Botanist Overview
What is Botanist?
Botanist (BTN) is one of three gathering classes in FFXIV. You harvest logs, fibers, herbs, vegetables, and other plant materials from lush vegetation throughout Eorzea. Botanist feeds the most crafters of any gatherer, making it essential for omnicrafting.
Most Versatile Gatherer: BTN feeds 4 crafters (CRP, WVR, ALC, CUL) compared to MIN's 3. If you're only leveling one gatherer, Botanist covers more ground.
Prerequisites
- Unlock: Any combat class level 10+, complete "Way of the Botanist" at Botanists' Guild (Old Gridania)
- For Diadem (fastest 10-80): Complete Heavensward MSQ through patch 3.3
- For Collectables (50+): Complete "Inscrutable Tastes" quest in Mor Dhona
- For Custom Deliveries: Various MSQ requirements per NPC
Synergy Jobs
Botanist directly feeds four crafting classes with primary materials:
| Crafter | Materials Provided | Synergy Level |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenter (CRP) | All logs, lumber base materials | Essential |
| Weaver (WVR) | Cotton, flax, fibers for cloth | Essential |
| Alchemist (ALC) | Herbs, reagents, latex | Essential |
| Culinarian (CUL) | Vegetables, fruits, grains | High |
| Leatherworker (LTW) | Some fibers, thread components | Secondary |
Recommendation: Level BTN alongside CRP or WVR for maximum efficiency. Keep BTN 5-10 levels ahead of your crafters.
Gear Priorities
Key Stats (Priority Order)
- Gathering: Determines if you can harvest a node (hard requirement)
- Perception: Increases HQ chance and collectable quality
- GP (Gathering Points): Resource for abilities. Target 800+ at endgame, 870+ for optimal rotations
Gear Sharing
Botanist shares ALL gear with Miner except the primary tool:
- Shared: Left side armor, right side accessories, off-hand
- Unique: Hatchet (main hand only)
Gear Upgrade Points
| Level | Gear Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1-50 | Vendor / Crafted | Don't overspend, you'll outlevel quickly |
| 50/60/70/80 | Scrip Gear | Free from collectables, good enough |
| 90 | Purple Scrip or Crafted | AR-Caean set or Indagator's |
| 100 | Crafted HQ → Splendorous | Pentamelded for endgame |
Leveling Methods Comparison
| Method | Speed | Gil Cost | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diadem | Fastest (10-80) | None | Ishgard access |
| Collectables | Fast (50+) | None | Mor Dhona unlock |
| Leves | Fast | None | Leve allowances |
| GC Turn-ins | Daily bonus | Buy or gather | Grand Company |
| Node Grinding | Slow but steady | None | None |
Botanist: Levels 1-30
Fastest: Diadem (level 10+) if you have Ishgard access. Otherwise, node grinding + leves.
Gathering Locations
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maple Log | 1+ | Central Shroud | CRP |
| Latex | 5+ | Central Shroud | ALC |
| Cotton Boll | 10+ | Central Shroud (Bentbranch) | WVR |
| Ash Log | 11+ | North Shroud | CRP |
| Chamomile | 12+ | Central Shroud | ALC, CUL |
| Elm Log | 15+ | North Shroud | CRP |
| Flax | 20+ | East Shroud | WVR |
| Oak Log | 20+ | South Shroud | CRP |
| Yew Log | 25+ | South Shroud | CRP |
Shard Sources
| Shard | Level | Zone | Primary Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wind Shard | 1+ | Central/East Shroud | CRP, WVR, ALC |
| Lightning Shard | 15+ | East Shroud | WVR, GSM |
| Water Shard | 20+ | South Shroud | ALC, CUL |
Strategy
1-10: Maple/Latex
- Start at Botanists' Guild in Old Gridania
- Gather Maple Logs + Latex from Central Shroud
- Collect Wind Shards for later crafting
- Complete Gathering Log entries for bonus XP
10-20: Cotton Tier
- Diadem if unlocked - fastest method by far
- Otherwise: Cotton Boll at Bentbranch Meadows
- Unlock and use Triangulate to reveal hidden items
- Start doing GC Supply missions daily
20-30: Flax/Oak
- Flax in East Shroud - high demand for Weaver
- Oak Logs in South Shroud for Carpenter
- Use Leaf Turn ability for extra yield
- Leves become efficient - check Bentbranch and Quarrymill
Daily XP Checklist
- GC Supply Mission: Massive XP bonus, especially if HQ
- Levequests: Gridania (1-10) → Bentbranch (10-20) → Quarrymill (20-30)
- Gathering Log: First-time bonus for each unique item
Profit Opportunities (1-30)
Low-level botanist materials are consistently profitable:
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Wind/Water Shards | Constant demand from CRP, WVR, ALC, CUL | 20-50 gil each |
| Cotton Boll | WVR leveling staple, always needed | 30-100 gil each |
| Flax | Linen cloth for WVR, high volume | 50-150 gil each |
| Elm Log | Popular CRP material tier | 30-80 gil each |
| Chamomile | ALC and CUL recipes | 50-200 gil each |
Tip: Cotton Boll and Flax are among the most consistent sellers at this level. Shards stack to 9999 and always sell.
