GUIDE
FFXIV Submarine Beginner's Guide — Your First Voyage
What are Submarines? — Why Should You Care?
Submarines are a passive income source operated from your Free Company's Company Workshop. Once deployed, they automatically explore sectors and bring back items.
Why run submarines:
•🪙 Earn Gil while you sleep — auto-collect valuable materials
•🏠 Housing furniture & rare materials — submarine-exclusive drops
•📈 FC contribution — benefits all members
Prerequisites ⚠️
You need the following before starting submarines.
| Requirement | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Company | FC Rank 6+ | Solo FC OK |
| FC House | Any size (S/M/L) | Plot + Building |
| Company Workshop | Expand from inside house | ~800k Gil |
STEP 1 — Unlock the Company Workshop
1Enter your Free Company house.
2Speak to the Housing NPC (Resident Caretaker) and select workshop expansion.
3Pay the required Gil to complete the expansion.
4Go down to the workshop — you'll find the Voyage Control Panel NPC. Interact to unlock basic functions.
STEP 2 — Build Your First Submarine
A submarine consists of 4 parts: Hull, Stern, Bow, and Bridge. You'll start with Shark-class parts.
Build order:
1Exchange for a Submersible Registration from the Resident Caretaker.
2Select the Shark-class schematic from the Company Crafting Log.
3Contribute materials at the Fabrication Station to build all 4 parts.
4Register your new submarine at the Voyage Control Panel.
STEP 3 — Launch Your First Voyage!
Once registered, you can send your submarine on voyages.
1Stock up on Ceruleum Tanks (exchange FC credits at the Voyage Panel).
2Select your submarine and choose exploration sectors.
3Hit the deploy button — your sub will explore automatically.
4Come back after the voyage timer to collect results.
💡 Start with A the Ivory Shoals or B Deep-sea Site 1!
Understanding Key Stats
Submarine parts have 5 key stats that affect your voyage results.
| Stat | Effect | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Surveillance | Determines drop tier — higher = ⭐⭐⭐ items | 🔴 Top |
| Retrieval | Determines item quantity | 🟡 Important |
| Speed | Reduces voyage time | 🟢 Comfort |
| Range | Reach further sectors | 🟡 Important |
| Favor | Bonus drop chance | 🟢 Comfort |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I run submarines in a solo FC?
A. Yes! Create a solo Free Company, buy an FC house, and you can operate submarines entirely on your own.
Q. Does house size matter?
A. No. S/M/L houses all have the same workshop. You can operate up to 4 submarines regardless of size.
Q. How many submarines can I have?
A. Up to 4 submarines per Free Company.
Q. How long does leveling take?
A. Starting with Shark-class and deploying daily, you can reach Rank 15 in about 2-3 weeks.
Next Steps
You've completed the beginner guide! Check these resources for more efficient operations.