Have you decided to try Final Fantasy XIV (Final Fantasy 14) but don’t know which job to play? Welcome to our overview of the jobs in the MMORPG from Square Enix.
Final Fantasy XIV now offers its players 19 different jobs. Each has its own background story and characteristics, so there is something for everyone.
In this guide, we give you a general overview of the jobs in FFXIV, how they function at the max level (90) in their core aspects, and for which player type they are recommended. It is not a guide on the exact gameplay of the jobs, but an overview for newcomers.
Check out our beginner’s guide for more useful tips:
Classes? Jobs? What is the difference?
How does the class/job system work? You start the game by choosing a class for your character. This will change to the desired job at level 30.
If you want to play a Black Mage, you must reach level 30 with the Thaumaturge and complete all class quests beforehand. After that, you will receive a job crystal that you can equip like a piece of gear.
It is extremely important to always use your job crystal in battles!
Without the job crystal, you will lack most of your abilities that are essential in combat. The combat system of FFXIV revolves around the jobs and not the classes.
Classes are therefore not dealt with in this guide since they are only used temporarily by players. Additionally, the jobs introduced with new expansions do not have any base classes at all but start directly as jobs.
The Meta of Final Fantasy XIV and How It Works
How do the jobs function in the raid meta of Final Fantasy XIV? Essentially, the developers of Final Fantasy XIV adhere to the basic rule that every raid can be completed with any reasonable combination of jobs, namely:
- 2 different tanks
- 2 different healers
- 4 DPS: mages, melee and ranged fighters
Raid battles in FFXIV are therefore designed around this design philosophy.
This means that in principle all jobs are raid-compatible. However, practice is not as smooth as theory would like, and there are certain preferences within the roles. Often this is due to the fact that these jobs offer the group more “utility”. This means they can enhance the rest of the group with their exclusive abilities.
If you want to raid hardcore: Especially in the hardcore raiding scene and in speedruns, certain jobs are preferred over others. If you are in this scene or want to be, you often need to be able to play multiple jobs of a role at a high level. Flexibility is necessary to adapt to the new meta once there are balance tweaks and changes.
For instance, the Scholar has been a solid job since its introduction at the beginning of “A Realm Reborn” until today. Astrologians, on the other hand, only became “presentable” among healers after several patches and massive buffs.
What does this mean for me as a new player? For beginners, it doesn’t really matter which job they choose. Since you can learn all jobs with one character in Final Fantasy XIV, you can simply choose what is most fun.
You can maintain this mindset up to level 90. No one will kick you out of a dungeon or trial for playing a job that is not part of the current meta.
However, in the raiding area it may happen that players of certain jobs will have difficulties finding a static spot or are directly asked if they could switch their main class for the raid.
Final Fantasy XIV: Tank Jobs
The role of tanks in Final Fantasy XIV is usually to act as the shield of the group.
Tanks are not a purely defensive role. While your highest priority will be to hold the aggro of the enemies and reduce damage taken, it is equally important to achieve good DPS.
Especially in raids, tanks are also expected to deliver good damage numbers. So if you plan to look into the endgame of FFXIV, prepare yourself to take high damage as a tank.
Paladin
Weapon: Sword and shield
Where can you unlock the Paladin?
- Location: Ul’dah, Thal Crossroads (X: 9.2 / Y: 11.7)
- NPC: Lulutsu
- Job Quest: Free Paladin
- Requirements: Base class Gladiator at level 30 and completion of all class quests
What is the story of the Paladin? Clad in shining armor and armed with sword and shield, Paladins have been the loyal protectors of the rulers of the city-state of Ul’dah for centuries.
They sprang from a small group of experienced and loyal fighters chosen by the first Sultan of Ul’dah to serve him. Since then, their combat art has been passed down and refined to new generations.
Today, they stand by the loyal guard of Sultana Nanamu Ul Namo and have recently started accepting regular adventurers into their ranks who distinguish themselves through special bravery.
How does the gameplay work at level 90? The basic rotation of the Paladin is based on the physical combo Vortex Cut ⇨ Thunder Blade ⇨ King’s Blade for single targets and on the area combo Eclipse ⇨ Protuberance.
Both combos grant you 3 stacks of the buff “Sword Oath” upon completion. This has two functions:
- It is necessary to use the strong finisher ability Absolution
- It makes the two spells of the Paladin Holy Spirit (single target) and Holy Circle (AoE) “instant cast”, meaning usable immediately without preparation time.
