Warrior: Guide to Weapons and Armor

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Beginning Note Note: All weapons in Italics are likely to be expensive. All in Bold cannot be bought at an Auction House and typically can be skipped over. All items are my own personal opinion as to what's the best or most feasible choices at these levels. This list is a collection of what many a Warrior have seen and used in going up the ranks. Many of these pieces have fond (or not so fond) memories attached. They will get the job done, but if for some reason, a piece is hard to acquire due to price/availability, use your best judgment in suiting up before you XP. I would like to now open with a piece of advice to all Warriors who want to be the 'best they can be'. A fact of FFXI is, there is almost no possible way to be the best you can in one set of armor. a full set devoted to "Damage Dealing" will often have low defense and Vitality and leave you in a bad situation if you become the monsters target or are asked to tank. A full set devoted to tanking will lack the power of a warrior to deal damage when asked to. A 'compromise' set of gear, although possible, overall limits a person from being the best they can be. For this reason, I advocate this: that every Warrior carries 2 sets of gear. For a warrior with greater access to money, this means 2 full sets of gear. One devoted to pure damage dealing, and one devoted to pure tanking and damage reduction. In order to change this gear according to necessity, you must use Macros. For a warrior that cannot spend as much, I suggest one full set of either tanking or DD gear, and a few relatively inexpensive and multi-purpose pieces that can be switched in. An example of these pieces of gear could be Stamina Rings, since both a Paladin and tanking Warrior would use this piece of equipment, or for the opposite end Courage Rings since nearly every Damage Dealing job, and a Damage Dealing Warrior will use those rings. When in the opposite role as the 'full set' is made to do, you add in the multi-purpose pieces. In this way, you still utilize a Warrior's versatility; and overall only restrict yourself partially. ~ Andres

Weapons

Great Axe:

Lvl 5 Butterfly Axe

Lvl 8 Inferno Axe

Lvl 12 Greataxe

Lvl 16 Moth Axe

Lvl 20 Neckchopper (highly suggested)

Lvl 25 Plantbane (skip if you own the Neckchopper)

lvl 28 Military Axe (some argue this is when you should replace the Neckchopper)

Lvl 30 Centurion's Axe or

Lvl 31 Voulge/Voulge +1/Twicer

Lvl 34 Heavy Axe

lvl 37 Horror Voulge (Note: I find this axe better than the Huge Moth Axe from my own experiance ~Andres)

Lvl 39 Huge Moth Axe

Lvl 42 Raifu

Lvl 46 Eisentaenzer

Lvl 49 Gigant Axe

Lvl 54 Executioner

Lvl 59 Heavy Darksteel Axe

Lvl 62 Demon's Axe

Lvl 64 Colossal Axe

lvl 67 Pendragon Axe

Lvl 69 Berserker's Axe

lvl 70 Rune Chopper (Latent Effects are activated at cost of 3 MP per 3 seconds, very high DoT w/ effects)

Lvl 71 Bhuj

Lvl 71 Fourth Toporok

Lvl 71 Gawain's Axe

Lvl 72 Martial Bhuj

Lvl 73 Toporok

Lvl 72 Rampager (Latent Effect is active after obtaining 500 Weapon Skill Points)

Lvl 73 Perdu Voulge (Latent Effect active while you have less than 100% TP and during Weapon Skills)

Lvl 74 Byakko's Axe

Lvl 75 Bravura

End Game Great Axes

These axes are the top 4 Great Axes that a warrior can ever potentially own, Martial Bhuj is a rare drop from an ENM, Byakko's Axe drops from the Sky God - Byakko, Perdu Voulge is obtained in exchange for 48,000 Imperial Standing Credits and requires a Mercenary Rank of Second Lieutenant or higher, and Bravura is the fully upgraded Great Axe relic.

Perdu Voulge

Martial Bhuj

Byakko's Axe*

Bravura

Bear in mind that these Great Axes can be difficult to acquire and that finishing up with Bhuj or, more preferably, Martial Bhuj is sufficient until either endgame axe is available. In many cases the damage output of a Martial Bhuj, due to its enhancing effects on weaponskills, will outperform any other Great Axe in the game while using Steel Cyclone.

