FFXIV Summoner (SMN) Basics Guide & FAQ – Shadowbringers Updated!

MIN & BTN Leveling Guides updated. Other notes...

Botanist Leveling to 90, as well as Miner Leveling to 90 are updated for the Endwalker tier. Older tiers needs some fixing, although I modernized what I could quickly – I placed the important notes on the top of the aforementioned guides reflecting the major things that you need to take note of.

I will post a personal update soon, for those that are curious…

Striving to set out as a Summoner? Simmer on how to stir up a storm with the SMN job! Basic information and FAQs in our Summoner Basics Guide. Read on if you’re expecting to learn about unlocking SMN, Summoner Job Identity, trait and skill list, crafters and gatherers related to SMN, and link to other important Summoner info!

Summoner is a Ranged Magical DPS job (“caster”) introduced as one of the nine original jobs in 2.0 A Realm Reborn. SMNs came out at release with another caster job, Black Mage. It took years before another caster was added into the mix (During 4.0 Stormblood, Red Mage).

How to become a Summoner? Unlocking SMN:

First and foremost you need to have a Level 30 Arcanist, and have completed the L30 ACN class quest, “Sinking Doesmaga”. After doing this you can unlock the actual quest to become a Summoner, “Austerities of Flame” found at Limsa Lominsa – Lower Decks. 

You also have to complete a Level 20 MSQ, “Sylph Management”, which realistically should be completed by the time you’re looking to unlock Summoner. 

Note that, upon completing the quest you MUST EQUIP the “Soul of the Summoner” to actually formally BECOME a SMN. Interestingly, in the old days, unlocking Summoner required L15 Thaumaturge – that’s no longer the case.

Rushing to or want to know how to unlock a certain class? Learn more:
FFXIV Job Unlock & Requirements Guide.

Summoner Playstyle & SMN Job Identity

If you’ve asked yourself, “Why play, try, or choose Summoner?” – here’s my attempt at selling you the SMN class.

Pet class DPS? Sign me up! For sure you know at least ONE dude that said it. FFXIV’s Summoner has gone through quite a few transformations over the years… 

Historically, SMN’s are a reasonably mobile caster class. While their “multi phase” rotation is a little too much to swallow for some, it’s a welcome challenge for some. They have a DoT subtheme if you’re into that. Aligning and being smart about timings and cooldowns are a CORE mastery aspect for the job. Be warned, their “only human” phase is some of the most feelsbad parts of any jobs rotation heh.

Aesthetically and thematically, I mean, you can’t not love the classic Summoner horn, and your cast of pets include the classics Ifrit, Titan, Bahamut, Garuda, Phoenix. The flashiness is off the charts as well. FFXIV’s Summoner might not be for everyone, but they (literally they) get the job done.

DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER: This is not meant to be a blurb that aligns with the current meta. That changes from patch to patch. Our goal here is to provide you with an idea of what the job is trying to be, getting cues from both the Developers’ concrete decisions on job design, as well as our own feedback.

What Crafters & Gatherers should Summoner level?

While it’s common in MMORPG’s to think you want to craft your own gear as you level up your SMN… I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

Leveling up your DoH and DoL jobs should be thought of as a different activity completely. To be honest, if you’re a newer player, simply ensure that you DO NOT OVERCAP Levequests (always have less than 100).

The only relation a combat job has to a crafter or gatherer class is “which classes do you need to repair your gear”? My advice, ultimately, is pretty much all or nothing – level up all DoH classes in tandem. As a separate project, level up all DoL classes in tandem (with the optional Fisher).

What’s the best race for Summoner?

Racial stats are (was?) a thing. However, I highly recommend not caring about it. The difference in performance between the “best” and “worst” race for you is not even 0.1%.

My advice? Pick for aesthetics. Will you stay the same job forever? If you change mains, will you race change? Ultimately, the difference is so microscopic that I cannot in good faith tell you that racial stats are an integral part of your character.

I won’t even link the Racial Stats Guide, as I haven’t checked up on this in a while – and I don’t want to cement the idea that the “best race” really matters.

Related Summoner Guides – Read More!

Here are a few useful links for you:

Upcoming Odds and Ends

Here’s a few things we’ll be adding on here in the near future:

  • Adding a “links to further resources”, we’re doing a site restructure so once those links are set, they’ll go in here.
  • Human-readable, newbie-friendly skill and trait list.
    > I used to have the in-game skill list here, but I found it useless as the in-game one is better… I’d rather have a new player friendly rundown.
  • More descriptive job identity? Pics?
    > I dunno… pictures of the job gauges? A gif of some flashy skills?
  • Feel free to suggest anything else via comment or socials!

