Players can assemble a group of non-player characters (NPCs) from their Grand Company and send them on quests for rewards.
You can now fulfill your fantasy of leading an army of cat boys and miniature potato people in XIV.
You can earn things and experience by recruiting NPCs and sending them on missions, which they will complete without your intervention.
Once you get things flowing, it doesn’t take much effort to keep up, so we’ll talk about ways to maximize the effectiveness of your squad.
In any case, let’s get the fundamentals out of the way.
How Do I Unlock Squadrons?
You must be level 47 and hold the rank of Second Lieutenant in your chosen Grand Company to unlock your Squadron.
In addition, you’ll need to have the Challenge Log unlocked, which is simple to complete as the quest is unlocked at level 15.
Simply visit the Drowning Wench in Limsa Lominsa and ask for I’tolwann.
The mission “Squadron and Commander” can be obtained from any of the three factions’ main hubs provided the necessary conditions have been met.
Getting to level 47 is the most time-consuming component of unlocking Squadrons, but rising through the ranks of your Grand Company can be just as time-consuming.
Consider advancing in your Grand Company’s ranks in addition to your normal leveling if you want to gain access to this function quickly.
After completing “Squadron and Commander,” you’ll unlock access to The Barracks at your Grand Company HQ.
The Barracks is where you take care of business about your squad, including recruitment and assignment of tasks.
Additionally, there is a wardrobe and dresser that may be utilized to dress up your recruits (or yourself).
How Do I Unlock New Recruits?
When you reach a new level in the Challenge Log, you unlock new recruits.
You can gain access to a new recruit each time you submit an entry. These, along with other pertinent Squadron data, are available for inspection in the Barracks.
It’s possible to bring on eight new recruits simultaneously.
Even though four people are all that is needed for a mission.
With this, you can tailor your team’s make-up to meet the specific requirements of the operation.
With only three people to work with at the outset, pickiness may not pay off. Collect as many people as possible, and then, as your roster expands, you may start weeding out the ones you don’t want.
In order to increase your chances of successfully recruiting new members, you can purchase a Squadron Enlistment Manual from your Grand Company.
A boost to your chances of recruiting a new member for 2000 seals, effective until a new member applies.
Who Should I Recruit?
Your troops can only be of the same four classes as the player characters:
Choose your poison: Marauder, Archer, Lancer, Gladiator, Thaumaturge, Pugilist, Rogue, or Arcanist.
They can only reach level 60, and you can’t “promote” them into higher-level classes like Paladin, Warrior, or Bard.
Group membership dictates the distribution of statistics.
Some classes will have a balanced distribution of stats, while others will excel in one area while struggling in the others.
The more varied your party is, the more likely you are to be able to complete missions that have strict stat requirements.
Even while your new players will be joining the club as a specific class, they are not required to remain in that role.
A Contemporary Warfare book may be acquired from Grand Company sellers for 3000 Company Seals, and it can be used to alter a recruit’s class.
These can also be earned as bonuses after meeting specific requirements in a task.
That being said, only two things are truly unchanging when it comes to your recruitment.
Their look and beauty options are unaffected by your inability to change their gender.
You’re also stuck with the race they were born into, which could hinder your squad’s effectiveness.
It’s possible that racial factors influence chemistry benefits. The recruit’s chemistry with his or her teammate(s) is a plus that could lead to greater success in the mission.
You can get free books about Modern Warfare or other bonuses if you achieve that requirement.
Recruits paired with someone of the same race have a 10% chance of acquiring access to Materia, for instance.
By doing so, you can tailor your squad to maximize your chances of winning the rewards you seek as Squadron leader.
It is also possible to alter chemistry.
In some cases, new missions will pop up after you finish one, and you’ll have to pick one. You have the option of viewing the details of the new Chemistry bonus before accepting it; however, once you accept it, there is no turning back.
How Do I Level Up My Squadron?
You can assign missions to your team by coordinating with the Squadron Sergeant.
Consider using the Training Regiments first, however, this is all dependent on your play style.
To temporarily optimize your Squadron’s talents for a single operation, you can employ them.
You can do up to three a day, and each one takes about an hour.
If you don’t have time to do them before sending your squad on a Squadron Mission, the best way to level up quickly is to complete Squadron Missions.
A typical Squadron Mission will take 18 hours to execute in the real world.
To resend them, you’ll need to come back the next day.
You will have both Squadron Missions and Priority Missions to complete. There’s only time for one of these each week, so choose wisely based on the benefits they offer.
Lastly, you’ll be able to embark on Command Missions.
You’ll have three recruits fighting with you, much to the Trust system in Shadowbringers.
The AI isn’t perfect, so you’ll need to play around with different strategies until you find one that regularly yields positive results.
The payoff for the time put in is also not very high.
Just stick to the Squadron and Priority missions if you want to play as effectively as possible.
To rise to the top of your Grand Company’s hierarchy, you’ll need to demonstrate your ability to lead a Squadron.
If that’s something you’re interested in doing, then you should definitely start using this function right immediately.