Hunting Linkshell Guide

Index

General Linkshell Guide

How to Make a Linkshell

In order to make a linkshell, you have to make sure you have space. You are allowed 8 linkshell and crossworld linkshell spots. To make your own, you must talk with the Linkshell Distributor NPC found in Gridania/Limsa Lominsa/Ul’Dah. After making and naming your linkshell, you can have people join by shouting you have a linkshell available at the end of trains and after S-Ranks.

Optimally, you will not be the only relayer in your linkshell. It is good to network with other hunters in your community you know relay hunts and FATEs and add them to your linkshell as well. That way, the linkshell is still receiving relays even when you’re offline.

If your Linkshell starts getting too full, you can remove inactives. Unfortunately this is not a perfect science as we cannot see how long it’s been since people last logged in. The closest we can get is by checking linkshell members search info one by one.

If you notice, the classes are maxed at level 90, but the individual jobs are left blank. If jobs are left blank, it means that the person has not logged on since the most recent maintenance. This is for any maintenance where servers go down and reset. It is up to you how long you want to wait after a maintenance to clean your linkshells.

It is also a good idea if you’re getting into being a relayer to turn on timestamps in your text chat. There are two ways to get there:

  1. Open “System” on the menu, and choose “Character Configuration”. From there, choose “Log Window Settings” on the left side of the window. From there, click the “Log Details” tab, and choose which tabs you want to add timestamps in.
  2. There is a “Settings” gear on the bottom right of the log window. By selecting it, it will take you directly to “Log Window Settings”. From there, click the “Log Details” tab, and choose which tabs you want to add timestamps in.

Macros and Relays

Instead of having to type out each relay in each linkshell one by one, you can make a macro. In order to do so, navigate to the “System” option on the menu in game, and select “User Macros” from there.

Note: If anything happens to your client such as your console/computer failing, your macros may disappear. It is recommended to use the Square Enix service on the character menu to backup your character and client data to the cloud, or you can save it manually.

Once the User Macros window pops up, you can select any of the 100 spaces to start your macro. You can have your macro be very simple, or add your personal touch, as long as the information is clear.

From here, enter the text command you wish for the macro to be. If you need the basics of macro abbreviations, you can check out our page on macros. You can name your macro to be what you want, and give it an icon of your choosing. From there, you can drag it onto your hotbar. Then all you have to do is click the button for the macro to relay to as many linkshells and chats as you wish.

Each linkshell is assigned a number in the order you joined them. The macro commands for these are [/l1, /l2, /l3] and so on. The L must be lowercase.

You can also relay to your Free Company by making a line starting with /fc in the text box.

If you would like more information on creating your own macros and personalizing them, you can check out this guide “Hunt Relay Macro Templates” by Lucienne Whitebloom @ Jenova.

Visual Linkshell Guide

Back to Top

Single A/S Rank Relays

With A-Rank relays, there are usually two types. There are the train relays as we talked about before, and single hunt relays.

Single hunt relays are for A-Ranks that are not being killed in a train. These are typically A-Ranks in zones A Realm Reborn or Heavensward, but can occassionally be for Stormblood or even Shadowbringers depending on the circumstances. Train relays communicate a train is in progress.

  • Note: If relaying an older single a-rank, it is usually polite to wait one or two real time minutes for others who may need the mark for an achievement. After that, it can be killed, and even marked on a tracker.

S-Rank relays go out very quickly. It is typically polite to let the spawner relay first, as they are usually communicating with other spawners. Spawners communicate on lining up S-Ranks if there are multiple spawns at once when possible.

  • Note: It is a good idea to pay attention when a relay went out. If you leave your game and come back, noticing something was relayed, you may want to debate if its good for you to relay depending how long ago it was. One minute ago is safe to relay, but anything longer than 2 minutes can be confusing. If you are the only linkshell someone has, they may think your relay means the hunt just spawned, and not three minutes ago. By the time they load in, the hunt is dead, and they are confused. The more you relay, the better your discernment will get.

