Fresh Level 50s who have just started grinding for gear, be warned about Heavensward.

I just got to level 50 and am really struggling with the grind for gear. (I don't get to play as often as I would like) I just heard SquareEnix are going to start providing decent gear as rewards for completing quests. This means I, as a level 50 who has finished the main story and is now grinding so I can start playing the end game content, will be stuck grinding for my gear while newbies come up getting the gear as they progress.

I am gonna jump into dungeons and have gear lower than those who have just come up the story, meanwhile they will be able to carry on and I will be stuck with the grind still, it is gonna suck.

They basically through you Soliders in your face nowadays so you can cap fast, and poetic's are bumped to 900 a week too.
They've made it easier to grind for gear.

I wouldn't worry much because you've been here since 2013, and you're just now 50.
You really don't have that much time as you say. x:

Cap Poe's one week, buy a belt and some shoes.

While capping you probably got at least a few ilevel 60-80 pieces, throw those on.

Buy some gear with the ungodly amounts of Soldiery you probably go while capping Poe's.

You should now be at least ilevel 100, congratulations you can now queue for everything in the game except FCoB and T9.

It's not that hard to grind for gear, you can literally get it done in an afternoon from i55 to i100 now. I know, I have and I have seen others go from ilvl 1 to ilvl 110 on a fresh character in three days :P

There are dozens of MSQ quests between Praetorium (around the time you hit 50) and Steps of Faith (which unlocks expansion zones).

SE said that these quests would award gear that is more than sufficient to satisfy the i level requirements to succeed at progression without grinding dungeons or other non-MSQ content.

Seems fair, since Expac Content is gated behind it. CT and stuff will probably still remain relevant somehow anywho, or a shortcut for those who like to prepare in advance.

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Originally Posted by Knownot

I just got to level 50 and am really struggling with the grind for gear. (I don't get to play as often as I would like) I just heard SquareEnix are going to start providing decent gear as rewards for completing quests. This means I, as a level 50 who has finished the main story and is now grinding so I can start playing the end game content, will be stuck grinding for my gear while newbies come up getting the gear as they progress.

I am gonna jump into dungeons and have gear lower than those who have just come up the story, meanwhile they will be able to carry on and I will be stuck with the grind still, it is gonna suck.

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If you complete the story you should get ilevel90+ gear from the lv51+ MSQ
At level 55 around the difference between those who farmed lv50/ilevel130 gear and those who just continue the MSQ with ilvel90+ gear will get smaller.

So, if you are a player who is running 2-3 patches behind everyone else, this sounds like an incentive to wait for early access and then blitz the MSQ then to obtain the newly enhanced gear drops in time for Heavensward access proper. ;)

OP, the MSQ reward gear can be expected to be the stuff that would enable you to meet the iLvl requirements for Keeper of the Lake and The Steps of Faith - ie i90 gear. If you have already been able to complete that content, I feel pretty comfortable telling you that you won't be suddenly behind in gear because you didn't get those rewards.

I believe it was said that i130 gear will only start to be obsoleted around level 55, so obviously the stretch from about 100-130 will be in that gap.

In addition I don't doubt for a second that the first NPC shops in Ishgard, which you'll have access to, will provide you with sufficient gear to participate.

You are ready to participate in Heavensward without any additional grinding, OP; the only difference is that your gear is going to be obsoleted and replaced with NPC shop/dungeon drop/quest reward gear a couple levels earlier

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Originally Posted by Knownot

I just got to level 50 and am really struggling with the grind for gear. (I don't get to play as often as I would like) I just heard SquareEnix are going to start providing decent gear as rewards for completing quests. This means I, as a level 50 who has finished the main story and is now grinding so I can start playing the end game content, will be stuck grinding for my gear while newbies come up getting the gear as they progress.

I am gonna jump into dungeons and have gear lower than those who have just come up the story, meanwhile they will be able to carry on and I will be stuck with the grind still, it is gonna suck.

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i dont understand this... "SE is going to start providing decent gear as rewards for completing quests." not sure what you heard or where but what I recall is this referred to the level 50-60 quests, not retro providing better gear via quests existing in the game currently. So you will be in the same boat as everyone else getting to the end of 2.55. th minimum ilev requirement for the last fight in 2.55 is i90 so heavensward ilev rewards probably will start around i95+ and catching up with i135 around level 55.

Unless I am wrong about older quests getting better gear rewards, if I am could someone please link the source?

Also they are changing the way DF works, adding in the ability to enter a dungeon with less than a full party, with the lowest levelsync, with no level sync, and even have practice runs. These things alone should make getting that piece of gear you want a lot easier.

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Originally Posted by MageBlack

i dont understand this... "SE is going to start providing decent gear as rewards for completing quests." not sure what you heard or where but what I recall is this referred to the level 50-60 quests, not retro providing better gear via quests existing in the game currently. (...) Unless I am wrong about older quests getting better gear rewards, if I am could someone please link the source?

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A Realm Reborn Adjustments
>Aimed at making access to Heavensward content easier
>Main Story Quests exp rewards “more than doubled”
>Post-2.0 Main Story Quests give equipment rewards.
>You will be able to go from New Player → Heavensward without having to do any sidequests, gear from MSQ will be enough to reach item level requirements.
>Duty Finder will prioritize people running content for the first time
>Level 50 A Realm Reborn content will still give 0 exp.

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This document is a wonderful collection of all information we know about Heavensward, from interviews, live letters, etc


But yes. The point is, the MSQ rewards will get you to i90 to participate in the content. If you were able to complete Steps of Faith - or even participate in it! - you are safe to start Heavensward.