Merit Points

Upon attaining Level 75, players should visit the Nomad Moogle in Ru'Lude Gardens next to Maat to receive Limit breaker, allowing them to accumulate Limit Points in place of Experience Points. For every 10,000 Limit Points, 1 Merit Point will be awarded to augment the player's stats and abilities. These points will automatically accrue at 75 but the key item is required to assign them. A new Merit Point option under Status in the Main Menu will display to track and assign these points. Assigned Merit Points semi-permanently—in that they can be undone, if desired—enhance a player through increasing skills, adding job-specific abilities and traits, unlocking new Weapon Skills, or raising attributes such as STR and Critical Hit rate. Additionally, they can be exchanged to participate in High-Tier Mission Battlefields or deposited with Emporox to purchase various items and equipment.

Using Merit Points to enhance your Character

• Inside the Mog House (or Rent-a-Room), a player is able to spend and cancel merit points by accessing the merit point menu.
• In this menu, all the categories available for upgrade are highlighted. Only skills available on the current 75 job can be accessed (e.g., you can't raise your Great Katana skill for your Samurai while browsing the menu as a Corsair).
• Different Merit Points are divided into categories and have different costs and category maximums, as is laid out in the table below.

Category Detail Progression Category Maximum HP/MP Merit Capacity Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 75 Merits 1 2 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 9 9 9 HP/MP +10 +20 +30 +40 +50 +60 +70 +80 +90 +100 +110 +120 +130 +140 +150 Level/Capacity+ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Merits 1 3 5 7 9 12 15 18 21 24 27 30 33 36 39 Level/Capacity+ 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Merits 42 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 48 48 48 48 Level/Capacity+ 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Merits 48 48 48 48 48 48 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 51 Attributes Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 105 Merits 3 6 9 9 9 12 12 12 12 15 15 15 15 18 18 Base Stat +1 +2 +3 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8 +9 +10 +11 +12 +13 +14 +15 Combat Skills Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 152 Merits 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 Skill +2 +4 +6 +8 +10 +12 +14 +16 Magic Skills Level 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 112 Merits 1 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 Skill +2 +4 +6 +8 +10 +12 +14 +16 Other Level 1 2 3 4 5 10 Merits 1 2 3 4 5 % Per ±1 ±2 ±3 ±4 ±5 Group 1 Level 1 2 3 4 5 10 Merits 1 2 3 4 5 Gain See Job Specific Merit Points Group 2 Level 1 2 3 4 5 10 Merits 3 4 5 5 5 Gain See Job Specific Merit Points Weapon Skills Level 1 2 3 4 5 15/25* Merits 20 22 24 27 30 WSC 73% 76% 79% 82% 85%

There are 5 general Merit Point categories that apply to all jobs, then one category for each job that only has an effect when you are on that job, and one category specifically for meritable Weapon Skills.

The 5 general categories are fairly straightforward, but the job specific categories often adjust things about the individual job (like Warcry recast).

The Weapon Skill Merit Point category has a base potential of 15 upgradable levels. It can be expanded to 25 total levels by obtaining the Primer on Martial Techniques and Treatise on Martial Techniques with Deeds of Heroism. Each Key Item expands the category by 5 additional levels.

General Merit Points

• HP/MP (Also includes a "Merit Points" category) : Increases HP or MP by 10 per merit level. Increases maximum possible merit points by 1 per merit level.
• Attributes : Increases any Base Stat of your choice by +1 per merit level.
• Combat Skills : Increases any physical skill by +2 Skill per merit level.
  • This applies to both offensive (like Dagger) and defensive (like Parrying) skills.
• Magic Skills : Increases any magical skill by +2 Skill per merit level.
• Other : As you might expect, this is the most heterogeneous "general" category.
  • Enmity Increase/Decrease : Increases or Decreases your Enmity by ±1 per merit level.
  • Critical Hit Rate : Increases your Critical Hit Rate by +1% per merit level.
  • Enemy Critical Hit Rate : Decreases the enemy's critical hit rate by -1% per merit level.
  • Spell Interruption Rate : Decreases your interruption rate by -2% per merit level.

General Merit Points are also available when you are on jobs below level 75, though the number of merits available is restricted. The below table shows how many merit levels are available at each job level. So if you were a level 99 Samurai with 12 STR merits and you changed to a level 75 Warrior, you would only have +10 STR from merits.

Merit Point Level Progression Level 10 20 30 40 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 80 80 80 80 # of Levels 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Job Specific Merit Points

Job Specific merit points are divided into two categories (Group 1 and Group 2). Group 1 typically contains adjustments to the job, like decreasing timers or increasing potencies of job abilities/magic. Tier 2 typically contains Job Traits, Job Abilities, and Spells that can be activated through merits and enhanced with further merits. None of these merits are available below level 75 (for instance, if you level sync).

