Samurai

Introduction

“

Far across the rolling waves, towards the rising sun, there lies the island nation of Hingashi. In the distant past, the realm's great lords vied for supremacy over its sea-girt confines in a long and bloody conflict. And taking to battle in their lieges' names were noble swordsmen whose art was forged in the crucible of war: the samurai. Eventually, the nation was unified under one banner, and these warriors came to wield their katana not upon fields as part of an army, but upon streets as protectors of the peace. But as a neglected blade grows dull with rust, so too do men forget their purpose. Amidst waning memories of the old ways, a determined few hold fast to their convictions, hands by katana grips, awaiting the moment for steel to sing.

— FinalFantasyXIV.com Samurai

Samurai is a job introduced with the Stormblood expansion and unlockable at level 50. It is one of five melee DPS jobs and does not have a base class.

General information

Unlock

• Prerequisite: The player must have purchased the Stormblood expansion, and also reached level 50 as a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic.
• Quest: Speak to Ul'dahn Citizen in Ul'dah - Steps of Nald (x9.2,y9.1) to obtain the quest The Way of the Samurai.

Equipment

The samurai is a disciple of war and wears armor "of Striking" while using accessories "of Slaying" (shared with the "Maiming" set). They use katanas as weapons. The following crafting classes can create items that are useful to the samurai:

• Blacksmith — Katanas.
• Leatherworker — Striking armor.
• Goldsmith — Slaying Earrings, bracelets, necklaces and rings.

Quests

Quest	Type	Level	Quest Giver	Unlocks	Rewards
The Way of the Samurai		50	Ul'dahn Citizen	Samurai	1   Soul of the Samurai 1   Mythrite Uchigatana 1   Nameless Armor Coffer (IL 115)
Master Musosai		50	Musosai
The Sands of Debt		52	Musosai
Blood on the Deck		54	Musosai
A Fraudster in the Forest		56	Musosai
Tears in the Snow		58	Musosai
The Face of True Evil		60	Momozigo	Meditate   SAM I Am I
A Dignified Visitor		60	Momozigo
Trials of the Sekiseigumi		63	Momozigo
Matsuba Mayhem		65	Makoto
The Hunt for Ugetsu		68	Makoto
The Battle on Bekko		70	Makoto	Hissatsu: Guren   SAM I Am II	1   Myochin Attire Coffer (IL 290)
The Legend of Musosai		80	Makoto	SAM I Am III	1   Heavens' Eye Materia VII 1   Savage Aim Materia VII 1   Savage Might Materia VII

Actions

PvE actions

Action	Acquired		Level	Type	MP	Casting	Recast	Description
Hakaze	SAM		1	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Jinpu	SAM		4	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120.
Third Eye	SAM		6	Ability		Instant	15s	Reduces the amount of damage taken by the next attack by 10%.
Enpi	SAM		15	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 100.
Shifu	SAM		18	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120.
Fuga	SAM		26	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 90 to all enemies in a cone before you.
Gekko	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120. 150 when executed from a target's rear.
Iaijutsu	SAM		30	Weaponskill		1.3s	2.5s	Executes a weaponskill depending on current number of Sen stored in Sen Gauge.
Mangetsu	SAM		35	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies.
Kasha	SAM		40	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120. 150 when executed from a target's flank.
Oka	SAM		45	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies.
Yukikaze	SAM		50	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120.
Meikyo Shisui	SAM		50	Ability		Instant	55s	Execute up to 3 weaponskill combos without meeting combo prerequisites. Does not affect Iaijutsu or Ogi Namikiri.
Hissatsu: Shinten	SAM		52	Ability		Instant	1s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 250.
Hissatsu: Gyoten	SAM		54	Ability		Instant	10s	Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 100.
Hissatsu: Yaten	SAM		56	Ability		Instant	10s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100.
Meditate	SAM	1	60	Ability		Instant	60s	Gradually increases your Kenki Gauge.
Hissatsu: Kyuten	SAM		62	Ability		Instant	1s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies.
Hagakure	SAM		68	Ability		Instant	5s	Converts Setsu, Getsu, and Ka into Kenki. Each Sen converted increases your Kenki Gauge by 10. Can only be executed if under the effect of at least one of the three statuses.
Ikishoten	SAM		68	Ability		Instant	120s	Increases Kenki Gauge by 50.
Hissatsu: Guren	SAM	1	70	Ability		Instant	120s	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 500 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemies.
Hissatsu: Senei	SAM		72	Ability		Instant	120s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 860.
Tsubame-gaeshi	SAM		76	Ability		Instant	60s	Repeats the previously executed iaijutsu with increased potency.
Shoha	SAM		80	Ability		Instant	15s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 560.
Shoha II	SAM		82	Ability		Instant	15s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200 to all nearby enemies.
Fuko	SAM		86	Weaponskill		Instant	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies.
Ogi Namikiri	SAM		90	Weaponskill		1.3s	2.5s	Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 860 for the first enemy, and 75% less for all remaining enemies.
Kaeshi: Namikiri	SAM		90	Ability		Instant	1s	Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 860 for the first enemy, and 75% less for all remaining enemies.

