-------------------------- Area Guide ---------------------------------------
Qufim:
Qufim is "the spot" after the dunes. This is the next standard leveling spot. Honestly, it's a little dangerous, especially at night when the undead are out. You can get good exp. here with a good group.
Sauromogue Champaign:
This is probably one of the most farmed areas in the game, due to it's close proximity to Jeuno and the existence of Tabar Beaks here. Tabar Beaks drop cockatrice meat, which is used to make the popular meat-mithkabobs. If you're leveling here, you will need to be careful, because the Tabar beaks do aggro and they hit hard.
Valkurm Dunes:
This is the place most people go to level for the first time. I did an extensive write-up on the dunes directed at players just getting started here.
Buburimu Peninsula:
This is "Windursts" dunes. Normally, this area is fairly empty, but not because the leveling is any worse than the dunes. The terrain is slightly less open than the dunes, making it more difficult to navigate. All in all though, this zone is very much like the dunes without the people.
Korroloka Tunnel:
I rarely find groups leveling here. Normally there are high-levels farming spiders, rangers killing worms, and beastmasters leveling for fun. This zone is semi-dangerous to navigate through, because there is a smattering of Jelly's throughout the cave (sound aggro). It is also fairly confusing. The crabs here are AMAZING leveling if you can get to them. They are numerous and there is no aggro around.
Yuhtunga Jungle:
The next "spot". You need to do a quest to get an airship pass to get here, but once you do, you'll find out that EVERYONE has done that quest. In my opinion, one of the most crowded areas in the game. You fight mandragoras if you can find them to pull, and you have to watch out for aggro gobs (and other people aggroing them). Very low group skill required. The exception is two of the areas I've listed. First, the Sahagin, which are superb leveling material, though the camp area is a little dangerous. Second, is the zone from Yuhtunga to Yhoator. It's not normally camped because everyone is fighting over Mandragoras in the next zone at your level. If you get tired of waiting 5 minutes between battles, take the group over here instead and you might be surprised. Pleasantly.
Batallia Downs:
A lot of people love to camp here as an alternative to Yuhtunga. Personally, I'm not very fond of this area, but it does offer very safe camp spots. You'll normally camp in one of the bunkers under a hill and pull the mobs inside. If you're fighting tigers, beware the AoE paralyze. I would say you want at least a medium level of group skill to level here effectively.
Gustav Tunnel:
Spectacular leveling, but will not support multiple groups very well. I suggest you go here during non-peak hours, or use /sea area "Gustav Tunnel" to make sure the area isn't too crowded with people your level (will support, at the VERY most, 3 groups). Don't be afraid to send a tell to a group leader asking if there is room.
Labrynth of Onzonzo:
Very difficult spot to level, with only mediocre experience. On the bright side, loot is good. Be very careful in this zone, and come here with an experienced group that wants to have some fun (if fun, to them, is living on the edge with their imaginary character).
Xarcabard:
Let me list the negatives: Long, difficult travel. Mediocre experience for fight difficulty. High chance of death. On the positive side...YOU GET TO FIGHT DEMONS! Ideally, every Samurai's dream would be to level here. Don't come here without a skilled group, and if you do, expect someone to say "Why don't we just level in Crawlers'? Pick up the tele-crystal for tele-Vahzl @ H8. Not that you'll use it very often.
Yhoator Jungle:
A continuation of Yuhtunga jungle. No skill required anymore, you just beat down the mandragoras even more. If you're not here to compete with the 4 other groups for the 8 mandragora spawns, it's a cool zone. Tonberry's and Couerls are in the southern area near the Temple of Uggelipeh (aka Temple of Tonberry's).
Davoi:
I love this place. I definitely recommend coming here if you feel you have a skilled group. Excellent leveling if you can find a way to effectively deal with pops. Everything that has a name that starts with "Orc-" aggroes.
Eastern Altepa Desert:
I love this place, too. Tends to have few people in it, and the leveling is good. High travel time, and many new players don't know where it is. I suggest picking up the tele-crystal(G7) if you're leveling here...though it can be tough to get. You can get a map of the area in Rabao, but if you're looking at this you should definitely view the map online to find your way around. All in all, a fairly easy place to level, though Anticans are tough...look out for AoE silence and AoE petrify.
Sea Serpent Grotto:
Meh, this place is ugly. I haven't fought here so I can't say much about it. Travel time is a small issue.
Garlaige Citadel:
The Citadel is OK leveling in lower 30s if it's not crowded. If it's crowded, which it sometimes is, its annoying. This place cannot support very many groups in the low 30s. In the higher levels, there are more mobs to choose from. This is one of the more dangerous zones in the game overall, but the camp spots are safe.
