What began as a “crafted gear only” challenge on my YouTube channel has evolved over time. Initially focused on crafted gear, the challenge now includes relics, gear from Extreme and Savage trials, and other grind-intensive items that don’t strictly adhere to the “crafted gear only” rule. As I continue the challenge on my personal character—especially with less streaming—I’ve decided to lay out clear guidelines for anyone interested in taking it on themselves.
Since the rules have expanded, this post will serve as a reference both to track my own restrictions and share them with others. Feel free to adapt these rules to suit your own playstyle!
Disclaimer: This challenge requires a lot of crafting and grinding, including gathering rare and expensive materials that many players don’t even bother selling anymore. I enjoy this type of gameplay, but it’s definitely not for everyone. Feel free to tweak the rules if you’re looking for a more relaxed experience.
Exceptions & Clarifications
- Raids & Static Groups: If you’re in a static or party finder, use the best gear available for group content. Don’t hold up the group by sticking strictly to the challenge rules. However, once you’re back in solo play, stash away any non-challenge gear.
- Level & Item Level Caps: Once your job hits the current expansion’s level and item level cap, you can use the best gear available. For example, if you reach level 100 with crafted gear in Dawntrail, you can freely use gear from Extreme or Savage content. Similarly, you can use level 80 gear from Shadowbringers for Blue Mage, which has a level cap of 80.
- Glamour Plates: Feel free to use any glamour you like—it’s purely cosmetic and doesn’t impact gameplay. Personally, I have no restrictions here.
- Non-Gear Items: Ventures, crystals, mounts, aetheryte tickets, collectables, and consumables are allowed, regardless of their source.
- Vendor Purchases: Non-gear items (such as crafting materials) can be bought from vendors. It’s nearly impossible to complete the game without purchasing some materials from vendors like the Grand Company, Rowena, etc.
- Achievement Rewards: Items earned through achievements are allowed. These rewards require a significant time investment, so I consider them fair game.
- Relic Weapons & Armour: Relic gear is also fair game. The amount of time and effort required to obtain it makes it fitting for this challenge.
- Weapons for New Jobs: If your job doesn’t have a craftable weapon at its starting level, you may use whatever weapon is available. However, the armor from these jobs must still be discarded.
- Ehcatl Wristgloves: These are allowed for Beast Tribe quests that require them, but that’s the only exception.
Restricted Gear & Rules
- Story Skips: No story or job skip items from the store. Progression through story and jobs should be earned, not bought.
- Quest Rewards: These are not allowed for gameplay, but you can sell, desynth, or use them for glamour.
- Vendor Gear: Gear purchased from vendors—such as Gil vendors, Beast Tribe vendors, Grand Company gear, Rowena’s vendors, and PvP vendors—is not allowed. The challenge is about avoiding easy access to high-level gear.
- Poetics Gear: Poetics gear is off-limits. You could bypass entire expansion content by buying max-level gear, which defeats the purpose of the challenge.
- Dungeon, Trial, & Raid Drops: These drops are restricted. They’re too easy to obtain and would make the challenge too simple. However, you can use these items for seals or desynthesis.
- Expansion Job Cosmetic Weapons: For expansion jobs, you must avoid using gear lower than the earliest available crafted gear. For example, you can’t unlock jobs like Dancer or Gunbreaker in Stormblood and immediately buy Heavensward extreme trial weapons.
- Market Board: You’re allowed to use the market board, but limit it to combat gear from the current or previous expansions. Crafting and gathering gear is fair game, though crafting combat gear will still require significant effort. Feel free to tweak this rule to your liking—this is just how I approach it. (Example: No using Dawntrail combat gear in Endwalker).
- Extreme & Savage Content: Gear from Extreme and Savage trials is allowed, but you must complete the content with a full, synced party. No unsynced runs or leeching from other players. You can set a minimum item level if you want, but that’s up to you.
- Unrestricting Content: You may only unrestrict content if you’ve already met the entry requirements. For example, if you’re level 50 and can enter Heavensward content, it’s fine to unrestrict it. But if you haven’t met the entry requirements (e.g., item level), you cannot bypass that restriction.
Final Thoughts
These rules may evolve as I continue the challenge, and I’ll update this post accordingly. Feel free to adjust the rules to fit your own playstyle. This is a personal challenge, so the goal is to enjoy the journey! Adjust the rules as needed to keep it fun for you.