How to dress like Alphinaud in Final Fantasy XIV without spending real life money

Have you ever looked at something and had the distinct feeling that you’ve seen it somewhere before but can’t quite put your finger on where? That’s something that a lot of Final Fantasy XIV players are currently experiencing with the newly released Crystarium Prodigy’s Attire. 

Look, I’m the first person to admit that I usually buy pretty much everything released on the FFXIV online store. I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for a glam piece and most of the time, there’s at least one item in a set that can be paired with something else I already own. However, there are exceptions to this and the Crystarium Prodigy’s Attire is definitely one of them. 

Why? Because there are already multiple items within Final Fantasy XIV which share models with the items included, and you can make a (barely) passable mock-up glam using items that won’t cost you a real world penny. 

It’s not the first time that online store items have caused a ruckus within the community. I have distinct memories of the Gaia outfit being released and realising that if I wanted to wear those sweet heels I’d been lusting after for so long, I’d have to wear the entire outfit. So many potential glamours lost and it’s not even dyeable. Such a shame. 

How to get Alphinaud’s look in Final Fantasy XIV

Presuming that you want to dress like Alphinaud in his Shadowbringers era, you know, the glow-up he got before he started maining Sage during Endwalker, you should put away your credit card and instead head to the Marketboard. 

Now, I want you to go into this fully aware that there are some limitations involved when doing this on the cheap. The one plus side to the Crystarium Prodigy’s Attire is that it’s a level one glam piece that can be worn by any class. 

On the other hand, the free options are Job locked and to get a full cosplay of this set, you’ll need to be playing as a Ninja. On the plus side, you’ll get two fun knives to play with. Also, I make no claims that this outfit is a dupe – honestly it looks like a questionable cosplay from Wish, but you saved $12 in the process. 

Firstly, I know, the colors are way off and until we get two dye channels in these older items, they’re going to remain that way. However, the actual designs of three of the four pieces are identical.  

Here’s what I’m wearing in the right side picture:

• Molybdenum Armguards of Scouting (level 68, dyed Storm Blue)
• Brightlinen Gambison of Scouting (level 70, dyed Storm Blue)
• Kudzu Trousers of Scouting (level 64, dyed Pure White)
• Demonic Thighboots (online store purchase, dyed Pure White)

In case you’re wondering why I switched out the boots from the model sharing Eikon Leather Thighboots of Scouting, here’s why:

They dye dreadfully, at least for this purpose. That said, at least they’re actually dyeable, unlike the Crystarium Prodigy’s Attire. If you want to get this look without spending a single penny, you can get away with a pair of Expeditioner’s Thighboots in place of the Demonic Thighboots, if you’re okay with looking like you just ran through a muddy field.