FFXIV Melee DPS Role Actions: Guide & FAQ

All you need to know about the Melee Role Actions in Shadowbringers!

Here’s a quick guide for the Melee DPS Role Actions available in Shadowbringers. We no longer have to choose – and have access to all Role Actions!

What Jobs benefit from the Melee DPS Role Actions?

Job Class

Monk (MNK)
Dragoon (DRG)
Ninja (NIN)
Reaper (RPR)
Samurai (SAM)

Base Class

Pugilist (PUG)
Lancer (LNC)
Rogue (ROG)

Melee DPS Role Actions – Navigation:
Melee DPS Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Melee DPS Role Actions List

Lvl	Action	Description	Cast	Recast
8	Second Wind	Restore own HP, scales with attack power.	Instant	120
10	Leg Sweep	Stuns target for 3s.	Instant	40
12	Bloodbath	Converts part of your damage to HP for 20s.	Instant	90
22	Feint	Lower target's strength and dexterity by 10% for 10s.	Instant	90
32	Arm's Length	Ignore most position altering effects for 6s. Cause Slow +20% when struck.	Instant	120
50	True North	Nullifies all action direction requirements. Duration: 10s. Max charges 2.	Instant	45

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Melee DPS Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

Here we talk a little bit about each of the role actions and their applications.

Second Wind

Can save your life in raids when expertly used. Learn how to use it well! Never bad to have a self-heal while soloing too, of course.

Note: As a healer main there are very few instances where Second Wind ACTUALLY helps. It’s great for when you accidentally took a hit before a damaging mechanic. Ask your healers about it!

Leg Sweep

Great for soloing and dungeons, rare for raids. a 3 second stun works wonders for mass dungeon pulls.

Bloodbath

A strange skill that has limited usefulness outside of soloing. As for raiding, this is about as useful anytime a regen would be…

Ask your healers when’s the best time to pop this per encounter as they would give you the best use-case.

Feint

Reduces enemy physical damage by a large amount for a short duration. Best used to help mitigate heavy physical tank busters (and the rare physical AoE) in raids. Coordinate with your tanks and healers about it!

Arm’s Length

A niche skill that rarely comes up in raids. Anytime there’s a knockback in an encounter try to imagine how this skill would be best utilized to mitigate its effect on your DPS, or to ease up the mechanics.

True North

Oh boy… a godlike cheese when your raid needs to take sub-optimal melee positioning. You’ll be using this often.

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Melee DPS Role Actions – Navigation:
Melee DPS Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Well, that’s about it for Melee DPS Role Actions! FOR NOW! I’ll be adding to this soon.

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FFXIV Caster DPS Role Actions: Guide & FAQ

All you need to know about Caster Role Actions in FFXIV, the replacement for cross-class skills!

Here’s quick guide about Magical Ranged Role Actions! Shadowbringers has brought yet another update to the Role Actions system (previously the cross-class skills system). This time around, we no longer have to choose – and have access to all Role Actions!

(As a note, people informally refer to these classes as “Caster”)

What Jobs get the Magical Ranged Role Actions?

Job Classes

Black Mage (BLM)
Summoner (SMN)
Red Mage (RDM)

Base Classes

Arcanist (ACN)
Thaumaturge (THM)

Caster DPS Role Actions – Navigation:
Caster Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Magical Ranged Role Actions List

Lvl	Action	Description	Duration	Cast	Recast
8	Addle	Lowers target's intelligence and mind by 10% for 10s.	10	Instant	90
18	Swiftcast	Next spell is cast without cast time.	10	Instant	60
24	Lucid Dreaming	Regain MP over time.	21	Instant	60
44	Surecast	Spells can be cast without interruption. Ignore most position altering effects.	6	Instant	120

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Caster DPS Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

Here we talk a little bit about each of the role actions, and their applications.

Addle

Very useful for raids and other boss fights. Severely reduces the targets magic damage for a short period of time. Usually used to help mitigate heavy tank busters or raid AoE. Remember it only works on magic damage!

