FFXIV Shared FATE and Bicolor Gemstone Guide: How to Rank Up and Spend Gemstones

Shared FATE is a zone-level reputation system introduced in Shadowbringers that tracks how much you’ve participated in FATEs (Full Active Time Events) in each specific zone. As your Shared FATE rank increases in a zone, you unlock access to a special vendor that sells zone-exclusive items purchased with Bicolor Gemstones. This guide covers how to rank up efficiently, what Bicolor Gemstones are worth buying, and tips for managing the system across multiple zones.

What Is Shared FATE?

When you complete FATEs in Shadowbringers (5.x zones), Endwalker (6.x zones), and later expansion zones, you earn Shared FATE experience toward that zone’s reputation rank. Each zone has three ranks:

• Rank 1: Basic access to the zone’s Gemstone vendor
• Rank 2: More vendor stock unlocks and improved rewards
• Rank 3: Full vendor access, including exclusive items only available at maximum rank

Shared FATE progress is per-zone and does not carry over between zones. You must reach Rank 3 separately in each zone you want full access to.

What Are Bicolor Gemstones?

Bicolor Gemstones are the currency earned from completing FATEs in Shadowbringers and later expansion zones. Each completed FATE gives a specific number of Gemstones based on the FATE’s difficulty and your party’s rating (bronze, silver, gold).

Gemstone cap: Bicolor Gemstones are capped at 1,000 per account. This is a hard cap — once you hit 1,000, you stop earning from FATEs. Spend Gemstones regularly to avoid hitting the cap during FATE farming sessions.

Gemstones are account-wide, but they’re spent at zone-specific vendors. Different zones’ vendors accept the same Gemstone currency.

How to Unlock Shared FATE Vendors

1. Complete the main story quest that unlocks each respective expansion zone
2. Complete FATEs in the zone to begin accumulating Shared FATE rank
3. Reach Rank 1 in a zone to access its Gemstone vendor (a specific NPC in each zone’s Aetheryte settlement area)
4. Continue doing FATEs to reach Rank 2 and Rank 3

Each zone’s vendor NPC is found near the main Aetheryte (teleport point) in the zone’s primary hub area. They’re typically labeled as “Gemstone Trader” or similar.

How Many FATEs to Reach Each Rank

FATE participation gives variable amounts of Shared FATE progress depending on the FATE type:

• Standard FATE: Moderate Shared FATE progress
• Elite Mark FATE: Higher progress per completion
• Notorious Monster FATE (boss FATEs): Highest progress per completion, but rarer

Rough estimates (these vary based on gold/silver/bronze rating and specific FATE types):

• Rank 1: Approximately 15–25 FATEs worth of progress
• Rank 2: Additional 20–35 FATEs beyond Rank 1
• Rank 3: Additional 25–45 FATEs beyond Rank 2

Getting gold rating on FATEs (contributing the most damage or participation in the time window) gives the best progress per FATE. Try to arrive at FATEs early and contribute significantly.

Best Zones to Rank First

Shared FATE is available across many zones, but not all zones’ rewards are equally valuable. Prioritize zones based on their vendor inventory:

High-Priority Zones (Rank 3 priority):

• Il Mheg (Shadowbringers): Unique minions and materials
• Lakeland (Shadowbringers): Housing materials and crafting components
• Rak’tika Greatwood (Shadowbringers): Unique furnishings and exclusive crafting mats
• Thavnair (Endwalker): Crafting materials used in endgame recipes
• Labyrinthos (Endwalker): Housing items and unique vendor inventory

Lower Priority Zones: Some zones have vendor inventories that overlap with materials obtainable elsewhere. Check what each zone’s vendor sells before deciding how much effort to put in.

Best Items to Buy with Bicolor Gemstones

Crafting Materials

Many zone vendors sell rare crafting materials that are otherwise only obtainable through gathering or market board. If you’re an active crafter, buying rare mats directly with Gemstones can save significant Gil compared to market board prices.

Minions

Several zone-exclusive minions are only available through the Gemstone vendor. These range from modest to quite expensive in terms of Gemstone cost. If you’re a minion collector, check which zones have minions you’re missing.

Housing Materials and Furnishings

Some zones sell unique furnishings and housing components not found elsewhere. These are especially valuable for housing enthusiasts and often command high prices on the market board if you choose to sell them.

Orchestrion Rolls

Some vendors include orchestrion rolls for zone-specific music. Low Gemstone cost for music fans.

What to Skip

• Gil-equivalent items (Gemstones → Gil conversion is poor value)
• Generic materials available on the market board cheaply

Efficient FATE Farming Strategy

Use an Ongoing Map or Community Event

The most efficient Shared FATE farming involves other players doing FATEs in the same zone. Join a FATE farming party via Party Finder or follow a community FATE train (organized groups moving from FATE to FATE).

Joining a FATE train: Check the Party Finder for entries labeled “FATE Train” or “Shared FATE” in the relevant zone. These groups cycle through FATEs efficiently and give gold rating through sheer numbers.

Maximize Gold Rating

Gold rating on FATEs (contributing enough to earn the top tier) gives the best Shared FATE progress AND the most Bicolor Gemstones per FATE. Arrive early, do your role (DPS, healing, tanking), and contribute before the timer runs out.

Zone Selection per Session

Pick one zone per session and focus on it rather than hopping between zones. Focused farming in one zone advances your Shared FATE rank there faster and allows you to reach Rank 3 sooner.

Watch the Gemstone Cap

Your 1,000 Gemstone cap fills up quickly during active FATE farming sessions. Stop every 20–30 minutes to spend Gemstones at the vendor. Running up against the cap means wasted Gemstones from FATEs you complete while full.

Shared FATE Progress Tracking

Open the Shared FATE interface from the Duty menu to see:

• Your current rank in each unlocked zone
• The progress bar toward the next rank
• Which zones you’ve not yet started

This lets you quickly identify which zones are close to a rank-up and prioritize accordingly.

Common Mistakes

Hitting the Gemstone cap: The 1,000 cap is easy to hit during dedicated farming. Stop and spend before each FATE chain if you’re close to the limit.

Only doing FATEs in low-density periods: FATEs in empty instances generate slower progress because gold rating is harder to achieve and FATE spawns are slower without other players triggering them. Farm during peak hours when your server has active FATE activity.

Ignoring low-value vendors: Don’t rush to Rank 3 in zones whose vendors have nothing you need. Focus effort where the inventory justifies it.

Not using Party Finder for FATE trains: Solo FATE farming is significantly slower than participating in organized trains. Always check Party Finder for active FATE groups first.

Shared FATE and Bicolor Gemstones are a reliable long-term side activity in FFXIV. While not required for main story progression, reaching Rank 3 in key zones provides access to exclusive items and a consistent Gemstone income for crafting and collecting goals.