The moment Patch 7.05 hits servers, hundreds of racers around the world will begin their prog on the first Savage tier of FFXIV's Dawntrail. While each World Race team has their own strategy, there are plenty looking to dive head first into their first Savage experience the week it drops.

As with any encounter, there are multiple ways players can go about defeating an enemy. For some, concocting a gear set that gels with the rest of their group is paramount, while others generally prefer to have a gear set that can fit in with any group.

Knowing stat priority for melding and collecting the gear with the stats needed to fill the gaps until crafted gear comes out is the best players can do until the master recipes are revealed on patch day. For now, there are some gear options that work better for some jobs over others.

General Best-in-Slot Gear Prior to Arcadion Savage

There are a few items that players are going to want no matter what job they play, although there are a few tweaks based on what stat priority you're going for.

Generally, you'll want the weapon from Worqor Lar Dor Extreme, and accessories from Everkeep Extreme. Some gear sets prior to Patch 7.05 will replace accessories with Normal Raid gear, but you'll need to pay attention to the suggested pieces for your specific group. Otherwise, going by stat priority is your best bet.

Before Savage releases, players can get two weeks of Normal Raid gear from Arcadion. Below, each class has the suggested pieces they should get prior to Savage.

Meld Priority

The meld priority is generally the same across all jobs pre-Savage. As with just about everything in this guide, that might change with crafted best-in-slot gear. Generally, most jobs will be adequately prepared using the below meld priority for their gear.

Critical Hit should be maximized on all pieces, then prioritizing either Determination or Direct Hit based on the stats on that piece of gear. Spell Speed and Skill Speed can be applied to perfect your rotation, but should only be used if you have a need for it or your group is trying to perfect buff windows.

Healer Pre-Savage Gear Set

Healers will use Fruit and Aloe Jelly as their food, as well as Grade 1 Gemdraught of Mind. Spell Speed should be melded to a comfortable speed that allows you to perform your rotation correctly and line up with your group's buff windows.

Generally, healers should prioritize getting Normal Raid leg gear first, then shoes and an accessory. Most players have suggested a ring. Then, meld your gear using the stat priority. If you're finding that managing your MP is difficult, stock up on some Ether potions and keep them on your bar. This will eliminate the need to meld the Piety stat and instead deal with MP using Ether potions instead.

Tank Pre-Savage Gear Set

The food choice for tanks is a little different than healers and DPS. Fruit and Aloe Jelly gives extra Crit and Det, but Vegetable Soup gives DH and Det. Use the one that fits your playstyle and meshes with your group best.

For pots, consider bringing both Strength and Vitality pots. If you're having trouble surviving a mechanic, it might be worth a try popping a Vitality pot until you've cleared the mechanic and can use the Strength pot for a DPS check.

For their gear, tanks should check their stat priority before they decide on which piece of gear to pick up from Normal Raids. Each tank will need to decide what stats they'd like to prioritize. Using a calculator like xivgear.app will help you determine which pieces to pick up for your job based on your individual and group goals.

Depending on the set you choose, decide if you need the extra boost in Crit or Direct Hit melds and food, which will determine whether you need to use Fruit and Aloe Jelly or Vegetable Soup.

Melee DPS Pre-Savage Gear Set

All melee DPS benefits from using the Det and DH increase that Vegetable Soup gives. There are a few gear sets with stats that players might want Fruit and Aloe Jelly for, but those will be very dependent on group composition and your stat goals for going into Savage.

Melee DPS have a smattering of Normal Raid gear that works best for each job. Using a gear calculator, figure out which of the stats you'd like to prioritize, and also keep in mind that vitality might be a stat to think about when progging Savage fights. The longer you fight, the more you see, and the more you learn to survive to see the next mechanic.

Physical Ranged DPS Pre-Savage Gear Set

The physical ranged DPS players are all very close in what is best for gearing pre-Savage. They will all use Vegetable Soup for their food, and Dexterity pots for their medicine.

Using the stat priority for melds, the Normal Raid gear is standardized across all three of the jobs in this class. Players should prioritize getting the leg piece first, then the chest piece next. A lot of players will be going for the chest piece in week two and three of Normal Raids, so prepare to do them a few times until you can get all four pieces.

Most jobs in this class don't require a Skill Speed meld, since the standard stat will allow for double weaving and a fully aligned buff window. Focus on Crit, Det, and DH, and you should be set with your gear until you can get the crafted set.

Magical Ranged DPS Pre-Savage Gear Set

Casters are also pretty standard gear-wise across the jobs in the class. Same as all other DPS jobs, casters will use Vegetable Soup as their food. For pots, stock up on Intelligence Gemdraughts.

Normal Raid gear consists of hands and feet for the first pieces to pick up, then legs the next week. Because casters will have a harder time avoiding mechanics due to the fact that they have to stay still for some spells, look into altering your SpS with melds and practice your slidecasting with it.

A decrease in the time it takes to cast spells will affect the timing of slidecasting, which is necessary to learn if you're going to maximize your damage and practice your ABC's — Always Be Casting. It will also affect the timing for your burst window, so be sure to coordinate with your group for when to begin your burst.