You will therefore use your combo attacks with Absolution or one of the two spells.
The special feature in the Paladin rotation is the ability Requiescat. It grants you 4 stacks of the buff of the same name, with which you can execute a powerful magical combo.
- Confiteor ⇨ Blade of Piety ⇨ Blade of Rectitude ⇨ Blade of Valor (in the video at the very end)
The skills deal area damage and restore some of your HP when used. To get the most out of the powerful Confiteor combo, one should always use it together with the buff Recklessness that increases your dealt damage by 25%.
The combo costs MP, so make sure you have enough gathered before you use it. These are automatically regenerated in battle by using skills like Thunder Blade and Absolution.
You also have the resource Oath, displayed on the corresponding bar. The bar fills with every successful auto-attack you execute.
At 50 points, you can use the defensive skills (Holy) Schiltron and Cover to reduce the damage of heavy boss attacks that would otherwise kill you instantly.
How in-demand is the job in the endgame? Thanks to their strong defensive abilities and solid DPS, Paladins used to be predominant in most groups engaged in endgame content speedruns.
Currently, however, the outlook for the Paladin is bleak. Even in the new Abyssos and Omega raids, it does the least damage of all tanks and is very rarely represented in the top raiding groups. So if you want to get into hardcore raiding, you might run into problems finding a group as a Paladin.
Who is the Paladin interesting for? The job is optimal for anyone wanting to try tanking in FFXIV but still feels a bit hesitant. It is easy to understand and very robust.
Players who later want to do a lot of raiding usually can’t go wrong with the Paladin. Tanks are always very sought after in group content, be it in small dungeons or epic raids, even though the Paladin has been struggling in this area since Endwalker.
Warrior
Weapon: Axe
Where can you unlock the Warrior?
- Location: Limsa Lominsa, Upper Decks (X: 11.2 / Y: 6.1)
- NPC: Wyrnzoen
- Job Quest: The Warrior from the Mountains
- Requirements: Base class Marauder at level 30 and completion of all class quests
What is the story of the Warrior? In times when Eorzea was shaken by constant violent conflicts among its inhabitants, the Warriors were among the most feared opponents on the battlefield.
Armed with large axes, they spread death and destruction, often even within their own ranks. Not every warrior could control the beast within and became a berserker.
Today, there are only a few warriors left. It is said they can still be found somewhere in the mountains of Abalathia.
How does the gameplay work at level 90? At the center of the warrior’s gameplay are the two powerful attacks Mow Down and Decimate.
These attacks cost the resource Urkraft, which is generated by executing combos. The warrior switches between two combos in their rotation:
- Stormbreaker Combo: provides the warrior with a “+10% attack” buff that must be maintained consistently
- Storm Dagger Combo: fills the Urkraft bar more strongly
Your goal in combat is to gather as much Urkraft as possible through combos to use Mow Down and Decimate more frequently.
Two warrior buffs also assist you:
- Battle Cry instantly grants you 50 Urkraft points. Its cooldown is reduced by 5 seconds with almost every use of either Mow Down, Decimate, Chaotic Blade, or Inner Chaos.
- Awakening grants you a buff of 3 stacks that you can spend freely to use Mow Down and/or Decimate without Urkraft costs.
At level 90, the warrior also gains a finisher skill called Primal Force. This can and should be used while Awakening is active.
How in-demand is the job in endgame? Despite their enormous self-healing, in the current epic raid Abyssos, warriors are preferred over other jobs like Gunbreaker and Dark Knight by top raiding groups. The same holds true for the ultimate Omega raid, although the warrior performs slightly better than his tank counterpart Paladin.
Since the revamp of PvP with patch 6.1, the warrior has also become very popular in the competitive new mode Crystalline Conflict, as well as in the mass battles of the Frontlines.
Who is the warrior interesting for? The job is interesting for players who would like to try tanking but also feel the heart of a DPS inside them. The warrior is a beginner-friendly tank with a simple rotation that’s effective from the start.
Additionally, the warrior may be a good option for those who want to engage in plenty of raiding later on, as tanks are always in demand in groups, regardless of whether in dungeons or epic raids.
Dark Knight
Weapon: Great Sword
Where can you unlock the Dark Knight?