In merit parties, where Warriors generally use Raging Rush instead, the Perdu Voulge's higher base damage and hidden effects of +5 Accuracy and +10 Attack while under 100% TP and during Weapon Skills means that it will generally put out better Weapon Skills and more damage over time than any other Great Axe aside from Bravura.

• Byakko's Axe is comparable in usefulness to Berserker's Axe. Both are good because of their high base damage. If you are unable to obtain a Byakko's Axe, Berserker's Axe is a good alternative.

Axe:

Lvl 1 Bronze Axe

Lvl 8 Brass Axe

Lvl 13 Bone Axe

Lvl 15 Bastokan Axe

Lvl 16 Bone Pick

Lvl 20 Battleaxe

Lvl 28 Military Pick

Lvl 31 War Pick +1

Lvl 32 Warrior's Axe

Lvl 37 Mythril Axe

Lvl 40 Combat Caster's Axe and/or Razor Axe (AF1)

Lvl 43 Combat Caster's Axe +1 or Combat Caster's Axe +2

Lvl 48 Viking Axe (very useful, highly recommended)

Lvl 56 Darksteel Axe +1 Useful axe for the extra DMG

Lvl 60 Tungi Excellent Axe. Great Main/Offahnd axe. Good dps and drops fairly easily off a spawned NM in Quicksand Caves

Lvl 63 Fransisca Another good axe dropped by Aquarius. You'll be competing with rangers for it

Lvl 68 Acha d'Armas/Nadziac/Nadziac +1

Lvl 70 Juggernaut Excellent offhand axe for it's unprecedented +attack.

Lvl 71 Tabarzin

Lvl 71 Iron Ram Pick

Lvl 72 Woodville's Axe

Lvl 73 Maneater

Note: At the above level 48 zone, the dynamics of dual wielding axes become somewhat complicated. Swords may be worn in the offhand or sub slot, you will likely keep a Viking axe for its +10 ACC till lvl 75 as a backup weapon, but you may not. If someone more experienced than me can give a good opinion on this. I will gladly let them. ~User:Andres

Note: At level 56, you will want to wear the Darksteel Axe +1. I was an Elvaan, with no Peacock Charm or Peacock Amulet, and had no problem hitting the Exp monsters. But, If you can absolutely not hit them, offhand the Viking Axe only until level 60, when you get the Tungi. I highly recommend not using a Viking Axe after that point.

End Game Axes

The concept of Axes for the end game is potentially complicated for WAR. There are 3 main axes, and they can be worn either in main hand or off hand.

The Axes:

Lvl 70 Juggernaut

Lvl 72 Woodville's Axe

Lvl 73 Maneater

Generally, Juggernaut is considered the 'best' offhand weapon due to its high +Attack and +STR. Because the damage of weaponskills determined by the DMG of the mainhand, the Woodville's Axe is generally considered the best primary weapon, however, recently Maneater has become the most favored of all axes. This is due to it acting as a DMG49 axe with Attack +18 and Accuracy +5 so long as your current TP is under 100 (this latent also is active during Weapon Skills.)

Furthermore, due to the increadibly limited suply of Juggernaut's, the Tabarzin is often used as a viable offhand weapon, and is also a viable choice for a primary weapon if a Woodville's Axe is not available.

The most popular set up at 75 for Axe/Axe WARs is Woodville's/Maneater with Maneater/Juggernaut or Maneater/Ridill being the eventual goal of most. Slightly less popular but still viable with enough accuracy in other slots would be Woodville's/Juggernaut or Woodville's/Ridill.

Sword:

Lvl 30 Centurion's Sword (Acc+2 Atk+3 makes this an unusually solid sword for Warrior. Offhand 1 of these any time you go to 30cap.)

Lvl 55 Bloodsword (Good sword for off hand for the STR, drain effect handy when solo)

Lvl 70 Joyeuse (Good sword for off hand and relatively easy to get.)

