White Mage: Guide to Weapons and Armor

Introduction
The purpose of this guide is to analyze gear by level for WHM to provide an idea of what are the top choices regarding gear for aspiring WHMs. Two sets of gear are provided: party and melee. Party gear focuses on gear that would help a WHM to main heal and focuses on stats like MND, MP, and Cure Potency as well as macro gear like HMP, enfeebling skill and HP. Melee gear is meant for the ballista or solo WHM and focuses on stats like haste, accuracy, attack, STR and MND. Although WHM does not blossom as a solo melee until after Hexa Strike, there may be situations you will want to melee at lower levels, such as in capped Ballista for the adventurous or to farm.

It is important to keep in mind that this guide is a ‘’’guide’’’ and therefore not the end-be-all list of what a WHM can and cannot wear. Gear is situational and a WHM with multiple sets of gear will serve better than a WHM with a single set, not matter how “uber” that set may be. Examples of gear-sets covered in this guide include; general curing, HMP (resting gear), +HP gear for devotion, enfeebling magic, divine magic (fore repose), HP to MP conversion gear for Medicine Ring, haste gear for recast times and situation-specific pieces (regen, barspells, etc). Also, when buying Haste gear for melee or for recast timers, remember that Haste from equipment caps at 25%, which isn’t hard for a WHM to achieve thanks to Blessed gear.

‘’Italics’’ will note items that you may wish to hold on to for level-capped events, such as ballista, CoP missions and BCNM. Although only the best items for their level are listed, ‘’’bold’’’ items are considered the pinnacle of their level and are sometimes hard to get.

=Weapons=

Melee
Melee WHMs tend to prefer clubs over staves because of Hexa strike, however before then the choice between Staves and Clubs is a personal one. Even after Hexa Strike, Spirit Taker and Retribution may make you want to keep a good DD staff handy.

Grips
You use grips in junction with staves.

Melee
=Armor=

Shield
Only shields used by WHMs in parties are mentioned here because most WHM melee are dual-wielding WHM/NIN.

Party
Quick end-game hat comparison for general curing: Raven beret = Errant Hat = Zenith Crown < Yigit Turban < Zenith Crown +1 < Mahatma cap < Goliard Chapeau < Healer’s Cap +1.

