Listen, we've all been there. You walk into the Gold Saucer, see that massive 50% MGP bonus, and immediately get overwhelmed by the flashing lights of the Crystal Tower Striker or the chaotic energy of a Leap of Faith gate. The FFXIV Make It Rain campaign is basically the Eorzean version of a stimulus check, but if you aren't careful, you’ll spend three weeks grinding and still end up short of that Sabotender Emperador mount. It's about efficiency. It's about knowing which mini-games are traps and which ones are secret gold mines.
The 2026 iteration of this event isn't just a rehash. Square Enix usually keeps the core mechanics simple—a flat 1.5x multiplier on all MGP earned within the Saucer—but the real strategy lies in stacking your buffs and timing your entries. If you're just wandering around clicking on things, you're leaving thousands of points on the table. Seriously.
Most players think they should just spam the Fashion Report. They aren't wrong, but that's the bare minimum. To really "make it rain," you have to look at the math behind the madness.
Why the FFXIV Make It Rain Event Is Different This Year
The Gold Saucer isn't just a side distraction anymore. With the latest expansions, the cost of high-tier rewards has ballooned. We're talking millions of MGP for the newest mounts and orchestrion rolls. During the FFXIV Make It Rain window, that 50% boost applies to almost everything: GATEs, mini-games, the Cactpot, and even the Triple Triad tournaments.
There's a common misconception that the bonus applies to the Challenge Log rewards. It doesn't. Or rather, the bonus MGP from the log stays static, but the base activities you do to complete that log get the 1.5x boost. You have to be precise. If you're hitting the logs during the event, you’re double-dipping in the most effective way possible.
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I've seen people burn out in three days. Don't be that person. The event usually lasts a few weeks, giving you plenty of time to rotate through different activities so your brain doesn't turn into a Chocobo Square puddle.
The Fashion Report Strategy That Actually Works
Masked Rose is a weird guy. We know this. But his weekly Fashion Report is the single most important thing you can do during the FFXIV Make It Rain event. Normally, a score of 80 or higher nets you 60,000 MGP. With the event buff? That jumps to 90,000 MGP.
Do not try to figure this out yourself.
Every week, community legends like Kaiyoko Star break down the exact items you need for a "Budget 80" or a "Full 100." Usually, you can hit the 80-point threshold by buying two specific items from a vendor for less than 10,000 Gil. It is the highest ROI activity in the entire game. If you do nothing else during the campaign, log in once a week, put on a specific pair of pants and a weird hat, and collect your 90k.
Hard Truths About GATEs and Efficiency
GATEs (Gold Saucer Active Time Events) are the heartbeat of the Saucer. They pop every 20 minutes. But not all GATEs are created equal, especially when you're trying to maximize your time.
- Leap of Faith: This is the platforming one. It’s fun, sure, but it can be time-consuming if you’re bad at jumping. However, with the FFXIV Make It Rain bonus, the gold trophies at the end are worth a staggering amount. If you can clear the course in under three minutes, it's a top-tier earner.
- Any Way the Wind Blows: Total RNG. You stand on a stage and pray Typhon doesn’t sneeze you into the stratosphere. Since it requires zero effort, you should always do it, but don't count on the win.
- The Slice Is Right: This is where the real gamers thrive. It’s a test of reflexes and pattern recognition. If you make it to the end and get the jackpot, the payout during the event is massive.
- Cliffhanger: It's fast. It's simple. You talk to a goblin, run up a hill, avoid some bombs, and get paid. During the event, this is basically free money for two minutes of work.
Stop Ignoring the Mini-games
Most people walk past the small machines like Out on a Limb or the Finer Miner. That's a mistake. While the payouts look small (maybe 40-100 MGP per win), they are fast. If you're waiting for a GATE to start, find a machine you're good at and spam it. During FFXIV Make It Rain, these small gains add up.
Think of it like this: if you win 10 times on a mini-game while waiting for "Air Force One" to start, you've just earned enough for a couple of extra Cactpot tickets or a cheap minion. It’s all about the cumulative total.
The Secret Weapon: FC Buffs and Squadron Manuals
Here is what most casual players miss. The FFXIV Make It Rain 50% bonus stacks with other MGP buffs.
If your Free Company has the "Jackpot II" action active, you get an additional 10%. If they have "Jackpot III" (which requires the FC workshop to produce), that's 15%.
Don't have an FC? Or maybe your FC leader is busy? Go to your Grand Company. If you’ve leveled up your adventurer squadron, you can send them on missions to earn "Gold Saucer VIP Cards." These are personal items that give you a 15% MGP bonus for two hours.
