Getting your first mount in FFXIV is a milestone every new adventurer reaches around level 20, and it comes in the form of your very own Chocobo. Unlike many games, Final Fantasy XIV doesn't simply hand you a steed — you earn it by joining a Grand Company and completing a short quest. This guide walks you through every step, from hitting the right level to summoning your feathered companion for the first time.
The whole process is quick once you know what to do, and it doubles as an introduction to Grand Companies — one of the most useful systems in the game. Here's what you'll need before you start.
What you need
- A character at level 20 or higher.
- Enough Main Scenario Quest (MSQ) progress to unlock Grand Companies.
- At least 200 Grand Company Seals to buy the Chocobo Issuance.
- A few minutes to finish the My Little Chocobo quest.
How to get your first mount in FFXIV
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Step 1: Reach level 20 and follow the Main Scenario
Your first mount becomes available once you reach level 20 and progress far enough in the Main Scenario Quest. Keep following the orange-flagged MSQ markers until you unlock the quest "The Company You Keep," which opens up the three Grand Companies. The story itself doesn't give you a mount, so think of this step as laying the groundwork.
Hit level 20 and keep following the Main Scenario Quest. -
Step 2: Join one of the three Grand Companies
After completing "The Company You Keep," you can pledge to a Grand Company: the Maelstrom in Limsa Lominsa, the Order of the Twin Adder in Gridania, or the Immortal Flames in Ul'dah. The choice is largely cosmetic — each offers the same rewards and you can switch later for a small fee — so pick whichever city or faction you like best.
Pledge to the Maelstrom, Twin Adder, or Immortal Flames. -
Step 3: Earn at least 200 Grand Company Seals
Once you're a member, you earn Grand Company Seals through everyday activities. The fastest ways are completing FATEs in the open world, finishing entries in your Hunting Log, running the Duty Roulette, and turning in items at the Personnel Officer's supply and provisioning board. You only need 200 seals to afford your Chocobo voucher, which most players reach in well under an hour.
Earn 200 Company Seals from FATEs, hunts, and roulettes. -
Step 4: Buy a Chocobo Issuance from the Quartermaster
Head to your Grand Company's headquarters and speak to the Quartermaster. In the shop list, find the Chocobo Issuance — a voucher that costs 200 Company Seals. Purchase it, and you'll be ready to claim your mount. This same Quartermaster also sells gear, materia, and other useful rewards, so it's worth remembering for later.
Trade 200 seals for the Chocobo Issuance at the Quartermaster. -
Step 5: Finish "My Little Chocobo" and summon your mount
With the Chocobo Issuance in hand, accept and complete the quest "My Little Chocobo," given near your Grand Company HQ. Finishing it rewards you with the Chocobo mount and a Chocobo Whistle. Open your Mount Guide, select the Chocobo, and summon it to ride out across Eorzea on your very first mount.
Finish My Little Chocobo, then summon your Chocobo to ride.
Tips for new riders
- Mounts only work outdoors. You can't summon your Chocobo inside cities' indoor areas or dungeons, but the open world and most zones are fair game.
- Feed your Chocobo Gysahl Greens to call it into battle as a combat companion, where it gains its own experience and ranks up.
- Flying comes later. Your Chocobo can fly once you've unlocked flight in a zone by collecting its Aether Currents, a feature available in expansion areas.
- More mounts await. After your Chocobo, you can earn dozens of other mounts from achievements, dungeons, raids, and events.
Troubleshooting
I'm level 20 but can't join a Grand Company
You also need to have completed enough of the Main Scenario Quest to unlock "The Company You Keep." Keep following the MSQ until that quest appears in your active city hub.
I don't have enough Company Seals
Run a few FATEs near your level, complete Hunting Log targets, or do the Duty Roulette. Each gives a healthy chunk of seals and you'll pass 200 quickly.
I can't summon my Chocobo
Make sure you've completed "My Little Chocobo" — owning the Issuance alone isn't enough. After the quest, open the Mount Guide, select the Chocobo, and try again in an outdoor area.
Frequently asked questions
What is the first mount you can get in FFXIV?
The first mount almost every player gets is the Company Chocobo, earned through your Grand Company at around level 20 by completing the My Little Chocobo quest.
What level do you need to be to get your first mount in FFXIV?
You need to be level 20 and have progressed far enough in the Main Scenario Quest to unlock Grand Companies.
How many Company Seals do you need for the first mount?
You need 200 Grand Company Seals to buy the Chocobo Issuance from your Grand Company Quartermaster.
Is the first FFXIV mount free?
It doesn't cost real money — it's free aside from the 200 Company Seals you earn in-game and the short quest you complete to claim it.
Can my first Chocobo fly?
Not at first. Flying becomes possible once you unlock flight in a zone by gathering its Aether Currents, which is available in expansion regions.
Final thoughts
Earning your first mount in FFXIV is a satisfying early goal that introduces you to Grand Companies, Company Seals, and the joy of zipping across Eorzea on Chocoboback. Reach level 20, pledge to a Grand Company, gather 200 seals, buy the Chocobo Issuance, and finish My Little Chocobo — then you're ready to ride. For more about the game and how to get started, visit the official Final Fantasy XIV website.
