Class

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In general, there is a fourfold classification of adventurers based on the disciplinary paths to which they devote themselves. Battle classes are either a Disciple of War, masters of arms who live for the call of combat, or a Disciple of Magic, erudite researchers of all things esoteric. Non-combat classes can be either a Disciple of the Land, gatherers of material resources and students of the natural order, or a Disciple of the Hand, crafters who invest their creative ingenuity in synthesis and industry. By making use of what is called the Armoury system, players may opt to specialize in one discipline, excelling in a single skill, or they may take a more general approach.

"Every soul must needs have a code, a purpose, to guide them. Else chaos would consume us all."

— The Determination of Being, Guillaurmand de Padellaint

Class Command.png

Classes embody the character classes from other MMOs, and are the signature of every character in the world of Final Fantasy XIV. They offer starting skills and grow into jobs, which further diversifies the player experience.

Overview

Final Fantasy XIV jobs.

Eorzea is home to myriad disciplines, or classes, suitable to every adventuring style. Each class is capable of performing unique actions acquired through experience. Furthermore, achieving a certain level of mastery in a certain class will unlock its respective job, which feature even greater specialization. Every class can grow into one job, except for arcanists which can specialize into scholar or summoner.

A job is a strict upgrade, and there is no reason to remain playing a base class once the job is available. Deliberately playing a class instead of a job in high-level content is justification for a vote-dismiss under the Prohibited Activities in Final Fantasy XIV section "Obstruction of play."

The class chosen at character creation determines in which of the three city-states the player starts the game.

All adventurers begin their journey as either a Disciple of War (DoW) — focusing on physical actions — or a Disciple of Magic (DoM) — focusing on magical actions. Early on, players can take up other classes to diversify their skills, which level independently of each other. Players can level all classes and jobs on one character. If you seek more peaceful pursuits, you may consider becoming a Disciple of the Land (DoL) — one who gathers the world's natural resources — or a Disciple of the Hand (DoH) — one who uses these resources to craft wares for profit or personal use. Most content in the game, including the Main Scenario Quests, is intended for DoW or DoM combat classes, with crafting and gathering being side activities.

Roles

Combat roles include all three facets that classes/jobs may perform.

Tanking

Tank role.png Tanks are specialized in enduring damage and generating enmity (aggro) so that enemies do not target healers or DPS. They have self-buffs to support in damage reduction and aggro generation. This role can be identified by the blue-colored class/job golden frame icon.

Healing

Healer role.png Healers are specialized in healing allies with heal-over-time spells, targeted spells, and area-of-effect spells. They can also cleanse conditions from allies, cast restorative buffs on them, and resurrect fallen allies. This role can be identified by the green-colored class/job golden frame icon.

DPS

DPS role.png DPS (Damage Dealers) include physical and magical damage. Both are aimed at dealing damage in a plethora of ways: precise single-target attacks, area bursts, damage-over-time, summon spells, magical area spells, etc. Many DPS jobs also have buffs that can increase the damage the party deals. This role can be identified by the red-colored class/job golden frame icon.

DPS is divided into:

  • Melee DPS role.png Melee DPS — Classes/jobs that perform close ranged attacks and abilities.
  • Physical Ranged DPS role.png Physical Ranged DPS — Classes/jobs that perform physical ranged attacks.
  • Magic Ranged DPS role.png Magical Ranged DPS — Classes/jobs that perform magical ranged attacks. Some magical ranged DPS jobs can also revive fallen allies.

Categories

Classes can be divided into two main categories, depending on gameplay: combat classes and crafting/gathering classes.

Combat

Combat classes and jobs have access to role actions, class/job actions, and class traits.

Players can start the game as any of these classes except Rogue (see note below).

When a class reaches level 30 it can transition into a job by completing a quest given by the class guild leader and equipping a Soul Crystal. It is strongly recommended to equip the crystal as soon as possible because otherwise players will not get access to new abilities and will have lower stats.