Summary & Outro

Well that’s about it for a really, really basic guide that hopefully points some lost souls in the right direction, or answers some of your questions regarding Summoner.


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FFXIV Gunbreaker GNB L60+ Rotation for leveling

A newly minted Gunbreaker, so many skills – so little time! Lucky you’ve found the right place! Our Gunbreaker L60 & Leveling Rotation guide should help you get into the basics.

Looking for a list of skills? See our Gunbreaker general guide, or preferably… your own skill list. Gunbreaker enters the world with the following number of actions, all of which we will account for:

  • NINETEEN Job actions
  • SEVEN Role actions

L60+ Gunbreaker leveling rotation: Navigation
L60 Rotation Summary | L60 Skills explained | L60+ skills, and rotation effect.

Gunbreaker (GNB) L60 Rotation Summary

Here we discuss the single target rotation, AoE rotation, and cooldown usage of Gunbreaker. If you need a skill by skill explanation and protips, it’s in the next section.

Protip: Never forget your enmity stance (Royal Guard) in dungeons. And at least one of you two tanks should have it in raids (Remember the “he who keeps it on is the main tank” rule).

L60 Gunbreaker Single Target Rotation

It would help to imagine Gunbreakers L60 rotation as using combos to gain cartridges, and appropriately spending them.

Your basic rotation loop looks something like this:

  1. Keen Edge > Brutal Shell > Solid Barrel GAIN CARTRIDGE.
  2. Spend cartridge: Gnashing Fang combo > Burst Strike (cooldown dependent)

That constitutes a majority of your decisions and actions, but also consider the miscellaneous parts of your DPS.

  • Use heavy cooldowns: No Mercy > Sonic Break
  • Weave OGCDS: Danger Zone > Rough Divide

L60 Gunbreaker AoE Rotation

Your basic AoE rotation (3+ enemies!) loop looks something like this:

  1. Revert to single target at any time you have less than 3 enemies.
  2. Demon Slice > Demon Slaughter combo: GAIN CARTRIDGE
  3. Save up to 2 Cartridges, don’t overflow! Use them as you would in your single target rotation but maybe prioritizing Burst Strike spam, for speed.

That constitutes a majority of your decisions and actions, but also consider the miscellaneous parts of your DPS.

  • Use heavy cooldowns: No Mercy > Sonic Break
  • Weave OGCDS: Danger Zone > Rough Divide

AS YOU DO NOT HAVE A CARTRIDGE AoE SPENDER,
you cannot truly have an isolated AoE rotation yet,
and must incorporate single target.

L60 Gunbreaker Other skills and responsibilities

Here we outline the uses of any other skill not mentioned in the rotation guide above.

Keep Royal Guard on! You’re a tank, so (easy as it is these days) hold aggro at all times. Royal Guard is essentially an enmity generation stance. It’s OGCD these days! Provoke helps with the strays

Heavy damage (help your healers!) should be mitigated by:
Nebula, Camouflage, and role action Rampart.

You can help heal yourself with Aurora. Every little bit counts…

If you’re on the precipice of death, Superbolide ENSURES you to be an inch from it! Jokes aside, it will keep you alive for the next few seconds. Hopefully, you’ll be alive AFTER it.

Gunbreaker L60 skill by skill explanation and binding tips

Here, we bind your actions and help you understand them
IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR.

Job ActionsRole Actions

Keen Edge: is your basic combo starter. “1”.

No Mercy (short cooldown): A very long DPS steroid that should BASICALLY be used as much as you can. Keep it in reach as its cooldown is very generous.

Brutal Shell: Is the second step in your basic combo. “2”.

Camouflage (long cooldown): an amazing cooldown due to its titanic duration. Essentially a second Rampart. Great for absorbing “two” mechanics worth of damage.

Demon Slice: is the first step in your AoE combo.

Royal Guard: is your tank stance. Switching it is OGCD these days. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind clicking this, or having a far bind.

Lightning Shot: Ranged pulling attack.

Danger Zone (short cooldown): Heavy OGCD attack. Used quite often.

Solid Barrel: Your basic combo finisher. “3”. It also gains you a Cartridge.

Burst Strike: Heavy single target Cartridge spender.

Nebula (long cooldown): Short but heavy damage mitigation. Use for tank busters.

Demon Slaughter: Your AoE combo finisher that also gains you a Cartridge.

Aurora (cooldown): A cute regen effect on yourself, or any party member.

Superbolide (long cooldown): Ultimate “Oh Shit” Button, but puts your health at 1.

Sonic Break (cooldown): Massive DoT with long duration that’s mostly relevant on bosses.

