Progressing Post 50

So, I’m a little confused and looking for some advice about levelling. I recently came back to FFXIV after leaving back in 2014. So, a long break. I now have my character at level 46 and am working to get to level 50 via the MSQ and dungeons and whatever. Once I hit 50 though I cannot find a good answer on what I do next. I assume at that point I go ahead and buy the Stormblood expansion, which also gives me the Heavensward expansion. From my research, there was some indication that in order to get started in Heavensward, I needed to do this long quest string, apparently some 100 quests long. Is this still the case? Or do I buy the expansion and once I hit 50, I just continue on with the new MSQ quests from 50 to 60, and then 60 to 70 via Stormblood?

Thanks

There are a large number of level 50 MSQ quests and dungeons that need to be done before you can start on Heavensward.
It will be the same when you reach level 60 - a whole bunch of level 60 stuff to do before you can start on the Stormblood content.

It can be a good idea to get the expansion even before you are able to start the content, because without the Heavensward expansion you will not gain any exp past level 50. If you do have the HW expansion registered you will earn exp from all the level 50 content and likely be around level 52-54 by the time you enter HW - which can really help in the first areas.

There's also the ability to buy your way through the incredibly tedious and filler quests between expansions on the mogstation. I don't recommend that if you care about the plot or want the exp the quests give.

There's also all the 2.0-2.55 released.

The "long quest string" you refer to is the MSQ. They continued the story with a handful more quests every patch(usually 10-20 quests extending the story). They fall into the 2.x category, so you can do them without the expansion(though giving up the exp from them) - however they set the stage for the HW storyline(and in fact some of those quests from 3 and 4 years ago are even setting up things in the current SB storyline). Your first interaction with the Dragonsong War happens before you get into the "official" HW content. The quests introduce new people and concepts that will become important, explain why Ishgard is going to let you into their borders, and generally bridge what happens at the end of ARR with the beginning of HW. A lot of people make a big deal about the "100 quests" part. In reality most of them are quests of the run there, talk to those people, maybe kill something, report in, get your reward style - in other words fairly quick. If i remember right there are roughly 3 required dungeons during the string, and about 5 or 6 trials. And while this is subjective, most of the people ive talked to about it agree that the story starts to get really good during this quest string(trying to keep this spoiler free, so ill just say try not to skip any cutscenes). All told, even playing a casual amount this only takes a week or two to clear. Most of the quests are fairly short, so the count is inflated.

And by the way, at level 60 this all happens again as they bridge HW into SB. Only the quest string isnt as long(i think its 40 or 45) and the level 60 one has more dungeons then trials.

Personally, I enjoyed these quests and would recommend you get the expansion and take your time experiencing the story at your own pace.

Hi Kryplock, I can totally understand your feeling because I was a returner to the game after 2 years of break, and I stopped just after the ARR MSQ finished.
You are correct that there are plenty of post-ARR quests (7th Umbral and 7th Astral Quests line), and it's quite painful to follow them, but story wise I think they are great. So, I would recommend follow them thoroughly.

After lv 50 you won't find difficulties to progress, simply follow HW story line and continue to SB. HW story line is great.

However, if you feel like to jump right into SB you can buy the tales of adventure item from Mog Station (costs 20eur each) which will skip all the ARR & HW MSQ.
I personally think it doesn't worth the money because the game itself has a very interesting storyline.

Thanks everyone for the information. It was very useful and appreciated. I'll probably pick up the expansion in the next few days and just continue down the MSQ.

Challenge log! Soooo much experience to be had via the challenges, and they reset weekly. Some good chunks of exp happiness for sure!

What I found to be fun was to get and do all of the trials and raid possible. You can normally only find trials through party finder, and it is unsynced. So quick XP and completion. I found pretty much all of these in Waking Sands and in Mor Dhana. Use these to get the tombstones required for the level 50 Ironworks gear you can get in Mor Dhona. These trials can take some time to do, so if you do not have the next MSQ expansion and have no MSQ to do, level other classes between trials or do POTD, gambling, achievement farming, etc.
-There are 23 level 50 trials for ARR

I would say do as many trials as you can before getting expansion. However, if in general you really like FFXIV, then go ahead and get it.

I then upgraded these to Augmented and this gear lasted a very long time for me.

In between trials, or when there was no one online doing trials, I continued the MSQ, which is pretty long, but unlocks some nice dungeons and stuff.

After you complete all dungeons and trials, you can then do level 50 dungeon roulette, if you are a tank or healer main, to level faster, or get gear(but if you have augmented ironworks, you won't need to farm gear much except for glamour.)