Melee
{| class=sortable width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" border="1"
 * BGCOLOR="#FFDEAD" width="20%" align="center"|Name
 * BGCOLOR="#FFDEAD" width="5%" align="center"|Lvl
 * BGCOLOR="#FFDEAD" width="30%" align="center"|Effects
 * BGCOLOR="#FFDEAD" width="45%" align="center"|Comments
 * Circlet (Circlet +1|+1)
 * align=”center”|1
 * Def: 1 (2)
 * Or you can use hairpins.
 * Traveler’s Hat
 * align=”center”|6
 * Def: 3
 * The MND is good for club WS.
 * Compound Eye Circlet
 * align=”center”|9
 * Def: 4 Evasion: 5
 * ’’Level cap item: 20’’
 * Sol Cap (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|10
 * DEF:3 Adds "Regen" effect HP and MP recovered while healing +1
 * Obtained through recruiting people into FFXI and then waiting 70 days. Regen at such an early level is helpful. ’’Level cap item: 20’’
 * Garrison Sallet
 * align=”center”|19
 * Def: 5 MND: 1 CHR: 1
 * Can macro into club WS if you want. ’’Level cap item: 20’’
 * Emperor Hairpin/Empress Hairpin(r/ex)
 * align=”center”|24
 * HP: -15 DEX: 3 AGI: 3 Evasion: 10
 * Expensive, but is an amazing melee piece for most jobs. Evasion is great for soloing. ‘’Level cap item: 30, 40, 50’’
 * Ea’s Tiara (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|25
 * Def: 8 MND: 1 MP: 1%
 * Salvage piece. If you want to be unnecessarily uber, then you can macro this into your WS.
 * Dandy Spectacles (Fancy Spectacles)
 * align=”center”|30
 * Nighttime: Accuracy: -20(-3) Accuracy: +2 (+3)
 * Daytime only, obviously. ‘’Level cap item: 30, 40, 50’’
 * Mercenary Captain’s Headgear
 * align=”center”|30
 * Def: 10 STR: 1 DEX: 1
 * WS gear unless you don’t have hairpin. ‘’Level cap item: 30’’
 * Windurstian Headgear (Federation Headgear)
 * align=”center”|34
 * Def: 11(12) STR: 1 DEX: 1 In areas under own nation's control: MP: 10(12)
 * WS macro unless you have no Hairpin. ‘’Level cap item: 40, 50’’
 * Rain Hat (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|41
 * MP: 20 MND: 2 CHR: 2 Rainy Weather: Adds "Regen" Effect
 * Noble Mold is difficult to camp, but if you managed to get this then you can use it as a club WS macro. Staves should stick to Federation Headgear.
 * ’’’Voyager Sallet’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|41
 * STR: 3 DEX: 3
 * Beats Rain Hat but is difficult to get. It’s worth it. This armor is great for all DD jobs. ‘’Level cap item: 50, 60’’
 * ’’’Storm Zucchetto’’’(r/ex)
 * align=”center”|50
 * Def: 15 Accuracy: 4 Magic Accuracy: 2
 * Rare assault appraisal, but is great for all sorts of jobs. ’’Level cap item: 50, 60’’
 * Super Ribbon
 * align=”center”|52
 * HP: 5 MP: 5 STR: 1 DEX: 1 VIT: 1 AGI: 1 INT: 1 MND: 1 CHR: 1 Accuracy: 1 Attack: 1 Ranged Accuracy: 1 Ranged Attack: 1 Evasion: 1
 * If you’ve been stuck with Fancy Spectacles and Federation Headgear, at last here is an upgrade for you. ‘’Level cap item: 60’’
 * Healer’s Cap(r/ex)
 * align=”center”|54
 * Def: 21 MP: 13 MND: 4 Vs. Dark: 15 Enmity: -1
 * AF hat. Good for WS with MND mods. Stick to Voyager Sallet or Super Ribbon if you’re using a Staff or True Strike. ‘’Level cap item: 60’’
 * Green Beret (Green Beret +1|+1)
 * align=”center”|65
 * Def: 19 Evasion: 1 (2) Accuracy: 1 (2)
 * Upgrade to Super Ribbon. Tabin Beret +1 is slightly better because it has HP.
 * Tabin Beret (Tabin Beret +1|+1)
 * align=”center”|65
 * Def: 19 HP: 10 (12) Evasion: 1 (2) Accuracy: 1 (2)
 * Upgrade to Super Ribbon.
 * ’’’Maat’s Cap’’’ (r/x)
 * align=”center”|70
 * STR: 7 DEX: 7 VIT: 7 AGI: 7 INT: 7 MND: 7 CHR: 7 Enchantment: Teleport
 * Obtained by defeating Maat (LB5) on all possible jobs. As such, it is a difficult to get piece, but is the best WS hat for WHM due to having high STR and MND.
 * Optical Hat (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|70
 * Evasion: 10 Ranged Accuracy: 10 Accuracy: 10
 * Considered a rite of passage for melee jobs, this is the best TP hat for WHM where accuracy is an issue.
 * ’’’Gnadbhod’s Helm’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|71
 * Def: 24 STR: 6 DEX: 4 Slow: 5% Attack: 8
 * An SCNM drop, so it is hard to get (especially if WHM is your main job!). Rivals Healer’s Cap +1 for best WS piece.
 * ’’’Healer’s Cap +1’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|74
 * MP: 28 MND: 7 MP recovered while healing: 1 Enmity: -1
 * MND augments all of your WSes as a WHM, making this a great macro hat for melee.
 * ’’’’Walahra Turban’’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|75
 * HP: 30 MP: 30 Haste: 5%
 * This turban is your top choice for TP and is great for reducing recast timers on WHM/NIN.
 * STR: 7 DEX: 7 VIT: 7 AGI: 7 INT: 7 MND: 7 CHR: 7 Enchantment: Teleport
 * Obtained by defeating Maat (LB5) on all possible jobs. As such, it is a difficult to get piece, but is the best WS hat for WHM due to having high STR and MND.
 * Optical Hat (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|70
 * Evasion: 10 Ranged Accuracy: 10 Accuracy: 10
 * Considered a rite of passage for melee jobs, this is the best TP hat for WHM where accuracy is an issue.
 * ’’’Gnadbhod’s Helm’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|71
 * Def: 24 STR: 6 DEX: 4 Slow: 5% Attack: 8
 * An SCNM drop, so it is hard to get (especially if WHM is your main job!). Rivals Healer’s Cap +1 for best WS piece.
 * ’’’Healer’s Cap +1’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|74
 * MP: 28 MND: 7 MP recovered while healing: 1 Enmity: -1
 * MND augments all of your WSes as a WHM, making this a great macro hat for melee.
 * ’’’’Walahra Turban’’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|75
 * HP: 30 MP: 30 Haste: 5%
 * This turban is your top choice for TP and is great for reducing recast timers on WHM/NIN.
 * ’’’’Walahra Turban’’’’ (r/ex)
 * align=”center”|75
 * HP: 30 MP: 30 Haste: 5%
 * This turban is your top choice for TP and is great for reducing recast timers on WHM/NIN.