PLD Gear Progression

Hey Guys,

I've hit a rut in my gear progression and am not sure where to go from here so any input would be beneficial.

As of now I'm sitting on,

MH: Curtana Zenith
OH: Holy Shield Zenith
Head: i90 Myth
Body: i100 Phlegethons
Waist: i90 Myth
Hands: i90 Myth
Legs: i90 Myth
Feet: i100 Phlegethons
Neck: i90 Myth
Brace: i90 Myth
Earrings: i90 Myth
Rings: i90 Myth/i100 Sold

I've been grinding atmas but, after 4 days without one I'm pretty much given up on that dream for now. I still haven't beat Garuda EX/Turn 5 either but, I feel that I'm geared enough for both just Duty Finder is too toxic of a place to get anything done. I have unlocked Levi EX and it doesn't seem too bad as long as healers don't fall off of the boat so would it be more beneficial just to farm that for the wave weap and then use the sold to upgrade it?

Lots of questions I know, but any help will be appreciated :)

Soldiery Purchase Order:
Weapon (If you are not going for Novus) - 1300 sold
Body - 825 sold
Legs - 825 sold
Shield - 425 sold (?)

ST Drops:
Head Piece = Better version of i90 Myth helm
Gloves = Best Gloves in game with Parry

First Coil Drops (All these should replace i90 myth as they have more desired secondary stats):
Shield - T1
Choker - T1
Earrings - T2
Belt - T2
Ring - T4
Bracelets - T4

If you get the Soldiery Weapon and the ST Helm there wont be a need to get loot from t5
Helm - T5
Weapon - T5

Hello and welcome.

Small correction. Weathered Burtgang is only 910 Soldiery and a UAT from ST. It is less due to PLD's having to spend Soldiery on a W. Noct shield if they go that route. The most agreed upon order for purchase is:

W. Lorica
W. Breeches
W. Ring
W. Choker

Then it is a toss up from there. The route I took was:
W. Lorica
W. Shield
W. Breeches
W. Ring

I have un-weathered the Shield, obtained a weathered Burtgang and am working on getting sands to un-weather the lorica. Got an oil for the ring, un-weathered it and have that and another W. ring. At the same time I am working on getting:

ST hands
ST Head
Choker
Depending on what I need (ACC/Parry wise) either Noct belt or ST belt

I definitely recommend getting the burtgang going if you do not plan on going the zodiac route. With all the folks out there that have their zodiac weapons, ex weapons, coil weapons, i90 isn't going to cut it. It is a initial investment but should last a while.

Here is my current gear setup >> CLICKY <<

It is not the best by any means as I have not set foot in second coil, but I am happy and working towards a goal.

Hope it helps!

Syn

Seeing you already have ilvl 100 body and legs, I would try and get the Syrcus Tower head and gloves, since it seem they are the best choice from ST, and buy the rest gear that is not already ilvl 100 with soldiery. Later you can go for the best and buy the soldiery body and legs. (Unless you see the soldiery upgrade from body or legs is better than the upgrade from ilvl90 to 100 on other piece.)

I usually try to spend the soldiery on the item that gives more upgrade compared to the one I have.

This was about the gear, maybe the weapon would be the first buy and shield second, if you will eventually buy them. Leviathan weapon is other option, but it seems the mirrors are a very difficult drop for the upgrade.

I myself did the Novus way and it took long! I think atma rate drop is higher now than it was, myth are much easier to obtain for the animus books and also for alexandrites than they were. But they might get easier yet in the future. The good part of the Novus is you will be able to upgrade it, but likely again with a long grind.

I'm interested in what comes before gearing with soldiery. I'm a new tank to FFXIV - it's my first 50 class and will be my main. As soon as I hit 50 I did what everyone seems to recommend - hunted til I got myth gear then grabbed my zenith relic (although I now have first coil chest, legs and belt). However, in doing that I still have an i49 ring - is it more important for me to get a soldiery ring or my weapon? I just need to get a UAT from ST to get that as I don't want to atma grind. Is there an alternative ring I could be using before going through the soldiery progression?

I have about 1000 soldiery, so I could likely grind out enough to get the weapon and a ring which would solve the unique problem, but would out me further from getting the lorica etc.

Any suggestions?

You have a decent amount of ring slot options that'll be upgrades.

It's pricey, but a crafted i90 STR ring with VIT materia will be better than any drop you get (or VIT ring with STR but it all kinda depends on materia setups). It is very expensive though, so it's probably not worth it right now.

Alternatively, you can go after stuff from dungeons:

Darklight Band of Fending (i70)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...m/b8513c5059b/

Ultima ring (i80, Parry/Det)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...m/46b2d35384d/

Divine War ring (i80, crit/acc)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...m/cc9c05e2c23/

Allagan Ring of Fending (i90, parry/speed)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...m/cf9c62bcc62/

Vortex (i90, det/crit)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...m/d140aa5e998/

Judgment (i100, crit/acc)
http://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodest...m/f7e455d9824/

Since you're newish the extreme primal rings (vortex, judgment) might be a bit out of reach. Hard mode Ultima isn't that hard though. Probably your best bet right now is Divine War, since you'll be running expert dungeons anyway and you need more accuracy if you want to try to do second coil.

Well, the UAT is not an easy drop, so you might have time to spend soldiery tomes and later save them. The jump from ilvl49 to 100 is big and the soldiery ring is a good buy you'll use for a long time. I think I'd buy the soldiery ring in your situation, I usually prefer to upgrade the gear pieces that are lowest ilvl.

The Darklight ring drops in Braflox HM or Lost City, but you need the luck to get the drop.

The Wolf Ring is ilvl 55 and might not be expensive, have a look at the market board. Even the normal quality may be better than the ring you already have.

The HQ Rose Gold ring is very good and can be melded, but probably is expensive and you'll replace it, it may not be worth the expense.

Edit: I forgot the allagan ring from T2. It is an easy place to farm.

The crafted ilvl90 accesories are very good but super expensive, I suppose you don't have the gil.

Definitely not got the gil - have about 300k to my name from spirit binding and selling materia. Plus everything on Zodiark is disgustingly expensive if it's crafted.

I certainly have no issue with farming T2, not attempted any Ex primary though, so not a clue. Then again I've also not done any hard mode dungeons or Hull breaker etc. Given that the weekly will reset today and I'll probably manage to get another few hundred Soldiery in the time it takes me to get a UAT drop I might just get the sol ring and be done with it.

Get they Myth(Hero's Ring if you don't have already). Run Ulitmas ballad, that is crazy easy for tanks, and the ring is ok for i80. Also, if you feel you won't get the UAT anytime soon, then spend the Soldiery. I saved up the 910 or whatever was needed, then considered that as 0, then spent when needed above that.

You do have a few good free options out there though if you wanna keep dat currency.

I already have the myth ring annoyingly. I'm full i90 except for this one ring, so it needs to change. I'll take a look this evening and see how much soldiery I have. I expect I could wait a week to get a Weathered Burtgang in any case - I'm not losing threat yet.