Iaijutsu

Iaijutsu are weaponskills which consume all Sen, and each of them require a certain amount to be used.

Action	Acquired		Level	Type	MP	Casting	Recast	Description
Higanbana	SAM		30	Weaponskill		1.3s	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Tenka Goken	SAM		40	Weaponskill		1.3s	2.5s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 300 to all nearby enemies.
Midare Setsugekka	SAM		50	Weaponskill		1.3s	2.5s	Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 640.
Kaeshi: Higanbana	SAM		76	Ability		Instant	60s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Kaeshi: Goken	SAM		76	Ability		Instant	60s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 300 to all nearby enemies.
Kaeshi: Setsugekka	SAM		76	Ability		Instant	60s	Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 640.

PvP actions

Action	Acquired		Level	Type	MP	Casting	Recast	Description
Yukikaze (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 3,000.
Gekko (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 4,000.
Kasha (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 5,000.
Ogi Namikiri (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		1.3s	20s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all enemies in a cone before you.
Hissatsu: Soten (PvP)	SAM		30	Ability		Instant	10s	Swiftly charges forward, dealing damage with a potency of 4,000 to targets in your path.
Hissatsu: Chiten (PvP)	SAM		30	Ability		Instant	30s	Reduces damage taken by 25% and delivers an attack with a potency of 2,000 every time you suffer damage.
Mineuchi (PvP)	SAM		30	Ability		Instant	20s	Deals damage to target equal to 10% of their current HP.
Meikyo Shisui (PvP)	SAM		30	Ability		Instant	20s	Grants Meikyo Shisui and Midare.
Hyosetsu (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 3,000 to all nearby enemies.
Mangetsu (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all nearby enemies.
Oka (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 5,000 to all nearby enemies.
Midare Setsugekka (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		1.3s	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 16,000.
Kaeshi: Namikiri (PvP)	SAM		30	Weaponskill		Instant	2.2s	Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all enemies in a cone before you.

Common actions (PvP)

Action	Acquired	Level	Type	MP	Casting	Recast	Description
Standard-issue Elixir (PvP)	ANY	30	Ability		4.5s	5s	Restores your HP and MP to maximum. Casting will be interrupted when damage is taken.
Recuperate (PvP)	ANY	30	Ability	2,500	Instant	1s	Restores own HP.
Purify	ANY	30	Ability		Instant	30s	Removes Stun, Heavy, Bind, Silence, Half-asleep, Sleep, and Deep Freeze.
Guard (PvP)	ANY	30	Ability		Instant	30s	Reduces damage taken by 90% and grants immunity to Stun, Heavy, Bind, Silence, Half-asleep, Sleep, Deep Freeze, and knockback and draw-in effects.
Sprint (PvP)	ANY	30	Ability		Instant	1.5s	Increases movement speed. Effect ends upon reuse or execution of another action.

Limit Break

Action	Acquired	Level	Type	MP	Casting	Recast	Description
Zantetsuken (PvP)	SAM	30	Limit Break		Instant	10s	Swiftly charges forward, dealing damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 24,000.

