How To Improve Item Level

[Jeeqbit]

I go to complete the quest "Rock the Castrum" and cannot enter it because my item level is only 36 and 42 is required in order to proceed.

Always open the Character window and click the Recommended Gear button. This automatically equips the best gear in your armory chest (which is where most of your quest rewards and dungeon loot probably went).

The only ones I have found in shops are also junk.

Every main city has a market place -including Ul'dah - Sapphire Avenue Exchange, Limsa Lominsa - Lower Decks and Old Gridania. You can speak with the Battle Armor merchants and there is gear for all levels. 1-9, 10-19 and so on. DoW since you use physical attacks.

You can get high-quality versions of this gear from the market boards too. These are where players sell the items instead, but they can be a lot more expensive.

I noticed you are a Lancer, but have Dragoon unlocked. Note that equipping your Soul Crystal turns you into a Dragoon, which unlocks a lot of new abilities. If you do all of your Dragoon quests, you get a coffer you can "use" that gives you item level 90 gear.

As you get Allagan tomestones of poetics from this content you're about to do, you can spend these with the Blue Icon NPC just outside of main city aetherytes, for item level 130 gear, which will last up to level 60 quests.

[SnowVix]

Ul'dah has a shop near the Goldsmith's Guild that sells ilvl 29 accessories, other than that, ARR does not really have a place to buy accessories past that item level, and you'll want to either buy them on the marketboard or unlock Goldsmith to craft them yourself (and Miner to get the raw materials)

and as others have mentioned, catch up on your job quests and get that ilvl 90 left side.

[Jojoya]

Surprise! Surprise!

I go to complete the quest "Rock the Castrum" and cannot enter it because my item level is only 36 and 42 is required in order to proceed.

The problem is my neck, wrists, and rings, which currently have a respective item level of 5,18, 15, and 15.

The only ones I have found in shops are also junk.

How do I go about improving these items?

Quests?

Is there a marketplace somewhere where they can be purchased? I have close to 200k gil.

Thank you for your help!

Qaija

Accessories (belt, earrings, neck, bracelet, rings) tend to be rewarded by side quests and not MSQ.

There's a bit of a gap for them on vendors in the 35-49 range, making the MB a primary source though it can be expensive. And you won't be able to buy the level 50 tomestone accessories until you complete Castrum and Praetorium.

Best way to do it - ask someone you know who has level Goldsmith to at least 50 to make the accessories you need (belts are usually Leatherworkers though sometimes Weaver or Armorer). They can tell you what materials are needed. Buying the materials from the MB is usually a lot cheaper than buying the finished item.

I know I'm replying a bit on the late side so I hope you have what you need by now.

[Floortank]

If you come to Balmung I'll craft you some stuff for free.