If you’ve just started playing the FFXIV Gladiator, then the Hunting Log is one of the best sources of leveling XP. Some of these may also be quest target “items”, or appear in FATES as well as the landscape. Either way, Difficulty 1 is a nice easy introduction to clearing the Log. Let’s get to it!
How the Hunting Log Works
See the Hunting Log as your personal “Hit List” or “Wanted Targets” in FFXIV. The difficulty of the enemies listed increases as you scroll down the page, but are worth more EXP when you clear them. You’ll also note there are ten “stages”, but in some cases, there are more than one creatures (and later, non-creatures) under each level. You do not have to clear them in the order they are listed!
Unlocking Difficulty Ranks
Up to Level 50, you have 5 difficulty ranks to clear. While the Log itself says “difficulty 1”, once you unlock another you’re told a new “difficulty rank” is available. You will unlock, say, Gladiator Hunting Log Rank 2, once you:
- Have cleared all of Difficulty 1 and
- Have reached the equivalent actual level for your class for the top of your current rank (e.g. Level 10-11)
Hunting Log EXP
Just a quick note that, each “stage” gives you bonus EXP when you clear it. This is on top of whatever EXP you receive for defeating the target, chain bonuses and others.
Gladiator Hunting Log Rank 1 Targets
Gladiator 01
Reward: 
75 EXP
Little Ladybug
Little Ladybug Location
You’ll find these (frankly not little) Ladybugs as soon as you exit Ul’dah into Western Thanalan. Conveniently, a few other targets are nearby too.
Nearest Aetheryte
Ul’dah: Steps of Nald
Gladiator 02
Reward: 180 EXP
Star Marmot
Star Marmot Location
These long-eared fluffy critters scurry around outside the gate to Western Thanalan. Near here are also Little Ladybugs.
Star Marmots are also part of the quest My First Gladius
.
Nearest Aetheryte
Ul’dah: Steps of Nald
Gladiator 03
Reward: 360 EXP
Cactuar
Cactuar Location
These excitable, walking cactii hop around just further down the slope away from Ul’dah. Once you’ve cleared Little Ladybugs and Star Marmots, head a little further West and you’ll find plenty of Cactuar. Cactuars? Cactuarii? You get the idea!
Nearest Aetheryte
Ul’dah: Steps of Nald
Gladiator 04
Reward: 410 EXP
Snapping Shrew
Snapping Shrew Location
These Snapping Shrews are as close to a real Shrew as the “Shroud Hares” are to what we know a “hare” to be. i.e. Not a lot. These are more akin to moles, giant ones and they cause problems for the growers at the Royal Plantations, if you pick up the quest there (The Slaying of the Shrews).
Snapping Shrews can be found around (X22.7,Y27.0) in Central Thanalan and are also part of the quest My First Gladius.
Nearest Aetheryte
Ul’dah: Steps of Nald (Exit via the Gate of Nald)
Gladiator 05
Reward:
530 EXP
Hammer Beak
Hammer Beak Location
Hammer Beaks are quite common and can be found in both Central and Western Thanalan. Unsurprisingly, they can be found in/around Hammerlea, home to both the hammering birds and the hammering… hammers.
The map for Western Thanalan is to the right or underneath. If you want to pick them off in Central Thanalan, then head to X18.4,Y20.1. This is near the Coffin and Coffer and right near Qiqirn Shellsweepers
Nearest Aetheryte
Ul’dah: Steps of Nald (Exit via the Gate of Nald)
Gladiator 06
Reward:
980 EXP
Antling Worker
Antling Worker Location
If you work on the assumption that the area marked as The Clutch in Central Thanalan is an ant-haven, then you’re sorted. Antling workers can be found as you head East from Black Brush Station around X22.3,Y17.9.
That said, the area marked on this map, around X20.0, Y22.7 may be the first time you encounter them as they’re not far from Ul’dah.
Nearest Aetheryte
Black Brush Station (Central Thanalan)
Gladiator 07
Reward: 1100 EXP
Earth Sprite
Earth Sprite Location
Not far from the Hammer Beaks is a lovely spot containing 3 × Earth Sprites.
Nearest Aetheryte
Ul’dah: Steps of Nald (Exit via the Gate of Nald)
Gladiator 08
Reward: 1300 EXP
Spriggan Graverobber
Spriggan Graverobber Location
These cheeky, long-eared fuzz-balls, love their rocks and shinies. Conveniently, there are loads of Spriggans at the Sil’dih Excavation Site. If you’re a new player, you do not need to purposefully head here, though, as the MSQ brings you to this exact location.
Nearest Aetheryte
Black Brush Station (Central Thanalan)
Gladiator 09
Reward:
1600 EXP
Qiqirn Shellsweeper
Qiqirn Shellsweeper Location
These distant cousins to the rats are, shockingly, found at a place called The Rat’s Nest in Central Thanalan. This is West of Black Brush Station around (X16.5,Y19.4). If you haven’t cleared the Hammer Beak entry in your Gladiator Hunting Log Rank 1, then you can do this just South of The Rat’s Nest.
Example Related FATE
Nearest Aetheryte
Black Brush Station (Central Thanalan)
Gladiator 10
Reward: 1700 EXP
Antling Soldier
Antling Soldier Location
A larger version of the Antling Worker, the Antling Soldiers can be found a little further East into The Clutch. You can clear all three around X23.6, Y18.5
Nearest Aetheryte
Black Brush Station: (Central Thanalan)
Dusty Mongrel
Dusty Mongrel Location
Dusty Mongrel are a kind of wolf and you will see them in various forms throughout FFXIV. These ones can be found South of Horizon in Western Thanalan. If you’ve done all the others, then this is the last part of the Gladiator Hunting Log Rank 1 completed!
Related FATE
Nearest Aetheryte
Horizon (Western Thanalan)
TL;DR Kickstart Your Gladiator Hunting Log with Rank 1
So much XP (if you’re doing this at the level of the mobs) is up for grabs here. Most, if not all, of Rank 1 targets are easily available during, or on the way to quests. So there’s no reason not to clear your Gladiator Hunting Log Rank 1 as you quest through Thanalan. I hope you found this FFXIV post useful, it’s been too long since I wrote my FFXIV Free Trial Review (that likely needs updating too!). I’ll be adding the other difficulty levels soon!