- Location: Ishgard, Foundry (X: 13.2 / Y: 8.8)
- NPC: Ishgard Citizen
- Job Quest: You Shall Not Pass
- Requirements: Ownership of the expansion “Heavensward” and completion of the main scenario of “A Realm Reborn”
What is the story of the Dark Knight? Only in hushed tones and in whispers do the inhabitants of Ishgard dare to speak of the Dark Knights.
They are feared and reviled by nobles and the clergy. They make use of dark powers and disregard the laws that prevail in the city-state, as those laws only serve corruption and greed.
But for the poor on the streets, Dark Knights are the true heroes who protect them from the caprice and injustice of authority. And they take terrible revenge.
How does the gameplay work at level 90? The Dark Knight, unlike other tanks, has only one combo, but you must manage three important resources simultaneously in combat:
- Mana
- Blood of Shadows
- and the timer for “Dark Side”
Dark Side is a buff that increases your attack and should always be kept active. This is accomplished by repeatedly using the abilities Shadow Blade or Shadow Flare. This buff is also needed to use the strong skill Shadowbringer at level 90.
They generally cost a lot of mana, which the Dark Knight also needs for its defensive ability Darkest Night. This creates a strong shield that can absorb heavy boss attacks or protect party members.
If the shield is broken by an attack, the Dark Knight receives a buff that completely removes the MP cost for using Shadow Blade and Flare.
The Shadow resource is needed for the two strong attacks of the Dark Knight, Bloodletting and Quietus, as well as the cooldown Shadowy Soul. These abilities are important for the burst phase where you deal the most damage.
The burst phase is triggered by the ability Blood Delirium, which allows you to perform Bloodletting and/or Quietus 3 times in a row without resource costs. Both mana and Blood resources are generated through the only combo of the Dark Knight.
How in-demand is the job in endgame? In Endwalker, the Dark Knight experienced a surge in popularity. Between 40% and 50% of the top groups in their roster now include a Dark Knight, making it one of the two tanks with the highest damage output. Therefore, you will rarely have issues finding a static in raids with this job.
Dark Knights are also well-received in the ultimate Omega raid where the tank is represented in almost 45% of all top groups.
Who is the Dark Knight interesting for? This job is more suitable for advanced players who want to try something new.
If you are looking for a challenge and are not afraid to manage three resources at once, then give the job a try. Although it has only one combo, it is not as simple as it seems at first glance.
The Dark Knight is also regarded as the job with the best story quests. It is optimal for lore junkies who enjoy well-written characters and provides excellent reading material.
Gunbreaker
Weapon: Gunblade
Where can you unlock the Gunbreaker?
- Location: Ul’dah, Nald-Kreuzgang (X: 9.2 / Y: 9.1)
- NPC: The Enthusiastic Ul’dahn
- Job Quest: The Road to Gunbreaker
- Requirements: Ownership of the expansion “Shadowbringers” and at least one tank job at level 60
What is the story of the Gunbreaker? In times of war, many resources flow into the invention of new weapons that might turn the tide. The Gunsteel workshops of the nation Ishgard have specialized in this activity.
The talented engineers under the leadership of Stephanivien de Haillenarte work tirelessly to improve their machines. They use a technology that absorbs the innate aether of fighters and converts it into electricity that powers these machines.
Although some nobles criticize and mock the work of the Gunsteel workshop, the Gunbreakers have saved many lives during the bloody battles in the 1000-year war against the dragons with their pistols and automatons.
How does the gameplay work at level 90? Unlike the two other ranged fighters, the abilities of the Gunbreaker are not “proc-based”.
Instead, the job has a basic combo that is executed like that of melee fighters. The uniqueness of the Gunbreaker lies in its two resource bars:
- Heat
- and Battery
Once you generate 50 points of Heat, you can use the ability Hypercharge, which grants you 5 stacks of Overload and lasts for 10 seconds. During this time, you have access to the abilities Heat Shot and Crossbow.
Each use of them reduces the cooldown of two other skills: Gauss Shot and Ricochet Shot.
So while the Hypercharge timer ticks, you must spam Heat Shot or Crossbow, while also ensuring that Gauss and Ricochet are used in between. Ideally, this happens while you have the ability Wildfire activated.
For every hit of a weapon skill that lands on the target during the duration of the ability, you deal 240 weapon damage, ending after 6 stacks in a powerful explosion.
