I’ve been playing Final Fantasy XIV for years, and I want to tell you plainly how the Recruit a Friend (RAF) program works and how to get the best out of it. I’m Maris, and I’ve helped a dozen friends join Eorzea (yes, I’ve paid for their early gil sometimes). This is practical, not theoretical.
Updated: 05 May 2025 — check Mog Station for any changes (there are exceptions).
What Recruit a Friend actually does
RAF is a referral system that rewards both the recruiter and the recruited new player as that new player pays subscription time. Why? Because Square Enix wants players to keep subscribing — and you get mounts, items, and XP gear for bringing someone along. In my experience, the system rewards patience: the longer a friend stays subscribed, the better your mount chances.
Sounds simple, right? But it won’t work the way you expect if your friend misses the code step when buying the game.
How to send an invitation
Log into Mog Station, open “Recruit a Friend” under Additional Services, copy your unique link, and send it. Use the link — don’t rely on telling them a code over chat. If they buy the game without the link, it’s too late.
Quick checklist:
- Share the exact Mog Station link (copy/paste).
- Tell them to follow that link when creating their account.
Watch this: if they already made a Square Enix account, the RAF code often won’t apply later. Annoying, I know! (Contact support if you’re stuck.)
Rewards — the important specifics (as live on Mog Station)
Here’s a compact table of the usual milestones and recruiter rewards. Verify on Mog Station if you read this after 05 May 2025 — Square Enix has adjusted timings before.
| Paid Days | Recruiter Reward (example) |
|---|---|
| Initial registration | Friendship Circlet (+20% EXP under level 25) |
| 30 days paid | Gold Chocobo Feathers (currency) |
| 90 days paid | Twintania mount (exclusive) |
| 210 days paid | Draught Chocobo mount |
Why mention exact items? Because those mounts are rare status symbols — they’re why many players recruit persistently. That said, items change occasionally; always confirm the current list on Mog Station before promising a friend anything.
Pro tips that actually work
Target friends who like story-driven RPGs or already play MMOs. Why? They’ll stick around longer; subscription time is what unlocks rewards. Offer to play alongside them during their first week. I’ve noticed retention jumps when a newcomer has a mentor.
- Recruit around expansion releases (expansions create momentum).
- Be a helper: answer questions, give small gil, run dungeons together.
Here’s the funny part: the people who spam referral links usually get nothing. The successful recruiters are patient mentors — surprising but true!
Troubleshooting
Common errors (and fixes):
“This service account is not eligible” — They probably had past FF14 activity. Ask support to check.
Example invite link:
https://secure.square-enix.com/account/app/svc/ffxiv/raf/invite?code=XXXXXXXX
Invalid code? Make sure there are no spaces. Code already used? Each recruit must apply individually. Reward delays? Usually 24–48 hours after the milestone, though during busy times it can take longer.
Tracking and strategy
Mog Station shows each recruit’s paid days and your eligibility. The system tracks cumulative paid time, not necessarily consecutive months — so if a friend pauses and returns, earlier paid time still counts. That’s a useful quirk to exploit (but it depends on your friend’s subscription pattern).
Pro tip: keep a small spreadsheet if you’re recruiting more than two people — it helps you nudge friends at the right moment.
Controversial takes (yes, I said it)
Some players treat RAF like a capitalism exercise: farm friends just to collect mounts. I think that’s shallow and it hurts the social fabric of the game. Others argue RAF gives unfair advantages to established players. Both views have merit — what do you think?
Oddly enough, the best way to earn RAF rewards is to care about the person you recruit. Mentorship beats manipulation every time.
To be fair, this doesn’t always work — a friend might leave after two months. There are exceptions. But if you help them enjoy the game, they usually stick around longer.
One final note: I repeat myself sometimes because repetition sticks. Want the Twintania mount? Help a friend love the game. Simple. — Maris
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