Lvl 70 Ridill (This is clearly a pipe dream, but is the best off-hand weapon for Warrior hands down.)

Marksmanship

Crossbow

Lvl 1 Light Crossbow

Lvl 10 Legionnaire's Crossbow

Lvl 12 Crossbow

Lvl 25 Power Crossbow

Lvl 37 Rikonodo

Lvl 40 Thug's Zamburak

Lvl 74 Staurobow

Lvl 74 Grand Crossbow

Bolt

Note: This part is unique in the sense that status bolts do not ever disappear in usefulness. The only bolt you should change is the type you use to inflict damage. Bolts marked with a star are status bolts.

Lvl 1 Bronze Bolt or Crossbow Bolt

Lvl 10 Blind Bolt *

Lvl 15 Acid Bolt * (Very useful!)

Lvl 20 Sleep Bolt *

Lvl 25 Bloody Bolt * (Very useful for solo situations)

Lvl 30 Holy Bolt

Lvl 40 Mythril Bolt (Not really suggested, spamming Acid Bolts until one hits is more effective in cost and DoT. the D rank in Marksmanship really begins to show here since it is approx 10 lvls less than RNG, however, Iron Muskateer +Ranged Accuracy can help compensate)

After the 40s or so, it becomes very difficult to hit EXP mobs, and even more difficult to get the additional effects to proc. However, having Marksmanship skilled and a Crossbow/Bolts around is useful for pulling and solo all the way up to 75.

Archery

Bow

Note: For most bows, especially those used in parties, I suggest the +1 versions for the + Ranged Attack and + Ranged Accuracy, since as a WAR, you will not focus on it in equipment. Most WARs find that using Archery past the low levels is a waste of gil with the arrows. Warriors have very low Archery skill just like Marksmanship, but no equivalent to bloody bolts in the arrow department.

Lvl 1 Shortbow

Lvl 5 Longbow

Lvl 16 Power Bow

Lvl 30 Great Bow

Lvl 40 Battle Bow

Lvl 55 Lightning Bow/Lightning Bow +1
(For the dex+. Use this until Bomb Core at 63)

Arrow

Note: If the bow is only going to be used for pulling, then stick to whatever arrow you think is decent in price, or use a Poison Arrow. Most arrows here assume some Damage use.

Lvl 1 Wooden Arrow

Lvl 7 Bone Arrow

Lvl 14 Iron Arrow

Lvl 17 Beetle Arrow

Lvl 19 Poison Arrow *

Lvl 24 Silver Arrow

Lvl 29 Horn Arrow

Lvl 35 Sleep Arrow

Lvl 45 Ice Arrow, Fire Arrow, or Lightning Arrow

Lvl 60 Demon Arrow

Lvl 70 Kabura Arrow (very handy when soloing BLM mobs)

Throwing

Note: This is the most popular pulling device due to its unlimited use. Since most of these are only used for pulling, I feel updates are not necessary unless you have the money. Do not inconvenience yourself over a small increase in Damage on a throwing item. Combat Caster's Boomerang +1/2 is the exception!!!

Lvl 1 Happy Egg (For Tanking)

Lvl 6 Coarse Boomerang

Lvl 14 Boomerang

Lvl 19 Flame Boomerang

Lvl 33 Long Boomerang (For Tanking; if you do not have a Happy Egg; AGI increases defensive skill rates and evasion)

Lvl 43 Combat Caster's Boomerang +1 or Combat Caster's Boomerang +2 (One of these two are crucial! This is the only Ranged weapon that will increase Accuracy! I say buy this no matter what you normally use in case you party in an area where the effect takes place.)

Lvl 55 Goblin Grenade

Lvl 60 Bibiki Seashell (for tanking and extra VIT increases Steel Cyclone damage)

Lvl 63 Bomb Core

Lvl 70 Fire Bomblet

Keeping a Boomerang around at all times is a good idea for pulling if you don't want to deal with Crossbows and Bolts. Bomb Core and Fire Bomblet are both really nice pieces of gear and they can't be thrown anymore, so no worries about wasting gil on them.