Rough Divide (short cooldown): OGCD gap closer with damage. Will mostly be used for damage, lol. Keep it close in bindings.

Gnashing Fang > Savage Claw > Wicked Talon: Are the three parts of your cartridge combo. Note that the combo has a cooldown, aside from cartridge cost. Personally, I put these in “Ctrl+1, Ctrl+2, Ctrl+3”.

I’ll loosely discuss these Tank Actions in relation to Gunbreaker.

Rampart: is a workhorse. Due to its long duration, it’s suitable for large dungeon pulls and “double mitigating” a string of mechanics in raids. Gunbreaker also has Camouflage to act as a “Rampart 2”.

Low Blow: Is rarely useful in raids but great otherwise. Stunning a monster makes it deal no damage, and can also interrupt their spells. I used to bind this near me, but I now have a super out of the way bind for it. (CTRL or ALT + something). Clicking it is fine, too.

Provoke: Is essential in raids, and has some usefulness in dungeons. You should ALWAYS know if your Provoke is up, and where to press for it. No self-respecting tank would ever be confused about their own Provoke.

Interject: Similar to Low Blow in many respects, it’s a pretty niche skill. Find a far bind for it, or click it.

Reprisal is a godly skill in raids, but pretty much a non-issue otherwise. Find a good bind for this if you’re the raiding type.

Arm’s Length is something I comfortably put in the “okay to click” tier. It’s RARELY used and its uses will rarely catch you off-guard. It’s almost always planned.

Shirk: is essential in most raids. Transferring aggro to and receiving aggro from your tanks helps ease tank swap mechanics.

Gunbreaker L60+ How new skills affect rotation

I’ll add to this very soon.

L60+ Gunbreaker leveling rotation: Navigation
L60 Rotation Summary | L60 Skills explained | L60+ skills, and rotation effect.

WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I’ll definitely be adding information. Good luck shooting and slashing with your Fresh L60+ Gunbreaker Leveling Rotation!

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FFXIV Dancer L60+ Rotation for leveling

So you’re a fresh Dancer and plopped into this world without a clue. Fear not! Our Dancer L60 & Leveling Rotation guide should help you get into the basic meat of things!

If you’re looking for a list of skills, check our Dancer General Guide, or preferably… your own skill list. Dancer enters the world with the following number of actions, all of which we will account for:

  • FIFTEEN Job actions
  • SIX Role actions

L60+ Dancer Leveling Rotation: Navigation
L60 Rotation Summary | L60 Skills explained | L60+ skills, and rotation effect.

Dancer L60 Rotation Summary

Here we discuss the single target rotation, AoE rotation, and cooldown usage of Dancer. If you need a skill by skill explanation and protips, it’s in the next section.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DESIGNATE A DANCE PARTNER!!!!

L60 Dancer Single Target Rotation

It would help to imagine Dancer’s L60 rotation as short combos that give you procs. Your skills have a “priority” system to put it SIMPLY.

 Your basic rotation loop looks something like this:

  1. Cascade > Fountain until you get any procs.
  2. Reverse Cascade and Fountainfall used ASAP, hoping for a Fourfold Feather.
  3. Have Feathers? Use Fan Dance in between GCD’s.
  4. Standard Step is up? Use it. It’s a huge nuke +Damage up buff.

But when thinking of it in a priority system it looks like this:

  1. Standard Step
  2. OGCD Fan Dances
  3. Reverse Cascade and Fountainfall procs
  4. Cascade into Fountain basic combo spam.

L60 Dancer AoE Rotation

This is essentially a mirror of the single target rotation, just using different skills.

Your basic AoE rotation loop looks something like this:

  1. Windmill > Bladeshower praying for procs.
  2. Rising Windmill and BLOODshower used ASAP hoping for Fourfold Feather.
  3. Have Feathers? Use Fan Dance II in between GCD’s.
  4. Standard Step is up? Use it. It’s a huge nuke +Damage up buff.

AoE rotation priority thought process:

  1. Standard Step
  2. OGCD Fan Dance II
  3. Rising Windmill & Blood Shower procs
  4. Windmill into Bladeshower basic AoE combo spam.

It all seems a little weird at first but it’s quite intuitive after a little while.

Dancer L60 skill by skill explanation and binding tips

Here, we bind your actions and help you understand them
IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR.

Job ActionsRole Actions

If you need it, we have a skill table at Dancer General Guide.

Cascade – Your basic attack. For all intents and purposes is the “1” binding. You’ll be pressing this a lot. It combos into two possible branches so keep that into consideration. Part of your ‘dance step’ binds too.

Fountain – Your basic combo link from cascade. “2” binding. Part of your ‘dance step’ binds too.

