When you typically hear about the best-in-slot gear for jobs in Final Fantasy XIV, it's associated with the armor, food, and tinctures of Disciple of War or Magic jobs. However, many players would be going into raids with subpar gear if it weren't for the Disciple of the Hand crafting them.
Like the Duties of FFXIV, many crafts have their own item level and stat requirements, meaning that crafters worry about how adequate their gearset is like their battle counterparts. Through vendors, crafting, and scrips, there are many sources for Disciples of the Hand to acquire new gear, though there is only usually one best item for each slot.
Where to get the best crafting gear in FFXIV
While there are many options for a crafter to wear once they reach level 90, the best gear one could wear, ironically, is crafted. The item level 620 Indagator's set is considered the best-in-slot (BiS) for all Disciples of the Hand, as it isn't restricted to any singular job outside of its tools. Like most crafts, it can be found on the nearest marketboard, though acquiring a high-quality set will cost a hefty sum of gil. Crafting the set yourself will require having a majority of your Disciple of the Hand jobs leveled, as well as working for some sought after materials.
| Slot | Item | Source |
| Head | Indagator's Goggles of Crafting | Master Goldsmith X |
| Body | Indagator's Coat of Crafting | Master Weaver X |
| Hands | Indagator's Gloves of Crafting | Master Leatherworker X |
| Legs | Indagator's Trousers of Crafting | Master Weaver X |
| Feet | Indagator's Boots of Crafting | Master Leatherworker X |
| Ears | Indagator's Earrings of Crafting | Master Carpenter X |
| Neck | Indagator's Necklace of Crafting | Master Carpenter X |
| Wrists | Indagator's Bracelet of Crafting | Master Carpenter X |
| Right Ring | Indagator's Ring of Crafting | Master Carpenter X |
| Left Ring | Indagator's Ring of Crafting | Master Carpenter X |
Any materia melded to gear is shared among the jobs who can wear it, making the Indagator set the prime candidate for a crafter's BiS, along with its high stats. Tools, however, are a different story, as you'll spend an equal amount of time crafting the tools alone if you aim to get them for every job. The main hand and off hand Indagator's tools are still considered best-in-slot, though they may fall behind Endwalker's splendorous tools until properly melded.
| Job | Main Hand | Off Hand |
| Carpenter | Indagator's Saw | Indagator's Claw Hammer |
| Blacksmith | Indagator's Cross-pein Hammer | Indagator's File |
| Armorer | Indagator's Raising Hammer | Indagator's Pliers |
| Goldsmith | Indagator's Lapidary Hammer | Indagator's Grinding Wheel |
| Leatherworker | Indagator's Knife | Indagator's Awl |
| Weaver | Indagator's Needle | Indagator's Spinning Wheel |
| Alchemist | Indagator's Alembic | Indagator's Mortar |
| Culinarian | Indagator's Frypan | Indagator's Culinary Knife |
The Indagator set is hidden behind the many Master Recipe X books, so you'll have to put in a generous amount of work to obtain each piece. With each slot boasting some of the highest Craftsmanship and Control stats before any added Materia, however, the work involved is worth doing. You'll need to acquire materials that require Allagan Tomestones of Causality, White Crafters' Scrips, and Purple Crafters' Scrips if you aim to craft the gear yourself, as well as gather materials locked behind timed gathering nodes. Crafting the entire set isn't for the faint of heart, but purchasing it will require some deep pockets.
