Merit Points

What are Merit Points?

Merit Points (also limits or limit points) are the end-game experience points of Final Fantasy XI. Once you've achieved level 75 in a job, you can continue to gain experience with that job in the form of merit points, which can be used to obtain new abilities, or to add 'merits' (or improvements) to your skills and attributes.

How do I earn Merit Points?

Once you've hit level 75 in a job, speak with the Moogle near Maat at the northern end of Ru'Lude Gardens. He'll give you a key item called Limit Breaker which will enable you to earn merit points and assign merits. You'll also have a new menu item in your Status menu called "Merit Points". (Note: Merits can only be modified in your Mog House.)

Once you reach 10000 limit points, a merit point (P) is earned.

Once you've done this, you can earn Merit Points in the same way that you earned experience points (EXP). You can choose to switch back and forth between earning limits (to get merit points) and experience points. If you choose to earn limits, you'll acquire limit points in battle no matter what. If you choose experience points, you'll be able to earn EXP and cap your EXP level for 75 (this ensures that if you die, you do not de-level down to 74.) Once you've capped your experience points for 75, though, you'll earn limit points no matter what. If you die in battle, you can only lose EXP.

Every 10,000 limit points earns you one merit point (represented by 1 P), which can in turn be used towards the 'purchase' of abilities and attributes related to your job.

Using Merit Points

Merit Points can be used to upgrade your character's attributes and abilities.

Once you've acquired a merit point, you can use it to upgrade your character. There are various general attributes that can be modified by your merit points, including combat skills, HP/MP levels and general upgrades like STR (strength) and VIT (vitality). These upgrades are organized into groups, and there are limits to how many merits can be applied to a group (so you may choose to max out your STR, but then you can't upgrade your AGI, for example). Some upgrades also cost more than one merit point.

These general attributes are updated across all your jobs. A 75 WHM who upgrades their MP will notice that they have higher-than-normal MP when playing another job. (Even as MNK/WAR, someone with merited MP will have some MP, although they can't use it.) The effect of the merits does decrease at lower levels, however.

There are also a handful of merits available to each job, that are specific and unique to each job. A Corsair, for example, can decrease Phantom Roll recast time, a Samurai may increase Store TP and a White Mage might choose to shorten cure cast times.

There are also abilities that can be unlocked with merits for each job. Paladins can use "Chivalry" to convert their TP to MP, Black Mages can learn improved ancient magic, such as Freeze II, and Monks can up their party's max HP with "Mantra".