Please note that equipping the crystal will give the player a prompt to copy over their class hotbars to the job's (with the exception of Scholar, which does not offer this prompt).

Hotbars can also be copied between classes and jobs using the /hotbar copy or /chotbar copy commands. See the EDB entry on Hotbar commands for more information.
Class Class Code Disciple of Role Starting City Weapons Armor Job Job Code
Gladiator frame icon.png Gladiator GLA War Tank role.png Tank Ul'dah Swords+Shields Fending Paladin frame icon.png Paladin PLD
Marauder frame icon.png Marauder MRD War Tank role.png Tank Limsa Lominsa Greataxes Fending Warrior frame icon.png Warrior WAR
Lancer frame icon.png Lancer LNC War Melee DPS role.png Melee DPS Gridania Polearms Maiming Dragoon frame icon.png Dragoon DRG
Pugilist frame icon.png Pugilist PGL War Melee DPS role.png Melee DPS Ul'dah Fist Weapons Striking Monk frame icon.png Monk MNK
Rogue frame icon.png Rogue* ROG War Melee DPS role.png Melee DPS Limsa Lominsa Daggers Scouting Ninja frame icon.png Ninja NIN
Archer frame icon.png Archer ARC War Physical Ranged DPS role.png Physical Ranged DPS Gridania Bows Aiming Bard frame icon.png Bard BRD
Thaumaturge frame icon.png Thaumaturge THM Magic Magic Ranged DPS role.png Magical Ranged DPS Ul'dah Staves
Scepters+Shields**
Casting Black Mage frame icon.png Black Mage BLM
Arcanist frame icon.png Arcanist*** ACN Magic Magic Ranged DPS role.png Magical Ranged DPS Limsa Lominsa Books Casting
Healing
Summoner frame icon.png Summoner
Scholar frame icon.png Scholar
SMN
SCH
Conjurer frame icon.png Conjurer CNJ Magic Healer role.png Healer Gridania Canes
Wands+Shields**
Healing White Mage frame icon.png White Mage WHM

* In order to unlock Rogue the player must have completed the level 10 class quest for at least one other Disciples of War or Magic class.
** Thaumaturge/Black Mage and Conjurer/White Mage can initially equip either two-handed weapons or a one-handed weapon plus shield. Starting after level 50 only two-handed weapons will be available.
*** Arcanist starts as a magical ranged DPS class and can become both Summoner (magical ranged DPS) and Scholar (healer) at level 30.

Expansion Jobs

Main article: Job

Any job not listed above was released in an expansion and does not have a corresponding base class. You cannot begin the game as any of these jobs. Please see the job article for more information.

Crafting and Gathering

Crafting and gathering classes have access to regular actions, but traits are only available to gatherers.

Class Code Disciple of Role Guild Location Goods
Carpenter frame icon.png Carpenter CRP Hand Crafting Gridania Wooden Weapons
Blacksmith frame icon.png Blacksmith BSM Hand Crafting Limsa Lominsa Metal Weapons
Armorer frame icon.png Armorer ARM Hand Crafting Limsa Lominsa Metal Armor
Goldsmith frame icon.png Goldsmith GSM Hand Crafting Ul'dah Accessories
Leatherworker frame icon.png Leatherworker LTW Hand Crafting Gridania Leather Armor
Weaver frame icon.png Weaver WVR Hand Crafting Ul'dah Cloth Armor
Alchemist frame icon.png Alchemist ALC Hand Crafting Ul'dah Potions
Culinarian frame icon.png Culinarian CUL Hand Crafting Limsa Lominsa Food
Miner frame icon.png Miner MIN Land Gathering Ul'dah Mineral
Botanist frame icon.png Botanist BTN Land Gathering Gridania Lumber, Ingredient
Fisher frame icon.png Fisher FSH Land Gathering Limsa Lominsa Fish
  • Crafting and Gathering classes are unlocked when your combat class reaches level 10. There are no jobs for these classes. The Specialist System provides the Soul Crystal equivalent.
  • Dyes can be crafted by any crafting class at level 30 or higher. Each class also has a selection of Housing Item recipes starting around level 20.