Melee DPS actions

Action	Acquired	Level	Type	MP	Casting	Recast	Description
Second Wind	Melee DPS Physical Ranged DPS	8	Ability		Instant	120s	Instantly restores own HP.
Leg Sweep	Melee DPS	10	Ability		Instant	40s	Stuns target.
Bloodbath	Melee DPS	12	Ability		Instant	90s	Converts a portion of physical damage dealt into HP.
Feint	Melee DPS	22	Ability		Instant	90s	Lowers target's physical damage dealt by 10% and magic damage dealt by 5%.
Arm's Length	Melee DPS Physical Ranged DPS Tank	32	Ability		Instant	120s	Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects.
True North	Melee DPS	50	Ability		Instant	45s	Nullifies all action direction requirements.

Traits

PvE traits

Trait	Acquired		Level	Effect
Kenki Mastery	SAM		52	Increases Kenki Gauge when landing select weaponskills or when taking damage while under the effect of Third Eye.
Kenki Mastery II	SAM		62	Increases Kenki Gauge when landing all weaponskills excluding Iaijutsu.
Way of the Samurai	SAM		66	Increases the potency of Hakaze to 200, Jinpu to 120, and Shifu to 120.
Enhanced Iaijutsu	SAM		74	Reduces Iaijutsu cast time to 1.3 seconds.
Enhanced Fugetsu and Fuka	SAM		78	Improves Fugetsu's damage increase to 13% and Fuka's reduction to weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay to 13%.
Enhanced Tsubame-gaeshi	SAM		84	Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Tsubame-gaeshi.
Way of the Samurai II	SAM		84	Increases the potency of Gekko, Kasha, and Yukikaze to 120.
Fuga Mastery	SAM		86	Upgrades Fuga to Fuko.
Enhanced Meikyo Shisui	SAM		88	Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Meikyo Shisui.
Enhanced Ikishoten	SAM		90	Grants Ogi Namikiri Ready upon successfully landing Ikishoten.

Combos

Performing actions in a certain order increases potency and applies combo bonuses.

=> => = Increases damage dealt while also granting Getsu and increasing the Kenki Gauge.

=> => = Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time while also granting Ka and increasing the Kenki Gauge.

=> = Significantly increases the Kenki Gauge and grants Setsu.

=> = Hits multiple enemies and increases damage dealt while also granting Getsu and increasing the Kenki Gauge.

=> = Hits multiple enemies and reduces weaponskill cast and recast time while also granting Ka and increasing the Kenki Gauge.

Job mechanics

Official Lodestone Job Guide (Always up-to-date)

Sen & Kenki Gauge is Samurai's Job Gauge.

Sen Gauge

Upon learning the action Gekko at level 30, the Sen Gauge will be displayed. Learning Kasha at level 40 unlocks second Sen and Yukikaze at level 50 unlocks final Sen.

Using certain combo actions will accumulate up to three different Sen:

• Setsu (top) - Snow. Granted by executing combo Hakaze - Yukikaze
• Getsu (left) - Moon. Granted by executing combo Hakaze - Jinpu - Gekko or by Fuko - Mangetsu
• Ka (right) - Flower. Granted by executing combo Hakaze - Shifu - Kasha or by Fuko - Oka

Additionally, using Meikyo Shisui allows you to use last weaponskill of the combo without actually executing full combo, while still granting you Sen.

Sen can be used to perform different Iaijutsu moves, depending how many Sen has Samurai accumulated: one for Higanbana (damage over time), two for Tenka Goken (AoE attack), and three for Midare Setsugekka (single-target attack).

Simple Mode

Kenki Gauge

Upon learning the trait Kenki Mastery, the Kenki Gauge will be displayed, indicating the amount of Kenki you have accumulated.

Kenki is accumulated upon executing certain weaponskills and by ability Ikishoten. Kenki can be used to execute actions Hissatsu: Shinten, Hissatsu: Kyuten, Hissatsu: Senei, Hissatsu: Guren, Hissatsu: Yaten and Hissatsu: Gyoten.

Simple Mode

When you learn the action Shoha, the Meditation Gauge will be displayed, indicating the number of stacks of Meditation you have accumulated while in combat.

Stacks are acquired by executing Iaijutsu, Meditate, or Ogi Namikiri (acquired at level 90), and are expended after executing Shoha (acquired at level 80) when three stacks have been acquired.

