In this FFXIV guide, we ’ ll explain what you need to know before choosing a class. We ’ ll usher you how roles work and how classes evolve into jobs and explore the other jobs you ’ ll have access to in the game ’ south expansions, including Endwalker .
Table of contents
The difference between classes and jobs
Understanding the three roles
Reading: FFXIV guide: Which job to choose
The difference between classes and jobs
After you create your character in FFXIV, you ’ ll have to choose your starting class .
Classes strictly refer to the starter roles you get to play, but you ’ ll finally abandon them for their more powerful jobs. In the world of FFXIV, jobs describe the different fictional character types you can play ampere. At the very beginning of the game, you merely have access to a few character classes, which serve as lesser versions of the jobs they evolve into at Lv. 30 .
The bet on ’ s expansions besides introduce new jobs that don ’ metric ton necessitate you to play certain roles to a detail level. All you need to do to switch to the game ’ s newfangled jobs is to meet a certain level necessity in addition to owning the job ’ sulfur relate expansion .
Your character can play every problem. When choosing your starting class, you ’ re not locked into any original. You can freely switch roles in FFXIV .
Understanding the three roles
The classes you have access to in the begin of the game besides act as an insertion to the types of roles you ’ ll play in the game : tank, healer, or a wrong dealer ( DPS ) .
These three character are an essential expression of the game ’ s multiplayer mode. When matching up with other players while playing dungeons, trials, and raids, you ’ ll be paired up depending on which character you ’ rhenium play. Dungeons, for example, require one therapist, one tank, and two DPS players. Each of the game ’ s numerous classes and jobs fall into one of these three archetypes .
Tanks are represented with a blue character icon. They lead the charge in dungeons by taking the brunt of enemy attacks. They are the animation shields that fight at the capitulum of the pack. They can protect themselves with spells and potent armor. While they can hit hard, their independent goal is resist enemy attacks so healers and DPS can do their jobs .
Healers have green character icons. They support the party from the backline with spells that restore health or grant lifesaving shields. While they can dish out some punishment on their own with charming attacks, they primarily act as the team ’ sulfur saviors. Healers can besides dispel negative effects enemies cast on their party and some can even revive downed party members .
DPS characters have red character icons. These damage dealers either attack at close up crop or at a distance with weapons or magic trick. Their main goal is to dispatch foes with brawny attacks. Some specify in dealing heavy damage to single enemies, while others can attack multiple adversaries at once. While the party relies on them to defeat all the enemies that stand before them, DPS characters need tanks and healers to keep them alive .
Tanks
If you want to lead the charge in battle, then consider one of the four tank jobs : Paladin, Warrior, Dark Knight, or Gunbreaker .
Paladin
Paladins are the shining knights of FFXIV. They are valiant fighters who wield swords and shields. They have tons of wrong extenuation skills, and they besides cast spells, meaning that some of their abilities have cast times. Paladins besides have raw mend abilities and lots of early supportive skills .
Paladins are arrant for players who want an easily sympathize tank function with brawny defensive options and solid attacks. If you want to play as a Paladin, you must first become a Gladiator class and get them to Lv. 30 .
Warrior
Warriors are brawny brutes that are hard to put down. They are fierce combatants who cleave enemies with massive axes. Their fight manner involves hard-hitting moves that entirely get stronger with abilities that amplify their strength. They have great mend and sustaining abilities and are known for their big explode damage window, which has you ferociously slicing down enemies .
Warriors are a great option for players who want a tank car character that shrugs off attacks and overpowers enemies. If you want to play Warrior, you must first become a Marauder class and get them to Lv. 30 .
Dark Knight
Dark Knights are the mirror prototype of Paladins : They are night, brood, and wield massive swords. Their fight style focuses on keeping up coerce on enemies with darkness-infused physical and charming attacks to build baron. Dark Knight is known for The Blackest Night, which puts a beefy shield over a party member and is one of the best forms of extenuation in the stallion game. Unlike the early tanks, it doesn ’ t have many skills to restore HP, and it ’ mho generally seen as the more “ selfish ” tank car .
Dark Knights are big for players want a all-around and edgy cooler to play arsenic. To play as a Dark Knight, you need the Heavensward expansion, and you have another subcontract at Lv. 50 .
