Experience
Experience Points, or 
EXP, are a system that drives the advancement of players in the game. All Disciples of War, Magic, the Hand, and the Land receive EXP for a wide variety of activities. Upon reaching a certain threshold, players advance by one level. Upon reaching level 90 in a class (or in the case of Blue Mage, level 70), players will no longer earn further EXP from any activities. Various ways to boost EXP gain are also available to players, as well as several one-time sources of EXP.
Sources of EXP
Disciples of War and Magic
Disciples of War and Magic earn their EXP primarily through combat activity, such as defeating enemies, participating in FATEs, and completing dungeons. The following is a non-exhaustive list of activities that grant EXP to Disciples of War and Magic:
- Defeating Enemies
- Completing Battlecraft Levequests
- Completing Guildhests
- Most classes also earn a one-time EXP bonus when completing a Guildhest for the first time, with the exceptions of Dancer, Gunbreaker, Sage, and Reaper.
- Participating in FATEs
- Participating in Frontline
- Participating in Rival Wings
- Participating in The Feast
- This excludes Custom Matches.
- Completing Main Scenario Quests, once per character
- Completing Side Quests, once per character
- Completing certain Challenge Log entries, once per week
- Completing Hunting Log entries, once per class
- Classes introduced after A Realm Reborn do not have a Hunting Log.
- Completing Sightseeing Log entries, once per character
- Completing Duty Roulettes, once per day
- Completing Deep Dungeons
- Participating in Exploratory Missions
Disciples of the Hand and the Land
Disciples of the Hand and the Land earn their EXP through crafting and gathering activities respectively. The following is a non-exhaustive list of activities that grant EXP to Disciples of the Hand and the Land:
- Synthesizing Recipes from the Crafting Log
- A one-time EXP bonus is awarded the first time a recipe is crafted.
- Gathering Items from the Gathering Log
- A one-time EXP bonus is awarded the first time an item is gathered.
- Completing Tradecraft or Fieldcraft Levequests
- Completing Class Quests, once per character
- Completing certain Challenge Log entries, once per week
- Turning in Collectables
- Participating in the Restoration of Ishgard
- EXP is lowered to 1000 per turn-in after Level 80.
- Participating in Ocean Fishing
- This only applies to Fishers.
Bonuses to EXP
Quite a number of bonuses can be applied to increase EXP earned. Most of these bonuses stack additively with one another, unless otherwise noted in the sections below.
Meals
Meals can be consumed for a wide variety of buffs, as well as a 3% bonus to EXP gain for 30 minutes. The duration can be extended to 60 minutes by consuming multiple servings of the same food. Only one meal bonus can be active at a time. This bonus applies to EXP gained from defeating enemies, synthesizing recipes, and gathering items.
Other Consumables
| Item | Duration | Effect | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle | |||
 Squadron Battle Manual |
120m | +15% EXP earned from defeating enemies (does not stack with FC Actions) | Reward from Squadron Missions |
| Crafting | |||
 Company-issue Engineering Manual |
180m | +150% EXP earned from synthesis (Up to 250,000). Effect halved after level 40. | Purchased from Grand Company Quartermasters for  1,440 Company Seals
|
 Company-issue Engineering Manual II |
180m | +150% EXP earned from synthesis (Up to 500,000). Effect halved after level 50. | Purchased from Grand Company Quartermasters for 2,300 Company Seals
|
 Commercial Engineering Manual |
180m | +150% EXP earned from synthesis (Up to 1,750,000). Effect halved after level 70. | Level 50 Crafter Class Quests, Purchased from a Scrip Exchange for  30 White Crafters' Scrip
|
 Revised Engineering Manual |
180m | +150% EXP earned from synthesis (Up to 2,000,000). Effect halved after level 80. | Purchased from a Scrip Exchange for 300 White Crafters' Scrip
|
 Squadron Engineering Manual |
120m | +20% EXP earned from synthesis (does not stack with FC Actions) | Reward from Squadron Missions |
| Gathering | |||
 Company-issue Survival Manual |
180m | +150% EXP earned from gathering (Up to 250,000). Effect halved after level 40. | Purchased from Grand Company Quartermasters for 1,440 Company Seals
|
 Company-issue Survival Manual II |
180m | +150% EXP earned from gathering (Up to 500,000). Effect halved after level 50. | Purchased from Grand Company Quartermasters for 2,300 Company Seals
|
 Commercial Survival Manual |
180m | +150% EXP earned from gathering (Up to 1,750,000). Effect halved after level 70. | Level 50 Gatherer Class Quests, Purchased from a Scrip Exchange for  30 White Gatherers' Scrip
|
 Revised Survival Manual |
180m | +150% EXP earned from gathering (Up to 2,000,000). Effect halved after level 80. | Purchased from a Scrip Exchange for 300 White Gatherers' Scrip
|
 Squadron Survival Manual |
120m | +20% EXP earned from gathering (does not stack with FC Actions) | Reward from Squadron Missions |
Armoury Bonus
The Armoury Bonus is a bonus applied to EXP gained by combat classes when below the level of your highest class. The bonus is +100% for levels 1-79, reducing to +50% for levels 80-90. Despite what the in-game Active Help entry implies, this bonus does not otherwise change depending on the discrepancy between levels. This bonus applies to EXP gained from the following activities:
- Defeating Enemies
- This includes the EXP gained from defeating Bosses inside of Dungeons.
