Miner Overview
What is Miner?
Miner (MIN) is one of three gathering classes in FFXIV. You extract ores, stones, gems, and minerals from rocky outcrops and mineral deposits throughout Eorzea and beyond. Miner is the foundation for metal-based crafting and provides essential materials for Blacksmith, Armorer, and Goldsmith.
Best Starting Gatherer: Miner and Botanist share gear (except main hand) and level simultaneously through most content. Start with whichever feeds the crafters you want to level.
Prerequisites
- Unlock: Any combat class level 10+, complete "Way of the Miner" at Miners' Guild (Ul'dah - Steps of Thal)
- 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
Miner directly feeds three crafting classes with primary materials:
| Crafter | Materials Provided | Synergy Level |
|---|---|---|
| Blacksmith (BSM) | All ores, ingot base materials | Essential |
| Armorer (ARM) | All ores, plate materials | Essential |
| Goldsmith (GSM) | Precious ores, gems, stones | Essential |
| Alchemist (ALC) | Some stones, minerals | Secondary |
| Carpenter (CRP) | Whetstones, some minerals | Minor |
Recommendation: If leveling BSM or ARM, keep Miner 5-10 levels ahead. For GSM, Miner should be at least equal level.
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
Miner shares ALL gear with Botanist except the primary tool:
- Shared: Left side armor, right side accessories, off-hand
- Unique: Pickaxe (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 |
Miner: Levels 1-30
Fastest: Diadem (level 10+) if you have Ishgard access. Otherwise, node grinding + leves.
Gathering Locations
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Ore | 1+ | Western Thanalan (Horizon) | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| Tin Ore | 5+ | Western Thanalan | BSM, ARM |
| Zinc Ore | 10+ | Western Thanalan (Copperbell) | BSM, ARM |
| Iron Ore | 15+ | Western Thanalan | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| Silver Ore | 20+ | Eastern Thanalan | GSM, ALC |
| Mythril Ore | 25+ | Eastern Thanalan (Burning Wall) | BSM, ARM, GSM |
Shard Sources
| Shard | Level | Zone | Primary Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Shard | 1+ | Western/Central Thanalan | BSM, ARM, CUL, ALC |
| Earth Shard | 1+ | Central/Eastern Thanalan | GSM, LTW, ALC |
| Lightning Shard | 15+ | Eastern Thanalan | GSM, WVR, CRP |
Strategy
1-10: Bronze Materials
- Start at Miners' Guild in Ul'dah - Steps of Thal
- Teleport to Horizon aetheryte
- Gather Copper Ore and Tin Ore from nearby nodes
- Complete your Gathering Log entries for bonus XP
10-20: Iron Tier
- Diadem if unlocked - fastest method by far
- Otherwise: Iron Ore near Horizon, Zinc Ore near Copperbell Mines
- Unlock and use Sharp Vision to reveal hidden items
- Start doing GC Supply missions daily
20-30: Steel Materials
- Silver Ore at Camp Drybone (Eastern Thanalan)
- Mythril Ore at Burning Wall (Eastern Thanalan)
- Use Unearth ability for extra yield
- Leves become efficient here - check Horizon and Drybone levemetes
Daily XP Checklist
- GC Supply Mission: Massive XP bonus, especially if HQ
- Levequests: Ul'dah (1-10) → Horizon (10-20) → Drybone (20-30)
- Gathering Log: First-time bonus for each unique item
Profit Opportunities (1-30)
Low-level materials are often overlooked but can be profitable:
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Fire/Earth Shards | Constant demand from all crafters | 20-50 gil each |
| Iron Ore | Heavy use in BSM/ARM leveling | 50-150 gil each |
| Silver Ore | GSM leveling, jewelry crafts | 100-300 gil each |
| Effervescent Water | ALC needs, hidden node item | 200-500 gil each |
| Raw gems | GSM needs for early accessories | 100-400 gil each |
Tip: Check prices on Universalis for your server. Shards are almost always profitable and stack to 9999.
Miner: Levels 30-50
Continue Diadem if available - still fastest through 80. Otherwise, node grinding + leves.
Gathering Locations
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cobalt Ore | 30+ | Eastern La Noscea | BSM, ARM |
| Darksteel Ore | 35+ | Coerthas Central | BSM, ARM |
| Gold Ore | 35+ | Eastern Thanalan | GSM |
| Jade | 40+ | Mor Dhona | GSM |
| Electrum Ore | 40+ | Southern Thanalan | GSM |
| Mythrite Ore | 45+ | Coerthas Central | BSM, ARM, GSM |
Crystal Gathering (30+)
Crystals replace shards at level 30. All crafters need these in large quantities.
| Crystal | Zone | Primary Users |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Crystal | Southern Thanalan | BSM, ARM, CUL |
| Earth Crystal | Coerthas Central | GSM, LTW, ALC |
| Ice Crystal | Coerthas Central | CUL, ALC |
| Lightning Crystal | Mor Dhona | GSM, WVR |
Unspoiled Nodes (46+)
Use Truth of Mountains to reveal timed nodes. These spawn every 2 Eorzean hours:
| Material | Location | ET Time | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Ore HQ | Eastern Thanalan | 9:00-12:00 | High |
| Darksteel Ore HQ | Coerthas Central | 5:00-8:00 | High |
| Native Gold | Southern Thanalan | 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 excellent profit potential due to high crafter demand:
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Gold Ore | GSM jewelry, high demand | 200-500 gil each |
| Darksteel Ore | BSM/ARM gear progression | 150-400 gil each |
| Fire/Earth Crystals | Universal crafter demand | 30-80 gil each |
| Jade | GSM accessories | 100-300 gil each |
| Electrum Ore | GSM leveling staple | 100-250 gil each |
Market Tip: Unspoiled node materials (HQ) sell for premium prices. A single Gold Ore HQ route can net 10-30k gil.
