Final Fantasy XIV: The Best Servers to Join & All Servers

There are multiple servers to pick from in Final Fantasy XIV, and this guide shares some of the best ones to join in this massive game.
Image via Square Enix

It can be challenging to figure out what FFXIV server to join, since there are multiple options in each region for you to select.

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Our best advice is to prioritize servers based on where your country and friends are. However, there are a few other servers you might want to check out. This guide will cover the best servers you can join in FFXIV.

Related: All New Worlds in the Dynamis Data Center in Final Fantasy XIV, and Bonuses for Joining Them

Which is the Best FFXIV Server to Join?

Screenshot by DoubleXP

Before picking where you want to go, it’s important to note that the servers, referred to as worlds, are divided into Data Centers. A Data Center contains a group of servers offered in a region. Players operating in the same data center can interact with each other and match up for raids and dungeons. A new feature added to Final Fantasy XIV is that Final Fantasy players can interact across Data Centers, giving players across the entire game a chance to play together.

The latest addition to the Data Center server list is Oceanian, Materia. Those who live in this region no longer have to choose one of the Japanese Data Centers to join. Instead, they can enjoy a more reliable connection to Final Fantasy XIV, giving them a chance to play the game with those closer to their region.

Data CenterRegion
AetherNorth America
PrimalNorth America
CrystalNorth America
ChaosEurope
LightEurope
ElementalJapan
GaiaJapan
ManaJapan
MateriaOceanian
Each data center and their regions

There are populated servers, hardcore raiding servers, more casual servers, role-playing servers, and more. Final Fantasy XIV has a wide variety of worlds for players from all walks of life. You’ll likely find a server that fits your needs no matter what you’re looking for. We recommend making sure you speak with other players you plan to go through Final Fantasy XIV with because staying on the same server means you can do more together as a group.

Best Server for FFXIV: Aether – North America

WorldsWhat It’s Known for
AdamantoiseLaid-back with a friendly vibe. Great for new players.
CactuarMainly endgame-focused. Large Spanish-speaking community.
FaerieWelcoming and helpful to new players. Highly social and talkative community. Very LGBTQ-friendly. Plenty of glamour items for sale on the market board. Fashionable players.
GilgameshHardcore raiding community. Unofficial Reddit server. Large, congested population.
JenovaFriendly atmosphere, with a decent raiding community.
MidgardsormrCasual to semi-casual players.
SargatanasActive raiding community. Home to several FFXIV streamers and YouTubers.
SirenWelcoming, social, and LGBTQ-friendly. Large crafting community.
Each server on Aether and what they’re known for

Best Server for FFXIV: Primal – North America

WorldsWhat It’s Known for
BehemothHardcore endgame community. Sizeable Brazilian population.
ExcaliburAnother hardcore raiding server.
ExodusCasual raiding community.
FamfritLaid-back and friendly to new players, like Adamantoise.
HyperionGood mix of casual and hardcore players. Active role-playing community as the unofficial RP server on Primal. Largest Spanish-speaking community.
LamiaTight-knit, cozy community. Friendly to new players. Casual to semi-hardcore raiders. Decent Spanish-speaking population. Some popular YouTubers, content creators, and raid teams.
LeviathanPrimal’s premier hardcore raiding server, like Gilgamesh on Aether. Congested population.
UltrosPolarizing reputation. Usually quiet and helpful to new players. It’s notorious for some trollish players, but they aren’t numerous enough to define the server.
Each server on Primal and what they’re known for

Best Server for FFXIV: Crystal – North America

WorldsWhat They’re Known for
BalmungLargest role-playing community in the game. Unofficial RP server on Crystal; a primary RP server in general. Extremely congested population. Low market board prices due to high supply.
BrynhildrSmall, quiet community.
CoeurlAn excellent community for organizing and killing hunts (strong open-world monsters).
DiabolosQuiet, disparate community. Players tend to mind their own business. But still friendly enough when it counts.
GoblinAlso quiet, but players usually stick to their own groups and communities.
MalboroA mix of Goblin and Ultros. Quiet, with a particular reputation for toxicity.
MateusAnother role-playing server on Crystal. Heavy role-playing bias, as non-RP players are generally frowned upon by those active in the community.
ZaleraCasual community with a decent raiding population.
Each server on Crystal and what they’re known for

