GUIDE
FFXIV Submarine Beginner Guide: From Setup to First Voyage
Source and Thanks
This guide references data from the global server Submarine Builders Discord.
What kind of content are submarines?
Submarines are automatic voyage content run from a Free Company house's Company Workshop. Once you send one out, it returns after a set amount of time with experience and items. It is less about direct control and more about sending it out, waiting, checking the results, and sending it again.
Profit is not huge at the start, but once ranks go up and more sectors open, submarines steadily bring back submarine-only materials, housing items, and crafting materials. Think of it as long-term content that pays off if you check it once whenever you log in.
Why start submarines?
•Steady Gil income: You can slowly build up value without farming expensive materials or furniture yourself.
•Submarine-only drops: Some housing items and rare materials are easier to target with submarines.
•Free Company asset: Once raised, it becomes a useful base for anyone in the FC.
What you need before starting
Submarines are not personal character content. They are Free Company housing content, so you need a Free Company, a house, and a Company Workshop before making submarine parts.
A solo Free Company works too. Just remember that buying a house and expanding the workshop costs money up front, so the first real requirement is having the house ready.
| Requirement | Details | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Free Company membership | FC rank 6 or higher | Solo FC possible |
| Free Company house | Any size (S/M/L) | Plot + building |
| Company Workshop unlocked | Expanded from inside the house | About 800,000 Gil |
| Company Credits | Used to exchange Ceruleum Tanks | Needed for each voyage |
STEP 1: Unlock the Company Workshop
First, unlock the Company Workshop inside your Free Company house. You need the workshop before you can use the facilities and voyage control panel required for submarine crafting.
1Enter your Free Company house.
2Click the entrance used for private chambers and other housing expansions on the first floor.
3If there is no Company Workshop yet, choose the workshop expansion option and pay the fee (about 800,000 Gil).
4Go down to the workshop and check that you can see the voyage control panel and company crafting facilities.
STEP 2: Build your first submarine
One submarine is made of Hull, Stern, Bow, and Bridge parts. At the start, there are not many choices, so think of it as making the basic Shark-class set.
Crafting order:
1Exchange for a Submersible Registration Permit from the Resident Caretaker.
2Select the Shark-class plans from the Company Schematic Board.
3Add materials at the Company Fabrication Station to craft all 4 parts.
4Register the new submarine at the Voyage Control Panel.
STEP 3: First voyage
Once the submarine is registered, it is time to send it out.
1Exchange Ceruleum Tanks from Voyage Mammet 014 in the Company Workshop.
2Select the submarine you just registered at the Voyage Control Panel.
3Choose B Deep-sea Site 1 from the sectors you can reach.
4Check the required number of fuel tanks and deploy it.
5When the voyage is complete, check the results at the control panel and send the next voyage right away.
What should I repeat early on?
After the first voyage, the most important thing is to keep checking the results and send the submarine out again. Submarines do not keep growing just by being left alone. You need to confirm the voyage results before you can send the next voyage.
Early routine
•When you log in, check voyage results in the Company Workshop first.
•If a new sector opens, check the submarine map and decide the next destination.
•Keep some Company Credits available so you do not run out of fuel tanks.
•When your rank rises enough to equip new parts, check the leveling build guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. Can I run submarines in a solo FC?
A. Yes. If you create a solo Free Company and buy a Free Company house, you can run submarines by yourself. The house is the biggest entry barrier.
Q. Does house size affect submarines?
A. No. S/M/L houses all have the same Company Workshop function, and you can operate up to 4 submarines.
Q. How many submarines can I have?
A. A Free Company can operate up to 4 submarines. It is easier to start with the first one and expand gradually instead of trying to run all 4 immediately.
Q. How long does leveling take?
A. If you start with Shark-class parts and keep sending voyages, you usually reach around rank 15 within 2 to 3 weeks. It depends on your login cycle and redeploy timing.
Q. Is it faster if I craft good parts from the start?
A. Better parts require submarine rank. Early on, it is natural to repeat voyages with Shark-class parts and switch parts whenever the rank requirement opens.
Q. Should I stockpile a lot of Ceruleum Tanks?
A. Early on, having enough to avoid running out at deployment is fine. Since fuel tanks are needed every time, avoid spending all your Company Credits elsewhere.
What to read next
Once the first voyage is done, the next things to check are "which sector should I unlock?" and "when should I switch parts?" Keeping the pages below open makes early operation much easier.