Warrior

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Berserk Recast -10 Seconds Defender Recast -6 Seconds Warcry Recast -10 Seconds Aggressor Recast -10 Seconds Double Attack Rate +1%

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Warrior's Charge +5% Triple Attack Tomahawk +0:15 Duration Savagery +100 TP Bonus Aggressive Aim Ranged Accuracy +4

Monk

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Focus Recast -10 Seconds Dodge Recast -10 Seconds Chakra Recast -10 Seconds Counter Rate +1% Kick Attack Rate +1%

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Mantra +4% HP Boost Formless Strikes -5% Damage Penalty Invigorate +24 Seconds Duration Penance +20 Seconds Duration

White Mage

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Divine Seal Recast -20 Seconds Cure Cast Time -4% Barspell Effect +2 M.Eva and +2 MDB Banish Effect +2 Damage and +2 Seconds Regen Effect +1 HP/tick

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Martyr +5% HP Restored Devotion +5% MP Restored Animus Solace +2% Maximum Damage absorbed by Stoneskin during Afflatus Solace Animus Misery +5% Total Damage Stored during Afflatus Misery

Black Mage

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Elemental Seal Recast -20 Seconds Fire Magic Potency +2 MAB Ice Magic Potency +2 MAB Wind Magic Potency +2 MAB Earth Magic Potency +2 MAB Lightning Magic Potency +2 MAB Water Magic Potency +2 MAB

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Ancient Magic Magic Attack Bonus MAB +3 Ancient Magic Magic Burst Damage Magic Burst +3% Elemental Magic Magic Accuracy M.Acc +5 Elemental Magic Debuff Duration Duration +12 sec. Elemental Magic Debuff Effect -2 Base Stat; +1 HP/Tick Aspir Absorption Amount +4% MP Absorbed

Red Mage

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Convert Recast -20 Seconds Fire Magic Accuracy +2 M.Acc Ice Magic Accuracy +2 M.Acc Wind Magic Accuracy +2 M.Acc Earth Magic Accuracy +2 M.Acc Lightning Magic Accuracy +2 M.Acc Water Magic Accuracy +2 M.Acc

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Enfeebling Magic Duration +6 sec. Magic Accuracy Magic Accuracy +5 Enhancing Magic Duration +6 sec. Immunobreak Chance +3% En-spell Damage I's: +3 dmg; II's: +6 dmg Accuracy Accuracy +5

Thief

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Flee Recast -10 Seconds Hide Recast -10 Seconds Sneak Attack Recast -2 Seconds Trick Attack Recast -2 Seconds Triple Attack Rate +1%

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Assassin's Charge +5% Quadruple Attack Feint +25% TH upgrade rate Aura Steal +20% Absorb Rate Ambush Accuracy +3

Paladin

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Shield Bash Recast -2 Seconds Holy Circle Recast -10 Seconds Sentinel Recast -10 Seconds Cover Effect Length +4 Seconds Rampart Recast -4 Seconds

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Fealty +0:05 Duration Chivalry +5% TP return Iron Will -19% Spell Interruption Rate Guardian -19% Enmity Loss

Dark Knight

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Souleater Recast -12 Seconds Arcane Circle Recast -10 Seconds Last Resort Recast -10 Seconds Last Resort Effect +2% Attack, -2% Defense Weapon Bash Recast -6 Seconds

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Dark Seal -10% Dark Magic casting time Diabolic Eye +5 Accuracy Muted Soul -10 Enmity Desperate Blows Effect +2% Job Ability Haste

Beastmaster

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Killer Effects +1% Intimidation Rate Reward Recast -3 Seconds Call Beast Recast -10 Seconds Sic/Ready Recast -2 Seconds Tame Recast -20 Seconds

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Feral Howl +5 Accuracy Killer Instinct +0:10 Duration Beast Affinity +2 Pet Level Beast Healer +1 HP/tick

Bard

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Lullaby Recast -1 Second Finale Recast -1 Second Minne Effect +2 Defense Minuet Effect +1 Attack Madrigal Effect +1 Accuracy

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Nightingale +25% Instant Cast rate Troubadour +25% Magic Accuracy Con Anima -1% PDT Con Brio -1% MDT

Ranger

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Scavenge Effect +?% Chance Camouflage Recast -10 Seconds Sharpshot Recast -10 Seconds Unlimited Shot Recast -6 Seconds Rapid Shot Rate +1%

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Stealth Shot -10 Enmity Flashy Shot +5% Ranged Attack Snapshot -2% Delay Recycle Rate +5%

Samurai

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Third Eye Recast -2 Seconds Warding Circle Recast -10 Seconds Store TP Effect +2 Store TP Meditate Recast -6 Seconds Zanshin Attack Rate +1%

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Shikikoyo +12% TP Shared Blade Bash +15 seconds Plague Ikishoten +3 TP for Zanshin attacks Overwhelm +5% for the first three merits +2% for the last two merits

Ninja

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Subtle Blow Effect +1 Subtle Blow Katon Effect +2 MAB, +2 Sec. Hyoton Effect +2 MAB, +2 Sec. Huton Effect +2 MAB, +2 Sec. Doton Effect +2 MAB, +2 Sec. Raiton Effect +2 MAB, +2 Sec. Suiton Effect +2 MAB, +2 Sec.