Crawlers Nest:
This is "the next spot". Since the time I hit 34, I have never been invited to a PT that was not leveling in Crawlers Nest. I kid you not, for the past 17 levels every invite has been from someone in Crawlers Nest, or from someone going there. Ironically, I'm not very familiar with this zone (I rarely level my main outside of my semi-set group). I know it's a fairly easy zone to camp, hence the fact that you'll find half of the server at any given time leveling here. Honestly, if there weren't so many groups there it would be a great zone, but as is, it is merely a good zone.
Sanctuary of Zitah:
The opposite of crawlers. Pretty scenery, completely uncrowded, slightly more difficult to level (though the camp spot I listed is a good one, one of the few areas I've found where there aren't many spawns). Unfortunately, I don't think this zone has the staying power of Crawlers. It may, though, as I think after you finish leveling off mushrooms you could start throwing in some goblins for leveling...and then maybe work your way up to couerls...if you're adventurous, try FFXI Power Leveling .
Quicksand Caves:
A good spot, slowly becoming a more common leveling area. The different entrances to the caves house different difficulties of mobs.
Maze of Shakrami: 11-15
11-15: Maze Makers
Valkurm Dunes: 12-18:
12-13: Bunnies [L6], Hill Lizards [M11]
13-15: Goblins (Ambusher, Tinkerer, Butcher) [L6, M11, J6]
14-16: Snippers [J8, I9, F9, I7, F7]
15-17: Damselfly [F7, G9, many more]
17-18: Goblins (Leecher (WHM), Mugger, Gambler (BLM)) [F7, G9, D6-7, many more]
Buburimu Peninsula: 12-18
12-14: Mighty Rarab and Sylvestre [E7, outpost]
13-15: Goblins (Ambusher, Tinkerer, Butcher) [E7, outpost)
14-16: Snippers, Zu [H9, camp at hill near beach].
16-18: Dhalmel [J9]
17-18: Goblins (Leechers (WHM), Mugger, Gambler (BLM)) [J9]
Korroloka Tunnel: 15-17
15-17: Land Worms [Entrance]
Qufim: 18-24
18-20: Land Worms [I8, H7 (lake)]
20-22: Clippers [H7, SW H8, F6 (tower)]
23-24: Giants [F6, or zone into tower]
Sauromugue Champaign: 19-22
19-22: Diving Beetle [H8, H9 location questionable]
Korroloka Tunnel: 22-26
22-25: Clippers [at zone to WestAltepa Desert, difficult to find]
23-26: Huge Spider [Everywhere]
Yuhtunga Jungle: 24-29
24-26: Yuhtunga Mandragoras [G5]
26-29: Sahagin [F11]
28-29: Goblin Smithy [G5, I8 (zone to Yhoator)]
Battalia Downs: 25-30
???: Tigers, Goblins Orcs [Camp Bunkers]
Eastern Altepa Desert: 26-40
26-30: Giant Spider
30-34: Sand Beetle [NW J8, I6], Antican (Auxiliarus, Funditor)[NW J8, I6]
34-36: Desert Dhalmel [I6]
37-40: Goblin (Robber, Trader, Reaper, Poacher) [E9 (zone to West)]
Yhoator Jungle: 28-33
28-31: Yhoator Mandragora [F7]
31-33: Goblin Smithy [F7]
Davoi: 30-33
30-33: Orc (Brawler, Nightraider, Beastrider) [I7 Camp East Bridge. J8/K8]
Sea Serpent Grotto: 33-35
33-35: Ironshell, Skeleton [Near zone to Norg]
Garlaige Citadel: 33-36
33-35: Siege Bats [Near zone to Sauramogue Champaigne]
34-36: Borer Beetle [Near zone to Sauramogue Champaigne]
Crawlers' Nest: 33-56
36-38: Worker Crawler [First main room]
???: Soldier Crawlers
38-41: Nest Beetles
48-50: Rumble Crawler, Horn Fly, Exoray
Sanctuary of Z?itah: 36-41 (highly recommended for scenery/music)
36-38: Ogrefly [I10]
38-39: Myxomecete [I10]
38-41: Master Couerl [F5]
Gustav Tunnel: 37-41
37-39: Hell Bat [zone to Valkurm]
37-40: Hawker [zone to Valkurm]
38-41: Goblin (Reaper, Poacher, Robber) [zone to Valkurm]
Labrynth of Onzonzo: 41-46
41-44: Goblin (Reaper, Poacher, Robber)
44-46: Cockatrice [near zone to Buburimu]
Xarcabard: 43-45
43-45: Demon (Pawn, Wizard, Knight) [E7, zone to Castle Bailey]
Yhoator Jungle: 45-47
45-47: Gobs (Pathfinder, Reaper, Poacher) [G6/I6 , zone to Ifrit's Cauldron]
Quicksand Caves: 46-5?
46-48: Helm Beetle [zone in from East Altepa, G10]
Garlaige Citadel: 49-51:
48-51 Chamber Beetle [fall down first hole on the left] FFXI Power Leveling
primary email here kevincoin@gmail.com