Swiftcast

Usefulness depends from class to class, but generally speaking any caster can benefit from this. Will mostly be used to “move while doing a cast”, and can be saved for a fast Resurrection for Summoners. Black Mages love this, while Red Mages, well… It comes up every now and then.

Lucid Dreaming

Slowly restores mana. Should be used as often as possible for Red Mages and Summoners to regain mana over longer fights. Is it even useful for Black Mages!?

Surecast

Very niche skill in some raid encounters. It’s super rare that a strategy would require the use of Surecast, but please be aware of this skill in your repertoire in case it does!

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Caster DPS Role Actions – Navigation:
Caster Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Well, that’s about it for the Magical Ranged Role Actions! FOR NOW! I’ll be adding to this soon.

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FFXIV Healer Role Actions: Guide & FAQ

All you need to know about Healer Role Actions in FFXIV, the replacement for cross-class skills!

Here’s quick guide about Healer Role Actions! Shadowbringers has brought yet another update to the Role Actions system (previously the cross-class skills system). This time around, we no longer have to choose – and have access to all Role Actions!

What Jobs get the Healer Role Actions?

Job Classes

Astrologian (AST)
Sage (SGE)
Scholar (SCH)
White Mage(WHM)

Base Class

Conjurer (CNJ)

Healer Role Actions – Navigation:
Healer Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Healer Role Actions list

Lvl	Action	Description	Duration	Cast	Recast
8	Repose	Puts target to Sleep.	30	2.5	2.5
10	Esuna	Removes a single debuff from your target.	-	1	2.5
18	Swiftcast	Next spell is cast without cast time.	10	Instant	60
24	Lucid Dreaming	Regain MP over time.	21	Instant	60
44	Surecast	Spells can be cast without interruption. Ignore most position altering effects.	6	Instant	120
48	Rescue	Pull a party member to your side.	-	Instant	150

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Healer Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

Here we talk a little bit about each of the role actions, and their applications.

Repose

I dont think this has ever been used in raiding, but this is a godlike soloing and questing skill. Putting enemies to sleep so you can interact with objects is the best.

Esuna

Bind it close – this comes up in almost all dungeons and many raids. And it’s very important to use when it does come up! Clearing a debuff is often the difference between life and death.

Swiftcast

Will mostly be used to instant cast your resurrection, or AoE heal. I guarantee that’s the use 99% of the time. The other 1% is the rare heavy single target heal you need to make sure someone survives.

Lucid Dreaming

Use it often. Restoring your mana is great, for reasons I need not expound on. “Mo’ Mana, No Problems”. Timing on using it isn’t so important these days but try to avoid “mega overflow”.

Surecast

Very niche skill in some raid encounters. It’s super rare that a strategy would require the use of Surecast, but please be aware of this skill in your repertoire in case it does!

Rescue

An amazing skill that saves lives. Admittedly it’s quite difficult to use sometimes because of its “animation lock”. Admittedly I forget to use this when I could have saved someone – bind it “close enough”. I had it bound to 8 before, and I didn’t get much saving done until I bound it closer.

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Healer Role Actions – Navigation:
Healer Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Well, that’s about it for Healer Role Actions! FOR NOW! I’ll be adding to this soon.

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FFXIV Tank Role Actions: Guide & FAQ (Shadowbringers UPDATED)

All you need to know about the Tank Role Actions introduced in Stormblood!

Welcome to our quick dirty guide on Tank Role Actions! Shadowbringers has brought yet another update to the Role Actions system (previously the cross-class skills system). This time around, we no longer have to choose – and have access to all Role Actions!

What Jobs get the Tank Role Actions?

Dark Knight (DRK)
Gunbreaker (GNB)
Paladin (PLD)
Warrior (WAR)

– base classes –
Gladiator (GLD)
Marauder (MRD)

Tank Role Actions – Navigation:
Tank Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Tank Role Actions List

Rampart

Low Blow

Great for soloing and dungeons, rare for raids. a 5 second stun works wonders for mass dungeon pulls.