Simple Mode:

Kenki and Meditation Gauge

Achievements

This job is associated with the following achievements:

Name	Points	Task	Reward	Patch
Bushido Blade I	5	Achieve samurai level 50.	-	4.0
Bushido Blade II	5	Achieve samurai level 60.	-	4.0
Bushido Blade III	5	Achieve samurai level 70.	-	4.0
Bushido Blade IV	5	Achieve samurai level 80.	-	5.0
Bushido Blade V	5	Achieve samurai level 90.	-	6.0

Gallery

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  Samurai Artifact Armor in 4.0 Stormblood.

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  Samurai Artifact Armor in 5.0 Shadowbringers.

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  Samurai Artifact Armor in 6.0 Endwalker.

Lore

On the island nation of Hingashi, the realms great lords vied for supremacy over a long and bloody conflict. And taking to battle in their lieges' names were noble swordsmen whose art was forged in the crucible of war: the samurai. Eventually, the nation was unified under one banner, and these warriors came to wield their katana as protectors of their homeland’s peace.

History

Primarily, “samurai” refers to a position of standing in Hingashi society—a martial vassal who serves his liege in return for certain privileges. The word itself derives from the root “saburau” meaning “to serve,” which reinforces the fundamental nature of their status. Records of this arrangement became common some six hundred years ago, but examples of the samurai art of combat can be found even earlier in history.

The fighting style—distinct from mainland practices—was founded by warriors who favored the katana, and honed over lifetimes of conflict. As well as devising techniques to infuse their uniquely curved blades with “Kenki,” samurai also mastered the meditative state of “Sen,” which paved the way for “Taijutsu” and other elevated forms of swordsmanship. The samurai arts eventually found purchase on the continent, and saw the birth of numerous variant schools. In a realm coddled by relative peace, however, the title of samurai has become largely hereditary, leading to fears that this once hard-earned honor is being replaced by empty tradition.

Equipment

Myochin Armor

Crafted into the haori-and-hakama style by armorers of the longstanding Myochin clan, this set of armor is common garb for present-day samurai. Whilst it appears little more than a decorative kimono, the cloth is woven in such a way as to promote the flow of aether.

Kiku-ichimonji

Kiku-ichimonji was forged by a legendary Hingan swordsmith, the proof of which can be found in the engraved signature—the character for “ichi” or “one.” The sword features a broad point, and an elegant, undulating temper pattern along the length of the blade, whilst the sheath’s serpentine ornamentation amplifies the wielder’s energies when performing aijutsu.

Katayama

This masterpiece was forged by the Katayama branch of the Ichimonji school of swordsmiths. Although Kiku-ichimonji, a katana crafted by their forebears, is considered superior in sharpness and beauty, Katayama (or in full, Katayama-ichi-monji) is still celebrated for its exquisite workmanship. The blade changed hands many times, until one wielder carried it on a warrior’s pilgrimage to the west, where it was lost for long years. It was later discovered that in his quest to find worthy opponents, the overconfident samurai had entered where no man should tread, and perished at the culmination of an epic battle.

Nameless Armor

This most elementary set of armor was designed for samurai initiates. The togi and hakama are both woven with enchanted silk to enhance the wearer’s sensitivity to the flow of aether, effectively aiding the novice in learning to recognize the sensation of Kenki gathering in blade and sheath. Dyed entirely in black, the color of the attire mutes any lurid splashes of blood—either from the enemy, or the wearer himself—to help stave off panic in the inexperienced once the rush of battle has faded.

Tricks of the Trade

Doom of the Living

All those who live are fated to die. The samurai portrays the foe’s life with innumerable slashes of the blade, ends that life with a single, aether-infused stroke, and then sheathes her weapon in a symbolic depiction of transience.

Hissatsu: Kyuten

One of the samura’s formidable Hissatsu techniques, Kyuten is a word which expresses nine directions—the eight compass points joined by the center. Devised to cut down all surrounding enemies with a single strike.

Tenka Goken

A form of Taijutsu wherein the samurai fashions his katana’s accumulated aether into phantom blades, and strikes as if wielding the five swords of legend—the Tenka Goken.

Midare Setsugekka

Setsu. Getsu. Ka. It is said when one occupies all three states of Sen, the thread of a foes life comes into focus. This sublime Taijutsu was devised to cut that thread.

Musosal

• Race (Clan): Hyur (Far Eastern)
• Gender: Male
• Age: 78
• Epithet: None

A master swordsman hailing from Hingashi, Musosai traveled to Eorzea in search of a pupil to carry on the fighting techniques he had spent a lifetime perfecting, To that end, Musosai employed the aid of Momozigo, an Uldahn showmaster, to organize a tournament in the Coliseum. It was later revealed that Musosai was the one known as “Kogarashi,” a noble samurai who righted wrongs across Hingzshi, a man nevertheless forced to abandon his homeland following the evils perpetrated by Ugetsu, his former student. Racing against illness and the march of old age, Musosai had departed for foreign shores to seek a worthy successor to his legacy.

Ugetsu Tachikake

• Race (Clan): Hyur (Far Eastern)
• Gender: Male
• Age: 31
• Epithet: Slayer of a Thousand Souls

A talented swordsman, and leader of an insurgent group. Alongside his teacher, Master Musosai, a young Ugetsu embarked on a pilgrimage to confront injustice across Hingashi, but was instead incensed by the corruption he witnessed strangling his homeland. Reasoning that those in power had grown greedy and complacent over long years of peace, Ugetsu vowed to bring down the bakufu in fire and blood. He gathered a band of like-minded fellows, and began executing dignitary after dignitary in a string of assassinations. His philosophy of cutting out the old to make way for the new earned him few allies, however, and his methods became ever more extreme. A confrontation with the Sekiseigumi saw him slay Captain Kongo, but Ugetsu finally met his end at the hands of a fellow pupil of Musosa, aided by Makoto—a Sekiseigumi samurai who was, in truth, his own sister, Kagetsu.

Kenki

In the lands of the Far East, one’s atheric flow is often referred to as “ki.” The Kenki of the samurai is a harnessing of these energies, allowing the swordsmen to accumulate ki within their blades and thence unleash various deadly techniques. In this respect, such “Hissatsu” might be interpreted as a martial form of magecraft.

Taijutsu

These techniques are performed by building aether in a sheathed katana, and then unleashing the entire store of energy the instant the blade is drawn. Executing Taijutsu correctly requires complete control over one’s state of mind—a feat achieved by entering a battle trance known as “Sen.” Samurai attain such meditative mastery only through intense discipline and training.

Samurai's Panoply

Myochin Haori

The handsome gold embroidery here strikes a pleasing contrast with the vermilion of the haori. Ensconced in a plain wooden sheath at the rear is a shortsword to be used should ever the samurai find himself facing dishonor.

Myochin Tekko

The leather tekko is worn on the left hand, for this is the hand which grips the scabbard when performing Taijutsu. On its reverse is a design drawn in powdered mythril on lacquer, intended to assist the samurai in channeling aether to his blade.

Myochin Geta

Geta are one example of traditional Far Eastern footwear. Each simple sandal consists only of a wooden block with three “eyes” through which cord is threaded, yet holds to the foot quite well with the strap placed between the toes.

Form & Function

In an age when much of Hingashi was embroiled in bitter conflict, samurai would don full suits of armor similar to that shown here. Now, with the nation unified and at peace, the loyal warriors rarely have need of such robust protection, and generally prefer the much less cumbersome combination of haori over hakama. The haori was originally a simplified version of the military jin-baori, and was worn by samurai solely on formal occasions. As it was adapted for a wider audience, it saw the reinstitution of several martial characteristics that had made the jin-baori so suitable for combat—in particular, enhanced aether flow. Because a samurai’s abilities involve the manipulation of aetherial energies—Iajutsu and Hissatsu oft being classified as unique schools of magic—habiliments that enable the increased flow of aetherial energies are as vital to the samurai as the protection they provide. In that sense, the haori is not so different from a mage’s robe. A samurai, however, is much less likely to forego defense against close-range attacks, and so will generally opt to wear leather or plate mail underneath the haori.

External links

• FinalFantasyXIV.com Samurai on the official website.
• Comprehensive Job Guide provided by The Balance.

References

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Jobs