If you get bored with anything of the above, I would just level other classes in the same "job" to like 30. Like all magic DPS, all melee DPS, all tanks, etc. This is good for being able to get rid of low level gear that you may not need anymore after all classes reach 30, 40, whatever.

Maybe start some crafting also if you have not. Start with gathering classes because it is easiest.

Not sure why you would need to get Ironworks armor anymore. You get iLvl 90 gear for doing your class quests at 50 which is high enough to get you into all pre-HW content. And once you hit HW you can just visit a vendor if you haven't gotten any drops of higher level stuff.

The i130 gear is better than anything else you'll likely come across or be able to equip until level 54ish, though, making all that pre/early HW stuff nice and smooth. Just kinda depends on how fast/soon you want to jump through MSQ vs trying out all the other 50 content.

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Originally Posted by savageink

Not sure why you would need to get Ironworks armor anymore. You get iLvl 90 gear for doing your class quests at 50 which is high enough to get you into all pre-HW content. And once you hit HW you can just visit a vendor if you haven't gotten any drops of higher level stuff.

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I think getting the ironworks gears will help a lot once you enter the HW areas, at least you can keep it until reaching the Idyllshire where you can swap to ilvl 200.. And since getting poetics now is very easy (assuming routine daily roulette), one will find his/her poetics count max in no time, so I think it's wise to spend them there.. Unless they hit lvl 60 before the HW area (which very unlikely) then Ironworks can be skipped and rely on the Antiquated gear set, and get the weapon once centurio seals is unlocked..

Beside, I still reckon Ironworks as one of the best outfit for glamor at least before SB area

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Originally Posted by Vineas

I think getting the ironworks gears will help a lot once you enter the HW areas, at least you can keep it until reaching the Idyllshire where you can swap to ilvl 200.. And since getting poetics now is very easy (assuming routine daily roulette), one will find his/her poetics count max in no time, so I think it's wise to spend them there.. Unless they hit lvl 60 before the HW area (which very unlikely) then Ironworks can be skipped and rely on the Antiquated gear set, and get the weapon once centurio seals is unlocked..

Beside, I still reckon Ironworks as one of the best outfit for glamor at least before SB area

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sure but if you don't have the poetics or are just rushing through the msq Ironworks gear is iLvl 120. You can buy iLvl 115 gear immediately upon entering the HW city with gil if you need it. Not sure i'd bother with all the fuss since you wouldn't be wearing it long while levelling. you can start buying iLvl 125 gear once you get to Tailfeather. 133 in Moghome.

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Originally Posted by savageink

sure but if you don't have the poetics or are just rushing through the msq Ironworks gear is iLvl 120. You can buy iLvl 115 gear immediately upon entering the HW city with gil if you need it. Not sure i'd bother with all the fuss since you wouldn't be wearing it long while levelling.

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I agree, not having poetics will be different story. Assuming players run roulette daily they will bank poetics during the pre HW quests and HW MSQ. It will be a waste to keep them max out while you keep doing daily roulette. So, why not spend the free currency??

Based on personal experience I wear Ironworks until I reach lvl 60 and change to lv 60 class gear (cus I level faster than usual). But a small test confirmed Ironworks works until reach Idyllshire for the ilvl220 Shire gears (which can last until lv 70).

Of course this is the matter of personal preference, so no right or wrong :D

The Shire gear is 260 and upgrades to 270. =)

I'm about 70-ish quests into the 4.0 MSQ and I've only gotten enough better gear to replace half my Shire set, if that gives any indication on how solid an investment that is. Also, if you happen to have any Silver Chocobo Feathers saved up, I found that that the Calamity Salvager will give you body/leg sets of the Ironworks and Shire Gear for five feathers. Helped me out a lot!

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Originally Posted by savageink

Not sure why you would need to get Ironworks armor anymore. You get iLvl 90 gear for doing your class quests at 50 which is high enough to get you into all pre-HW content. And once you hit HW you can just visit a vendor if you haven't gotten any drops of higher level stuff.

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You augment it and it is way better than the class ones. Lasts for much longer. Also, they look cool for glamour.

Unsure what you are looking to do in game but I wanted all quests done and all content unlocked. Unlocking content seemed it took the same amount of time as doing all the quests. It was long and difficult and I hated it but I did it.

Now I’m going to try tanking and would like to learn each boss each dungeon. Spent all my time as dps but felt I missed half the game in dungeons cause I just stood there.

Getting to max and endgame and super gear is great but think you’ll be a better player if you suffer the questing.