Examples of S Rank/Single A Rank relay macros:

  • /l1 A Rank found <t> <pos>
  • /l1 A Rank relay <flag>
  • /l1 S-Rank found <t> <pos>
  • /l1 S Rank relay <flag>

Back to Top

Hunt Train Relays

Train relay macros help people distinguish from single A-Rank hunt relays and when a train is currently running. Some worlds will send out macros letting you know how much time you have to wait before a train will start. 

/l1 Train starting soon! Please be on a standby and wait for a link!

There are also “gathering point” macros, telling people where to wait in which zone. This gives people time to gather before the train starts.

/l1 Train starts here! <flag>

Next stop macros let people know the train is ongoing, and where to head to next.

/l1 Choo Choo! Next stop: <flag>

When the train is on the last mark to kill, the conductor will often use a macro to let everyone know it is the last mark. This can be helpful to people who joined late and don’t know how many marks have already been killed.

/l1 Last stop! Thank you for riding! <flag>

Even if you’re not riding a train, it can be helpful to relay it anyway so people know it’s still running and can join even if they’re just logging on.

Back to Top

Achievement/World FATE Relays

Achievement FATEs are fates that award an Achievement when completed, and spawn far more commonly than World FATEs.

World FATEs are fates that spawn rarely and drop a special item used to exchange for things such as mounts, outfits, bardings, etc.

World FATEs include:

  • Odin (The Black Shroud) – The sky will turn into “Tension” in all parts of the Black Shroud, including Gridania. He has set spawn points on each of the maps in The Black Shroud.
  • Behemoth (Coerthas Central Highlands) – It does not have a FATE marker on the map and must be found. The spawn point is always the same.
  • Coeurlregina (The Dravanian Forelands) – It comes in three parts. The first two share the same weather where the sky is green-ish, and the final part the sky turns red.
  • Prey Online (Azys Lla) – The sky will turn reddish for a few minutes before it spawns and then go away. The FATE marker cannot be seen on the map and it must be found at set spawn points.
  • Ixion (The Lochs) – The sky will turn a bluish purple while Ixion is still alive. It’s FATE marker cannot be seen on the map and it must be found at set spawn points. You have to have a Stygian Ash to get rid of the shield around it before it can be attacked.
  • Foxy Lady (Yanxia) – Its FATE marker does not appear on the map and it must be found at set spawn points on the map.
  • Formidable (Kholusia) – Its FATE marker does not appear on the map and it must be found at its set spawn point.
  • Archaeotania (The Tempest) – Its FATE marker does not appear on the map and it must be found at its set spawn point.
  • Daivadipa (Thavnair) – Its FATE marker does not appear on the map and it must be found at its set spawn point.
  • Chi (Ultima Thule) – Its FATE marker does not appear on the map and it must be found at its set spawn point.


Before relaying either a World or Achievement FATE, it’s important to check the time remaining on the FATE. If for example you come across a World FATE with only 2 minutes remaining on the timer, in the time it takes for relays to go out and people to arrive most likely there won’t be enough time to complete (or in some cases even start) the FATE.

Examples of FATE relay Macros

  • /l1 Achievement FATE: <flag>
  • /l1 World FATE: <flag>

Back to Top

Crossworld Relays

There are two different types of Crossworld Relays: ones that relay to Local Hunt Linkshells, and ones that relay to Crossworld Hunt Linkshells. When relaying Crossworld, it is required that you include the name of the world or an abbreviation of said world’s name in your relay macro.

Common Abbreviations include:

  • Adamantoise: ADA, Adam
  • Cactuar: CACT
  • Faerie: FAE
  • Gilgamesh: GILG, Greg
  • Jenova: JEN, Jeno
  • Midgardsormr: MID, Middy, Midgard
  • Sargatanas: SARG
  • Siren: SIR

Single A-Rank hunts and things of that nature often do not get relayed crossworld as it’s not worth the effort to try and travel for it.

Examples of Crossworld relays in LOCAL Linkshells:

  • /l1 CROSSWORLD Train starting on [SERVER] <flag>
  • /l1 CROSSWORLD [SERVER] S Rank relay <flag>

Examples of Crossworld relays in CROSSWORLD Linkshells:

  • /cwl1 CROSSWORLD Train starting on [SERVER] <flag>
  • /cwl1 [SERVER] S Rank relay <flag>

Back to Top