Windmill – An AoE mirror of your basic attack. It’s the first skill in your AoE combo. This also has two possible branches. Part of your ‘dance step’ binds too. While I would usually recommend this to your defaul ‘AoE’ buttons, there are dance steps to consider (read the next skill).

Standard Step (short cooldown) – Heavy single target attack. Transforms your basic combos (Cascade, Fountain, Windmill, and Blade Shower) into “Dance Steps”. Meaning you should be very comfortable pressing any of these 4 skills in any order as your dances will use these skills as “steps” like a rhythm game. Also gives a damage up buff!

Reverse Cascade – a chance to combo from your basic combo Cascade, which has a chance to gain you a Fourfold Feather.

Blood Shower – the continuation of your AoE combo from Windmill. The final part of possible dance step binds.

Fan Dance – Use up a Fourfold Feather to deal single target damage. You can think of it as a “possible endpoint for your chance based combo”.

En Avant (short cooldown) – A dashing movement skill that does no damage. Bind it comfortably!

Curing Waltz (cooldown) – Double AoE cure centered around you and your dance partner. Very useful, and shouldn’t be hard to press.

Shield Samba (long cooldown) – Magic AoE dampening effect for your party. Very useful in raids, but it’s long cooldown suggest a further keybinding.

Closed Position (short cooldown) – designate a party member as your dance partner. You wont change this up very often mid-fight unless you’re a tryhard of the highest level (aligning dance partners to DPS cooldowns). Shouldn’t be too hard to click though, as you should redesignate a dance partner in the untimely death of your current one.

I’ll loosely discuss these Ranged DPS Role Actions in relation to Dancer.

Second Wind (Long cooldown): A heavy self-heal that can literally save your life in raids. I would bind it somewhere in the “6-7” tier. Not pressed too often, but should never be out of reach.

Peloton: A luxury skill that’s useful to walk faster out of combat in dungeons, towns, or the world map. Clicking this is fine.

Arm’s Length (Long cooldown): A very niche skill for Dancer, clicking this should be fine as you will very rarely find Raids wherein this is useful, and even then only a minimal amount of times in a fight.

Head Graze: Can be very useful in dungeons and some raids, tho very rarely still. It’s good to get used to this, and you may need to find space in your binding for it. But, almost every other class can interrupt too… It’s a tough call. Maybe click on it until your group needs it badly.

Leg Graze, Foot Graze: Are barely used outside of soloing. I wouldn’t put a specific Binding to these that you would be hassled for. Clicking would suffice.

Dancer L60+ How new skills affect rotation

I’ll add to this very soon.

WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I’ll definitely be adding information. Good luck wrangling your Fresh L60+ Dancer Leveling Rotation!!!!

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

LvlActionDescriptionCastRecast
8Second WindRestore own HP, scales with attack power.Instant120
10Leg SweepStuns target for 3s.Instant40
12BloodbathConverts part of your damage to HP for 20s.Instant90
22FeintLower target's strength and dexterity by 10% for 10s.Instant90
32Arm's LengthIgnore most position altering effects for 6s. Cause Slow +20% when struck.Instant120
50True NorthNullifies all action direction requirements. Duration: 10s. Max charges 2.Instant45

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.

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

LvlActionDescriptionDurationCastRecast
8AddleLowers target's intelligence and mind by 10% for 10s.10Instant90
18SwiftcastNext spell is cast without cast time.10Instant60
24Lucid DreamingRegain MP over time.21Instant60
44SurecastSpells can be cast without interruption. Ignore most position altering effects.6Instant120

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!

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 ActionsShadowbringers 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

LvlActionDescriptionDurationCastRecast
8ReposePuts target to Sleep.302.52.5
10EsunaRemoves a single debuff from your target.-12.5
18SwiftcastNext spell is cast without cast time.10Instant60
24Lucid DreamingRegain MP over time.21Instant60
44SurecastSpells can be cast without interruption. Ignore most position altering effects.6Instant120
48RescuePull a party member to your side.-Instant150

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.

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 Ranged DPS Role Actions: Guide & FAQ (Shadowbringers UPDATED)

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

Here’s quick  guide about Physical Ranged DPS 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 “Ranged”)

What Jobs get the Physical Ranged Role Actions?

Job Classes

Bard (BRD)
Machinist (MCH)
Dancer (DNC)

Base Classes 

Archer (ARC)

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

Ranged DPS Role Actions list

LevelActionDescriptionCastRecastDuration
6Leg GrazeAfflicts target with Heavy +40% for 10s.Instant3010
8Second WindRestore own HP, scales with attack power.
Cure Potency: 500
Instant120-
10Foot GrazeBinds target for 10s.Instant3010
20PelotonIncreases out of combat movespeed for nearby party members.Instant530
24Head GrazeInterrupts the use of a target's action.Instant30-
32Arm's LengthIgnore most position altering effects for 5s. Cause Slow +20% for 15s when struck.Instant1206(15)

Ranged DPS Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

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

Leg Graze & Foot Graze

Mostly useful while soloing. This very very VERY becomes useful in raids. If it does, don’t fret not binding these skills as they aren’t commonly used anyway. Heavy and Bind really don’t come up very often in hardcore content.

The usefulness of Bind (and to a lesser extent Heavy) while questing is amazing!

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!

Head Graze

Interrupts are rarely used in raids, but very important when they are. Being a ranged character, it’s usually you or the tank who is responsible for it. Don’t sweat binding to a useful button, as it doesn’t come up very often.

Peloton

A great little luxury skill to speed up dungeon runs in between pull and all non-combat walking in general. Godlike for questing and moving around in town, haha.

Arm’s Length

A very niche skill to cheese some raid encounters. Don’t worry about binding this (I would click it), as it really is quite rare. Remember this skill each time a knockback happens in a raid, and imagine how it could be most useful.

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

Well, that’s about it for Ranged DPS 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.

LevelActionDescriptionCastRecastDuration
8RampartReduce damage taken by 20% for 20s.Instant9020
12Low BlowStuns Target for 5s.Instant255
15ProvokeGain top enmity of a target.Instant30-
18InterjectInterrupts cast bar of your target.Instant30-
22ReprisalLowers target's damage dealt by 10% for 5s.Instant605
32Arm's LengthIgnore most position altering effects for 5s. Cause Slow +20% for 15s when struck.Instant1206(15)
48ShirkDiverts 25% of enmity to target party member.Instant120-

Tank Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

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

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 Red Mage Leveling Guide

Level up your Red MAGE (RDM) ASAP! Setting up – Early Rotations – Gear Checks and more!

If you’ve found yourself here, you’re likely leveling up a Red Mage. You’ve found the right place. Hopefully, our Red Mage Leveling Guide helps you out – especially with setting up and the early L50+ rotation!

Red Mage Leveling Guide Navigation:
Page 1: Unlocking, L50 Skills & Rotation, L50 Gear, Class Quest List
Page 2: Leveling RDM 50 to 60 (Basic info for now)
Page 3: Leveling RDM 60 to 70 (Basic info for now)

For those who jumped right into this page, we will add a little blurb about unlocking Red Mage, if you haven’t already.

Unlocking Red Mage (RDM) Job

Quest Name: Taking the Red
Quest Location: Ul’dah – Steps of Thal (Merchant Strip) (X:14, Y:12)
NPC Name: Distraught Lass

You will be rewarded with the Soul of the Red Mage, your main hand weapon (Mythrite Rapier), and a free coffer of 115 left side gear (Red Attire Coffer)! Equip them as soon you have them!

Since Red Mage starts at level 50, there are a few things you have to “catch up to”… Namely, your Skills, Rotation, and to a lesser extent, Gear.

Fresh Level 50 Red Mage Rotation & Skills

RDM Rotation Summary

Red Mage is all about generating Black and White mana “equally”, then subsequently dumping it using our melee combo. We use Dualcast on every “long spell”, which is Verthunder or Veraero.

It’s also HEAVILY influenced by procs.

In the next tab we go into the nitty gritty, and talk about EVERY SKILL you’ve unlocked just now.

L50 RDM Single Target Rotation
L50 RDM Basic Single Target Rotation

Gaining Mana Phase

Jolt (L2) (DUALCAST ON).
Verthunder (L4) or Veraero (L10), use what boosts your LOWER mana (DUALCAST OFF).
===
Proc triggered? Verfire (L26) or Verstone (L30), Use that (DUALCAST ON).
No Proc? Jolt (DUALCAST ON).
===
Verthunder (L4) or Veraero (L10), Use what boosts your LOWER mana (DUALCAST OFF).
Repeat from here (Either Jolt, or Proc Triggered)

It may seem a little odd reading it – but try it out first, it makes a lot of sense after a few cycles. After the gaining mana phase, it’s melee time.

80+ Black and White Mana? Melee Phase

Corps-a-corps (L6) (optional – to dash close to them)
Riposte (L1) (Melee Combo A)
Zwerchau (L35) (Melee Combo B)
Redoublement (L50) (Melee Combo C)
Displacement (L40) (Optional – backflips out)
(Go back to gaining mana phase)

Also, use Fleche (L45) whenever able.

L50 RDM Basic AoE Rotation
L50 RDM Basic AoE Rotation

For 2 Enemies: Use Single target rotation on one of them.