- Completing Battlecraft Levequests
- Completing Guildhests
- Participating in FATEs
- Completing Duty Roulettes, once per day
- Completing Deep Dungeons
Rested EXP
Rested EXP is gained by resting or logging out in areas designated as sanctuaries. Sanctuaries are typically areas around an Aetheryte as well as City-States, such as Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, and Ul'dah. Sanctuary status is indicated by a crescent moon symbol to the right of the experience bar. Rested EXP provides a 50% bonus to EXP gained from defeating enemies, synthesizing recipes, and gathering items. Because of this, rested EXP is consumed as a percentage of the bar, rather than a flat amount.
The current rested bonus is displayed on top of the experience bar. The dark orange portion indicates how much EXP can be earned before the bonus fades. If the bar is blue, it indicates that the bonus will carry over to the next level. It takes 7 days to gain a full bar of rested EXP, at which point no more will be accrued.
Free Company Actions
Free Company Actions are buffs granted by a Free Company to its members for 24 hours, some of which can increase EXP gained. Up to two Free Company Actions can be active at any one time.
| Action | Icon | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Heat of Battle |  |
Increases EXP earned through battle by 5%. |
| The Heat of Battle II | |
Increases EXP earned through battle by 10%. |
| The Heat of Battle III | |
Increases EXP earned through battle by 15%. |
| Helping Hand |  |
Increases EXP earned through crafting by 5%. |
| Helping Hand II | |
Increases EXP earned through crafting by 10%. |
| Helping Hand III | |
Increases EXP earned through crafting by 20%. |
| Earth and Water |  |
Increases EXP earned through gathering by 5%. |
| Earth and Water II | |
Increases EXP earned through gathering by 10%. |
| Earth and Water III | |
Increases EXP earned through gathering by 20%. |
Special Equipment
Certain Equipment provides a bonus to EXP gained when worn, up to a certain level. This bonus applies to EXP gained from defeating enemies, synthesizing recipes, and gathering items. The following is a list of equipment that grants a bonus to EXP, as well as how they can be obtained:
| Gear | Bonus | Max Level | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
 Moogle Cap |
+20% | 10 | Pre-ordering A Realm Reborn |
 Helm of Light |
+20% | 10 | A Realm Reborn - Collector's Edition |
 Friendship Circlet |
+20% | 25 | Recruit a Friend Campaign |
 Brand-new Ring |
+30% | 30 | Complete all Hall of the Novice training exercises for a single role |
 Ala Mhigan Earrings |
+30% | 50 | Pre-ordering Stormblood |
 Aetheryte Earring |
+30% | 70 | Pre-ordering Shadowbringers |
 Menphina's Earring |
+30% | 80 | Pre-ordering Endwalker |
The Road to 80
Some Worlds with low populations are occasionally designated as Preferred Worlds, providing a passive buff called The Road to 80, which applies to any class below level 80. The Road to 80 provides a 100% bonus to all sources of EXP, calculated after applying any other bonuses. For more information about Preferred Worlds, please refer to the Play Guide entry on population balancing.
