The Challenge Log in Final Fantasy XIV rewards steady play with big gains: experience points, Gil, tomestones and other items. I’ve used it for years and it’s one of the easiest, most reliable ways to level alternate jobs and pad your wallet.
🎯 What the Challenge Log is (and why you should care)
The Challenge Log tracks common activities and pays out weekly. It resets every Tuesday at 01:00 PDT (UTC−7) — that schedule is what players follow as of 2025. Complete the listed objectives and claim the rewards manually from the log. Why does that matter? Because these rewards scale with your job level, so doing the right ones on lower-level alts multiplies their impact.
Unlocking it is simple. You need any Disciple of War/ Magic at level 15 and the Main Scenario quest “It’s Probably Pirates” completed; then talk to I’tolwann in Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks to pick up “Rising to the Challenge.” (Yes, you must finish the MSQ first — that detail trips people up.)
Want a short takeaway? Use the Log like a weekly bank deposit: small actions compound into big progress.
📋 How to open and use the Log
Open the main menu → Logs → Challenge Log, or press Y on PC. The UI shows categories, progress bars, and claim buttons. Completed rewards aren’t auto-given; you have to click to claim them. Don’t forget — I’ve missed rewards before and kicked myself.
⭐ Categories and typical rewards
| Category | Focus | XP typical (job-level scaled) | Other rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dungeons & Trials | Group PvE | ~15,000–150,000 | Gil, tomestones |
| Guildhests | Tutorial group | ~5,000–50,000 | Gil, seals |
| PvP | Player vs Player | ~10,000–100,000 | Wolf Marks, Gil |
| Crafting | DoH | ~8,000–80,000 | Gil, crystals |
| Gathering | DoL | ~8,000–80,000 | Gil, shards |
| Treasure Hunting | Maps | ~12,000–120,000 | Gil, items |
| Wondrous Tails | Weekly journal | Variable | Certificates, rares |
| Commendations | Player recognition | ~5,000–50,000 | Gil |
| Levequests | Solo missions | ~6,000–60,000 | Gil, items |
Short version: dungeons and trials pay the best XP per task. PvP can be lucrative but depends on queues and your enjoyment. Crafting and gathering are steady if you already do them.
💡 Practical tips I use every week
Do the tasks that match your normal play. If you do daily roulettes, dungeon challenges will clear themselves. If you craft for profit, hit the craft chores. That saves time because you’re not doing separate chores for the Log — you’re getting extra value from what you would do anyway. This isn’t universal; it depends on your niche and playstyle. There are exceptions.
Timing tip: run the Log on lower-level alts when you can. I’ve noticed the same challenge gives much more benefit at level 30 than at level 80. So if you want many jobs up to 60 quickly, prioritize them before hitting cap on your main. Why? XP scales with job level, so the relative return is larger at mid levels.
“Treat the Challenge Log like an automatic savings plan: small, repeated deposits become noticeable over time.”
🔧 A few actionable strategies
- Stack similar tasks into one play session (challenge batching). Do treasure maps and dungeon runs in the same night if you can.
- Create a weekly rotation for multiple jobs. Example: Week 1 focus on DPS, Week 2 tanks, Week 3 healers. It’s flexible — adjust as needed.
- Claim rewards regularly. Seriously — click the claim button before you log off.
Here’s the funny part: saving some easy tasks until patch days can pay more. During expansion weeks and major patch drops (for example, patch 6.5-era spikes in 2025), you’ll often find more session-ready players and faster progression tools, so packing certain tasks then can be efficient. Watch this: coordinate Wondrous Tails with Challenge Log completion and you’ll get a compound benefit.
Controversial takes (you asked for honesty)
Honestly, PvP challenges are overrated for pure XP — they’re great for variety, not for speed. Some community staples (Wondrous Tails) are hyped beyond usefulness; I think people rely on them too much. You don’t need to chase every shiny weekly reward to progress. There, I said it.
Also, marketboard flipping often out-earns crafting XP if you’re profit-driven — controversial, I know. But for many players, crafting is about fun and control, not just numbers.
Counterintuitive insight
Doing fewer dungeons on your main can speed alt progression. That’s because you get more marginal value running those same challenges on lower-level jobs. Sounds odd, but it works — like packing lunches for a week and saving time every day.
Advanced micro-strategies
If you’re juggling many jobs, use a checklist and spread tasks across the week. I keep a small note (yes, paper sometimes) and tick things off. (Don’t laugh.) Batching and rotation let you hit multiple challenge types with one activity. For instance, a map run can tick Treasure Hunting and a Dungeon/Trial requirement if it leads to instance-like content.
- Prioritize dungeons/trials if you queue anyway.
- Use guildhests and leves when you need a quick burst.
- Line up crafting/gathering when you’re doing market chores.
One last caveat: the Challenge Log won’t replace dedicated leveling methods for very high-speed pushing (like XP food and coordinated runs), but it reduces grind and makes steady progress painless. This doesn’t always work as a one-size-fits-all; adapt it.
Quick checklist (copy this)
- Unlock at level 15 and finish “It’s Probably Pirates” → talk to I’tolwann.
- Open Logs → Challenge Log; claim weekly rewards.
- Do activities that overlap with your normal play.
- Batch similar tasks; rotate jobs weekly.
Want code for a tiny reminder? Use this on a notepad or macro bar:
// Simple weekly reminder text
Reminder: Claim Challenge Log (resets Tue 01:00 PDT)
Run: Dungeons/Trials or Craft/Gather as planned
To wrap up — not every tip fits every player. In my experience, adding the Log into your routine makes leveling feel less like a chore and more like steady progress. Try it for four weeks and see what changes. You’ll likely end up with more XP, more Gil, and fewer wasted hours. And hey — if you forget, well, we all do sometimes. Go claim your rewards!
— written from my FC house (yes, real room), November 2025.