Armor

Head

Lvl 1 Bronze Cap

Lvl 7 Leather Bandana

Lvl 10 Faceguard or Royal Footman's Bandana

Lvl 16 Bone Mask

Lvl 17 Lizard Helm *

Lvl 21 Beetle Mask

Lvl 24 Emperor Hairpin

Lvl 30 Centurion's Visor

Lvl 41 Voyager Sallet

Lvl 43 Valkyrie's Mask or Walkure Mask (if you cannot obtain Voyager Sallet)

Lvl 59 Sipahi Turban (weapon skills mostly)

Lvl 60 Patroclus's Helm (Great helm. -5 Enmity can't be beat, Your Ninja Tanks will love you. Only loose 1 STR from Sipahi Turban"

Lvl 65 Wivre Mask (STR VIT and evasion on 1 item! Excellent for tanking, but expensive)

Lvl 68 Fourth Haube DEF: 23 STR +3 Evasion +5 Subtle Blow +4

Lvl 70 Optical Hat (Drop off force pop NM Hakutaku)

Typically used for accuracy-based weapon skills, such as Rampage because the Walahra Turban is much better to TP build in.

Lvl 73 Adaman Celata Nice mixture of accuracy and attack

Lvl 75 Walahra Turban (Obtained after donating 1,000 Bronze Pieces to Gajaad in Al Zahbi. You can buy Bronze Pieces at the Auction House, or obtain them with Imperial Standing. 20,000 IS = 1,000 Bronze Pieces) Best end-game head piece for WAR because of the HP+ and the 5% Haste.

Body

Lvl 1 Bronze Harness or RSE

Lvl 7 Leather Vest

Lvl 10 Scale Mail

Lvl 16 Bone Harness or

Lvl 17 Lizard Jerkin

Lvl 21 Beetle Harness

Lvl 24 Chainmail

Lvl 29 Eisenbrust or Kampfbrust or

Lvl 30 Centurion's Scale Mail

Lvl 40 Royal Squire's Chainmail

Lvl 43 Royal Squire's Chainmail +1 or Royal Squire's Chainmail +2 (under own nation's control, more useful than Brigandine Armor for DD in this situation)

Lvl 45 Brigandine Armor/Brigandine +1/Luisant Haubert

Lvl 55 Jaridah Peti Jaridah Peti is an alternative to Royal Knight's Chainmail. Many people find it useful because of the Accuracy.

Lvl 55 Royal Knight's Chainmail (This can work as a stopgap until you get an Haubergeon)

Lvl 59 Haubergeon (The big one. This is the first big step toward end game pieces.) (I wouldn't level past 59 without one-Correctionfluid)

Lvl 69 Hauberk A bit better than Haubergeon, but limited to only WAR/DRK/BST. I recommend this body if you plan to play on WAR a lot end-game.

Lvl 73 Adaman Hauberk (Good Luck. This lovely armor requires the Earthen Abjuration: Body which drops off of Nidhogg)

Lvl 75 Ares's Cuirass (it'll take a long commitment to salvage if you want this)

Hands

Lvl 1 Bronze Mittens or RSE

Lvl 7 Leather Gloves *

Lvl 10 Legionnaire's Mittens or Royal Footman's Gloves

Lvl 27 Hume only: Custom M Gloves or Custom F Gloves

Lvl 30 Royal Squire's Mufflers or Gigas Bracelets (Depending on race. The accuracy on the Royal Squire's Mufflers is nice for Elvaan's. Otherwise, I would use the Gigas Bracelets)

Lvl 40 Ogygos's Bracelets Only if using Gigas Bracelets before this)

Lvl 45 Luisant Moufles

Lvl 50 Spiked Finger Gauntlets Expensive, but awesome.