Generating 50 points in the Battery gauge allows you to summon the Automaton DAME. This is a robot that fights alongside you and can deal powerful finishing attacks with Overheat. At level 86, it gains a strong finisher for its attacking repertoire.
Both Heat and Battery are generated through your combos as well as other attacking abilities.
How in-demand is the job in endgame? In ultimate content, the Gunbreaker was in a difficult position at the end of Shadowbringers. In the group setups for the Alexander and Eden raids, this job was practically absent.
Despite the Gunbreaker having a high personal DPS that often exceeds other physical ranged fighters, it usually cannot compensate for the lack of buffs for the party.
However, with the buff in patch 6.3, the job has been gaining popularity again. In the new Omega raid, 35% of top groups prefer to bring a Gunbreaker instead of a Bard.
Who is the Gunbreaker interesting for? The Gunbreaker is for you if you love the mobility of ranged fighters but don’t want any of the support responsibilities. With this job, you can simply focus on dealing damage.
The Gunbreaker also features a cool tech aesthetic that reflects in its abilities. You can conjure a hefty cannon right out of your sleeve or summon the Automaton DAME to fight beside you.
Dancer
Weapon: Throwing weapons
Where can you unlock the Dancer?
- Location: Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks (X:9.8 / Y:12.0)
- NPC: Excited Citizen
- Job Quest: Invitation to Dance
- Requirements: Ownership of the expansion “Shadowbringers” and at least one warrior or mage class at level 60
What is the story of the Dancer? In the vast ocean, far from Eorzea, lies the island of Thavnair. It is known for its deserts, alchemy, and the exotic dancers who occasionally come to the city-states with their dance troupes.
But few know that these troupes do not just provide beautiful spectacles and great performances. They consist of battle-hardened warriors who master weapons as well as the choreography of their dances.
And their tours through Eorzea have a specific goal. For centuries they have fought an invisible and formless danger that hides in the hearts of people.
How does the gameplay work at level 90? Similar to the Bard, the Dancer is also based on “procs,” meaning random triggers that allow it to use additional abilities in combat.
This means that the job does not have a fixed rotation, but rather one that arises from the procs that light up on your skill bar. This means you initially use your basic combo for single target and AoE and look to see if other abilities can be triggered afterward.
The core of the Dancer’s gameplay consists of its two choreographies: Simple and Complex. Once activated, you must execute a specific number of dance steps.
When executed correctly, both choreographies grant you buffs:
- Simple: grants you an attack boost (duration 1 min)
- Complex: grants the entire group an attack boost (duration 20 seconds)
The complex choreography receives an upgrade at level 82 that grants access to the finisher Tillana while simultaneously executing the simple choreography without requiring you to press the specific sequence again.
The simple choreography should always be kept active, not only for the attack bonus but also for the Dancer’s first resource: The Dance fever.
The Dance Fever bar is randomly filled during combat whenever you strike enemies with your combos. Once it has filled halfway, you gain access to the powerful ability Blade Dance.
The second resource of the Dancer is its Plume Burlesque. These feathers are randomly generated after using certain abilities and are also proc-based.
They allow the use of a group of additional abilities called Fan Dance I, II, and III. You can have a maximum of 4 such feathers, and you should regularly consume them in combat.
As a Dancer, you may also choose a dance partner who will then benefit from the same buffs you do in combat. Typically, you would choose one of the strongest DPS in your party. The attacks of the dance partner also fill your Dance Fever bar.
You can find exact information about the Dancer in our article:
How in-demand is the Dancer in endgame? Since the end of Shadowbringers, the Dancer has been by far the most popular among the three ranged fighters in FFXIV. Many groups take the job along when running ultimate content due to its strong support abilities.
While the Dancer has the lowest personal DPS among all DPS, it compensates with its buffs for the group. Especially in the current ultimate raid Omega (Fatal) and the new Pandaemonium raid Abyssos, the Dancer is very much looked up to.
Since the Gunbreaker buffs in patch 6.3, the Dancer must now share the top spot, but Dancers remain well-received in raid groups.
Who is the Dancer interesting for? If you like to do more than just deal damage numbers in battle, then the Dancer is the right job for you.
With its arsenal of supporting abilities, the Dancer can contribute more to the fight than most other DPS. If you have good reflexes or can generally multitask well, you’ll have fun playing the Dancer.
You miss the Blue Mage in the list? We also have a guide for that limited job:
