Bonecrafting HQ money making guide
Now you spent all that time and money leveling bonecraft to Veteran status. Now the good news is that you can really HQ some of the lower level synths. Now, which ones make money and which ones don't?
First off the ones that don't make money. Don't attempt them unless it is a GP item day for that item, where you may get a few more points for the HQ version. Some of these include:
Now its time to figure out what does make money through HQ. Usually the best HQ items come in this manner:
Consumable materials that always make money
Gelatin. There is 3 different recipes to make, the best being the Fire Crystal + Giant Femur + Distilled Water as it is cheaper and readily available. Gelatin is used in cooking, and there is no other method of obtaining Gelatin except through bonecrafting.
Pebble. This item that caps at 19 is a money losing synth on paper but when you get to the level where you can make several HQ, the HQ results more than make up the loss. HQ1 result is Pearl and HQ2 result is Black Pearl, which goes for 5k and 20k a pop at the Bastok AH respectively. With shall shells only 1000-2000 gil a pop, you can afford to eat some losses for the HQ possibilities. There isn't many alternatives in getting pearls and black pearls unless you farm Saghains or desynth Gigas Necklaces. The higher your bonecrafting skill is, the better chance you will make money by desynthing Shall Shells.
Arrowheads. They are used in woodworking, usually to skill up that trade through the use of arrows. Rangers will also demand a lot of them, if they have the skill to make their own ammo. Scorpion Arrowheads always sell at a profit. Although recent updates have cut into the profit margins of arrowheads, they are still the best way to convert scorpion claws and ram horns into stackable items.
Desynthesis of certain finished goods. Shell Shields, Cat Baghnaks (when purchased from NPC in Port Windurst), and splitting Gigas Necklaces all have appealing HQ results. However, the break rate is much higher than through crafting. Later you will have to desynth certain fish just to get the materials required to get your bonecrafting skill to level 100. The very best desynth in the game is splitting Gavial Fish you can buy for 8k at AH and their HQ desynth is HQ Pugil Scales which sell for 200k+ at the AH and only takes level 5 skill.
Low to mid-level armor that is always in demand
Bone/Beetle Armor. If you thought the NQ versions sold very well (some do sell at a profit too), the HQ versions sell for even more. On GP item day, go ahead and make the items needed, trade in the NQ version and sell the HQ versions at the AH. Some of the NQ versions actually sell at a profit.
Seer's Crown. The NQ version may only fetch 10k at most, but the HQ version can fetch up to 60k depending on the market. Make sure to make them on GP item day or when there is none on sale at AH.
Justaucorps. Only drawback is that level 55 clothcraft subskill you will need. While the NQ versions only sell for 30k at most (which just save them for GP item days), the HQ versions sell for 400k. Once you hit Veteran skill you should be able to pump out a few of these on demand, especially when the guild wants it for guild points.
High-demand accessories
Bone, Beetle, Horn, Carapace, Scorpion, Coral Rings: Rangers demand the HQ versions, so try cranking them out. You can always save the NQ for GP items or desynth them to recover the materials. Although updates have really hit the profit margin on these rings very hard, they are still in demand and should be crafted.
Bone, Beetle, Fang, Coral Earrings: Melees want the HQ if possible, so try making them. The worst case scenario is that you can sell the NQ versions for break-even rates at the AH or save them for GP.
Fang Necklaces. The NQ version may sell at a loss, but the HQ is where the money is made from them. You can sell Spike Necklaces for 25k at the AH. The best day to HQ them is when your guild wants fang necklaces for guild points.
Coral Gorgets. The HQ sells for 500k. With the NQ versions, you can turn them into a money maker once you get the key item Bone Purification with your GP, by turning them into Reraise Gorgets that sell for 75k.
Saintly/Eremite's Rings. If the NQ version sells at a profit on the AH, just imagine the money you can get by HQ them. The materials you need are very easily attainable as well, so get to work.
Eris Earring. The NQ may only be a synth done on demand, but the HQ can make you filthy rich. If you got the skill to make them, don't hesitate to buy Nemesis earrings when they turn up.
Low to mid-level weapons that always in demand
Bone Knife. Thieves will pay a pretty penny on the HQ version of these suckers once they hit level 46. There aren't many weapons in bonecrafting that sell well as HQ, but the ones that do are pretty damn good.
Beetle Knife. Same as bone knife, though the best day to do them is when you need them for guild points.
Bard Instruments
In general, the best bards in the game will not accept anything below HQ quality of their instruments, just like rangers treat their gear. The majority of their instruments is made through bonecrafting. The HQ versions of just about every instrument out there will sell for considerably more than the NQ versions, and always at a huge profit. Days when your guild calls for a certain instrument is always the best day to HQ them, but only sell the HQ when there are no others on the AH.