a 2% drop rate on day, typically 1-2 per game day of farming and 3-4 with TH.

Avatarites - Drop from any mob over the level of 80, they follow the same basic drop rate and rule of geodes. However, additionally they drop on a separate timer then geodes. They do however, take priority in a situation where both could drop. (If you just got to a zone you will see a -rite before a geode drops)

Additional tips -
Light - can be found frequently in Nyzul and in Temnos Limbus
Dark - Mire and Castle Zvahl (both past and present)
Fire - Rarely farmed in Altepa, Terrigan and Yhoator Jungle (for the most part these are only found on matching day)
Wind - Grauberg, Thickets/Woodlands
Water - Boyada Tree and Pashhow (beaudeux)
Ice - Anywhere in the northlands nearly all the time
Earth - Altepa, Attowa and Mount Zhaloym
Lightning - Vunkerl, Boyada tree and Qufim Island
(with exception to light/fire -rites can often be found in the same locations as geodes)

There are other places but, these are the most fruitful for me. Happy hunting.

Actually, Avatarites can drop off lower level mobs. I got a Garudite and a Breeze Geode of the Wivres (69-ish) at Grauberg [S] fortification while wind was up--3 kills and got one of each, with no TH (doing Campaigns on DRK).

You didnt get a garudite off a lv69 mob. I've killed ornamental weapons for 8 hours straight and didnt get a single garudite, but got loads of breeze geodes.

Actually yes, it was. Look them up...listed as 68-70, I said "69-ish". I slaughtered these things at 75 for trials and they were easy kills back then, so they are definately not restricted to only 80+ mobs.

Once again...I've killed Ornamental Weapons for well over 8 hours straight, a 74 - 76 mob, and got not one Garudite (or any avatarites), but 30 geodes.

If you got an avatarite off a lv69 wivre, it was a bug.

If you did get an avatarite off of a level 69 monster, I'd definitely like to see a screenshot.

When I got TH prowess added to my THF subjob, I noticed no increase in avatarite drops. So if anyone with lots of time would be willing to test it out with different levels of TH, that'd be bueno. <3

For wind-based drops, I strongly suggest Ordelle's Caves. During weather/day, just slaughter the EP mobs, and when they're down, do page (I did beetles and bunnies). I can't say for certain if crystal yield prowess affects drop rate or if TH affects it, but as my prowesses built, the drops became more frequent.

Brasscaps in Grauberg also dropped Garudite/Leviatite. Maybe it's a bug with Grauberg, or maybe all zones in the past?