If you’re a new player to Final Fantasy 14, and you’ve been enjoying your class thus far, or you want a change, but you’re unsure which job is right for you now that you’re level 30 and beyond? Well, this is the guide for you. We’re going to breakdown all three archetypes the game has for multiplayer content: Tank, Healer & DPS.
We’ll go through each job available under those archetypes, and give you a breakdown of what you can expect game-play, ability and utility wise with playing each job – so that you can find the right one for you!
Tank:
Tanks will be represented by a blue icon in multiplayer content, and they specialize in taking damage and protecting their allies. Whilst they can dish out some damage themselves, their man focus is, and always should be, ensuring that they’re taking the damage from enemies, instead of their allies.
Paladin
Paladins are bright a shiny tanks, who wield a sword and shield combination. Their abilities and amour are bright, and specialize in making the Paladin stronger in terms of damage reduction. Even going so far as being able to negate all damage whatsoever.
Paladins are for players who want to walk in the light, and have a straightforward class that excels at being the center of attention, and taking the least amount of damage possible whilst doing so. Their rotation weaves both physical and magical attacks in combination. So, if you like the idea of tanking, dealing light magical damage, and using the traditional sword and shield – roll Paladin.
Warrior
Warriors are the more brutal counterpart to their Tank brethren. They specialize in course action, and charging headlong into battle. If you want to be the center of attention through lashing and thrashing out with wild strikes and abilities, Warrior is the way to go.
Warriors wield axes, and their abilities accelerate their damage potential and how large their HP pool. If you want to boost your sustain, and be a madman in the process, Warrior is how.
Dark Knight
If being a bright, shiny warrior of light in the Paladin Class doesn’t appeal to you, then Dark Knight may be the way to go. As the name suggest, these Knights revel in the darkness. They mix both physical and magical attacks together to keep their enemies attention, whilst boosting their damage output.
If you want to be an edge-lord, and wield a giant sword, have some of the coolest armor available in the game – then roll a Dark Knight. Whilst it is true they’ve been nerfed in recent time, their rotation is still very easy for newer players to pull off, and you’re going to look great whilst doing so. Good tank, easy to play, Dark Knight.
Gunbreaker
Gunsbreakers are specialists in the tanking sphere at being able to dish out huge damage. They might not be able to withstand the punishment of something like a Dark Knight, but they can dish out the huge DPS numbers. If you like the idea of shooting things with a sword, well then…
This class is perfect for you if you love playing the damage dealer type in other games, but still want to be playing within the tanking role in your experience with multiplayer. Plus, it’s a gun and a sword. Yeah.
Their play-style might be a bit more challenging for players that are unfamiliar with tanking, as their enhanced damage comes a the cost of less protection, but that means the class it all the more satisfying to pull off well.
Healer:
Healers are represented by a green icon in multiplayer content, and they specialize in keeping allies alive, clearing debuffs, and healing up damage taken. If you like to be the type of player in a group who is supporting the team, and sticking away from the fray, getting off plenty of curative spells off, then healer is for you.
White Mage
The White Mage is one of the most recognizable jobs in all of the Final Fantasy series. As the name suggest, they use white magic to burst heal allies, or regen them over time. They have a secondary resource that pools can be spent on dealing a nuke heal, or damage.
If you look good in white, and want to play the traditional healer role, then White mage is absolutely for you. You will be popular in groups, and find parties easy to join. WM is a high demand class, that can be satisfying to pull of with their ability to save critically endangered allies.
Scholar
If the idea of playing a summoner / healer hybrid is appealing to you, then consider the Scholar. You will be able to summon a little buddy, that will heal and shield your allies. They can modify their abilities on the fly, and will never be lonely.
If you’re considering playing the summoner, but want to be in a supporting role, then Scholar was made for you. They employ books and their familiar, to protect the party and ward off incoming damage.
Astrologian
It’s time to d-d-d-d-duel. Astrologian specializes in using tarot cards to support the party. If you like the idea of wearing a fedora and spamming voice lines from THAT anime, whilst you healing and buff the party, then consider rolling and Astrologian.
Where they shine is their flexibility. White Mage is great at healing, Scholar is great at shielding. Astrologian is good at both, but great at neither. Which means that you can augment your raid party with whichever the team is missing. If you’ve got a White Mage, then focus on shields. If you’ve got a Scholar, then focus on pure healing.
