As part of the March 10, 2026 version update, we added a new way to upgrade your alter egos known as alter ego points.
Recently, various content has been added to FINAL FANTASY XI ("FFXI") over the years, causing players to enjoy the game in an all-new ways. One such addition was the Trust magic system. First implemented in 2013, it served as a way for players to enjoy the game solo or when they didn't have enough members to form a party.
However, as an increasing number of players are playing the game solo, we have received numerous requests to upgrade the alter egos, which are no longer able to keep pace with higher-level characters. Before this update, alter egos grew stronger alongside players up to Level 99, but once that threshold was exceeded, they scaled up with the player's average item level, meaning they were capped once the level reached 119. Furthermore, once players reach item level 119, they can continue making significant enhancements via their equipment, which has led to a growing gap between the combat ability of players and their summoned alter egos.
In response to this issue, and to help expand players' solo play options, we are planning to make a variety of upgrades to the Trust magic system. As an initial step toward that goal, we will use this article to explain the new alter ego points system, how to upgrade your alter egos, and other useful information.
About the Alter Egos
Alter egos are alternate versions of various NPCs that appear in missions and quests throughout the game. You add them to your party using Trust magic so that they can join you on your adventures. There are more than 100 different alter egos, each with their own unique abilities designed to aid players.
Alter ego overview
・The summoned NPCs are known as alter egos and generally speaking, you can take up to three of them with you into battle at one time.
・As you play through the Rhapsodies of Vana'diel story, you can obtain key items that allow you to call additional alter egos. The "Rhapsody in White" key item lets you summon up to four alter egos, while the "Rhapsody in Crimson" key item allows a maximum of five alter egos at one time.
・Alter egos support you by automatically performing actions based on their assigned jobs and personalities.
・You can utilize alter egos once you have completed the "Trust(*)" tutorial quest.
・New alter egos can be acquired by completing certain missions and quests, or by speaking to specific NPCs. Also, some alter egos may be acquired by trading a certain item (Cipher: ???) to the "Trust" quest NPC.
* The quest will appear in the quest list as "Trust (???)". The name of one of the three nations will appear in place of the ???, and they are considered separate quests. For the sake of convenience, the nation names have been omitted from the quest name when referring to the quests in this article.- The "Trust" quest can be started by speaking to one of the following NPCs after reaching Level 5 or higher, regardless of the player's home nation or race.
- [San d'Oria] Gondebaud in Southern San d'Oria (L-6) | Alter ego obtained: Excenmille (Melee Fighter)
- [Bastok] Clarion Star in Port Bastok (K-7) | Alter ego obtained: Naji (Melee Fighter)
- [Windurst] Wetata in Windurst Woods (G-10) | Alter ego obtained: Kupipi (Healer)
- Once you have completed the first "Trust" quest, you can take on the quest from the other two nations.
What is the Alter Ego Points System?
These special points can be used to upgrade your alter egos' HP and MP, as well as basic stats including STR and INT. Once you have met the requirements listed below, speak to Syndella (H-5) on the first floor of the Grand Duke Palace in Ru'Lude Gardens to obtain the "cipher bracelet" key item and enable the alter ego points system.
Conditions for unlocking alter ego points
・You have completed the "Trust" quest and obtained one or more of the "??? Trust permit (*1)" key item.
・You must be in possession of the "job breaker" (*2) key item.
・You have obtained the "cipher bracelet" key item after speaking to Syndella (H-5) in Ru'Lude Gardens.
*1: ??? can be San d'Oria, Bastok, or Windurst.
*2: After reaching job level 75, speak to the Nomad Moogle (H-5) in Ru'Lude Gardens to obtain the "limit breaker" key item and then speak to the Nomad Moogle again after reaching level 99.
How to earn alter ego points
You can acquire alter ego points by using certain items. These items can be obtained as rewards for competing the Records of Eminence monthly objectives, and as rewards for completing events and quests. Additional items that enable you to earn alter ego points will also be available through seasonal events, Vana'Bout, and other means. Refer to the information below to see how to obtain each item and acquire points.
- Trust Primer (20 points): Reward for completing Records of Eminence monthly objectives
- Trust Tome (100 points): Reward for certain events and can also be obtained when unlocking the alter ego points system
- Marjory's Thesis (200 points): Speak to Marjory (H-5) in Ru'Lude Gardens after completing the objective "Way Over Capacity" in Records of Eminence Quests 3 (*) If you have already completed the quest, you can speak to Marjory again to obtain the item.
