FFXIV Retainers Guide

These virtual helpers provide you with extra storage space, act as your personal bankers, and can even help you sell items on the market board. 

With retainers, you can expand your inventory, store your precious loot, and even make a profit.

Don’t let the idea of retainers intimidate you – they’re incredibly user-friendly! 

Our guide will teach you how to customize your retainers to fit your specific needs and enhance your FFXIV experience. 

Plus, you’ll get to enjoy all of the game’s essential features in one convenient package.

Why struggle with limited inventory space when you can have your own virtual assistant? 

Bid farewell to cluttered bags and say hello to a seamless FFXIV adventure with the help of retainers. 

Let’s dive in and embark on this exciting journey together!

What Are The Benefits Of Retainers In FFXIV?

Retainers in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) offer numerous benefits for players.

Firstly, they provide extra storage space, allowing you to hold more items than your character’s default inventory can handle. 

This means that you can carry more items without worrying about losing anything valuable.

Secondly, they act as personal bankers, allowing you to store your hard-earned gil and other important items, so you don’t have to store them in your inventory.

Thirdly, they become your market board middlemen, enabling you to buy and sell items on the market board without actually being present in-game. 

You can even set the prices and quantities for the items you sell, making it a hassle-free experience.

Finally, retainers in FFXIV are customizable. 

You can name them, equip them with different gear, and assign them specific jobs, giving you even more control over your gameplay experience.

Overall, utilizing retainers in FFXIV is a game-changer as they provide versatile, customizable, and convenient options for storing, selling, and saving your items and currency.

What Are Retainers For? 

FFXIV Retainers is a very useful feature and is more in-depth than many new players (and some experienced) realize. 

Many people use them just to store items or money, however they offer so much more. 

Storing Items and Gil

First things first, let’s talk about the basics. 

Retainers are your trusty bank, with each one capable of storing up to 175 items and a whopping 9999 of each type of shard, crystal, and cluster. 

And when it comes to gil, your retainers can hold up to 999,999,999. Now that’s a lot of money!

While you can organize your inventory and retainers any way you like, it’s a good idea to designate certain types of items to each of your retainers. 

For example, if you’re a crafter, you can assign one retainer to hold all your materials while the other holds your finished crafts ready to sell.

Selling Items on the Market Board

But wait, there’s more! 

Your retainers are not just for storage, they are also your conduit to the market board. 

Selling items is a breeze – simply list them on the board and set your desired price. 

You can even check the competition by clicking on the “Compare Prices” button or review the recent sales history with the “History” button.

If you’re serious about making gil, you’ll be adjusting your prices often to stay competitive. 

And with the help of extra retainers, crafters can hold more materials and finished goods ready to sell, maximizing their profits.

Retainers can also be used for ventures, which is sending them out on adventures and finding items for you. 

This is a big feature, so I’ll go into this in more detail shortly…

How To Unlock FFXIV Retainers?

Are you ready to take your Final Fantasy XIV gameplay to the next level? 

Then it’s time to unlock the power of retainers!

First things first, you’ll need to complete the Level 17 quest “The Scions of the Seventh Dawn” as part of the Main Scenario Quest to unlock the ability to hire retainers. 

Once you’ve done that, it’s time to head to the marketplace of your favorite city and speak with a Retainer Vocate NPC. 

Here, you can customize your retainer’s appearance and choose from a range of personality options.

But that’s not all – did you know that where you set your retainer’s city state can affect the tax rate of items you sell on the market board? 

It pays to pay attention to the details!

Once you’ve created your perfect retainer, you can summon them whenever you need them with Summoning Bells located in the marketplaces of major cities.

They’re also inside inn rooms, and even on your property if you’re lucky enough to have a house.

How To Get More Retainers in FFXIV?

Are you already hooked on the amazing benefits that retainers can bring to your Final Fantasy XIV gameplay? 

We don’t blame you – they’re seriously useful! But what if we told you that you could have even more of them?

That’s right – while you start with two free retainers, you can unlock up to seven more for a cost of $2 per retainer every 30 days. 

And if that’s not enough, you can even get another one by paying for the premium FFXIV Companion App. 

This means that you can have up to 10 retainers at your beck and call, but it will cost you $19 every 30 days.

Now, we know what you’re thinking – do you really need that many retainers? 

Truth be told, probably not. 

For most players, the two free retainers will provide more than enough storage and convenience. 

But if you’re a crafting guru with a massive inventory or just love collecting everything you come across, having extra retainers can certainly come in handy.

So go ahead and decide for yourself if you’re ready to take the plunge and unlock more retainers.

Retainer Ventures

At level 17, a brand new quest called “An Ill Conceived Venture” becomes available. 

It’s time to take your retainers to the next level!

But first, let’s talk about giving your retainers a job. 

To do this, you must have reached a specific level with that job. 

Once you’ve accomplished that, you can assign your retainer a job and send them out into the world.

But what are retainers? 

They are your loyal companions who aid you in your quests. 

They can gather items, hold items for you, and even complete ventures on your behalf. 