Gunbreaker
Gunbreakers are tanks that have a more involve moveset that makes them feel a bite like a DPS character. They fight with a gunblade that is, unsurprisingly, a sword that can shoot bullets. The job uses combos to gain resources and do even more combos. If you love weaving skills, this is the job for you .
Gunbreakers are an ideal character for players who want to play a tank but besides want a play style that ’ s a bite more involved compared to their counterparts. To play as a Gunbreaker, you need the Shadowbringers expansion and have another job at Lv. 60 .
Healer
If you want to be the charming spine of your party that keeps everyone alive, then consider playing a therapist. The character has four jobs : White Mage, Scholar, Astrologian, and Sage .
White Mage
In FFXIV, White Mages fit the classical estimate of a therapist in most other games. They use their canes to draw upon nature to attack enemies, and cast renewing charming to help allies. They can heal their teammates in large bursts or over time with unlike spells. Their lily system allows them to heal in huge amounts cursorily, while besides dealing wrong .
White Mages are great choices for players who want a absolved put of powerful options for protecting their party. To play as a White Mage, you must choose the Conjurer class and get it to Lv. 30 .
Scholar
Scholars are alone healers who can summon fairies to help the team. While they can cast curative abilities and lifesaving shields for the party, a Scholar ’ mho companion assists them by using their own skills to protect the party ampere well. You must control both your fagot and yourself to keep up shields .
Scholars are adept for players who like the idea of having passive hold arrangement from a summoned ally. To play as a scholar, you must start as the DPS Arcanist class, and then switch to the Scholar therapist caper at Lv. 30 .
Astrologian
Astrologians are healers who use magic trick and special cards to aid their team. Their documentation abilities focus on regenerating health over fourth dimension. They besides cast special buffs for their party by pulling cards from a deck. different cards buff unlike roles, therefore hand out buffs cautiously and efficiently .
Astrologians are big for healers who want flexibility in how they support their party. To play as a Astrologian, you need the Heavensward expansion and a quality at Lv. 50 .
Sage
Sages use charming, float, laser-shooting guns to heal and provide shields for their party. Using Kardia, you ’ ll select a party penis to be your focus, and this party extremity will get healed as you use damage-dealing skills .
sage is ideal for anyone who wants to focus on doing price more than heal. ( But you should still watch HP levels and mend ! ) To play as a sage, you ’ ll need the Endwalker expansion and a character at Lv. 70.
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Melee DPS
If you want to be a damage trader and like the idea of attacking up close and personal, consider one of the four melee DPS classes : Monk, Dragoon, Ninja, or Samurai .
When playing a melee DPS character, there is one expression of combat they have that early jobs do not : positionals. Each of these jobs have attacks that are their most effective when they hit enemies at a certain angle, like from behind .
Monk
Monks are living weapons that get right in the face of their enemies to fight. They use soldierly arts to kick and punch and deal damage to their opponents. Monks must move a lot, as most of their abilities have positionals. It uses many different forms and combos to deal damage .
Monks are great for players who want an involved active style with a set of drift and jazz band. To play as a Monk, you must choose the Pugilist class and get it to Lv. 30 .
Dragoon
Dragoons are high-flying damage dealers. They use their polearms to stab enemies and can take to the skies with leaping attacks that impale enemies. Their fight style focuses on a few jazz band and positionals, with extra buffs allowing you to ramp up your skills. They ’ ra known for their jump abilities, which sends them leaping toward the enemy .
Dragoons are bang-up for players who want a square and powerful job. To play as a Dragoon, you must get a Lancer class up to Lv. 30 .
Ninja
Ninjas employ mystic arts to deal damage and augment their attacks. Their ninjutsu skills allow them to mix and match different seal jutsus to perform a wide range of attacks and close-range spells to defeat enemies. Mastering all their moves requires remembering how to combo different abilities together, which could intimidate or excite players .
Ninjas are capital for players who want an involve, flexible manner of battle with a lot of options. To become a Ninja, you must first get a Rogue class to Lv. 30 .
