Materia is a game system which ultimately produces customized, enhanced gear. Each aspect of the materia system becomes available when you have a class of the appropriate Disciplines reach level 19.
How to unlock the Materia System
Unlocking materia for your character to convert and use requires completing two quests.
To unlock converting items into Materia, you need to complete the quest “Forging the Spirit”. The only pre-requisite is you need to reach level 19 or greater.
To unlock melding Materia onto items, you need to complete the quest which is found right next the first quest giver! The pre-requisite for this one is having a Disciple of Hand class with a level of 19 or greater. EXCEPT CULINARIAN.
What is spiritbond? How do I convert Items to Materia?
Almost all equipment has a “Spiritbond” meter. Think of it as the items EXP bar. Once spiritbond reaches 100%, the item can be converted to materia if you choose to do so. So far only unique (Green) items cannot be converted into materia (Common, High Quality and Aetherial can). To convert an item to Materia, the easiest way is to simply right-click the item, and select convert.
What are the types of Materia?
There are currently 24 kinds of materia in the game, each representing a certain stat. There are 5 colors of materia, each corresponds to a grouping of stats.
Primary Stats (Blue Materia)
Strength – Strength Materia
Dexterity - Dexterity Materia
Vitality - Vitality Materia
Intelligence - Intelligence Materia
Mind - Mind Materia
Piety - Piety Materia
Secondary Stats (Red Materia)
Accuracy - Heavens’ Eye Materia
Critical Hit Rate – Savage Aim Materia
Determination – Savage Might Materia
Parry – Battledance Materia
Secondary Stats [Speed](Purple Materia)
Spell Speed – Quicktongue Materia
Skill Speed – Quickarm Materia
Crafting Stats (Green Materia)
Max CP – Craftsmans’ Cunning Materia
Craftsmanship – Craftsmans’ Competence Materia
Control – Craftsmans’ Command Materia
Gathering Stats (Green Materia)
Max GP – Gatherer’s Grasp Materia
Gathering - Gatherer’s Guerdon Materia
Perception - Gatherer’s Guile Materia
Elemental Resists (Grey Materia)
Fire Resistance – Fire Materia
Ice Resistance – Ice Materia
Water Resistance - Water Materia
Wind Resistance – Wind Materia
Lightning Resistance – Lightning Materia
Earth Resistance – Earth Materia
Materia Transmutation was released in Patch 2.25.
Players can trade Mutamix Bubblypots Central Thanalan (x23,y13) 5 pieces of any kind of materia and he will give you random materia. Occasionally players will get materia that are higher grade than the ones they have traded in.
To unlock Materia Transmutation, players must complete the level 19 quest Marvelously Mutable Materia. Players can talk to Kokosamu in Central Thanalan (x23,y14). Players must have completed Life, Materia, and Everything before starting Marvelously Mutable Materia.