Gathering Collectables in FFXIV (2024)

Last updated on Jun 26, 2024 at 09:00by Shikhu6 comments

This guide will explain the collectable system and ephemeral nodes forgathering, in addition to providing rotations that you can use for both leveling andendgame.

Collectables have several purposes. They unlock scrips that can be usedfor materia, gear, and endgame nodes. They also help support crafting byallowing you to obtain aethersands by using Aetherial Reduction, whichis the act of breaking down specific collectables into sands you can craft with.

While leveling, collectables are an easy method to gain experience points.While this is not the fastest method, because collectables grant scrips, it isthe most efficient after around level 70.

To unlock the collectable system at level 50, you must first complete the mainstory quest "The Better Half"and the side quest "Inscrutable Tastes."Additionally, there are side quests for each scrip exchange that arelocated beside said NPC for each expansion.

Unlike crafting classes that use their regular skills to make collectables,Mining and Botany instead have unique skills that are only used for collectables.Fisher toggles an action called Collect, which turnscertain fish into collectables based on their size.

As mentioned above, Mining and Botany have unique skills with the solepurpose being for gathering collectables. Some cost GP. Others do notand have various effects which impact your Integrity and Collectability.

The skills can be pressed inside of the collectable menu, meaning you caneven move those skills off your hotbars and save some space. If you hoverover the skills, the circle above will show you your predicted Collectabilityrating, and there are also toggle buttons below to see the prediction withcertain buffs applied.

The top of the menu shows your Collectability out of the max rating of1000 and predicts ratings when you hover over skills. For the skill Brazen Prospector, it shows the range your rating can be between.

The Primary Actions include Scour, Brazen Prospectorand Meticulous Prospector alongside Collect. Thisalso includes the nodes Integrity as well as the % chance of Meticulous's integritysaving effect occurring.

The Secondary Actions & Bonuses include Scrutiny, Collector's Focus and Priming Touch as wellas your Intuition Rate (which grants increased collectability) as wellas Collectors Standard (which buffs Brazen and Meticulous).

It is also worth knowing a few extra things, Scrutinyscales on both Gathering and Perception (unlike what the skill says), and youcan also use non-collectable skills where relevant. The main use being Solid Reason/ Ageless Words which grant youadditional integrity and therefore more collectables from each node.

For a more in-depth explanation of FFXIV's Mining and Botany skills, check outour dedicated guide linked below.

Ephemeral nodes hold items that you also have to gather as collectablesin a similar way to other collectables. The difference is that theironly purpose is for the items to be broken down using Aetherial Reductionto turn the items into aethersands, crystals, and clusters forcrafting. It is the equivalent of desynthesis. Fishing classes can alsoreduce specific fish into aethersands using the same methods.

To unlock reduction, you need to complete the level 56 quest"No Longer a Collectable"and the quest "The Better Half" that unlocks the scrip exchange.

Once you hit 400 Collectability rating on these items, you have a chance toobtain aethersands. At 1000 Collectability, you have a chance to gain a bonusthat can grant you up to 10 sands per item. You always want to aim for either 400or 1000 - there is no need to waste GP aiming for anything different.

Collectable rotations for Dawntrail will be listed as theorycraftinghas been completed for Dawntrail Gathering Collectable Rotations. Click on anyof these images to see an enlarged version.

It is important to understand that you do not necessarily need the GP listedon the rotation. That is the total GP that it costs, but you gain 6 GP per hitmeaning you can have a little less GP than the rotation asks for. The exactamount of GP depends on the nodes integrity.

This is the more standard endgame rotation you can follow in Dawntrail toutilise the new Collector's High Standard trait whenever it procs. Collector'sStandard generally procs less than 20% of the time and therefore thiswill not occur regularly.

This is a variation of the 1000GP Rotation but instead adjusted for less than1000 GP by using Priming Touch. This rotation can either cost800 or 900 GP depending on where you use Priming Touch.

This rotation instead is setup to allow you to reach 1000 collectability even withthe lowest stats possible. It will cost 600GP unless you get really unluckywhich it will then cost 800GP instead.

Listed are some of the older rotations which are suitable beforelevel 100.

While leveling, 600 rating is enough for quests and Custom Deliveries butis only the minimum for Rowena's Splendors. Instead, try to aim for 1000 forthose items.

This is the generally used rotation if you reach the stat requirementsmentioned for the item. Lower stats can also use this rotation, butyou might need to spend more GP on collectable skills.

This is the lower stat rotation if you do not hit close to the maxCollectability rating. It trades off yield for rating becausethe max rating (1000 in most cases) is always better. Depending on your stats, youwill need either 400 or 600GP.

This is simply an example of an ephemeral rotation you would use tohit 400 rating when you have no GP. 400 is required to be able to get a chanceat sands.