Provoke

Integral for raids, and important for dungeons. Puts you at the top of your targets enmity list, BUT YOU NEED TO FOLLOW UP or else you’ll lose it again. No tank worth their salt should ever fumble their Provokes!

Interject

Interrupts are rarely used in raids, but very important when they are. It’s usually tanks or ranged that “silence” things. Don’t sweat binding to a useful button, as it doesn’t come up very often.

Reprisal

Amazing for raids. Use it to help mitigate tank busters, or other AoE nukes. Coordinate with your co-tank and healers for a cooldown rotation!

Keep in mind it has a very short duration, and the timing can be weird for some boss mechanics.

Arm’s Length

A niche skill that’s rarely comes up in raids. Anytime there’s a knockback in an encounter try to imagine how this skill would be best utilized to mitigate its effect on your positioning, or to ease up the mechanics.

Shirk

INTEGRAL for many if not all raids. Allows for smoother tank swaps, used directly after your co-tank Provokes.

Level	Action	Description	Cast	Recast	Duration
8	Rampart	Reduce damage taken by 20% for 20s.	Instant	90	20
12	Low Blow	Stuns Target for 5s.	Instant	25	5
15	Provoke	Gain top enmity of a target.	Instant	30	-
18	Interject	Interrupts cast bar of your target.	Instant	30	-
22	Reprisal	Lowers target's damage dealt by 10% for 5s.	Instant	60	5
32	Arm's Length	Ignore most position altering effects for 5s. Cause Slow +20% for 15s when struck.	Instant	120	6(15)
48	Shirk	Diverts 25% of enmity to target party member.	Instant	120	-

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Tank Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

Servers are up so uhh… I’ll add this later.

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Tank Role Actions – Navigation:
Tank Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Well, that’s about it for Tank Role Actions! FOR NOW! I’ll be adding to this soon.

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FFXIV Arcanist / Summoner Stats & Materia Guide

NOTE: This page is for Arcanists planning to go Summoner. Not you? You were probably looking for the:
Arcanist->Scholar Stats Guide.

What’s a good arcanist stats build? What are useful summoner stats? Arcanist / Summoner materia? If any of these questions brought you here, you came to the right place. Whether its by stat allocation, gear or materia, knowing what stats your Arcanist or Summoner need should never be far from mind!

Arcanist (ACN) & Summoner (SMN) Stats

What are the arcanist or summoner stat weights?

INT > Critical Chance > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > VIT

*These may vary slightly from patch to patch, or by personal preference. Following the recommendation above will always give you a good ACN & SMN build.

Arcanist (ACN) Summoner (SMN) Primary Stats Allocation

What stats should I add as an arcanist going summoner?

INT > PIE > VIT

Since this is where people may mess up the most, I’ll explain it in word for word. When you allocate stats, put as much points into your respective main stat (INT) as you can. If you cannot put any more points into those, place points into PIE (Piety). If you cannot put any more points into your primary stat or PIE, invest in VIT (Vitality).

Intelligence – Stat which increases your damage output the most.

Vitality – Increases total HP. Never a bad thing to have, considering everything else has almost no use to you.

Piety – Again, if you ever need to take another stat aside from MND or VIT.

Arcanist (ACN) & Summoner (SMN) Secondary Stats

What are good secondary stats for arcanist ->summoner, and why?

Critical Chance > Determination > Spell Speed

While you can’t allocate this directly, these will be heavily considered when picking gear upgrades and slotting materia.

Critical Chance – The most basic choice for increasing DPS.

Determination – More Damage, and could possibly benefit second wind.

Spell Speed – Reduces GCD, resulting in more damage.

