How to play guide

Final Fantasy XIV Beginner's Guide: Class and City, the Main Story and the Free Trial

A Final Fantasy XIV starter guide: choosing a class and city, weapon-based class switching, main scenario quests, solo dungeons with Duty Support, free trial limits and default PC controls.

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Final Fantasy XIV Online is Square Enix's massively multiplayer online RPG. You begin as an adventurer in Eorzea, follow a long, voiced main story, and along the way join dungeons, boss encounters and crafting. The game is known for its story, and its free trial is generous.

This guide is for players logging in for the first time, or asking “did I pick the wrong class, which quest should I do, why is the interface so busy?” The good news: one character can play every class, so your first pick isn't a permanent mistake.

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Below you'll find the core loop, official default PC controls, first steps, practical tips, common mistakes and frequently asked questions.

Goal of the game

The backbone of the game is the Main Scenario Quests. New areas, dungeons, mounts, teleportation and many other systems unlock as they progress. Alongside them are side quests, open-world events (FATEs), dungeons, and crafting and gathering. Group content uses three roles: Tank (holds enemy attention), Healer and DPS (deals damage).

According to the official game manual, a character's class is determined by the weapon or tool equipped. Swap your gear and the same character becomes another class, each levelled separately. The official job guide says sufficient mastery of a class opens the path to one or more related jobs, such as Paladin and Warrior for tanks, or White Mage and Scholar for healers.

Controls

Key	Action
`W / S`	Move forward / back
`A / D`	Turn left / right (Standard movement)
`Q / E`	Strafe left / right
`Space`	Jump
`R`	Auto-run
`Arrow keys`	Rotate camera
`Page Up / Page Down`	Zoom in / out
`Tab`	Cycle enemies, nearest to farthest
`F`	Face target
`F1 / F2-F8`	Target self / party members
`Z`	Sheathe weapon; dismount
`C`	Character window
`M`	Map
`J`	Journal
`Enter`	Chat; / for text commands

First steps

Choose your Home World carefullyThe official manual warns that the Home World chosen at character creation cannot be changed easily. If you're playing with friends, start on the same data center and ideally the same world.
Pick the starting class you enjoyAccording to the official manual your starting class determines both your role and starting city. Since you can switch classes later, pick the playstyle that appeals most: front line, healing or damage.
Set your movement typeThe official manual describes Standard (character-based) and Legacy (camera-based) movement. Players from other MMOs may find Legacy more familiar; change it in settings.
Follow the Main ScenarioMain Scenario Quests stand out in the quest tracker. Early on, follow the main story rather than clearing every side quest; new systems and areas depend on it.
Try dungeons with Duty SupportAccording to the official page Duty Support lets you enter dungeons required for story progress with NPC companions instead of queuing with players. It's a pressure-free way to learn your role.
Join the Novice NetworkThe game has a chat channel for new players, the Novice Network; the official UI guide explains how to join. Ask anything you're stuck on there.
Set up keybinds earlyAs your hotbars fill, key layout matters. The official UI guide explains that keybinds are changed in the Keybind section of the System menu.
Customise the HUDFFXIV's HUD is highly customisable. Moving hotbars, the enemy list and chat where they're comfortable makes long sessions much easier.

Tips and tactics

Don't skip the storyStory is FFXIV's biggest strength, and early chapters establish the world. It may feel slow at first, but later expansions build on it.
Stuck? Try another classBecause class is tied to equipped gear, you don't need a new character to switch.
Learn your role's core dutyTanks hold enemy attention, healers watch party health, DPS deal damage while respecting mechanics. Stepping out of red ground markers is everyone's job.
Join FATEsFATEs are short open-world events done with nearby players. They're a relaxed way to level if you fall behind the main story.
Know the free trial limitsAccording to the official free trial page the trial includes A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers up to level 80. Some chat channels, the market board and trading are disabled, gil is capped and PvP is unavailable.
On the trial, get invitedThe official trial page says trial accounts can't recruit through the Duty Finder but can join a party when invited. Let a friend form the party.
Crafting and gathering can waitCrafting (Disciples of the Hand) and gathering (Disciples of the Land) classes level separately. They're not required for the main story, so leave them for later if you like.
Use the JournalThe Journal (J) shows active quests and your next objective. When lost, check quest markers on the map (M).
Upgrade gear from questsAt low levels, quest rewards usually provide enough gear. Check your gear in the Character window (C) and swap outdated pieces for quest rewards.

Common mistakes

Picking a Home World at random: you may land on a different data center from friends, and moving isn't easy.
Abandoning the main story for side quests: many systems and areas unlock through the Main Scenario.
Making a new character to try another class: one character can play every class by swapping gear.
Standing in ground markers: the mistake that most affects group success in dungeons.
Never adjusting keybinds or HUD: the game feels clunky as your abilities grow.
Planning without knowing trial limits: the market board and trading are disabled on the trial.

Frequently asked questions

Is Final Fantasy XIV available in Turkish?

No. According to its Steam page it is playable in English, French, German and Japanese.

Can I play for free?

Partly. The official free trial covers four storylines and content up to level 80, with some social and economy features disabled. The full game requires a paid subscription.

Can I play solo?

Largely, yes. According to the official page Duty Support lets you run main story dungeons with NPC companions. Harder group content needs other players.

What if I pick the wrong class?

No problem. The official manual says class is determined by equipped gear, so the same character can switch to other classes.

Which platforms is it on?

On PC it runs through Steam and Square Enix's own launcher, and console versions exist. The Steam page lists cross-platform multiplayer.

This guide was written for version: Guide written for the current version as of September 2026; free trial scope and controls may change.