Since Retainers share your Levels, you’ll need to be Level 80 as a Botanist. Your Retainer will also need a minimum of 1,459 in the Gathering Stat. That’s easily attainable, however, as even normal Vendor Gear can be used to hit it. The Venture itself does offer a variety of Rewards, with the Minion being quite rare. Although the Venture takes 18 hours of real time to complete – and it’ll likely require multiple attempts.
Woodland Exploration XXV Drops
2,396,800 Retainer Experience Allagan Silver Piece (6x) Lignum Vitae Log (6 – 9x) Bacon Bits Minion Mist Spinach (6 – 9x) Peppermint (6 – 9x) Pixie Floss Boll (6 – 9x) Russett Popoto (6 – 9x) Sandteak Log (6 – 9x) Upland Wheat (6 – 9x)
Each foray into the Woodlands will cost your two Ventures. These are most easily obtained from your Grand Company at the following locations:
Ul’dah – Steps of Nald – Hall of Flames, X:8 Y:9 New Gridania – Adders’ Nest, X:10 Y:11 Limsa Lominsa Upper Decks – Maelstrom Command, X:13 Y:13
They’ll cost you 200 Seals each, and it’s probably a good idea to stock up on them. Keep dispensing your Retainer and eventually you’ll end up with your porcine companion.