For 3 Enemies: Scatter (L18) spam is “ok”, but generates colored mana slowly. I would replace all Jolts with Scatter, and try to use as many Dualcasts on Veraero and Verthunder. Any procs gained should be saved for when 1/2 guys remain.

For 4+ Enemies: Scatter spamming seems best. While mana charges slowly, you’ll do far more damage.

At 52 (might as well give you an idea now), Moulinet is an AoE melee attack which uses your Black and White mana – so don’t worry, you have an AoE rotation for both ends.

L50 RDM Misc (Cooldowns, Utility)
L50 RDM Misc skills (Cooldowns, Utility)

Acceleration (L50): ENSURES that the next spell you cast will trigger its proc. Obvious uses, use as often as possible.

Fleche (L45): An off-GCD nuke to be used as often as possible.

Tether (L15): Binds enemies, largely useless.

L50 RDM Role Actions

TL;DR – for general usage:
Lucid Dreaming > Diversion > Swiftcast at 32

Caster role actions are pretty slim pickings…

For a more detailed write-up check out our Caster DPS Role Actions Guide.

 

Fresh level 50 Red Mage: Gear Check

The free gear you get from completing the Red Mage quest is item level 115. All things considered this ain’t so bad. HOWEVER, it is missing the right-side accessories, and belt.

Ignore this section if you plan to sully yourself in PotD forever.

I want better than 115 item level!

There are only 2 possible item level upgrades from 115, and 4 possible sources:

  • 120 gear from World of Darkness (hassle if you don’t have it already)
  • 120 Ironworks gear from “old tomestone” (not too bad to obtain!)
  • 130 Dreadwyrm gear from Final Coil (hassle if you don’t have it already)
  • 130 Augmented Ironworks gear (needs Carbontwine and Carboncoat…)

While I imagine many people have these lying around – I can only faithfully vouch for only ONE of these tiers – 120 Ironworks from older tomestone gear is easy to obtain, and can be fairly worth it as they’re shared between many classes.

And, if you happen to get Carboncoat and Carbontwine from WoD (queue up that Alliance Raid!), great!

If you read the clicky above, you can FILL UP THE BLANKS with the left table, or TRYHARD AND UPGRADE with the right table. I will not be listing Dreadwyrm or WoD gear in these tables, due to their difficulty to obtain for people who weren’t there at the time.

L50 RDM Basic GearL50 RDM Better Gear
L50 Red Mage Gear – Basic of the Basic (i115)
WeaponMythrite RapierFREE from coffer
HeadRed HatFREE from coffer
ChestRed BilaudFREE from coffer
HandsRed GlovesFREE from coffer
BeltHQ Rainbow of CastingCrafting / Market
LegsRed GaskinsFREE from coffer
BootsRed BootsFREE from coffer
EarringHQ Mythrite Earrings of CastingCrafting / Market
NeckHQ Rainbow Ribbon of CastingCrafting / Market
WristHQ Mythrite Bangle of CastingCrafting / Market
RingHQ Agate Ring of CastingCrafting / Market
RingHQ Agate Ring of CastingCrafting / Market
L50 Red Mage Gear – Tomestone (i120+)
WeaponIronworks Magitek DegenTomestone
HeadIronworks Hood of CastingTomestone
ChestIronworks Doublet of CastingTomestone
HandsIronworks Gloves of CastingTomestone
BeltIronworks Belt of CastingTomestone
LegsIronworks Breeches of CastingTomestone
BootsIronworks Boots of CastingTomestone
EarringIronworks Earrings of CastingTomestone
NeckIronworks Choker of CastingTomestone
WristIronworks Bracelet of CastingTomestone
RingIronworks Ring of CastingTomestone
Ring(Cannot use 2 of the same!)

Purchased from Auriana – Mor Dhona (X: 22.7, Y: 6.6)
For the other ring, use one from the other tab, Dreadwyrm, or Augmented Ironworks.

Red Mage Class Quests: Where!?

It happens to everyone, don’t worry. We will be listing the relevant chunks per tier on the respective page of this leveling guide as well, for easy reference.

