Skip to main content

How to get and upgrade the FFXIV Shadowbringers Skysteel tools

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers patch 5.25 finally gave warriors of light the Shadowbringers relic weapons they’ve wanted since launch. Crafters and gatherers weren’t left out in the cold, though. One of the most time-consuming activities in the game is available for all, and we’re going to show you how to get started with your Skysteel tools.

Just like the battle class relics for this expansion, you’re practically given your Skysteel tool for free. Just put the coffer open on your preferred class, and you’ll have a usable tool dropped right into your inventory. You can grab one for each and every class you have at level 80 for a fee, making it a decent way to get into high-level crafting if you’ve just hit level 80. Upgrading them is going to take time, though. We’re not talking days just yet, but it’s not going to be the most entertaining way to spend the first few hours of your free time.

Recommended Videos

How to unlock Shadowbringers Skysteel tools

FFXIV skysteel tools unlock
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Unlocking your first Skysteel tool is pretty easy. All you need to do is switch to your preferred crafting/gathering class and teleport over to Foundation. From there, take the aetheryte to The Brume and mosey on down to the entrance to the Firmament. Standing beside the guy who usually walks you in should be another guy with a quest marker above his head. Have a little chat with him, and he’ll eventually ask you to meet him near the Skysteel Manufactory. Head back there, have a long conversation with the others in attendance, and you’ll be given your first Skysteel tool.

Now, depending on whether you’re a crafter or gatherer, the next step will be different. We’ve broken these up into two different sections.

Disciple of the Land Skysteel tools (gathering classes)

FFXIV gathering
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Skysteel tools begin life at iLvl 440. It has respectable strength, but it’s not at all the best gathering tool you can get right now. It’ll get you through the Diadem, though. Through a bit of work (and then some more), you can up this to 455 and finally 475, beating out the current scrip gear.

Step 1: Skysteel +1 requirements

For gatherers, this first step is a true grind. New entries have been added to your Gathering Log, so you’ll want to take a look at these to see where you’re headed. You’ll need to gather a few hundred high-quality materials and another hundred or so normal quality scraps. It’s not as bad as it sounds, though.

The nodes are common, and they all have generous buffs applied to up things like gathering attempts and HQ rates. Paired with some gathering food like a Coffee Biscuit and generous glugs of Hi-Cordial, this shouldn’t take more than two or three hours to complete. Just stick some Disney+ or Netflix on in the background.

For fishers, you’ll want to pick up a few stacks of the Signature Skyball bait from Denys before heading out. This bait helps ensure you reel in the right item for the upgrade.

Materials needed

  • Mining: 340x Oddly Specific Obsidian (HQ) + 120x Oddly Specific Mineral Sand (NQ)
  • Botany: 340x Oddly Specific Latex (HQ) + 120x Oddly Specific Fossil Dust (NQ)
  • Fishing: 40x Thinkers Coral (HQ)

Step 2: Dragonsung tool requirements

The next step is another grind. Who’d have thought? After a tiny upgrade to iLvl 445, the step to a 475 Skysteel tool is quite grueling. It’s more of the same as the last, but you’ll be gathering more stacks of a different item. The same principles apply here, but you should expect a job that lasts three or four hours. Once you have the items, Denys will exchange them for the upgraded tool.

Materials needed

  • Mining: 510x Oddly Specific Dark Matter (HQ) + 180x Oddly Specific Striking Stone (NQ)
  • Botany: 510x Oddly Specific Amber (HQ) + 180x Oddly Specific Bauble (NQ)
  • Fishing: 60x Dragonspine (HQ)

Disciple of the Hand Skysteel tools (crafting classes)

FFXIV Skysteel tools crafting
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Skysteel tools begin life at iLvl 440. They’re not the strongest crafting tools in the game right now, but they likely will be over time. Through a bit of work, you can upgrade these tools to iLvl 455, and then again to 475, beating the current scrip gear on offer.

Step 1: Skysteel +1 Requirements

For crafters, the process is a bit less straightforward. You’re required to use your tool to craft a few dozen unique recipes. The materials needed in the craft are bought with yellow scrips, so be prepared to put in some extra work if you’re short on these.

Materials needed:

  • Carpenter: 20x Oddly Specific Petrified Ore
  • Blacksmith: 20x Oddly Specific Rivets
  • Armorer: 20x Oddly Specific Wire
  • Goldsmith: 20x Oddly Specific Whetstone
  • Leatherworker: 20x Oddly Specific Leather
  • Weaver: 20x Oddly Specific Moonbeam Silk
  • Alchemist: 20x Oddly Specific Synthetic Resin
  • Culinarian: 20x Oddly Specific Seed Extract

Step 2:

Dragonsung tool requirements

The second step of this Skysteel relic tool upgrade process is more of the same. Literally. You have to craft more of something entirely different. Once you have those crafts, take your Skysteel +1 tool to Denys to exchange the two for a Dragonsung tool.