Lvl 50 Enkelados's Bracelets Generally used for Weaponskills only

Lvl 54 Fighter's Mufflers If not using Enkelados's before this

Lvl 55 Fourth Division Gauntlets Accuracy +5

Lvl 60 Pallas's Bracelets

Lvl 68 Fourth Hentzes DEF: 14 STR +3 Evasion +4 Subtle Blow +2 Set: Increases Attack

Lvl 70 Tarasque Mitts or Tarasque Mitts +1 A cheaper alternative to Spiked Finger Gauntlets.

Lvl 70 Alkyoneus's Bracelets Generally used for Weaponskills only

Lvl 72 Warrior's Mufflers Att+12 and the VIT +5 is nice for Steel Cyclone

Lvl 72 Dusk Gloves Haste +3%

Lvl 73 Hecatomb Mittens Used for Weaponskills only. The Slow is not nice for TP.

Legs

Lvl 1 Bronze Subligar or RSE

Lvl 7 Leather Trousers

Lvl 10 Scale Cuisses

Lvl 16 Bone Subligar or

Lvl 17 Lizard Trousers *

Lvl 20 Garrison Hose (note: I am still not sure if this or the Republic Subligare would be better for DoT.)

Lvl 25 Bastokan Subligar or Republic Subligar

Lvl 45 Luisant Brayettes

Lvl 55 Royal Knight's Breeches

Lvl 70 Barone Cosciales/Exorcist Hose

Lvl 73 Adaman Breeches Very hard to obtain. The abjuration drops off of King Behemoth and/or Odin

Lvl 75 Byakko's Haidate (DEX +15 and Haste +5%) The best endgame legs for WAR handsdown. Dropped from Byakko. A "God" in sky.

Feet

Lvl 1 Bronze Leggings or RSE

Lvl 7 Bounding Boots or Leaping Boots Either dropped from Leaping Lizzy(Bounding Boots) or bought off of the AH(Leaping Boots)

If you are unable to obtain the above, get these:

Lvl 7 Leather Highboots

Lvl 10 Scale Greaves

Lvl 16 Bone Leggings

Lvl 17 Lizard Ledelsens

Lvl 21 Beetle Leggings

Lvl 24 Greaves

Lvl 24 Winged Boots (same as leaping, just has some more DEF)

Lvl 34 Bastokan Greaves or Republic Greaves

Lvl 52 Fighter's Calligae (Double Attack ~+1%)

Lvl 62 Creek M Clomps or Creek F Clomps or Marine M Boots or Marine F Boots (Tarutaru and Hume RSE2 adds a lot to the table which outweighs the +DA of AF1)

Lvl 72 Amir Boots The combination of Acc and Att on these is very nice. the BEST TpBuild boots for WAR so far

Lvl 72 Dusk Ledelsens These are generally only used when trying to obtain a high amount of Haste and are very useless on their own without other amounts of Haste, and even then, Amir Boots are probably more useful.

Lvl 73 Hecatomb Leggings Used for Weaponskills only.

Lvl 73 Adaman Sollerets Simliar to Amir Boots, the combination of Acc/Att makes these nice. Not as good as Amir.

Waist

Lvl 7 Leather Belt

Lvl 15 Warrior's Belt or Warrior's Belt +1

Lvl 18 Barbarian's Belt or Brave Belt (+1 version)

Lvl 40 Tilt Belt

Lvl 43 Swordbelt or

Lvl 45 Vanguard Belt

Lvl 48 Life Belt

Lvl 60 Potent Belt (2 Less acc than Life belt but the STR +3 is very nice.)

Lvl 70 Warrior's Stone Obtained from Dynamis

Lvl 71 Warwolf Belt Nice for weaponskills.

Back

Lvl 4 Rabbit Mantle

Lvl 12 Traveler's Mantle

Lvl 24 Nomad's Mantle

Lvl 28 Wolf Mantle or Wolf Mantle +1 (+1 suggested)

Lvl 28 Invisible Mantle Will give the same benefits as Wolf Mantle, along with 20 cheap Invisible charges.