Changes to the "filled memory gems" item
In accordance with this change, the effect of the "filled memory gem" key item obtained from "Way Over Capacity" under Records of Eminence Quests 3 has been changed. The previous method for powering up alter egos based on the number of party members has been discontinued, and upon completing the quest, you can now obtain Marjory's Thesis by speaking to Marjory (H-5) in Ru'Lude Gardens.
Applicable changes
The power-up effect for alter egos from the "filled memory gem" key item has been removed.
Instead, you can obtain Marjory's Thesis, which lets you earn 200 alter ego points upon completion of the quest.
Through future updates, your alter egos can ultimately be powered up to a level greater than that obtained from the "filled memory gem" key item.
- 1. Complete the "Eliminate Your Apathy" objective under Records of Eminence Quests 3.
- 2. Be in possession of the "job breaker" key item.
- 3. Have at least 86 or more alter egos
- 4. Possession of the key item “Cipher Bracelet”.
Please note:
If you had already met the conditions to receive the quest “Filled to Capacity” prior to the version update on 10 March 2026, you will still be able to progress with the quests “Over Capacity” and “Way Over Capacity” even if you do not currently possess the key item cipher bracelet. - 5. Fulfill steps 1 through 4 and then complete the "Filled to Capacity" objective under Records of Eminence Quests 3.
- 6. Complete the "Over Capacity" objective under Records of Eminence Quests 3.
- 7. Complete the "Way Over Capacity" objective under Records of Eminence Quests 3. You will obtain the "filled memory gem" key item and Marjory's Thesis as rewards.
How to Upgrade Your Alter Egos
By assigning your alter ego points, you can now upgrade your alter egos' HP, MP, and basic stats such as STR and INT. Like with job points, you are unable to reassign these points once assigned, but it will be possible to eventually max out all of the alter ego's stats.
Upgrade process
・Can only be done within your Mog House and Mog Garden.
・Your current main job is level 99.
・Go to Main Menu > Status > Alter ego points to open the upgrade screen.
- The points cannot be reassigned once applied to a stat.
- All stats will ultimately be upgradeable to their maximum values.
- Each stat can currently be upgraded by a maximum of 50 levels.
- The maximum upgrade limit is planned to be increased gradually over time.
Points required for each upgrade
The number of points required to upgrade each stat increases as it grows stronger. It takes a total of 150 alter ego points in order to upgrade a stat the maximum 50 levels. See below for the number of points needed for each upgrade level.
- Upgrade level 1–10 > 1 point
- Upgrade level 11–20 > 2 points
- Upgrade level 21–30 > 3 points
- Upgrade level 31–40 > 4 points
- Upgrade level 41–50 > 5 points
Upgradeable stats and their corresponding increases
As of March 2026, HP and MP, as well as the following seven stats (STR, DEX, VIT, AGI, INT, MND, CHR) can be upgraded. See below for details regarding the effect of each stat during battle. (The values listed in parentheses indicate the base stat increase for each alter ego point spent.)
HP (5): How much damage the alter ego is able to withstand
MP (2): The maximum number of magic points that can be consumed when casting white, black, summoning, blue, and geomancer magic
STR (1): Affects physical attack damage, etc.
DEX (1): Affects the melee attack accuracy, critical hit success rate, etc.
VIT (1): Affects physical defense, cure potency, etc.
AGI (1): Affects physical attack evasion, critical hit evasion, ranged attack accuracy, critical hit success rate, etc.
INT (1): Affects elemental magic damage dealt/taken, etc.
MND (1): Affects healing magic potency, divine magic damage dealt/taken, enfeebling magic effectiveness, etc.
CHR (1): Affects song accuracy, Curing Waltz recovery bonus, etc.
The increase in HP/MP varies by alter ego type
Although the basic increases are as described above, HP and MP gains can vary depending on the alter ego's type. For example, once HP has been upgraded 50 levels, maximum HP will increase by about 250. However, some Tank-type alter egos will have a higher maximum, while certain supporting roles will be lower. Please refer to the following examples of HP/MP increases for some alter egos before and after the upgrade.
Other Planned Upgrades
This initial phase of alter ego upgrades is focused on boosting their HP, MP, and basic stats, but we are working on additional improvements as well, such as the alter ego equipment system (tentative name). We also are planning to implement new content that you can take on alongside your upgraded alter egos.
Alter ego equipment system (tentative name) concepts
You will be able to upgrade the alter ego's category as a whole, such as Tank or Melee Fighter.
You can pursue customized upgrade paths, such as Accuracy +, Evasion +, Damage Reduction, Multiple Attacks, etc.
Basically, the plan is to implement a system similar to how the puppetmaster attachments work.
*The screenshot shown is taken from the puppetmaster attachments equip screen.