Wait, do they stack? No. You can't use an FC buff and a VIP card at the same time. The game will just take the highest value. But 1.5x (event) multiplied by 1.15x (VIP card) means you are earning 165% of the base MGP rate. When you're turning in a 1,000,000 MGP prize, that extra percentage is life-changing.
The Cactpot Dream
You have the Mini Cactpot (daily) and the Jumbo Cactpot (weekly). During the FFXIV Make It Rain event, you should never miss a single day.
For the Mini Cactpot, use the "Y" method. You want to uncover spaces in a way that reveals the possibility of a 1-2-3 line (worth 10,000 MGP base, 15,000 during the event). If you see the 1, 2, or 3, prioritize that line. If not, look for the 7-8-9 line. It’s basic math, but people still mess it up by picking random squares.
The Jumbo Cactpot is pure luck, but the consolation prizes are boosted too. Even if you don't win the millions, the "pity" MGP you get just for showing up is increased. It takes five seconds to buy three tickets. Just do it.
Is Lord of Verminion Worth It?
Honestly? Usually no. It’s clunky. The barrier to entry is high. But—and this is a big "but"—if the Challenge Log is active, playing three matches against the CPU is a quick way to tick off a box for a huge chunk of MGP. During the event, it's worth the ten minutes of boredom just to get the log completion bonus, which is then supplemented by the 1.5x earnings from the matches themselves.
Breaking Down the Rewards: What to Buy First
Every year, the FFXIV Make It Rain event introduces a new item. Sometimes it’s a hairstyle, sometimes an emote like /showleft or /showright. In 2026, the focus has shifted toward more housing items and glamour.
- The Event Exclusive: Buy the new quest reward first. It usually costs almost nothing or is given for free at the end of the short seasonal questline.
- The High-Cost Mounts: If you’ve been eyeing the Blackjack or the Fenrir mount, this is the time. The 50% "discount" on your time spent grinding makes these much more attainable.
- The "Ironworks" Gear: For some reason, people forget you can buy level 50-60 catch-up gear and cool glamour pieces here.
- Triple Triad Cards: If you're a collector, spend your excess MGP on the card packs. The drop rates are still abysmal (looking at you, Warrior of Light card), but it hurts less when you’re swimming in points.
How to Avoid the "Saucer Burnout"
I’ve seen it happen. A player spends six hours straight in the Saucer, gets sick of the music, and quits the game for a month. Don't do that.
The most effective way to handle the FFXIV Make It Rain campaign is the "20-minute Loop."
- Log in.
- Do your three Mini Cactpots.
- Check the time. If a GATE is up, do it.
- Play three matches of Triple Triad (even against the low-level NPCs).
- Log out or go back to your Raids/Roulettes.
If you do this twice a day, you will naturally finish your Challenge Log by the end of the week. No stress. No grinding till your eyes bleed.
A Note on Mahjong
Doman Mahjong is... a lot. If you already know how to play, the FFXIV Make It Rain event makes it a decent earner, but the matches are way too long for MGP efficiency. Only play this if you actually enjoy Mahjong. If you're doing it just for the points, you're making a tactical error. You could have done five GATEs in the time it takes to finish one Mahjong set.
Your Action Plan for Making It Rain
To get the most out of the event without losing your mind, follow this specific order of operations:
- Unlock the Event: Head to Ul'dah and find the quest-giver (usually near the main Aetheryte). Complete the story. It’s usually a cute little mystery involving the Manderville family or the Saucer staff.
- Check Your Buffs: Ensure your FC has Jackpot II running. If not, go to your Grand Company and buy enough Gold Saucer VIP Cards to last your play sessions.
- The Friday Ritual: Every Friday, the Fashion Report resets. Do it immediately. Use community guides to get that easy 90k.
- Prioritize the Log: Open your Challenge Log (under Logs in the main menu). Look at the Gold Saucer section. Focus on the easy ones: 10 mini-games, 3 Triple Triad matches, and 5 GATEs.
- The Big Spend: Wait until the very last day of the event to buy your big-ticket items. You might realize you earned more than you thought, allowing you to get the 2-million MGP mount instead of the 1-million one.
The FFXIV Make It Rain campaign is the best time to be a casual player. You don't need high-end raid gear or a level 100 job. You just need a bit of time and a basic understanding of how to stack your bonuses. Get in there, play some games, and get that mount you've been wanting for three years.