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They say fishing's in every RPG these days. Maybe they're right. But Final Fantasy 14 isn't just another RPG — it's an MMO. And fishing's in every MMO, too. So that's a double whammy right there. Forgive us for saying so, but they had us hook, line, and sinker on this one.
Thankfully, FF14's fishing has been rather well received. Some players cite it as their personal favorite Disciple of the Land job — it's a bit more energetic than Botany and Mining, especially in recent updates. We'll explore what all that means, and how to make the most of your Fishing experience with it, as we break down the best way to level this class from landlubber beginnings to seasoned and seaworthy 90.
Unlocking Fisher
Regarding Guide Format
Before we begin in earnest, you may notice there's a fundamental difference in how our Fisher class guide is structured relative to some of our others. The Botany guide is a good example. In that guide, we break things down by leveling stages: initial joining, up to 20, up to 40, up to 60, up to 80, and then finally to 90.
While that first part is covered in this section, we'll be going in a separate direction because Ocean Fishing quickly becomes the current strongest way to grind it out to the top. It's even technically available from the moment you unlock the Fisher class, though we recommend waiting until around 20-25 before giving it a whirl. More on that later.
Becoming a Fisher
Your journey to the ocean blue starts in Limsa Lominsa. Here, you'll find the Fishermen's Guild and its eclectic cast of characters. In order to join the guild, you must have at least one Disciple of War or Magic class at level ten or above. That's it — albeit with the disclaimer that unless you've chosen Marauder, Rogue, or Arcanist, you'll also have to make it far enough into the main scenario to actually reach Limsa Lominsa in the first place.
Prioritize Main Quests
Final Fantasy 14 offers some sweet rewards for exploring Eorzea's every nook and cranny, but it also provides richly for sticking to the straight and narrow. Whenever you've reached the required level for a new Fisher quest, you should prioritize it above all else. Not only are main quests a terrific source of experience — the point of this guide! — but you will acquire great level-appropriate gear that will help to limit your gil expenses.
To that end, we'll chart your course now with a full list of Fisher job quests from one to 70. Beyond 70, things get a bit different, so we'll go over that on its own.
| Quest Name | Level | Fish Required | Optimal Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Way of the Fisher | 1 | N/A | N/A |
| My First Fishing Rod | 1 | 5x Lominsan Anchovy | Limsa Lominsa
|
| Bigger Fish to Fry | 5 | 3x Harbor Herring | Limsa Lominsa
|
| The Princess and the Fish | 10 | 1x Princess Trout | Middle La Noscea
|
| Every Fish Has a Silver Lining | 15 | 5x Navigator's Dagger | Western La Noscea
|
| A Fish in Hot Water | 20 | 5x Warmwater Trout | Upper La Noscea
|
| A Game of Cat and Fish | 25 |
| North Shroud
|
| Like Fish Passing in the Night | 30 | 10x Fullmoon Sardine | Eastern La Noscea
|
| A Fish out of Water | 35 | 1x Desert Catfish | Southern Thanalan
|
| Fishing in the Rain | 40 | 5x Raincaller | Gridania
|
| I Believe Fish Can Fly | 45 | 5x Cloud Cutter | Sea of Clouds
|
| So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish | 50 | 1x Mazlaya Marlin | Eastern La Noscea
|
| Plenty More in the Sea | 50 | N/A | N/A |
| The Icepick Challenge | 53 | 3x Icepick | Coerthas Western Highlands
|
| Invasion of the Supper Snatchers | 55 | 1x Shadowhisker | Dravanian Forelands
|
| One Man's Fish is Another Man's Poison | 58 | 1x Letter Puffer | Churning Mists
|
| Carpe Diem | 60 | 1x Catkiller | Sea of Clouds
|
| Whither Wawalago Wanders | 60 | N/A | N/A |
| A Rousing Reunion | 63 | 3x Deep Velodyna Carp | The Fringes
|
| Search for the Spawning Grounds | 65 | 3x Harutsuge Sprag | Ruby Sea
|
| Always a Bigger Fish | 68 | 3x Dafangshi | Yanxia
|
| Farewell, and Thanks for all the Fish | 70 | 5x Giant Plesiosaur | The Ruby Sea
|
Crystarium and Studium Deliveries
The above quests are covered in A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood. But once Shadowbringers comes along, Fisher quests are shuffled into a new dynamic called Crystarium Deliveries.
With Crystarium Deliveries, each Disciple of the Hand and Land is given multiple quests, at set level intervals, with each quest requiring that six of a specific item or items be turned in. (Hence "deliveries.") Most non-combat classes are split between just four NPCs at the Crystarium, but Fishers get the beasty boy Frithrik (pictured above) all to themselves. Isn't that nice? We think it's nice.
Crystarium Deliveries net plenty of experience points. Don't be surprised to find that you're practically soaring through your seventies. Bolster your leveling with some Ocean Fishing or conventional grinding to hit 80 in no time.
At 80, Crystarium Deliveries are replaced with Studium Deliveries out in Old Sharlayan. The formula's more or less the same, with a new storyline involving another NPC who is, once again, wholly dedicated to the fine art of fishing rather than splitting their expertise across several jobs.
Endwalker's Studium Deliveries, like their Shadowbringers forebears, will likely nab you about a level per quest reward. (If not quite the full level, then reasonably close. Be sure to turn in high-quality items to ensure the maximum!)
Ocean Fishing is the Best Leveling Path
As we've established, Ocean Fishing is the number one way to level Fisher quickly in Final Fantasy 14. What makes this so good? And how did Fishers even exist without its arrival in Shadowbringers 5.2l? (Hint: they leveled just like any other Disciple of the Land class, which seems so cutely quaint in retrospect.)
Players unlock Ocean Fishing as soon as they become Fishers. No red tape, just gorgeous voyages. Speak with Fhilsnoe at the Fishermen's Guild, and he'll get things squared away. Every two hours (real-time, mind you, not Eorzea Time) the NPC named Dryskthota at the Limsa Lower Decks pier invites all able-bodied Fishers (that's us) to hop aboard the Endeavor and go on an epic fishing spree.
The Endeavor will stop by various key locations. At each location, players are given seven minutes to fish up as much as possible. A vendor on the boat sells lures, including types that cannot be obtained anyplace else. Seldom are they mandatory, but they scarcely feel necessary, either; use your best judgment on this one.
Ocean Fishing is so great for leveling because the experience gains scale with level. There's never a dull moment to be found with the mechanic, as the point gains will be delightfully visible on your screen. Furthermore, while level one through 50 Ocean Fishing expeditions are "just" for leveling, higher ranges award Gatherer's Scrips which can be turned in for better gear, materia, and more.
