How Adventurer Squadrons Work in Final Fantasy XIV

With just weeks away until the game becomes free up to level 60, many players are giving Final Fantasy XIV another chance. Though only paying subscribers will be able to reach high enough levels for new Nier content, there is still plenty else to do. Some might be trying out new jobs for the first time, while others go out of their way to build up strong gear. Others may want to invest in building up their Grand Company’s Adventurer Squadrons.

After completing the level 47 dungeon Aurum Vale to gain the rank of Second Lieutenant, speak to your Grand Company’s Personnel Officer to start the Squadron and Commander quest. They will begin showing you the ropes of leading your own Grand Company platoon. Not only will you train NPCs, but you can also get a bit of EXP, seals, and money for yourself on the side.

Building a Squad in Final Fantasy XIV

When you start your Adventurer Squadron you will only have a few members: Hastaloeya, Cecily, Nanasomi, and a random fresh recruit. You can obtain new heroes by completing objectives in your weekly Challenge Log, unlocked from the level 15 quest Rising to the Challenge in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks. Candidates have a specific category you must complete for them to enlist and as an added bonus specially dressed “joke” characters are exclusive to Gold Saucer related challenges. Each potential recruit will queue in order, and you must make a call about every individual person before meeting the next candidate. If you do dismiss a squadron member, they will reenter the random recruitment pool.

Gladiator   

One of the two possible tank classes, you should aim to have at least one of them recruited. During Squadron Missions, Gladiators have high Physical and decent Tactical, but minimum Mental.

• Ellice: Female Hyur, Treasure Hunt
• Delboisse: Male Elezen, PvP
• Koenbryda: Female Roegadyn, Dungeons
• Yehn Amariyo: Female Miqo’te, Disciples of the Hand
• Kumokiri: Female Au Ra, Levequests/Guildhests
• Mumutano: Male Lalafell: FATE

Marauder

Marauders are the second possible tank class, making them important for Command Missions. Marauders have the highest Physical stat, but below-average Tactical and very little Mental. You’ll especially want them if you want to go after Squadron Enlistment Manuals or Gold Saucer VIP cards.

• Huebald: Male Hyur, PvP
• Jolaine: Female Elezen, FATE
• Hastaloeya: Male Roegadyn, Dungeons
• Saiun: Male Au Ra, Levequests/Guildhests
• Kelmomo: Female Lalafell, Disciples of the Hand
• Seserikku: Male Lalafell, Gold Saucer

Conjurer

Conjurers are the only healing class, making them essential for Command Missions Conjurers have the highest Mental stat, but low Physical and Tactical. This make them great for getting Priority Seal Allowances and Squadron Survival Manuals.

• Cecily: Female Hyur, PvP
• Rivienne: Female Elezen, Dungeons
• Gnawing Goat: Male Roegadyn, Dungeons
• D’fhul Tia: Male Miqo’te, Treasure Hunt
• Awayuki: Female Au Ra, Levequests/Guildhests
• Liliba: Female Lalafell, disciples of the Hand

Arcanist

One of the two magical DPS classes, making it a great choice for ranged damage. Arcanists have reasonably good Mental, above-average Tactical, and minimal Physical. This can be helpful when going for Squadron Spirit Bonding Manuals or Squadron Battle Manuals.

• Morel: Male Hyur, PvP
• Sofine: Female Elezen, Levequests/Guildhests
• Raelthota: Female Roegadyn, Dungeons
• Raging Ox: Male Roegadyn, Gold Saucer
• J’ludaba: Female Miqo’te, Treasure Hunt
• Samga: Female Au Ra, FATE
• Tewawa: Female Lalafell, Disciples of the Hand

Thumaturge

Thaumaturges serve as the other ranged DPS, sacrificing speed for raw damage. Thaumaturges have higher Mental than Arcanists, but lower Tactical.

• Cilia: Female Hyur, Gold Saucer
• Dolfin: Male Hyur, PvP
• Labonrit: Male Elezen, FATE
• Callous Steed: Male Roegadyn, Disciples of the Land
• Gota’a Panipahr: Male Miqo’te, Dungeons
• Baien: Male Au Ra, Levequets/Guildhests
• Nunulupa Tatalupa: Male Lalafell, Disciples of the Hand

Pugilist

Pugilists are one of the three melee DPS classes, with an emphasis on single target attacks against tough enemies like bosses. Pugilists have the most balanced spread among Physical, Mental, and Tactical leaving them very average. Still, this makes them a good back up in any Squadron Mission.

• Chrysabel: Female Hyur, PVP
• Teulzacq: Male Elezen, Disciples of the Hand
• Rhylharr: Male Roegadyn, Dungeons
• Oah Nelhah: Female Miqo’te, FATE
• Khorchi: Female Au Ra, Gold Saucer
• Raiden: Male Au Ra, Levequests/Guildhests
• Totodi: Female Lalafell, Treasure Hunt

Lancer

The second melee DPS class, it has even more direct attack power but at slower speeds. Lancers have a Tactical edge over Pugilists, but also lower Physical and Mental. This is good for Squadron Missions with Priority Aetheryte Pass rewards.