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Sange +25 Ranged Accuracy Ninja Tool Expertise +5% Yonin Effect HP +50 Innin Effect Skillchain Dmg/MBB +1% Ninjutsu Magic Accuracy Magic Accuracy +5 Ninjutsu Magic Attack Bonus MAB +4

Dragoon

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Ancient Circle Recast -10 Seconds Jump Recast -2 Seconds High Jump Recast -4 Seconds Super Jump Recast -6 Seconds Spirit Link Recast -3 Seconds

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Deep Breathing Breath +10% Angon +0:15 Duration Empathy +1 Copied Effect +200 EXP Strafe +5 M.Acc

Summoner

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Avatar Physical Accuracy +3 Accuracy Avatar Physical Attack +2 Attack Avatar Magical Accuracy +3 Magic Accuracy Avatar Magical Attack +2 Magic Attack Bonus Summoning Magic Cast Time -5%

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Meteor Strike +400 TP Bonus Heavenly Strike +400 TP Bonus Wind Blade +400 TP Bonus Geocrush +400 TP Bonus Thunderstorm +400 TP Bonus Grand Fall +400 TP Bonus

Blue Mage

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Chain Affinity Recast -4 Seconds Burst Affinity Recast -4 Seconds Monster Correlation +1/128 ƒTP Physical Potency +2 Blue Magic Accuracy +4/256 Attack Magical Accuracy +2 Blue Magic Accuracy

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Convergence +5 Magic Attack Bonus +5 Magic Accuracy Diffusion +5% Duration Enchainment +100 TP Bonus Assimilation +1 Set Point

Corsair

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Phantom Roll Recast -2 Seconds Quick Draw Recast -2 Seconds Quick Draw Accuracy +2 Magic Accuracy Random Deal Recast -40 Seconds Bust Duration -10 Seconds

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Snake Eye +10% XI Chance Fold +10% Phantom Roll reset rate Winning Streak +0:20 Duration Loaded Deck -10% Failure Rate

Puppetmaster

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Automaton Skills +2 All Skills Maintenance Recast - 3 Seconds Repair Effect +2% HP Granted Activate Recast -40 Seconds Repair Recast -3 Seconds

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Role Reversal +5% HP Granted Ventriloquy +5% Enmity difference Fine-Tuning +5 Acc/R.Acc/Eva/MDB Optimization +5% Attack/Defense +5 Magic Attack Bonus

Dancer

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Step Accuracy +3 Step Accuracy Haste Samba Effect +10/1024 Job Ability Haste Reverse Flourish Effect +30 TP Building Flourish Effect +1% Atk/Crit. Rate, +2 Acc

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Saber Dance +5% Samba duration Fan Dance -5% Waltz recast No Foot Rise +1 Finishing Move Closed Position +3 Eva/Acc

Scholar

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Grimoire Recast -2 Seconds Modus Veritas Duration +10% Helix Magic Acc./Atk. +3 Magic Accuracy +2 Magic Attack Bonus Max Sublimation +10 MP

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Altruism +5 Magic Accuracy Focalization +5 Magic Accuracy Tranquility -10 Enmity Equanimity -10 Enmity Enlightenment +5 INT/MND Stormsurge +1 Stat. Bonus

Geomancer

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Full Circle Effect 5% MP Ecliptic Attrition Recast 10s Reduction Life Cycle Recast 10s Reduction Blaze of Glory Recast 20s Reduction Dematerialize Recast 20s Reduction

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Cure Recantation 5% HP Primeval Zeal 10% Cast Reduction Mending Halation 5% HP recovery Radial Arcana 3% MP recovery

Rune Fencer

Group 1 Enhancement Effect/Merit Rune Enhancement Effect Rune Potency +2 Vallation Effect MDT -1% to Element. Lunge Effect Accuracy +3 per Rune Pflug Effect Resist Rate +1 per Rune Gambit Effect 10s Reduction

Group 2 Enhancement Effect/Merit Battuta Parrying +4% Count Damage +4 Rayke Duration +3s Inspiration 10% Cast Time reduction Sleight of Sword Subtle Blow +5

Weapon Skill Merit Points

At level 96 and beyond, powerful Weapon Skills can be unlocked through merit points. An initial 20 points opens the skill, but it will take 123 points (20 > 22 > 24 > 27 > 30) to fully power it up.