Miner: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardsilver Ore | 50+ | Coerthas Western Highlands | GSM, BSM |
| Titanium Ore | 54+ | Dravanian Forelands | BSM, ARM |
| Adamantite Ore | 56+ | Dravanian Forelands | BSM, ARM |
| Aurum Regis Ore | 58+ | The Churning Mists | GSM |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyr Abanian Ore | 60+ | The Fringes | BSM, ARM |
| Palladium Ore | 62+ | The Ruby Sea | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| Molybdenum Ore | 64+ | Yanxia | BSM, ARM |
| Chromite Ore | 68+ | Azim Steppe | BSM, ARM |
Custom Deliveries
Weekly turn-ins for massive XP. Available NPCs at this level:
- M'naago (60+): The Fringes, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Cluster | Dravanian Forelands | BSM, ARM |
| Earth Cluster | The Churning Mists | GSM, LTW |
| Lightning Cluster | The Sea of Clouds | GSM, WVR |
Profit Opportunities (50-70)
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Adamantite Ore | HW endgame gear base | 100-300 gil each |
| All Clusters | Endgame crafting fuel | 100-200 gil each |
| Chromite Ore | SB gear progression | 150-400 gil each |
| Palladium Ore | GSM leveling + accessories | 100-250 gil each |
| Timed node HQ items | Crafting materials | 500-2000 gil each |
Scrip Strategy: Turn in collectables for Purple Scrips, then sell Materia on the market board for steady income.
Miner: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Onyx | 70+ | Lakeland | GSM |
| Manasilver Ore | 72+ | Kholusia | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| Dimythrite Ore | 74+ | Rak'tika Greatwood | BSM, ARM |
| Titanbronze Ore | 76+ | Amh Araeng | BSM, ARM |
| Prismstone | 78+ | The Tempest | GSM |
Beast Tribe: Qitari
Unlock in Rak'tika Greatwood after completing the "Completion of the Hunt" sidequest. Daily quests give excellent 70-80 XP for both MIN and BTN.
Custom Deliveries (70-80)
- Kai-Shirr: Eulmore, great for 70-80
- Ehll Tou: The Firmament, Ishgard
80-90: Endwalker
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismuth Ore | 81+ | Labyrinthos | BSM, ARM |
| Pewter Ore | 82+ | Labyrinthos | BSM, ARM |
| Ilmenite Ore | 83+ | Thavnair | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| Chondrite | 84+ | Garlemald | All metal crafters |
| AR-Caean Velite | 88+ | Ultima Thule | BSM, ARM, GSM |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimythrite Ore | ShB crafted gear base | 100-300 gil each |
| Chondrite | EW crafted gear universal | 80-200 gil each |
| AR-Caean Velite | EW endgame gear | 150-400 gil each |
| Mythrite Sand | Timed node, used in many recipes | 300-800 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.
Miner: Levels 90-100 (Dawntrail)
Priority: Wachumeqimeqi Deliveries are the fastest 90-100 method. Supplement with timed collectables.
Gathering Locations
| Material | Level | Location | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw Citrine | 90+ | Urqopacha | GSM |
| Sungilt Ore | 92+ | Kozama'uka | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| Titanium Gold Ore | 95+ | Shaaloani | BSM, ARM, GSM |
| White Gold Ore | 98+ | Heritage Found | GSM |
| Ra'kaznar Ore | 100 | Living Memory | BSM, ARM, GSM |
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 MIN and BTN - 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 Raw Dark Amber | 12:00 | ~1.6M |
| 95 | Rarefied Titanium Gold Ore | 2:00 | ~1.66M |
| 98 | Rarefied White Gold Ore | 4:00 | ~1.67M |
| 100 | Rarefied Ra'kaznar Ore | 8:00 | ~1.7M |
Legendary Nodes (100)
Requires Regional Folklore Tomes (4,800 Purple Scrips total for all Dawntrail zones):
| Material | Zone | ET Time | Used By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turali Alumen | Urqopacha | 8:00-10:00 | All crafters |
| Fine Silver Ore | Shaaloani | 10:00-12:00 | GSM |
| Harmonite Ore | Living Memory | 6:00-8:00 | BSM, ARM |
| Ra'kaznar Diamond | Living Memory | 2:00-4:00 | GSM |
Profit Opportunities (90-100)
Current endgame materials command premium prices:
| Material | Why It Sells | Expected Gil |
|---|---|---|
| Ra'kaznar Ore | Current tier crafted gear | 500-2000 gil each |
| White Gold Ore | High-end GSM materials | 300-800 gil each |
| Legendary materials | Master recipe requirements | 2000-10000 gil each |
| Turali Alumen | Universal 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.