Damage Dealing:
Bard
Bards aren’t in the best of places right now. They suffer from having poor class identity. If you’re interested in bows, you might be dissapointed to find out that this is where your class will end up. The bard uses bows, and the power of song, to deal damage and buff themselves in their allies. But, there is no traditional ranger class.
However if the idea of being a travelling minstrel who attacks foes from afar appeals to you, and you don’t mind being on the lower spectrum for viability damage wise in the current meta, and you just want to play for having as much fun as possible, then give Bard a try!
Machinist
You’re going to be shooting at foes with a BFG. You’re going to be summoning cannons, and dropping bombs. You’re summoning a mech. If this sounds like you, then rolling a Machinist is the way to go. Machinist are easy to play damage dealers who specialize in creating weaponry to assail foes from afar.
If you want to play a strictly damage roll within the multiplayer content in Final Fantasy 14, and the idea of having a rocket launcher, and mech-suit is appealing, well this job was made just for you!
Dancer
Dancers are fluid fighters who use their abilities to boost the power of themselves and their dancer partner. If the idea of floating through the fight like a deadly shade appeals to you, then consider playing a Dancer.
Their rotation relies on the player flowing with the rhythm of their character, and can be satisfying to pull off. They might have lower damage potential than some other DPS character, but they also bring utility!
Black Mage
Black Mage might be one of the more difficult jobs to play, but their damage is some of the highest potential in the game. If you like the idea of casting devastating, explosive spells, then Black Mage will be the job for you.
Positioning is key when playing the Black Mage, and the player will need to decide between evading and casting, but with experience comes some devastating numbers in damage. In addition to the high damage potential, Black Mages have some of the coolest looking sets in the game. This is subjective of course, but we love them!
Summoner
Summoner is in a really great place right now meta wise. They have the highest damage potential, and their rotation isn’t overly complicated for how potent their abilities are. If you like the idea of summoning mini-deities to do your fighting, the try Summoner.
If you’re strictly interested in the numbers game, and just want to play the best class without a care for how much fun or interest in the class lore, well you can’t go wrong here.
Red Mage
The Red’s are the ultimate utility class. As per the other renditions of the class in Final Fantasy entries, the Red Mage wields a sword but can also perform healing and damaging magics. If the idea of being a jack of all trades, well then, Red Mage.
When the Red Mage class fills their meter, they have the potential to deal a devastating sword slash nuke. They’re popular for a reason and make a great solo class. Keep yourself alive, deal damage from afar, finish foes up close!
Blue Mage
This job is unique in that the level limit is quite restrictive, and therefore Blue Mages aren’t used in most relevant content. Their play style is more of a mini-game in FF14. Like all Blue Mages, their gimmick is collecting abilities from foes.
If you want to take a break from your main job and character in Final Fantasy 14, and feel like a relaxing time playing with one of the more unique jobs in the game, then try Blue Mage!
Monk
The Monk specializes in dealing damage with their fists. If you like the idea of flying through combat performing kung-fu on enemies whilst running rings around them, then give Monk a try!
If you don’t have an issue with macro, and don’t mind playing one of the more difficult jobs in FF14 (for not the greatest return), then you won’t have an issue with playing Monk.
Dragoon
Dragoons are a problem. They have some of the coolest sets in the game, and have always been an interesting class in every FF game. In 14 however, they aren’t in a great place right now.
Their jumps actually don’t do anything to evade attacks, and their damage relies on constantly keeping their meter up. So, if you only care about looking cool and not utility or damage, try Dragoon I guess.
Ninja
Ninja’s require a good memory to ensure that the combo that you’re wanting to pull off, is the one that you actually pull off. Once you’ve gotten your experience down like that, you can be a decent damage dealer.
If you like the idea of teleporting behind foes, having flexible options for both utility and damage, then consider rolling with a Ninja!
Samurai
Samurai is in a great place right now in the meta, and you will find yourself constantly and easily being the most damaging player in multiplayer content.
If you find yourself wanting to strictly only deal damage and a lot of it, and you aren’t too fussed with having no utility whatsoever, then consider the way of the Samurai.
Closing
That’s going to wrap things up for our guide in which class is going to suit your play-style in Final Fantasy 14. Be sure to keep an eye out on the website, the blog and our YouTube channel for more Final Fantasy 14 content and guides.
| Program | Founding Writers |
| Author | Luke Cowling |
| YouTuber | Silver Mont |
| Publisher | MGN |
| Game | Final Fantasy 14 |