Arcanist (ACN) & Summoner (SMN) Materia

This is directly related to the first section. As you may know, all gear has a limit for each stat it can have, the higher its Item Level, the higher amount of stats it can hold. So the idea is to max out (or get close to maxing out) the left most, and work your way right. Again:

INT > Critical Chance > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > VIT

Materia Name
INT: Intelligence
PIE: Piety
VIT: Vitality
Critical Chance: Savage Aim
Determination: Savage Might
Spell Speed: Quicktongue

See Also: Materia Guide | Melding Guide

Summary:

Overall ACN SMN stat importance: INT > Critical Chance > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > VIT
ACN SMN Stat allocation: INT > PIE > VIT
Secondary stats for ACN SMN: Critical Chance > Determination > Spell Speed
Reference links: Arcanist FAQ, Summoner FAQ

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FFXIV Arcanist / Scholar Stats & Materia Guide

NOTE: This page is for Arcanists planning to go Scholar. Not you? You were probably looking for the:
Arcanist->Summoner Stats Guide

What’s a good arcanist stats build? What are useful scholar stats? Arcanist / Scholar materia? If any of these questions brought you here, you came to the right place. Whether its by stat allocation, gear or materia, knowing what stats your Arcanist or Scholar need should never be far from mind!

Arcanist (ACN) & Scholar (SCH) Stats

What are the arcanist or scholar stat weights?

MND > PIE > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Spell Speed

*These may vary slightly from patch to patch, or by personal preference. Following the recommendation above will always give you a good ACN > SCH build.

Arcanist (ACN) Scholar (SCH) Primary Stats Allocation

What stats should I add as an arcanist going scholar?

MND > PIE> VIT

Since this is where people may mess up the most, I’ll explain it in word for word. When you allocate stats, put as much points into MND (Mind) as you can. If you cannot put any more points into MND, place points into PIE (Piety). If you cannot put any more points into MND and/or PIE, invest in VIT(Vitality).

Mind – Increases healing power. As a Scholar, this is your main concern.

Piety – Increases Mana (MP) Pool. While not such a big issue for Scholars, this is always good to have.

Vitality – When you cannot take anything else, go for VIT and be less squishy.

Arcanist (ACN) & Scholar (SCH) Secondary Stats

What are good secondary stats for arcanist -> scholar, and why?

Critical Chance > Determination > Spell Speed

While you can’t allocate this directly, these will be heavily considered when picking gear upgrades and slotting materia.

Critical Chance – The best choice for scholar, as critical heals will alleviate your problems of a small base heal, and beefing up the shields given by succor. Also triggers your pets passive.

Determination – A flat bonus to both healing and damage is always welcome.

Spell Speed – Reduces GCD and cast time, resulting in more heals. Not too hot for Scholars, though.

Arcanist (ACN) & Scholar (SCH) Materia

MND > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > Critical Chance > VIT

Materia Name
MND: Mind
PIE: Piety
VIT: Vitality
Critical Strike: Savage Aim
Determination: Savage Might
Spell Speed: Quicktongue

See Also: Materia Guide | Melding Guide

Summary:

Overall ACN SCH stat importance: MND > PIE > Critical Chance > Determination > Spell Speed > VIT
ACN SCH Stat allocation: MND > PIE > VIT
Secondary stats for ACN SCH: Critical Chance > Determination > Spell Speed >
Reference links: Arcanist FAQ, Scholar FAQ

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FFXIV Class & Job Stats recommendations!

Wondering where to put your stat points? What stats are good for you? Again, “Look No Further”.

Don’t fuss over what stats to allocate with your stat points. Make an EDUCATED CHOICE by reading your classes guide, linked below!

FFXIV Archer / Bard Stats

FFXIV Gladiator / Paladin Stats

FFXIV Lancer / Dragoon Stats

FFXIV Marauder / Warrior Stats

FFXIV Pugilist / Monk Stats

FFXIV Arcanist / Scholar Stats

FFXIV Arcanist / Summoner Stats

FFXIV Conjurer / White Mage Stats

FFXIV Thaumatuge / Black Mage Stats

If there are ever any major changes to these guides, they will be updated! We will also be keeping a changelog for each class.