Botanist: Levels 30-50
Continue Diadem if available - still fastest through 80. Otherwise, node grinding + leves.
Gathering Locations
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Log | 30+ | Eastern La Noscea | CRP |
| Aloe | 30+ | Southern Thanalan | ALC |
| Linseed | 32+ | Eastern La Noscea | WVR, ALC |
| Mahogany Log | 35+ | Coerthas Central | CRP |
| Spruce Log | 40+ | Coerthas Central | CRP |
| Rosewood Log | 45+ | Mor Dhona | CRP |
Crystal Sources (30+)
Crystals replace shards at level 30. All crafters need these in large quantities.
| Crystal | Zone | Primary Users |
|---|---|---|
| Wind Crystal | Coerthas Central | CRP, WVR |
| Lightning Crystal | Mor Dhona | WVR, GSM |
| Water Crystal | South Shroud | ALC, CUL |
| Ice Crystal | Coerthas Central | CUL, ALC |
Unspoiled Nodes (46+)
Use Truth of Forests to reveal timed nodes. These spawn every 2 Eorzean hours:
| Material | Location | ET Time | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spruce Log HQ | Coerthas Central | 10:00-12:00 | High |
| Rosewood Log HQ | Mor Dhona | 6:00-8:00 | High |
| Trillium Bulb | East Shroud | 1:00-4:00 | Medium |
Leve Locations
| Level | Location | Levemete |
|---|---|---|
| 30-35 | Costa del Sol | Nahctahr |
| 35-40 | Coerthas (Observatorium) | Voilinaut |
| 40-50 | Mor Dhona | K'leytai |
Profit Opportunities (30-50)
This tier has strong profit potential:
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Wind/Water Crystals | Universal crafter demand | 30-80 gil each |
| Spruce Log | Popular CRP leveling material | 100-300 gil each |
| Aloe | ALC potions and reagents | 80-200 gil each |
| Linseed | Linseed Oil for WVR, many uses | 50-150 gil each |
| Rosewood Log HQ | Timed node, premium CRP material | 200-600 gil each |
Market Tip: Timed node HQ materials sell for significant premiums. A single Spruce Log HQ route can net 10-20k gil.
Botanist: Levels 50-70
Collectables unlock at 50! Complete "Inscrutable Tastes" in Mor Dhona for a massive XP boost.
50-60: Heavensward
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birch Log | 50+ | Coerthas Western Highlands | CRP |
| Rainbow Cotton Boll | 52+ | The Churning Mists | WVR |
| Camphorwood Log | 54+ | Dravanian Forelands | CRP |
| Cloud Cotton Boll | 56+ | The Sea of Clouds | WVR |
| Hallowed Basil | 58+ | Dravanian Hinterlands | ALC |
Collectables (50+)
Collectables are gathered using the Collector's Glove ability. Turn them in at any collectable appraiser for:
- Massive XP (best XP/hour after Diadem)
- White Scrips (for gear) and Purple Scrips (for materia, folklore)
60-70: Stormblood
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Larch Log | 60+ | The Fringes | CRP |
| Gyr Abanian Cotton Boll | 64+ | The Fringes | WVR |
| Zelkova Log | 64+ | Azim Steppe | CRP |
| Persimmon | 66+ | Yanxia | CUL |
| Pine Log | 68+ | The Lochs | CRP |
Custom Deliveries
Weekly turn-ins for massive XP. Available NPCs at this level:
- M'naago (60+): Rhalgr's Reach
- Kurenai (60+): The Ruby Sea, Sui-no-Sato
Cluster Gathering (50+)
Clusters replace crystals for high-level crafting. Enormous ongoing demand.
| Cluster | Zone | Users |
|---|---|---|
| Wind Cluster | The Churning Mists | CRP, WVR |
| Lightning Cluster | The Sea of Clouds | WVR, GSM |
| Water Cluster | Dravanian Hinterlands | ALC, CUL |
Profit Opportunities (50-70)
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Cotton Boll | HW endgame WVR material | 100-300 gil each |
| All Clusters | Endgame crafting fuel | 100-200 gil each |
| Zelkova Log | SB gear progression | 80-200 gil each |
| Hallowed Basil | ALC reagent for potions | 100-250 gil each |
| Timed node HQ items | Crafting materials | 300-1000 gil each |
Scrip Strategy: Turn in collectables for Purple Scrips, then sell Materia on the market board for steady income.