The Weapon Skill Merit Point category has a base potential of 15 upgradable levels. It can be expanded to 25 total levels by obtaining the Primer on Martial Techniques and Treatise on Martial Techniques with Deeds of Heroism. Each Key Item expands the category by 5 additional levels.

Weapon Skill Modifier Jobs Shijin Spiral DEX MNK, PUP Exenterator AGI WAR, RDM, THF, BST, BRD, RNG, NIN, COR, DNC Requiescat MND WAR, RDM, PLD, DRK, SAM, BLU, COR, RUN Resolution STR WAR, PLD, DRK, RUN Ruinator STR WAR, DRK, BST, RNG, RUN Upheaval VIT WAR, DRK, RUN Entropy INT WAR, DRK, BST Stardiver STR WAR, SAM, DRG Blade: Shun DEX NIN Tachi: Shoha STR SAM Realmrazer MND WAR, MNK, WHM, BLM, PLD, SMN, BLU, SCH, GEO Shattersoul INT WAR, MNK, WHM, BLM, PLD, BRD, DRG, SMN, SCH, GEO Apex Arrow AGI RNG, SAM Last Stand AGI THF, RNG, COR

History

• June 2004 [Update Details]: 'Moogle Merit Management' System introduced.
• September 2004 [Update Details]: Categories are expanded to include Combat skills, Magic Skills, and Other skills.
• February 2005 [Update Details]: Categories are expanded to include Job-Specific Upgrades. These are known as Group I or Tier I merits.
• December 2005 [Update Details]: Increase in maximum number of upgrades per item and per category.
• July 2006 [Update Details]: New Job-specific abilities and traits, new spells, songs and bloodpacts are added. These are known as Group II or Tier II merits. Also, Group I merit categories for Blue Mages, Corsairs, and Puppetmasters are added.
• March 2007 [Update Details]: The ability to switch between experience and merit points mode outside your Mog House is added, as long as a level restriction is not in place (this includes Besieged). Additionally, an animation visible to other players happens when you attain a merit point..
• June 2007 [Update Details]: Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the categories "Combat Skills" and "Magic Skills." Total combat skills went from 12 -> 20; total magic skills increased from 8 -> 16. Group II merit categories introduced for Blue Mages, Corsairs, and Puppetmasters.
• December 2010 (Update Details): Maximum storable merits increased from 10 -> 20.
• May 2011 (Update Details): Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "HP/MP" from 8 -> 12. Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "Attributes" from 5 -> 8. Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "Combat Skills" from 20 -> 32. Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "Magic Skills" from 16 -> 24. Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "Other" from 8 -> 10, individual cap increased from 4 -> 5.
• December 2011 (Update Details): Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "HP/MP" from 12 -> 15. Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "Attributes" from 8 -> 12. Maximum storable merits increased from 20 -> 30. Merit weapon skill category added.
• March (Update Details) and May 2012 (Update Details): Group II merited abilities which previously had a reduced timer with each upgrade were modified so that the timer starts at its previous minimum and the ability's effectiveness is instead increased with each merit upgrade.
• July 2012 (Update Details): Increase in maximum number of upgrades in the category "Attributes" from 12 -> 24. Individual attribute cap remained at 12.
• April 2013 (Update Details): Geomancy and Handbell skills were added to the "Magic Skills" category which also had its maximum number of upgrades increased from 24 -> 32. Restructure of the "Merit Weapon Skill" category so that lower tier upgrades are slightly more expensive but significantly more effective.
• June 2014 (Update Details): Added "Maximum Merit Points" to the "HP/MP" category. Maximum number of merits that can be applied to individual "Attributes" increased from 12 -> 15. Maximum number of merits that can be applied to individual defensive "Combat Skills" (Evasion, Parrying, Shield, Guard) increased from 4 -> 8. Total number of merits that can be spent on the "HP/MP" category increased from 15 -> 45. Total number of merits that can be spent on the "Attributes" category increased from 24 -> 45. Total number of merits that can be spent on the "Combat Skills" category increased from 32 -> 56. Total number of merits that can be spent on the "Magic Skills" category increased from 32 -> 48.
• August 2015 (Update Details): The Attributes category has had its maximum ability increases raised from 45 -> 60. The Combat Skills category has had its maximum ability increases raised from 56 -> 112. The Magic Skills category has had its maximum ability increases raised from 48 -> 80.
• November 2015 (Update Details): The HP/MP category maximum was increased from 45 -> 75 (The Merit Point maximum values were increased from 15 to 45. Players could now hold 75 total merits at any time). The Attributes category was increased from 60 -> 105, thus allowing every stat to become 15/15. The Combat Skills category was increased from 112 -> 152, thus allowing every skill to become 8/8. The Magic Skills category was increased from 80 -> 112, thus allowing all magic skill to become 8/8.

Links

• Merit/Level Progression (Mougurijin, BG)