Samurai
Samurais are herculean fighters with heavy-hitting attacks. They wield katanas that deal massive price to single targets, and they besides have a few area of effect attacks. Their combat style focuses on building resources from combos and spending different amounts to pull off assorted particular attacks .
Samurais are great for players who want to deal big damage. To play as a Samurai, you must have the Heavensward expansion and a character at Lv. 50 .
Reaper
Reaper deals wrong with a scythe while besides summoning a demonic avatar to help crusade. To successfully play Reaper, you ’ ll necessitate to manage fan stacks, a resource bar, and your avatar. They besides have a unique movement ability, allowing them to move through portals that they create .
Reapers are great for players who want a set of different combos and resources to manage. To play as a Reaper, you need to have the Endwalker expansion and a combat job at Lv. 70 .
Physical Ranged DPS
If you want to deal damage but keep your distance, try one of these forcible ranged DPS classes : Bard, Machinist, or Dancer .
While physical ranged DPS characters are focused on dealing damage like their melee counterparts, they besides have abilities that support their party .
Bard
Bards use the power of music to power up their abilities. Their bows can attack enemies and play songs that augment their skills and can boost the forte of their party. They place poison and windbite on enemies, dealing damage over time, while their versatile songs can support their party throughout an entire fight .
Bards are great for players who want to supplement the party and have mobile battle. To play as a Bard, you need to get an Archer class to Lv. 30 .
Machinist
Machinists use engineering to deal a barrage of price. They shoot at their enemies with guns and can deploy respective automatons to fight aboard them. While they don ’ thymine support their party like other physical ranged DPS characters, they make up for it by summoning a powerful automaton to deal extra damage. Machinists besides need to do lots of skill weaving to pull of their boastfully damage numbers .
Machinists are big for players who want to fight aboard a automaton companion. To play as a Machinist, you must own the Heavensward expansion and get a character up to Lv. 50 .
Dancer
Dancers are graceful fighters that, good, habit dance moves to fight. While not arsenic strong as the other physical ranged DPS, their abilities can pick a “ dance partner ” to buff their price output signal. Their fight style is rhythmical, requiring you to press specific buttons in a sequence to pull off their most important skills .
Dancers are great for players who want an byzantine fight style that has a lot of party utility. To play as a Dancer, you need the Shadowbringers expansion and a character at Lv. 60 .
Magic Ranged DPS
If you like the idea of casting spells to damage enemies in FFXIV, then try one of these magic ranged DPS characters : Black Mage, Summoner, Red Mage, or Blue Mage .
These characters require time to cast their spells, so they aren ’ triiodothyronine ampere mobile as their physical ranged DPS counterparts, but their attack exponent offsets their miss of movement .
Black Mage
Black Mages cast high-powered charming spells. They have longer casting times than most, then expect to stick to a good position while you cast explosive and madly charming. At higher levels, these mages must change the type of magic they cast to regenerate their mana so they can endlessly bombard the enemy with attacks .
Black Mages are great for players who want to let informal knock-down spells to devastate enemies. To play as a Black Mage, you must get a Thaumaturge class to Lv. 30 .
Summoner
Summoners fight enemies with the help of different allies. Each of the summoner ’ second creatures have unlike attack styles, giving this classify a handful of damage options. Some of these allies even augment the Summoner ’ second attacks to make them more potent. This function is a sting more complex as Summoners need to manage their own spells while controlling their companions .
Summoners are bang-up for players who like the estimate of summoning minions to help them competitiveness enemies. To play as a Summoner, you must get the Arcanist class to Lv. 30 .
Red Mage
red Mage is a alone class that mixes melee price with black magic for attacks and white charming spells to protect and heal. They use a rapier to stab and swipe at enemies while besides casting. These characters deal a scope of elemental charming damage, while besides helping with heal and even a resurrection spell.
crimson Mages are bang-up for players who want a character that can do a little bit of everything. To play as a Red Mage, you need the Stormblood expansion and a character at Lv. 50 .
Blue Mage
The Blue Mage is a singular limited occupation that has some restrictions. Their play style involves learning attacks from monsters to build up their repertoire of skills. however, because of this extra machinist, Blue Mages can ’ t be used in most situations like main fib quests or keep roulettes .
To play as a Blue Mage, you need a class at Lv. 50 .