Speaking of ventures, you’ll need a specific currency to send your retainers on them. 

These can be purchased from Hunt vendors, Tribe vendors, and even from the Quartermaster at your Grand Company.

So, gear up and get ready to embark on exciting new quests with your trusty retainers by your side. 

The possibilities are endless when you have a team of skilled adventurers at your command.

Types Of Ventures

Ventures are your ticket to explore the vast landscape of Eorzea and uncover treasures beyond your wildest dreams.

Ventures are tailored to specific jobs, with combat jobs having access to Hunting and Field Exploration ventures, while Miner, Botanist, and Fisher have their own specialized ventures: Mining, Botany, and Fishing, respectively. 

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Highland, Woodland, and Waterside Exploration ventures offer endless possibilities for your retainers to discover the riches of the land.

Targeted ventures are perfect for when you’re after a specific item that matches your retainer’s job.

If you’re in a combat job, your retainer can hunt down any item dropped by mobs. 

But if you’re feeling adventurous and looking for a random item, Exploration ventures are the way to go. 

Just remember, they cost more venture currency and last longer.

Quick Exploration ventures are the ultimate way to level up your retainer quickly. 

They’re available to all retainers, regardless of their job, and can result in an exciting array of random items. 

Your retainer’s EXP gain will depend on the rarity of the item they bring back, and at only one hour long, you can send them out on Quick Exploration ventures all day long.

Here’s a pro tip: some items, such as the highly sought-after Fat Cat minion, can only be obtained through ventures. 

These minions are in high demand and can fetch a pretty penny on the market board. 

So even if you don’t need the items your retainer brings back, it’s worth it to send them out on ventures. 

You can always sell the items for a profit or give them back to your retainer to sell.

Best Jobs for FFXIV Retainers

As a savvy adventurer, you know that your retainer can make all the difference in the world of Eorzea. 

But, when it comes to assigning a job to your trusty assistant, you need to be strategic. 

Here are some tips to maximize your retainer’s potential!

Firstly, keep in mind that your retainer can only be given a combat or gathering job (not crafting). 

To ensure your retainer is at their best, choose your highest level job or a gathering job. 

But, beware! 

Your retainer cannot surpass your level on a specific job. 

So, if you give them a job that you don’t intend to level, they’ll be stuck at their current level forever.

When it comes to combat jobs, it doesn’t really matter which one you choose for your retainer. 

All combat jobs have access to the same pool of resources for their ventures. 

So, pick any job you have at or intend to get to max level. Plus, if you have old gear lying around, you can easily hand it off to your retainer.

However, if you want to see some real benefits, consider assigning a gathering job to your retainer. 

Although you’ll have to level up that gatherer job yourself, it’s worth it in the long run. 

As a crafter, you can send your retainer out to gather the materials you need for your crafting jobs. 

And for gatherers and other players, you can reap the rewards of extra materials with minimal effort.

How To Change Your Retainer’s Appearance

When you first get your Retainer in FFXIV, you’ll give it a name, a personality and even decide on how you want him or her to look. 

What I like is that their name must be unique to the server. 

Don’t worry too much if you end up not liking the way it looks, you can change it. 

All you need to do is use an item called Retainer Fantasia. 

Just use the item and customize your retainer at a Retainer Vocate. 

You can often find these items on the market board and they’re not too expensive. 

Retainer FAQ

How many retainers can I have in FFXIV?

You can have 2 retainers for free on each character. 

If you do want more, you’ll need to purchase them via the mog station for $2 per retainer. 

As mentioned before, two is enough for most players. 

Can I change my retainer’s job?

Yes you can change your retainers job in FF14. 

There are however a couple of conditions. 

First of all you have to be level 50 or 60 of the job you want your Retainer to be. 

You then need an item called the Modern Vocation. 

These can be purchased from the Retainer Vocate, they only cost 40 Ventures. 

How do I access my Retainer?

In each city state, you’ll find a Summoning Bell. 

This is where you’ll summon your Retainer and allow you to access their inventory or use them to sell an item. 

It’s worth noting that you can sell on the market and anyone in any capital city can purchase it. 

However the state your Retainer in does change the amount you must pay in city tax. 

Some cities have a reduced tax, if you’re selling high end items you might want to move your retainer to those cities before you sell items on the market place. 

Final Thoughts

Retainers in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) are a versatile and customizable feature that offers numerous benefits for players. 

They provide extra storage space, act as personal bankers, and can even help players buy and sell items on the market board without actually being present in-game. 

Retainers are customizable, allowing players to name them, equip them with different gear, and assign them specific jobs, giving players even more control over their gameplay experience. 

By utilizing retainers in FFXIV, players can expand their inventory, store their precious loot, and even make a profit. 

While you start with two free retainers, you can unlock up to seven more for a cost of $2 per retainer every 30 days. 

So, if you are new to FFXIV or looking to enhance your gameplay experience, utilizing retainers is a must.

Whether you’re a seasoned FFXIV player or just getting started, make sure you’re taking advantage of all the benefits that retainers have to offer. 

Trust us, your gaming experience will never be the same!