Quote Originally Posted by wereotter View Post
Currently replaying the story, and this is incorrect, except for Shadowbringers and Endwalker where artifact gear is tied to story progression.

The level 50, 60, and 70 artifact gear are all quest rewards for completing the capstone quest. The only block is some quests might require you to go to zones you haven't yet reached.
you are correct on Idyllshire though that is still quite far in the expansion. For Stormblood, well you have to complete the last quest of the expansion called Stormblood to get iLvl 400 gear. You can’t access it as soon as you get to Raghl’s Reach or even Kugane unless it’s a very recent change (did it again at the beginning of this year).

Anyway, it’s not the best route but if they are going to start tying things strictly on job level without regard for story progress they may as well add the tome gear to a vendor in the 3 main cities.