Best Server for FFXIV: Chaos – Europe

WorldWhat It’s Known for
CerberusQuiet community with many Russian-speaking players.
LouisoixCasual player base of all languages.
MoogleLarge French-speaking population.
OmegaThe unofficial role-playing server on Chaos.
RagnarokHardcore raiding server for Chaos, similar to Gilgamesh and Leviathan. Large Italian-speaking population. Also, some Arabic and French players.
Each server on Chaos and what they’re known for

Best Server for FFXIV: Light – Europe

WorldsWhat It’s Known for
LichIt used to be a ghost town with very few players. Now much more active and lively.
OdinHardcore raiding community on Light. Many Scandinavian players.
PhoenixLaid-back server with a balance of casual and hardcore players.
ShivaLarge German-speaking population, with some role-playing communities.
ZodiarkStrong Italian-speaking population.
Each server on Light and what they’re known for

Best Final Fantasy XIV Japanese Servers

Due to the sheer number of Japanese servers, we had to pick and choose which ones to cover. Therefore, we selected the more notable ones than others, mainly for overseas players. Check out the official list for a complete list of all servers, including Japanese ones in Final Fantasy XIV.

Best Server for FFXIV: Elemental, Gaia, and Mana – Japan

WorldsWhat It’s Known for
Kujata (Elemental)A decent number of English-speaking players, usually from Australia and New Zealand. New players often come here when the primary English-Japanese server (Tonberry) is too crowded.
Ramuh (Elemental)A good amount of players are from South Korea.
Tonberry (Elemental)The primary server for English-speaking players outside of North America and Europe. Many players are from Australia and New Zealand. Japanese players are accepting of the English-speaking community, but their culture is still dominant—some culture shock is expected for anyone not used to Japanese customs in FFXIV.
Typhon (Elemental)Taiwanese players mixed with some Australian and New Zealand players after Tonberry and Kujata.
Durandal (Gaia)Some English-speaking players, but not many.
Ifrit (Gaia)It also has relatively few English-speaking players.
Asura (Mana)Some English-speaking players.
Chocobo (Mana)Hardcore raiding community in Japan. Usually congested.
Ixion (Mana)Several fun community events are open to all players.
Masamune (Mana)Primary English-speaking server for Mana. Also home to Indonesian players.
Pandemonium (Mana)A main role-playing community for Japanese players.
Shinryu (Mana)Very Japanese-centric community with little-to-no English-speaking players. Casual atmosphere.
Notable Japanese servers and what they’re known for

Best Server for FFXIV: Materia – Central and South Pacific Ocean, Australia

WorldsWhat It’s Known for
BismarckMany New Zealand players have flocked to this server
RavanaIt contains many English-speaking players and is primarily a raid server.
SephirotThis is a mixed server with healthy balances for those looking for any activity.
Sophia Primary role-playing server for players.
ZurvanLike Sephirot, there’s a healthy balance for all players.
All Oceanian servers

The Oceanian servers are now over a year old, which means many players are still trying to find their place in Final Fantasy XIV. Their identities are likely to change as many find what they appreciate most about the community within each of them.

Best City for Socialization

For anyone looking to socialize on their server, check out Limsa Lominsa, the city-state situated by the sea. Limsa Lominsa is usually packed with many players hanging out together at all times. If you’d rather keep to yourself, you can stick to the other cities instead, avoiding Limsa altogether.

What are Preferred Worlds?

When a world’s population count is smaller than average. they’ll sometimes get what is known as preferred status. What this means is that making a new character on any of these worlds gives you special bonuses. You’ll get the Road to 80 buff, which gives you double exp on everything, including jobs. You can find out what’s a preferred world by checking if there’s a yellow star by the names of any. If so, that means any character created on that world will get bonuses for 90s days.

You’ll typically find a warm, welcoming community no matter which server you join. Final Fantasy XIV has a positive reputation for its community, with many friendly players who are often willing to lend a helping hand. There are some apparent exceptions, but it’s a friendly space open to new players of all skill levels. Pick the server that sounds best for you.


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Zack Palm is the Senior Writer of Gamepur and has spent over five years covering video games, and earned a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Oregon State University. He spends his free time biking, running tabletop campaigns, and listening to heavy metal. His primary game beats are Pokémon Go, Destiny 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and any newly released title, and he finds it difficult to pull away from any Star Wars game.