Required EXP by Level
The following tables apply to all classes, including Blue Mage. Values are current as of Patch 6.0.
| A Realm Reborn | EXP | Rolling Total |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | 300 | 300 |
| 3 | 450 | 750 |
| 4 | 630 | 1,380 |
| 5 | 970 | 2,350 |
| 6 | 1,440 | 3,790 |
| 7 | 1,940 | 5,730 |
| 8 | 3,000 | 8,730 |
| 9 | 3,920 | 12,650 |
| 10 | 4,970 | 17,620 |
| 11 | 5,900 | 23,520 |
| 12 | 7,430 | 30,950 |
| 13 | 8,620 | 39,570 |
| 14 | 10,200 | 49,770 |
| 15 | 11,300 | 61,070 |
| 16 | 13,100 | 74,170 |
| 17 | 15,200 | 89,370 |
| 18 | 17,400 | 106,770 |
| 19 | 19,600 | 126,370 |
| 20 | 21,900 | 148,270 |
| 21 | 24,300 | 172,570 |
| 22 | 27,400 | 199,970 |
| 23 | 30,600 | 230,570 |
| 24 | 33,900 | 264,470 |
| 25 | 37,300 | 301,770 |
| 26 | 40,800 | 342,570 |
| 27 | 49,200 | 391,770 |
| 28 | 54,600 | 446,370 |
| 29 | 61,900 | 508,270 |
| 30 | 65,600 | 573,870 |
| 31 | 68,400 | 642,270 |
| 32 | 74,000 | 716,270 |
| 33 | 82,700 | 798,970 |
| 34 | 88,700 | 887,670 |
| 35 | 95,000 | 982,670 |
| 36 | 102,000 | 1,084,670 |
| 37 | 113,000 | 1,197,670 |
| 38 | 121,000 | 1,318,670 |
| 39 | 133,000 | 1,451,670 |
| 40 | 142,000 | 1,593,670 |
| 41 | 155,000 | 1,748,670 |
| 42 | 163,000 | 1,911,670 |
| 43 | 171,000 | 2,082,670 |
| 44 | 179,000 | 2,261,670 |
| 45 | 187,000 | 2,448,670 |
| 46 | 195,000 | 2,643,670 |
| 47 | 214,000 | 2,857,670 |
| 48 | 229,000 | 3,086,670 |
| 49 | 244,000 | 3,330,670 |
| 50 | 259,000 | 3,589,670 |
| Heavensward | EXP | Rolling Total |
| 51 | 421,000 | 4,010,670 |
| 52 | 500,000 | 4,510,670 |
| 53 | 580,000 | 5,090,670 |
| 54 | 663,000 | 5,753,670 |
| 55 | 749,000 | 6,502,670 |
| 56 | 837,000 | 7,339,670 |
| 57 | 927,000 | 8,266,670 |
| 58 | 1,019,000 | 9,285,670 |
| 59 | 1,114,000 | 10,399,670 |
| 60 | 1,211,000 | 11,610,670 |
| Stormblood | EXP | Rolling Total |
| 61 | 1,387,000 | 12,997,670 |
| 62 | 1,456,000 | 14,453,670 |
| 63 | 1,534,000 | 15,987,670 |
| 64 | 1,621,000 | 17,608,670 |
| 65 | 1,720,000 | 19,328,670 |
| 66 | 1,834,000 | 21,162,670 |
| 67 | 1,968,000 | 23,130,670 |
| 68 | 2,126,000 | 25,256,670 |
| 69 | 2,137,000 | 27,393,670 |
| 70 | 2,550,000 | 29,943,670 |
| Shadowbringers | EXP | Rolling Total |
| 71 | 2,923,000 | 32,866,670 |
| 72 | 3,018,000 | 35,884,670 |
| 73 | 3,153,000 | 39,037,670 |
| 74 | 3,324,000 | 42,361,670 |
| 75 | 3,532,000 | 45,893,670 |
| 76 | 3,770,600 | 49,664,270 |
| 77 | 4,066,000 | 53,730,270 |
| 78 | 4,377,000 | 58,107,270 |
| 79 | 4,777,000 | 62,884,270 |
| 80 | 5,256,000 | 68,140,270 |
| Endwalker | EXP | Rolling Total |
| 81 | 5,992,000 | 74,132,270 |
| 82 | 6,171,000 | 80,303,270 |
| 83 | 6,942,000 | 87,245,270 |
| 84 | 7,205,000 | 94,450,270 |
| 85 | 7,948,000 | 102,398,270 |
| 86 | 8,287,000 | 110,685,270 |
| 87 | 9,231,000 | 119,916,270 |
| 88 | 9,529,000 | 129,445,270 |
| 89 | 10,459,000 | 139,904,270 |
| 90 | 10,838,000 | 150,742,270 |