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FFXIV Pugilist / Monk Stats & Materia Guide

What’s a good pugilist stats build? What are useful monk stats? Pugilist / Monk materia? If any of these questions brought you here, you came to the right place. Whether its by stat allocation, gear or materia, knowing what stats your Pugilist or Monk need should never be far from mind!

Pugilist (PGL) & Monk (MNK) Stats

What are the pugilist or monk stat weights?

STR > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Skill Speed > DEX

*These may vary slightly from patch to patch, or by personal preference. Following the recommendation above will always give you a good PUG & MNK build.

Pugilist (PGL) & Monk (MNK) Primary Stats Allocation

What stats should I add as a pugilist or monk?

STR > VIT > DEX

Since this is where people may mess up the most, I’ll explain it in word for word. When you allocate stats, put as much points into STR (Strength) as you can. If you cannot put any more points into STR, place points into VIT (Vitality). If you cannot put any more points into VIT and/or STR, invest in DEX (Dexterity).

Strength – Stat which increases your damage output the most.

Vitality – Increases total HP. Never a bad thing to have, considering everything else has almost no use to you.

Dexterity – Again, if you ever need to take another stat aside from STR or VIT.

Pugilist (PGL) & Monk (MNK) Secondary Stats

What are good secondary stats for pugilist or monk, and why?

Critical Chance > Determination > Skill Speed

While you can’t allocate this directly, these will be heavily considered when picking gear upgrades and slotting materia.

Critical Chance – The most basic choice for increasing DPS.

Determination – More Damage, and could possibly benefit second wind.

Skill Speed – Reduces GCD, resulting in more damage.

Monk stat choices are very simple right now. You want as much damage as you can get. *Mahiko’s Note: I’m thinking skill speed may be more important than Determination, and may even benefit more than Crit for monks. However, I won’t personally make that recommendation until more numbers are crunched.

Pugilist (PGL) & Monk (MNK) Materia

STR > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Skill Speed > DEX

Materia Name
STR: Strength
VIT: Vitality
DEX: Dexterity
Critical Chance: Savage Aim
Determination: Savage Might
Skill Speed: Quickarm

See Also: Materia Guide | Melding Guide

Summary:

Overall PGL MNK stat importance: STR > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Skill Speed > DEX
PGL MNK Stat allocation: STR > VIT > DEX
Secondary stats for PUG MNK: Critical Chance > Determination > Skill Speed
Reference links: Pugilist FAQ, Monk FAQ

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Have a question about PGL /MNK? Chime in on the comments or in our Pugilist / Monk Forums.

FFXIV Thaumaturge / Black Mage Stats & Materia Guide

What’s a good thaumaturge stats build? What are useful black mage stats? Thaumaturge / Black Mage materia? If any of these questions brought you here, you came to the right place. Whether its by stat allocation, gear or materia, knowing what stats your Thaumaturge or Black Mage need should never be far from mind!

Thaumaturge (THM) & Black Mage (BLM) Stats

What are the thaumaturge or black mage stat weights?

INT > Critical Chance > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > VIT

*These may vary slightly from patch to patch, or by personal preference. Following the recommendation above will always give you a good THM & BLM build.

Thaumaturge (THM) & Black Mage (BLM) Primary Stats Allocation

What stats should I add as a thaumaturge or black mage?

INT > PIE > VIT

Since this is where people may mess up the most, I’ll explain it in word for word. When you allocate stats, put as much points into INT (Intelligence) as you can. If you cannot put any more points into INT, place points into PIE (Piety). If you cannot put any more points into INT and/or PIE, invest in VIT (Vitality).

Intelligence – INT = Magic damage increase. An obvious choice to stack.

PIE – A very interesting stat for these guys. Useless when in Umbral Ice phase, but extending Astral Fire phases by even 1 spell can be huge.

