Making gil efficiently is one of the most important goals for both new and veteran players in Final Fantasy XI. Whether you're saving up for expensive endgame gear, consumables, or crafting materials, choosing the right job can make all the difference. While any job can technically farm gil, some are far better optimized for it thanks to their unique abilities, area-of-effect damage, and treasure-enhancing traits.
In this article, we'll break down the top five most profitable jobs for gil farming in FFXI, highlighting what makes each one effective, their farming styles, and key tips for maximizing your income.
1. Thief (THF) – The King of Treasure Hunter
When it comes to farming raw materials and rare drops, Thief is unmatched. Treasure Hunter (TH) is the single most valuable trait in the game when farming mobs that drop high-demand items.
Why It's Profitable:
Treasure Hunter III+ increases the chance of getting multiple or rare item drops.
Great soloing capability with tools like Flee and Perfect Dodge.
Ideal for farming NMs, crafting materials, Beastmen currency, or BCNMs.
Best Farming Activities:
Farming Behemoth's Dominion for hides and horns.
Castle Oztroja for kindred seals, testimonies, and Beastmen's Medals.
Dynamis runs to farm currency for Relic weapons.
Pro Tips:
Pair with /Dancer for self-healing and AoE procs.
Maximize Treasure Hunter through gear like Chaac Belt and Thief's Knife.
Use THF in high-drop-rate BCNMs like "Under Observation" for consistent final fantasy 11 gil.
2. Beastmaster (BST) – The Solo Farming Machine
Beastmaster is incredibly effective at solo farming due to its ability to charm mobs or summon jug pets to fight. This makes BST ideal for areas where enemies are densely packed or where linking is a risk.
Why It's Profitable:
Can farm without resting due to pet tanking.
Access to many jug pets tailored for AoE or single-target farming.
Efficient in zones that are difficult for other jobs due to pet survivability.
Best Farming Activities:
Dynamis solo runs for currency drops.
Sky farming (Zipacna pops, Despot, Aura Statues).
Crafting material farming in Gustav Tunnel, Boyahda Tree, etc.
Pro Tips:
Invest in jug pets that are cost-effective and durable (e.g., Faithful Falcorr).
Use Familiar to boost pet power on tougher fights.
BST/THF combo is amazing for farming both efficiently and lucratively.
3. Black Mage (BLM) – The AoE Nuking Powerhouse
If you want to make gil by clearing waves of mobs quickly, Black Mage excels with its powerful AoE nukes and crowd control. BLM is the job of choice for Elemental Seal + Sleepga + Thundaga-style mass farming.
Why It's Profitable:
Can clear multiple mobs at once in fast rotations.
Great for old-world content where mobs are weak to elemental magic.
Ideal for farming Kindred Seals, Beastmen Seals, and Cluster cores.
Best Farming Activities:
Beastmen strongholds for seal drops and crafting mats.
Sky for Elemental Clusters and Aura Statues.
Campaign battles and Fields of Valor pages for synergy gil rewards.
Pro Tips:
Use /RDM for Convert and MP longevity.
Bring Echo Drops or resist gear for zones with silence/debuffs.
Use Bind + Sleep + Nuke combos to farm efficiently without taking damage.
4. Blue Mage (BLU) – Versatile, Fast, and Deadly
Blue Mage is a hybrid nuker and melee damage dealer with an arsenal of spells that can deal heavy AoE or single-target burst damage. BLU is flexible, strong, and fast—everything you need for reliable farming.
Why It's Profitable:
Spells like Bludgeon, Charged Whisker, and Disseverment make farming quick.
Self-healing, buffing, and TP generation make it very self-sufficient.
Can farm almost any low-to-mid level content solo with speed.
Best Farming Activities:
Cloister of Flames for elemental clusters.
Abyssea and Grounds of Valor page farming.
BCNMs like "Horn of War" or "Operation Desert Swarm."
Pro Tips:
Use Charged Whisker builds with AoE gear for maximum efficiency.
Equip Auto Refresh gear and use Refresh spell for MP sustain.
Pair with /DNC or /THF depending on the need for healing or drop rates.
5. Red Mage (RDM) – Sustainable and Safe Farming
Red Mage might not be the flashiest farming job, but it's incredibly efficient for long-term farming due to its MP sustainability, enfeebles, and fast cast potential. RDM is a great pick for farming over time without downtime.
Why It's Profitable:
Excellent MP recovery (Convert, Refresh).
Can chain magic bursts with ease for increased efficiency.
Safe soloing with Sleep, Bind, Gravity, and Stoneskin.
Best Farming Activities:
Farming Seals and Kindred Crests in Beastmen zones.
NM hunting (especially sleep-nuke style).
BCNMs and ENMs for gil and drops.
Pro Tips:
Use /BLM for Warp/Tractor and better nukes.
Keep Convert + Chainspell ready for emergencies or burst farming.
Combine with enspell gear for meleeing while conserving MP.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right job for gil farming depends heavily on your playstyle, the content you're tackling, and whether you prefer solo or group play. Thief is the undisputed king for rare drop hunting and raw gil from loot. If you're going for quantity over quality, Black Mage or Blue Mage will help you burn through mobs. And for those who prefer methodical, sustained farming, Red Mage and Beastmaster offer the best balance between power and survivability.
