The Summoner is an advanced job and was introduced in the Zilart expansion pack (included free with the NA version of FFXI). In order to receive the Summoner quest the character must be at least level 30. In addition, use of a chocobo will help greatly, as well as maps and familiarity with most of the zones in the world.

   To begin the quest, the character must obtain a Carbuncle's Ruby. This blood red gem can be found as a rare loot of most any leech type creature, though the lower the level of the leech, the rarer the drop it is. This can be the hardest part of the quest for most people, taking many hours and many hard combats, or it may be quite simple. A player should be reminded that this is one of those instances where having helped a theif could pay you back, as the Treasure Hunter skill can be extremely valuable. As a note, among the best places to hunt leeches there is Valkurm Dunes, Buburimu Peninsula, Qufim, and Korroloka Tunnel.

   Once obtained a Carbuncle's Ruby, travel to the city of Windurst. In the northern most part of the Windurst Walls district is the House of the Hero. With the Ruby in hand, go to the door of the House of the Hero and examine it. A scene will play out regarding the Carbuncle's Ruby, where a voice from within will ask you to obtain the seven spectrums of light. The seven spectrums of light are actually elements of the weather, and most be collected from any zone during the particular weather effect.

   The weather effect is obtained by zoning into the zone while the weather effect is in place, such as zoning into Konschtat during Lightning weather to obtain the Violet light. However, only zones with are open to the sky can be harvested, caves, dungeons, and other underground type zones can not be obtained. Also, the light is obtained during the acting of zoning in, not simply being in the area when the weather effect starts. If you are in a zone when a weather effect starts, you must zone out and back into the area to obtain the light.

   Some colors of light are more difficult to obtain than others, and some may take quite a bit of patience. To start with, the easiest color ro obtain is Orange. Orange is the color of clear skies. Orange is fairly easy to obtain from the zone directly outside any of the three natins, and in any zone where there is currently no weather effect in place.

   The second group of colors that are fairly easy to obtain are the elements available from the teleportation crags, in Tahrongi Canyon at Mea, in Konschtat Highlands at Dem, and in La Theine Plateau at Holla. The colors are Green (which corresponds to Wind) and Yellow (that corresponds to Earth) which can be obtained in Tahrongi. The colors of Violet (which corresponds to Thunder) or Yellow (that corresponds to Earth) which can be obtained in Konschtat Highlands. And finally the colors of Green (which again corresponds to Wind), or Indigo (which corresponds to Water) that can be obtain in La Theine.

   The last group of colors, which are Red and Light Blue, are the most difficult to obtain. Red corresponds to Fire, and fire weather is not so common as it would sound. Though available in quite a few zones, such as Meriphataud Mountains or Valkurm Dunes, it will actually require a few days of scorching heat and clear skies to actually produce fire weather. This means that the Weather Linkshell NPCs throughout the world can be very useful, as would an abundance of patience. Ice however, is more difficult because of the very few zones which will have ice weather. Though avalable very rarely in Batallia Downs, the best suggestion is to make a trek through the dangerous Ranguemont pass to the ice lands of Beaucedine Glacier.

   The passage through Ranguemont Pass can be quite dangerous, especially without a map, so my one personal advice is to either get a guide to lead the way, or come very well prepared with Silent Oils and Prism Powders. Virtually every single creature within the Pass is aggressive, and their is a fair mix between monsters that detect by sight and by sound that you will want to be Sneak-Invis the entire time, or will want a stalwart companion capable of killing the monsters that attack. Once through the Pass, however, you will find yourself in a land were the ice weather almost never stops. That being the case, Light Blue becomes quite easy to obtain.

   Once all colors of the light have been obtained, you will receive a message that Carbuncle appears and runs away towards the direction of La Teine Plateau. To complete the quest, travel to La Theine Plateau in pursuit. Once there, travel to G-6, where you will find a ring of stones marked in the center with a ???. At night, Ghosts swarm the area, so by far the safest time to come is during the day. Trading the Carbuncle's Ruby to the ???, you will obtain a scene with Carbuncle, after which you are now open to be a Summoner and have gained your first summons, Carbuncle himself!