• Hroch: Male Hyur, Levequests/Guildhests
• Pangneul: Male Elezen, FATE
• Inghilswys: Female Roegadyn, Dungeons
• B’benha Tia: Male Miqo’te, Disciples of the Land
• Elchi: Male Au Ra, Disciples of the Hand
• Sasashu: Female Lalafell, PvP

Rogue

Rogues are the final melee DPS, who hit very fast, but for less damage per hit. Rogues have even higher Tactical than Lancers, but take a further hit in Physical. This makes them able to clear level 50 Squadron Missions with high Tactical requirements at lower levels.

• Alimahus: Male Hyur, Dungeons
• Crilde: Female Elezen, Gold Saucer
• Meuliaire: Male Elezen, FATE
• Careless Whisper: Female Roegadyn, Gold Saucer
• Ziuz’a Jakkya: Male Miqo’te, PvP
• Begter: Male Au Ra, Disciples of the Land
• Mujen Polajen: Male Lalafell, Disciples of the Hand

Archer

The only ranged DPS class, allowing them to quickly fire at targets from a safe range. Archers are the kings of the Tactical stat, but their Physical stat is well below average. Still, they are useful for gaining an edge of some of the tougher Squadron Missions.

• Auelin: Female Hyur, Disciple of the Hand
• Ceaulie: Female Elezen, FATE
• Fearless Fawn: Female Roegadyn, PvP
• V’nbolo: Female Miqo’te, Disciples of the Land
• E’ptolmi: Female Miqo’te, Treasure Hunt
• Kehda’to Moui: Male Miqo’te, Gold Saucer
• Toragana: Female Au Ra, Dungeons
• Nanasomi: Male Lalafell, Levequests/Guildhests

Assignments and Training in Final Fantasy XIV

Squadron Missions

The bulk of what your Squadron will be performing, Squadron Missions will allow you to deploy up to four members on their own quests. Each mission costs some Grand Company Seals and will take some time to complete, possibly several hours or close to an entire day. Completing these missions will reward your members with EXP and they may return with additional rewards. This can include enlistment manuals for more recruits, and high-level items to allow easier seal collection, faster spirit bonding, longer food duration, and more.

Basic Trainee Missions start at level 1 and only require 140 Physical, Mental, and Tactical stats among the whole party. Soon you’ll gain Routine Missions that require being level 30 or above and over 300 in at least two stats. And by the end, you’ll have level 40 and 50 Priority Missions that need as much as 620 in high stats and 295 in the lowest aspect.

Since the consolation rewards for failing missions are lousy, it is key that you put together the right party for the job. Your Grand Company Personnel Officer will give you their opinion of your chosen team, but they can also be dead wrong with their analysis leading to sudden failures and unlikely successes.

Training

After your very first Squadron Mission you can undergo Training regiments this will give your participating members a bit of EXP and realign your stat bonuses. You have access to seven possible training courses: three of them will raise a single stat by 40, while lowering the other two by 20; the next set of three will give 20 to two stats, but lower the third by 40, and the final balanced training will not affect stat alignment at all.

Training will be needed to clear some of the higher-end missions that have stats that can be impossible to achieve without the repeated +40 bonuses.

Chemistry

As recruits complete Squadron Missions together they will unlock chemistry bonuses for each new mission. This involves going on the next mission with members of particular classes and races, and doing so will increase their yield. For example, your Pugilist may decide to bring back crafter scripts whenever they team up with a Marauder; your Marauder then in turn gathers Disciple of the Land materia when paired with a Miqo’te. Recruits can only hold one chemistry at a time, and if they gain a second you must pick one before sending them on the next mission.

Command Missions

Command Missions allow you to join your Squadron within a dungeon. Typically, standard party makeups of 1 tank, 1 healer, 2 DPS will apply. Your party should also be the minimum level to enter the instance. You may only undertake certain dungeons you have unlocked like Halatali, The Stone Vigil, Pharos Sirius, Sohm Al, The Fractal Continuum, and others. Best yet, you can receive quest rewards, Allagan Tomestonesm, and dungeon drops.

The AI of your team isn’t very smart, but you can command them to Engage and Disengage certain targets. There is also a unique Limit Break: Ungarmax which deals single target damage buffs the party. You can also revive downed allies with class skills or items.

As you complete more Command Missions, members will gain new Battle Tactics to improve stats or gain more mastery of their current one. At first, everyone begins in Independent, which grants even increases to HP, attack, and defense. Others include Offensive, Defensive, and Balanced.

There are many options on how to build and deploy your squadron. And if you change your mind you can always hire new recruits, change looks, and play around with different classes.

Final Fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers are available now on PC and PlayStation 4.

About The Author