Botanist: Levels 70-90
Diadem ends at 80. Switch to collectables, beast tribes, and custom deliveries for 80-90.
70-80: Shadowbringers
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| White Oak Log | 70+ | Lakeland | CRP |
| Dwarven Cotton Boll | 72+ | Kholusia | WVR |
| Lignum Vitae Log | 74+ | Rak'tika Greatwood | CRP |
| Pixie Cotton Boll | 76+ | Il Mheg | WVR |
| Sandalwood Log | 78+ | The Tempest | CRP |
Beast Tribe: Qitari
Unlock in Rak'tika Greatwood after ShB MSQ. Daily quests give excellent 70-80 XP for both BTN and MIN.
Custom Deliveries (70-80)
- Kai-Shirr: Eulmore, great for 70-80
- Ehll Tou: The Firmament, Ishgard
80-90: Endwalker
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palm Log | 80+ | Thavnair | CRP |
| AR-Caean Cotton Boll | 82+ | Labyrinthos | WVR |
| Integral Log | 84+ | Garlemald | CRP |
| Star Cotton Boll | 86+ | Thavnair | WVR |
| Elpis Log | 88+ | Elpis | CRP |
Studium Deliveries
Unlock via "The Faculty" quest in Old Sharlayan. Weekly turn-ins for massive XP - one of the best 80-90 methods.
Beast Tribe: Omicrons
Unlock in Ultima Thule (post-EW MSQ). Daily gatherer quests for 80-90.
Profit Opportunities (70-90)
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Lignum Vitae Log | ShB crafted gear base | 80-200 gil each |
| Integral Log | EW crafted gear universal | 80-200 gil each |
| Star Cotton Boll | EW endgame WVR material | 100-300 gil each |
| Elpis Log | High-end CRP material | 150-400 gil each |
| All Clusters | Universal demand continues | 100-200 gil each |
Tip: Purple Scrips → Gathering Materia X → Market Board is still a reliable income stream.
Botanist: Levels 90-100 (Dawntrail)
Priority: Wachumeqimeqi Deliveries are the fastest 90-100 method. Supplement with timed collectables.
Gathering Locations
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pao Log | 90+ | Urqopacha | CRP |
| Turali Corn | 91+ | Urqopacha | CUL |
| Turali Cotton Boll | 93+ | Kozama'uka | WVR |
| Saguaro | 95+ | Shaaloani | CRP |
| Wattle Log | 98+ | Living Memory | CRP |
Wachumeqimeqi Deliveries
Unlock via MSQ "The Feat of Pots" in Solution Nine. The fastest 90-100 leveling method.
| Level Unlocked | Delivery Type | XP per Delivery |
|---|---|---|
| 90 | Basic Collectables | ~1.4M |
| 93 | Intermediate | ~2.1M |
| 95 | Advanced | ~2.5M |
| 98 | Expert | ~3.0M |
Note: Deliveries are shared between BTN and MIN - complete them on whichever job you're leveling!
Timed Collectables
Use between Wachumeqimeqi cooldowns. Excellent XP and scrip income.
| Level | Collectable | ET Time | XP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93 | Rarefied Turali Cotton Boll | 10:00 | ~1.6M |
| 95 | Rarefied Saguaro | 4:00 | ~1.66M |
| 98 | Rarefied Wattle Log | 8:00 | ~1.67M |
| 100 | Rarefied Cloud Acacia Log | 6:00 | ~1.7M |
Legendary Nodes (100)
Requires Regional Folklore Tomes (4,800 Purple Scrips total for all Dawntrail zones):
| Material | Zone | ET Time | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moonbloom | Kozama'uka | 2:00-4:00 | ALC, WVR |
| Cloud Acacia Log | Shaaloani | 6:00-8:00 | CRP |
| Miracle Apple | Living Memory | 10:00-12:00 | CUL, ALC |
| Oddly Delicate Flower | Kozama'uka | 12:00-2:00 | WVR |
Profit Opportunities (90-100)
Current endgame materials command premium prices:
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Wattle Log | Current tier crafted gear | 300-1000 gil each |
| Turali Cotton Boll | High-end WVR material | 200-600 gil each |
| Legendary materials | Master recipe requirements | 2000-10000 gil each |
| Moonbloom | High-end ALC/WVR reagent | 1500-5000 gil each |
| Clusters | Never stops selling | 100-200 gil each |
Endgame Strategy: Focus on legendary node routes once geared. A full rotation of all timed nodes can generate 100k-500k gil/hour depending on your server's economy.