Materials needed:

  • Carpenter: 30x Oddly Specific Shaft
  • Blacksmith: 30x Oddly Specific Fitting
  • Armorer: 30x Oddly Specific Chainmail Sheet
  • Goldsmith: 30x Oddly Specific Gemstone
  • Leatherworker: 30x Oddly Specific Vellum
  • Weaver: 30x Oddly Specific Velvet
  • Alchemist: 30x Oddly Specific Glass
  • Culinarian: 30x Oddly Specific Seed Flour

How to get extra Skysteel tools

FFXIV skysteel tools purchase window
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you really want to set yourself up for disaster once additional upgrade steps come out, you can pick up as many different Skysteel tools as you want. Whether you’re a crafter or gatherer, additional tools can be bought from Denys in the Skysteel Manufactory for 80,000 gil each.

These will be the base models, so you’ll need to follow the previous steps to get these upgraded to their current maximum. That’s a lot of work, and you’ll only be making more for yourself once the next steps are released in future patches. If you’re just in need of a cheap tool to help you gather scrips for something better, these aren’t a bad buy.

Topics
Josh Brown
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Josh Brown is a UK-based freelancer with devoted interests in video games, tech, film, and anime/manga. Just don't talk to…
How to get the Finishing Touches achievement in Hogwarts Legacy
A wizard zaps someone off camera with red magic in Hogwarts Legacy,

There are tons of challenges to tackle in Hogwarts Legacy, but few are as time-consuming as unlocking the Finishing Touches achievement. This wild achievement forces you to use very specific attacks on very specific enemies, meaning you'll need to travel all around Hogwarts to find these beasts and go up against them in battle.

While you'll spend a lot of time chasing after all these enemies, there are a few things you need to know before venturing out in search of this achievement. Here's how to get the Finishing Touches achievement in Hogwarts Legacy, including which enemies you need to find and which spell must be cast on them.

Read more
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: all piano sheet music locations and rewards
Cloud playing the piano in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

While there's no shortage of ways to distract yourself while playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, one of the most unexpected minigames is the surprisingly deep piano system. In most of the major hub towns you encounter across the expansive world, Cloud can find a piano to sit down at and tickle the keys. You're free to play any song you want in free play, but you can turn this system into a full-on rhythm game, almost like Guitar Hero, by collecting sheet music of some of the game's most iconic tracks. There's even an NPC near each piano who will reward you if you get a high enough rank on each song. Cloud may not be the most expressive in his words, but he can sure play the piano with heart. Here is where you can find all the sheet music and what rewards await if you can master them.
Where to find all sheet music

Sheet music, thankfully, isn't hidden away in chests or has to be purchased for crazy amounts of Gil, but a few do have some hidden requirements. Each new composition is found on a piano in the world and is free to snag once you sit down. Even if you don't feel like playing right then and there, make sure you always at least grab the music to add to your collection so you don't have to backtrack later and get it. There are eight in total to find, and some will only come later in the story, but none are missable once you open up fast travel back to previous areas. This is the natural order you can collect them.
On Our Way
Our first piece of music can be picked up once you hit Chapter 4. During this section, go to the Crow's Nest town in the Junon region, which you can only enter by doing the "When Words Won't Do" side quest. Once you complete this quest and can freely enter the town, hit up the bar and grab this tune.
Tifa's Theme
After a rather exciting cruise to Costa del Sol in Chapter 6, you can add this piece to your collection by making a quick stop at the fancy Royal Crown Hotel.
Barret's Theme
Not much further into the game in Chapter 7 you will visit Barret's old hometown of Corel. The Rock Bottom Bar is waiting with his song.
Cinco de Chocobo
Chapter 9 takes you through the town of Gongaga. Even a town way out in the forest has a piano, which means yet another song to snag.
Two Legs? Nothin' to it
One chapter later, in Chapter 10, you need to do a little exploring in Cosmo Canyon to find your way to the piano, but the icon on your map won't lead you astray.
Aerith's Theme
Perhaps the most iconic song in the entire game, if not the franchise, is hidden behind a completely optional side quest. Once you reach Chapter 11, return to Nibelheim and do the "White-Haired Angel" side quest. It may seem totally irrelevant, but the quest ends with you playing and collecting this song.
Let the Battles Begin!
Once you prove your skills and get an A rank or better on all prior songs, you will get this new one as a reward from the NPC Dorian next to all pianos.
One-Winged Angel
We're not sure if fighting Sephiroth or getting this song is harder. If you want to play this terrifying arrangement, you need to donate all 88 Treasure Trove items to Johnny. This more or less requires you to 100% the entire game
All song rewards
For every song you A rank, Dorian will give you a prize when you talk to him. Here's everything you can get:

Read more
How long is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth?
Cloud and his friends overlook a scenic field.

By expanding the Midgar section of Final Fantasy 7 into an entire game, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth finally takes us beyond the walls into the world beyond. This much larger swath of land to explore begs the question of just how big this game will be. Between all the open-world tasks, sidequests, and minigames awaiting in the Gold Saucer, could this game really be a 100-hour experience as was claimed? What if you just tried to focus on the main story to see what has or hasn't changed? We've played through the entirety of Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth and can give you a good idea of just how long it will take you to reach this chapter's conclusion.

Note: We will not be spoiling any story details, but will list how many chapters there are.
How long is Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth?

Read more