VIT – HP Pool. No other stat is even close to being useful. THM’s and BLM’s have the smallest HP pools in the game, every point in this is welcome.

Mahiko’s Note – Honestly, I think PIE is more important than determination, depending if certain mana pool thresholds are met. Again this is more advanced stuff, probably meant for the eventual page 2 of these articles…

Thaumaturge (THM) & Black Mage (BLM) Secondary Stats

What are good secondary stats for thaumaturge or black mage, and why?

Critical Chance > Determination > Skill Speed

While you can’t allocate this directly, these will be heavily considered when picking gear upgrades and slotting materia.

Critical Chance – Hands down, THM’s and BLM’s want crit. Every spell done while on Astral Fire is too valuable. Maximizing each spell is the name of the game here.

Determination – Less desirable for THM’s, but still very good. You can even use the +healing! (Arcanist cross-class [Physick])

Spell Speed – While this stat isn’t really too good on THM’s, any DPS increase is welcome.

Thaumaturge (THM) & Black Mage (BLM) Materia

INT > Critical Chance > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > VIT

Materia Name
INT: Intelligence
PIE: Piety
VIT: Vitality
Critical Chance: Savage Aim
Determination: Savage Might
Spell Speed: Quicktongue

See Also: Materia Guide | Melding Guide

Summary:

Overall THM BLM stat importance: INT > Critical Chance > Determination > PIE > Spell Speed > VIT
THM BLM Stat allocation: INT > PIE > VIT
Secondary stats for THM BLM: Critical Chance > Determination > Spell Speed
Reference links: Thaumaturge FAQ, Black Mage FAQ.

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Have a question about THM /BLM? Chime in on the comments or in our Thaumatuge / Black Mage Forums.

FFXIV Lancer / Dragoon Stats & Materia Guide

What’s a good lancer stats build? What are useful dragoon stats? Lancer / Dragoon materia? If any of these questions brought you here, you came to the right place. Whether its by stat allocation, gear or materia, knowing what stats your Lancer or Dragoon need should never be far from mind!

Lancer (LNC) & Dragoon (DRG) Stats

What are the lancer or dragoon stat weights?

STR > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Skill Speed > DEX

*These may vary slightly from patch to patch, or by personal preference. Following the recommendation above will always give you a good LNC & DRG build.

Lancer (LNC) & Dragoon (DRG) Primary Stats Allocation

What stats should I add as a lancer or dragoon?

STR > VIT > DEX

Strength – Well, you have one job as a Dragoon. Dealing tons of melee damage. No-brainer here.

Vitality – Increases total HP. Since other stats are pretty useless, you get to take VIT pretty early. Always a good thing.

Dexterity – DEX is the only other stat that has any function. Increases Parry Rate, and you should have some pretty big parries due to strength.

Lancer (LNC) & Dragoon (DRG) Secondary Stats

What are good secondary stats for lancer and dragoon, and why?

Critical Chance > Determination > Skill Speed

While you can’t allocate this directly, these will be heavily considered when picking gear upgrades and slotting materia.

Critical Chance – More Damage.

Determination – More Damage.

Skill Speed – More Damage. See a pattern here?

Dragoon stat choices are really linear for now. Critical Chance will give the best returns 99% of the time.

Lancer (LNC) & Dragoon (DRG) Materia

STR > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Skill Speed > DEX

Materia Name
STR: Strength
Critical Chance: Savage Aim
Determination: Savage Might
VIT: Vitality
DEX: Dexterity
Skill Speed: Quickarm

See Also: Materia Guide | Melding Guide

Summary:

Overall LNC DRG stat importance: STR > Critical Chance > Determination > VIT > Skill Speed > DEX
LNC DRG Stat allocation: VIT> STR > DEX
Secondary stats for LNC DRG: Critical Chance > Determination > Skill Speed
Reference links: Lancer FAQ , Dragoon FAQ

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Have a question about LNC /DRG? Chime in on the comments or in our Lancer / Dragoon Forums.