Free Companies are Final Fantasy XIV’s equivalent of guilds, and they function almost exactly like a guild would in any other MMO. Not to be confused with game's Grand Companies, the NPC-run organizations of Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, and Ul'dah, Free Companies are formed by players so long as they meet the basic requirements.
After forming, Free Companies will level up, give players buffs, and, in some cases, provide housing and other boons due to the unique content only accessible by Free Companies. If having a Free Company of your own in FFXIV interests you, you'll need to know the steps involved.
What are the requirements to make your own Free Company in FFXIV?
There are a few requirements you need to meet to form a Free Company that should be simple for most people to achieve. The requirements are as follows:
- Be a member of a Grand Company. This requires you to have progressed the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) far enough to have joined one. For more details on this, we have a handy guide.
- Be level 25. You need to be at least level 25 to start a Free Company.
- Have three other players willing to join and 15,000 gil. There’s a potential workaround for the player requirement, but you'll need to make sure you have the 15,000 gil before starting.
How to form a Free Company in FFXIV
To form your new Free Company, head to any one of the Grand Company headquarters in Limsa Lominsa, Ul’dah, or Gridania since Free Companies are essentially franchised out of the Grand Companies in the game's lore. Speak to the OIC Administrator and ask to start a Free Company. After that, you’ll be given a Company Petition.
You’ll then need to input the name and tag for your Free Company. The tag is an identifier of up to five alphanumeric characters that sits next to players' nameplates when part of a Free Company. These can be changed at a later date, but for now, it’s best to pick one you’re certain you like.
Next, you’ll need to obtain three player signatures. These three players will need to join the Free Company and stay in at least until the it's officially formed. You'll need a total of four members, including yourself, to finish the creation process, but the other three can leave after the FC's creation is complete. Finally, you’ll need to pay 15,000 gil, and your Free Company will be formed.
What are the benefits of making and joining a Free Company in FFXIV?
Free Companies, apart from being a social group to play the game with other people, have a lot of great advantages. You’ll have access to a Free Company Chest, which acts as a shared storage for all members. Free Companies have Company Actions that provide buffs to each member for an entire day. In some cases, you’ll also get access to a Free Company Estate, a shared house in which you can buy an individual room. Within the housing, Free Companies can launch airship and submarine expeditions to find rare items and materials.