Red Mage Job Quests 50 to 60
LVL
QUEST
LOCATION
COORDS
ISSUER
REWARDS
XY
50Taking the RedUl’dah -Steps of Thal – Merchant Strip1412Distraught Lass
Soul of the Red Mage; Mythrite Rapier, Red Attire Coffer
50The Crimson DuelistCentral Thanalan2021X’rhun Tia
52A Rewarding StruggleEastern Thanalan1222X’rhun Tia
54Tracking the CabalWestern Thanalan1213X’rhun Tia
56A Vermillion VendettaWestern La Noscea2828X’rhun Tia
58On Lambard’s TrailWestern La Noscea2826X’rhun Tia
60Stained in ScarletNorthern Thanalan2021X’rhun TiaManafication
Red Mage Job Quests 60 to 70
LVL
QUEST
LOCATION
COORDS
ISSUER
REWARDS
XY
60The Color of Her HairMor Dhona238X’rhun Tia
63Traced in BloodIdyllshire65X’rhun Tia
65NightkinIdyllshire65X’rhun Tia
68Child of LilithIdyllshire65X’rhun Tia
70With Heart and SteelThe Pillars1111X’rhun TiaVerholy, Duelist’s Attire Coffer

 

Red Mage Leveling Guide Navigation:
Page 1: Unlocking, L50 Skills & Rotation, L50 Gear, Class Quest List
Page 2: Leveling RDM 50 to 60 (Basic info for now)
Page 3: Leveling RDM 60 to 70 (Basic info for now)

I’m sure you’re itching to level up – and I hope you took the above preparations to heart! Just continue onwards with the links just above!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

FFXIV Astrologian Leveling Guide

Level up your Astrologian (AST) ASAP! Setting up – Early Rotations – Gear Checks and more!

Praise the stars! If you’re here, then you wanna level up an Astrologian! The heavens guided you true then – cause your Astrologian Leveling Guide will help you out! Especially with setting up from L30 so you won’t get overwhelmed!

Astrologian Leveling Guide Navigation:
Page 1: Unlocking, L30 Skills & Rotation, L30 Gear, Class Quest List
Page 2: Leveling AST 30 to 50 (Basic info for now)
Page 3: Leveling AST 50 to 60 (Basic info for now)
Page 4: Leveling AST 60 to 70 (Basic info for now)

For those who jumped right into this page, we will add a little blurb about unlocking Astrologian, if you haven’t already.

Unlocking Astrologian (AST) Job

Quest Name: Stairway to the Heavens
Quest Location: The Pillars (X:15, Y:10)
NPC Name: Jannequinard

You will be rewarded with the Soul of the Astrologian, your main hand weapon (Star Globe), and a free coffer of 30 left side gear (Velveteen Cowl and Velveteen Tights)! Equip them as soon you have them!

Since Astrologian starts at level 30 (unlocked when you get another character to level 50), there are a few things you have to “catch up to”… Namely, your Skills, Rotation, and to a lesser extent, Gear.

GET A DPS CHOCOBO IF YOU PLAN TO SOLO.

Fresh Level 30 Astrologian Rotation & Skills

Thankfully, there aren’t too many skills unlocked by L30 so you won’t be overwhelmed.

AST Playstyle Summary

The heart of the cards… You gotta have faith when playing AST as it’s one of the classes more heavily affected by RNG!

Card management is a whole ‘nother layer placed on top of the already many list of things healers have to worry about – a daunting yet rewarding prospect! Inversely, mismanage your cards and you will suffer.

Astrologians just “feel” different… their unique cooldowns… how you can (and force) “stars to align” to maximize their effects… It’s unexplainable at this early stage but if this sounds amazing to you – continue forth!

L30 AST Dungeon and Group Basics
L30 AST Healing Basics

ALWAYS CHECK YOUR STANCE IF IT’S ON: At level 30 you only have Diurnal Stance – which adds a Heal over Time to some spells, as well as increasing all your healing potency, while reducing enmity.

Benefic (L2) is your basic, low mana low potency heal. Benefic II (L26) costs a lot more but heals for more as well. Use accordingly.

Essential Dignity (L15) is used to “fix” desperate situations. It quickly heals up any low life party member!

Use Draw (L30) as often as possible, so it goes on cooldown faster. The more buffs you can provide your team the better your runs will be!

L30 Ultra BASIC card usage notes:
Bole (green) on tanks (increased defense)
Balance (red) on highest DPS.
Arrow (light blue) on “class that benefits from reduced GCD”, or best DPS.
Spear (dark blue) on “class that benefits from crit”, or best DPS .
Spire (yellow) regenerates TP – very narrow use.
Ewer (bright blue) regenerates mana, usually use on self.

Helios (L10) is your basic AoE heal.

Ascend (L2) to ressurect fallen allies.

DPSING IN DUNGEONS:
open with Combust (L4) on each enemy.
Malefic (L1) when you’re not healing.

L30 AST Soloing Basics
L30 AST Soloing Basics

Combust (L4) on enemies who will last more than 12~ seconds.
Malefic (L1) Spam.