Disciples of War

Disciples of War are physical melee and ranged classes that use weaponskills and abilities as their primary offensive actions.

Gladiator

Gladiator icon

Gladiator is a tank class that specializes in swords and shields. With swords in their main hands and shields in their offhands, gladiators draw the attention of enemies and protect their allies from harm. The Gladiator's Guild is in the desert city of Ul'dah. If you choose gladiator as your first class, you will start off in the city of Ul'dah. At level 30, the gladiator must specialize to the paladin job.

Pugilist

Pugilist icon

Pugilist is a melee DPS class that specializes in hand-to-hand combat. Pugilist's Guild is in the desert city of Ul'dah. If you choose pugilist as your first class, you will start off in the city of Ul'dah. At level 30, the pugilist must specialize to the monk job.

Marauder

Marauder icon

Marauder is a tank class that specializes in greataxes. The Marauder's Guild is in the marine city of Limsa Lominsa. If you choose marauder as your first class, you will start off in the city of Limsa Lominsa. At level 30, the marauder must specialize to the warrior job.

Lancer

Lancer icon

Lancer is a melee DPS class that specializes in the use of polearms. The Lancer's Guild is in the forested city of Gridania. If you choose lancer as your first class, you will start off in the city of Gridania. At level 30, the lancer must specialize to the dragoon job.

Archer

Archer icon

Archer is a physical ranged DPS class that specializes in bows. The Archer's Guild is in the forested city of Gridania. If you choose archer as your first class, you will start off in the city of Gridania. At level 30, the archer must specialize to the bard job.

Rogue

Rogue icon

Rogue is a melee DPS class that dual wields daggers and employs stealth attacks. The Rogue's Guild is located in Limsa Lominsa. It cannot be your starting class. Players need another class to be level 10+ to unlock Rogue. At level 30, the rogue must specialize to the ninja job.

Disciples of Magic

Disciples of Magic are classes that cast magical offensive or healing spells and abilities as their primary actions. They use MP as their primary resource.

Conjurer

Conjurer icon

Conjurer is a healer class that specializes in earth, wind and healing magic. The Conjurer's Guild is in the forested city of Gridania. If you choose conjurer as your first class, you will start off in the city of Gridania. At level 30, the conjurer must specialize to the white mage job.

Conjurer is the only starting healer available.

Thaumaturge

Thaumaturge icon

Thaumaturge is a magical ranged DPS class that specializes in destructive magic of Fire, Blizzard and Thunder. The Thaumaturge's Guild is in the desert city of Ul'dah. If you choose thaumaturge as your first class, you will start off in the city of Ul'dah. At level 30, the thaumaturge must specialize to the black mage job.

Arcanist

Arcanist icon

Arcanist is a magical ranged DPS class with the ability to summon carbuncle as their companion. The Arcanist's Guild is in the marine city of Limsa Lominsa. If you choose arcanist as your first class, you will start off in the city of Limsa Lominsa. At level 30, Arcanist must specialize to the summoner (DPS) and/or scholar (Healer) jobs.

Disciples of the Hand

Crafting classes synthesize useful items such as weapons, armor, tools, accessories, food and potions from basic materials.

Carpenter

Carpenter icon

Carpenter works with wood to create bows, staves, tools and other items. The lumber they depend on are gathered by botanists. Carpenters are able to craft bows for archers, staves for conjurers, polearms for lancers and Macuahuitls for gladiators. They can also make wooden shields and masks for casters, In additions for weapons and armor for disciples of war, carpenters can also create fishing poles for fishers, grinding wheels for goldsmiths, spinning wheels for weavers and clogs for crafters.