Lvl 40 Earth Mantle

Lvl 40 Agile Mantle Good luck finding one at the AH. Drops from BCNM 40 "Factory Rejects"

Lvl 47 Jaguar Mantle

Lvl 61 Amemet Mantle/Amemet Mantle +1 very good to TP in and good for WS

Lvl 64 Smilodon Mantle/Smilodon Mantle +1Excellent swap in piece for Steel Cyclone's 50% STR mod (not for TP'ing, where attack is more important. Also not recommended for Rampage.)

Lvl 69 Psilos Mantle Decent for TP'ing if you don't have HQ amemet or a foragers mantle.

Lvl 71 Forager's Mantle Best to TP(cept Chargers mantle) in and best for WS

Neck

Lvl 7 Justice Badge (only if you quest it)

Lvl 7 Wing Pendant (only if you quest it)

Lvl 21 Fang Necklace or Spike Necklace (Spike is the +1 version of Fang, and highly recommended since all DD jobs will use this)

Lvl 24 Tiger Stole Good for TPing in, swap in spike neck for WS.

Lvl 33 Peacock Charm or Peacock Amulet Rare/Ex (The BEST neck piece in the game for any DD. After 60, just macro Chivalrous Chain in for Weapon Skills.)

Lvl 56 Merman's Gorget

Lvl 60 Chivalrous Chain (One of the best neck pieces endgame for all DD jobs)

Ring

A popular choice for the affluent warrior is to carry two sets of rings: one boosting accuracy and the other strength. The accuracy rings are used to gain enough TP to use a Weaponskill, and the strength rings swapped in to make the weaponskill more powerful.

Lvl 14 Courage Ring

Lvl 14 Stamina Ring (only if tanking)

lvl 14 Balance Ring

Lvl 14 Vision Ring (note: wearing 2 and keeping the enchantments on constantly will provide +4 acc, which gives a significant boost at this level. However, this will be more expensive in the long run than buying ordinary rings.)

lvl 30 Rajas Ring (note: this is one of the best DD ring out at the moment, however, you can only get it at the end of CoP the missions)

Lvl 34 Venerer Ring

Lvl 35 Jaeger Ring

Lvl 36 Garnet Ring or Puissance Ring (Weaponskill only)

Lvl 40 Sniper's Ring or Woodsman Ring

Lvl 50 Ulthalam's Ring +4 Attack & +4 Accuracy. Very useful. One of three rings that can be chosen as the final reward upon completion of Aht Urhgan Mission 47: The Empress Crowned.

Lvl 50 Unyielding Ring Excellent for tanking and for Steel Cyclone (useless if dual wielding axes).

Lvl 54 Sun Ring or the HQ (Weaponskill only)

Lvl 57 Toreador's Ring (Acc+7 makes is a natural upgrade from Sniper's or Woodsman)

Lvl 74 Ruby Ring or the HQ (Weaponskill only)

A lot of WARs find that keeping Woodsman Rings on helps more with Rampage and only switch to STR Rings with Rampage when they have some combination of a Bard, Sushi and full Axes merits.

Earring

Lvl 10 Optical Earring (useful only at lower levels, because anything that boosts accuracy is so rare before level 40)

Lvl 16 Bone Earring or Bone Earring +1

Lvl 21 Beetle Earring +1 (Use these until Spike at 55)

Lvl 49 Heims Earring (STR for ws)

Lvl 55 Fang Earring or Spike Earring (Spike is Recommended)

Lvl 58 Assault Earring

Lvl 61 Minuet Earring (Stats are very nice if you have a BRD in your party.)

Lvl 63 Merman's Earring

Lvl 67 Triumph Earring/Triumph Earring +1 Way too expensive, but if you have the gil to blow. (Would be used for strictly weapon skills.)

Lvl 70 Fowling Earring

Lvl 72 Suppanomimi (Enhances Dual Wield Effect and +5 to Sword skill is nice if you are offhanding a Joyeuse or Ridill)

Lvl 75 Brutal Earring (Enhances Double Attack)

Closing Note

Guide created by User:Andres, modified by many others.