ASTROLOGIANS DPS IS SO LAUGHABLY BAD EARLY ON THAT YOU MUST MUST MUST GET A DPS CHOCOBO IF YOU PLAN TO SOLO

Use Draw OUTSIDE combat (it’s usually not worth the GCD). Balance > Spear > Arrow is what you’re looking for.

THERE IS NO AOE TO SPEAK OF. Simply “Combust all guys” is your best bet.

L30 AST Misc (Cooldowns, Utility)
L30 AST Misc skills (Cooldowns, Utility)

We may have touched on these lightly in the boxes above – but i’ll be listing all of these skills here again.

Lightspeed (L6) is a POWERFUL cooldown which increases healing potency, reduces MP used, and decreases cast time. Godly.

Ascend (L12) to resurrect allies during combat. Usually paired with the Role Action Swiftcast, or in utter desperation – Lightspeed.

Essential Dignity (L15) is an ULTRA off GCD heal that gets better the lower the targets HP is. This is one of the best heals in the game! More noticeable during raids – but this pulls its weight in ANY content.

Draw (L30) is your best friend, and I cannot fit all there is to know about it here. You will learn more and more about draw and its related skills as you journey as an Astrologian!

Undraw (L30) removes currently active card. Only used to throw away unwanted cards to speed up the cooldown of Draw.

L30 AST Role Actions
L30 AST Role Actions

Long story short, for general purposes:
Protect > Swiftcast > Lucid Dreaming > Any

For a detailed write up: check out Healer Role Actions Guide.

 

 

Fresh level 30 Astrologian: Gear Check

The free gear you get from completing the Astrologian quest is, ultimately, lacking. You only get a chest and leg armor, while lacking Helm, Belt, Gloves, Boots – and the entire 5 right-side accessories. If you plan to maximize your options in leveling – you wanna shore this up ASAP.

Ignore this section if you’re one of those pure PotD types.

ODDLY SOME OF THE HEALER GEAR AT THIS LEVEL IS 31.
You may as well level up once before upgrading.

L30 AST Basic of the Basic gear
SlotItemNote
WeaponStar GlobeFree from coffer
HeadVelveteen CowlFree from coffer
BodyVelveteen CowlFree from coffer
HandsHQ Velveteen Dress GlovesMarket board / WVR
BeltHQ Velveteen SashMarket board / WVR
LegsVelveteen TightsFree from coffer
BootsHQ Velveteen Dress ShoesMarket board / WVR
EarringHQ Malachite EarringMarket board / GSM
NeckHQ Malachite ChokerMarket board / GSM
WristHQ Malachite BraceletMarket board / GSM
RingHQ Malachite RingMarket board / GSM
RingHQ Malachite RingMarket board / GSM

OPTIONAL MELDING: Savage Might > Savage Aim > Heaven’s Eye > Quicktongue. Personally, I only melded the accessories (and I used them all the way to L50!)

Astrologian Class Quests: Where!?

It happens to everyone, don’t worry. We will be listing the relevant chunks per tier on the respective page of this leveling guide as well, for easy reference.

Astrologian Job Quests 30 to 50
LVLQUESTLOCATIONCOORDSISSUERREWARDS
   XY
30Fortune Favors the BoleSouth Shroud2523Leveva
35Hanging in the BalanceThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
40A Lesson in PatienceThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
40Slings and ArrowsThe Pillars1510Leveva
45Ewer RightThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
50Loved by the SunThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
50Spearheading InitiativesThe Pillars1510LevevaAstrologian’s Attire Coffer
Astrologian Job Quests 50 to 60
LVLQUESTLOCATIONCOORDSISSUERREWARDS
   XY
50Sharlayan AscendingCoerthas Central Highlands2630Jannequinard
52Empty NestThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
54ConvictionThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
56Feather in the CapThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
58TrumpedThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
60The Hands of FateThe Pillars1510JannequinardWelkin Attire Coffer
Astrologian Job Quests 60 to 70
LVLQUESTLOCATIONCOORDSISSUERREWARDS
   XY
60East Meets WestThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
63Ride Like the WindThe Pillars1510Leveva
65Come Rain or ShineThe Pillars1510Jannequinard
68Behind Door Number TwoKugane1313Kyokuho
70FoxfireKugane1313KyokuhoConstellation Attire Coffer

Astrologian Leveling Guide Navigation:
Page 1: Unlocking, L30 Skills & Rotation, L30 Gear, Class Quest List
Page 2: Leveling AST 30 to 50 (Basic info for now)
Page 3: Leveling AST 50 to 60 (Basic info for now)
Page 4: Leveling AST 60 to 70 (Basic info for now)

I’m sure you’re itching to level up – and I hope you took the above preparations to heart! Just continue onwards with the links just above!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!