question ilevel versus stats and defense

[DizzyDee]

hi if i get a quest reward that is higher ilevel but lower stats and defense than im wearing do i still equip it cos of the ilevel or keep the better stats and defense? the piece i have is from the class quest which is better defense and stats but new item is higher ilevel also the clasws quest armor has materia slots but i havent learned how to do materia yet so nothing is equipped in them

[QooEr]

if it has lower stats and defense its not worth the upgrade. this only happens in 2 situations:
- the "upgrade" is a crafted item (gray gear) and is normal quality. high quality crafted gear always has higher stats if its higher ilv

- the gear has higher stats, but you are a tank attempting to wear dps gear. dont do this, the defense actually matters when doing mob pulls

[Risvertasashi]

if it has lower stats and defense its not worth the upgrade. this only happens in 2 situations:
- the "upgrade" is a crafted item (gray gear) and is normal quality. high quality crafted gear always has higher stats if its higher ilv

- the gear has higher stats, but you are a tank attempting to wear dps gear. dont do this, the defense actually matters when doing mob pulls

This can also happening when comparing endgame gear from a previous expansion and early dungeon gear from a newer expansion - the dungeon gear might have lower ilvl, but can have significantly better defense/stats.

These are edge cases, of course, but like QooEr said, pick the gear with the better stats in these cases.

[DizzyDee]

no im a caster doing the novice hall challenges but yea wasnt sure as i know weapons most most say go with the higher item level but it does seem that the class quest items have the better stats and defense than the new stuff but its probly cos im a little higher so i got
to the class quest before doing the lower lvl msq quest what can i say im a quest lover lol

[Urthdigger]

It's important to see how many slots an item uses as well. If something uses two slots (like cowls, which are body and head, or two-handed weapons versus a weapon and shield), the stats are equivalent to an item of BOTH slots of that ilvl.

[Hasrat]

Hm. Judging from the comparison of Novice Hall gear vs caster class quest gear, yeah, it might be that you're comparing the head+chest cowl with the Brand New Robe.

At low levels, it really won't matter too much what gear you're using, as long as it's class-appropriate, and at least somewhat near level-appropriate. The differences you'll see will be incredibly minute, and completely washed out by all the buffs/nerfs old content has gotten.

The Brand New Robe is usually the best you'll get at those levels, but you would also need to want to pair it with a good head piece.

[Rongway]

This can also happening when comparing endgame gear from a previous expansion and early dungeon gear from a newer expansion - the dungeon gear might have lower ilvl, but can have significantly better defense/stats.

This doesn't happen. The first dungeon drops gear of the same iLv and defense, and the same stat limits as the previous expansion's max iLv minus 10 -- the same as base final tomestone gear. The second dungeon drops gear of the same iLv and defense and the same stat limits as the previous expansion's max iLv -- the same as augmented final tomestone gear or final savage tier gear.

The third dungeon finally drops higher iLv gear, and when you compare full augmented tomestone gear to a set of third dungeon gear, the augmented tomestone set is consistently behind the third dungeon set by a whole chest piece. That is, running around in a full set of the previous cap's augmented gear is the same as wearing a full set of the third dungeon's gear with either the chest or legs slot empty.

[ScottDoom]

There are a few lower level items that give higher stats. Some jewelry for sure. Also, as was said, some items take up two slots so it looks like they are very powerful. If you use the Recommended Gear button the game will sometimes recommended lower level items vs. higher level based on the stats for that class/job. So just use that.

[MistakeNot]

There are a few lower level items that give higher stats. Some jewelry for sure. Also, as was said, some items take up two slots so it looks like they are very powerful. If you use the Recommended Gear button the game will sometimes recommended lower level items vs. higher level based on the stats for that class/job. So just use that.

"Recommended gear" often gives dubious or outright wrong suggestions for low level gear. ilevel alone is not a good guide for which gear to use. Higher ilvl does not always give better stats - the obvious example being crafted gear where NQ and HQ has the same ilvl but different stats.

Item level only matters for fulfilling the requirements of entering certain instances. For everything else it is the actual stats that matter.

[kaynide]

Truthfully, it's not a big thing to worry about OP. tl;dr of what's below: Use whatever the most specific*, highest iLVL is available to you.

(*Specific?)

By most specific, I mean gear specifically for BLM/RDM/SMN/BLU is better than one for all "Disciples of Magic", or gear for Tanks is better than something for all "Disciples of War". (See the level 32 Calvary vs Infantry set, for an example.

Lots of text, but I suggest:
1) Getting By: Get by on just using whatever drops from Dungeons. There are some great sets you can keep for later jobs as well (the 17 sets from the first dungeons, the 32 sets from Brayflox's Longstop dungeon stand out). Certain "colors" of items will be better than others...GENERALLY speaking Gray < Pink < Green < Blue

2) "Expansion End" Levels: With each "expansion end" (50, 60, 70 and now 80) there are a bulk of iLVLs available. Most of them can be ignored; You have several options for decent gear:

2a) Tomestones: At each of the "ends", the highest Tomestone set should last you to about 5 levels into the next expansion if you choose to get them. You will naturally accumulate these Tomestones as you do stuff in game.
2b) 18 Man Raids: These are pretty easy at this point and offer decent sets...should last about 3 or so levels into the next expansion. Does not require grinding tomestones, but does rely a little on RNG.
2c) Scorched Earth: Just burn through the highest dungeon open to you and grab what pieces you need.

3) Fill Gaps: Worst case, there is always the market board- just buy whatever the highest level and most specific to your job (eg. Tanks can wear some of the same stuff as a dragoon, which is not as good for the tank)

4) Keep Up to Date: However you decide to gear up, it IS important to keep your gear as up to date as possible; Wearing level 17ish gear in a level 30 dungeon will cause a noticeable drop in damage.

Closing: Don't worry about actual stats TOO much, because you're just going to replace your gear in a day or two anyway. The game doesn't really have lateral progression with gear like some other MMOs. At the end of the game, unless you're doing some VERY specific things, you'll only have 1 set of gear for your job.

Disclaimer/Information: I'm an uber-casual. I'm almost all 80s, I've done almost every quest since launch..but I DO NOT touch the end-game raid stuff until it's old news (still not even done the last 1/3 of Omega NORMAL mode)