Blacksmith

Blacksmith icon

Blacksmith works with metals to create weapons such as swords and axes and tools. The ores they use are gathered by miners. Blacksmiths can create hand-to-hand weapons for pugilists, swords and daggers for gladiators, two-handed axes for marauders. In addition to weapons for disciples of war, they can also make various tools for crafting and gathering classes. Blacksmiths can forge hatchets and scythes for botanists, pickaxes and sledgehammers for miners, knives for culinarians and leatherworkers, hammers for goldsmith, blacksmiths and armorers, saws and hammers for carpenters, pliers for armorers, mortars for alchemists, awls for leatherworkers and files for blacksmith.

Armorer

Armorer icon

Armorer works with metals to create plate and chain mail armor. Chain and plate armor are stronger than leather and cloth ones. Armors can create metal armor such as plate armor for marauder and gladiator, scale armor for tanks and lancer and helmets for gathering classes. They can also make frying pans for culinarians and alembics for alchemists along with heavy shields for gladiator and bucklers for casters.

Goldsmith

Goldsmith icon

Goldsmith uses metals and gems to create accessories such as rings, earrings and necklaces. Goldsmith is reliant on miners for ores and gemstones. Goldsmiths can craft staves and scepters for thaumaturges and hora for pugilists. They can also make needles for weavers, accessories such as rings, earrings and bracelets for all classes and head gear such as circlets and spectacles for casters and crafters.

Leatherworker

Leatherworker icon

Leatherworker uses hides, furs and pelts from slain animals to create leather armor of all kinds. Leather armor is stronger than cloth but weaker than chain and plate. Leatherworkers can create leather armor for pugilists, lancers and archers along with armor for gathering classes. They can also make hand-to-hand weapons for pugilists, shields for casters, rings and necklaces for gatherers and rings for other classes.

Weaver

Weaver icon

Weaver utilizes fabric and fiber to create cloth armor. Cloth armor is weaker than plate and leather. Weavers can make armor for crafting classes, gathering classes and casters. They also make light armor with strength and dexterity.

Alchemist

Alchemist icon

Alchemist transforms materials into potions and elixirs. Alchemists can create consumables such as potions, ethers, elixirs, stat buffs, status cures and status inducers. They can also make wands for conjurers and books for arcanists.

Culinarian

Culinarian icon

Culinarian utilizes animal products and vegetables to create food items and some fishing tackles. Players can consume food items to receive temporary buffs. Meat and other animal products are found by slaying animals, fish are obtained by Fishers and vegetables are gathered by Botanists.

Disciples of the Land

Gathering classes harvest natural resources of Eorzea such as lumber, mineral and fish.

Miner

Miner icon

Miners extract minerals from ground in Eorzea. The raw ores and gemstones they acquire are utilized by the Blacksmith, Armorer and Goldsmith crafting classes.

Botanist

Botanist icon

Botanists gather resources from the various plant lives of Eorzea. They gather raw materials for the various crafting classes, including Carpenter, Weaver, Culinarian and Alchemist.

Fisher

Fisher icon

Fishers harvest fish and other sea creatures from the waters of Eorzea. The raw materials they gather are used by the Culinarian crafting class. When you fish, Fishing Tackles are expended. Different fishing tackles are used to catch different fish in various environments.

History

Classes were introduced with the launch of FFXIV 1.0. Jobs were not introduced until patch 1.21b. The intent was to have classes excel at open-world and solo content, while jobs would be better suited for dungeon and trial content with their job-specific actions. This meant that classes could set a much greater variety and number of cross-class actions than their Job counterparts. This could, in theory, provide more flexibility. A Thaumaturge could cross-class Cure from Conjurer, for example.

With the additional job-exclusive actions added in Heavensward, it was clear that jobs would be the preferred method of assigning player roles moving forward and the Role Actions overhaul with Stormblood removed any theoretical advantages classes had over jobs.


See also