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Deciding on what class to play in Final Fantasy 14 Online is the biggest decision you’ll make when starting the game. The role you play influences the start of your story and what your multiplayer experiences will be like.

In this FFXIV guide, we’ll explain what you need to know before choosing a class. We’ll show you how roles work and how classes evolve into jobs. We’ll also explore the other jobs you’ll have access to in the game’s expansions.

Table of contents

The difference between classes and jobs

Understanding the three roles

Tanks

Healer

Melee DPS

Physical Ranged DPS

Magic Ranged DPS

The difference between classes and jobs

After you create your character in FFXIV, you’ll have to choose your starting class.

Classes strictly refer to the starter roles you get to play, but you’ll eventually abandon them for their more powerful jobs. In the world of FFXIV, jobs describe the different character types you can play as. At the very beginning of the game, you only have access to a few character classes, which serve as lesser versions of the jobs they evolve into at Lv. 30.

The game’s expansions also introduce new jobs that don’t require you to play certain roles to a particular level. All you need to do to switch to the game’s new jobs is to meet a certain level requirement in addition to owning the job’s related expansion.

Your character can play every job. When choosing your starting class, you’re not locked into any archetype. You can freely switch roles in FFXIV.

Understanding the three roles

The classes you have access to in the beginning of the game also act as an introduction to the types of roles you’ll play in the game: tank, healer, or a damage dealer (DPS).

These three role are an essential aspect of the game’s multiplayer mode. When matching up with other players while playing dungeons, trials, and raids, you’ll be paired up depending on which role you’re playing. Dungeons, for instance, require one healer, one tank, and two DPS players. Each of the game’s numerous classes and jobs fall into one of these three archetypes.

Tanks are represented with a blue character icon. They lead the charge in dungeons by taking the brunt of enemy attacks. They are the living shields that fight at the head of the pack. They can protect themselves with spells and powerful armor. While they can hit hard, their main goal is withstand enemy attacks so healers and DPS can do their jobs.

Healers have green character icons. They support the party from the backline with spells that restore health or grant lifesaving shields. While they can dish out some punishment on their own with magical attacks, they primarily act as the team’s saviors. Healers can also dispel negative effects enemies cast on their party and some can even revive downed party members.

DPS characters have red character icons. These damage dealers either attack at close range or at a distance with weapons or magic. Their main goal is to dispatch foes with powerful attacks. Some specialize in dealing heavy damage to single enemies, while others can attack multiple adversaries at once. While the party relies on them to defeat all the enemies that stand before them, DPS characters need tanks and healers to keep them alive.

Tanks

If you want to lead the charge in battle, then consider one of the four tank jobs: Paladin, Warrior, Dark Knight, or Gunbreaker.

Paladin

Paladins are the shining knights of FFXIV. They are valiant fighters who wield swords and shields. Their combat abilities focus on cutting down foes one-by-one, but they also dish out large attacks that target groups. They have multiple abilities that further increase their toughness in battle and can even totally negate damage. At higher levels, Paladins can heal themselves and use magic attacks.

Paladins are perfect for players who want an easily understood tank role with powerful defensive options and strong attacks. If you want to play as a Paladin, you must first become a Gladiator class and get them to Lv. 30.

Warrior

Warriors are powerful brutes that are hard to put down. They are fierce combatants who cleave enemies with massive axes. Their fighting style involves hard-hitting moves that only get stronger with abilities that amplify their strength. They can boost their health to become even harder to defeat in battle and dish out heavy burst damage.

Warriors are a great option for players who want a tank role that shrugs off attacks and overpowers enemies. If you want to play Warrior, you must first become a Marauder class and get them to Lv. 30.

Dark Knight

Dark Knights are the mirror image of Paladins: They are dark, brooding, and wield massive swords. Their combat style focuses on keeping up pressure on enemies with darkness-infused physical and magical attacks to build power. They are not only heavy-hitters, but can sustain a great deal of damage with all their skills.

Dark Knights are great for players want a well-rounded and edgy tank to play as. To play as a Dark Knight, you need the Heavensward expansion, and you have another job at Lv. 50.

Gunbreaker

Gunbreakers are tanks that have a more involved moveset that makes them feel a bit like a DPS character. They fight with a gunblade that is, unsurprisingly, a sword that can shoot bullets. The job uses combos to gain resources and do even more combos. While Gunbreakers have a strong focus on combat, they still have plenty of defensive options to mitigate damage.

Gunbreakers are an ideal role for players who want to play a tank but also want a play style that’s a bit more involved compared to their counterparts. To play as a Gunbreaker, you need the Shadowbringers expansion and have another job at Lv. 60.

Healer

If you want to be the magical backbone of your party that keeps everyone alive, then consider playing a healer. The role has four jobs: White Mage, Scholar, Astrologian, and Sage.

White Mage

In FFXIV, White Mages fit the classical idea of a healer in most other games. They use their canes to draw upon the elements to attack enemies, and cast restorative magic to aid allies. They can heal their teammates in large bursts or over time with different spells. They also have a unique system that lets them expend special resources for large, instant heals or to deal damage.

White Mages are great choices for players who want a clear set of powerful options for protecting their party. To play as a White Mage, you must choose the Conjurer class and get it to Lv. 30.

Scholar

Scholars are unique healers who can summon partners to help the team. While they can cast healing abilities and lifesaving shields for the party, a Scholar’s companion assists them by using their own skills to protect the party as well. Scholars can also modify their skills in the heat of battle to meet the needs of their party.

Scholars are good for players who like the idea of having passive support system from a summoned ally. To play as a Scholar, you must start as the DPS Arcanist class, and then switch to the Scholar healer job at Lv. 30.

Astrologian

Astrologians are healers who use magic and special cards to aid their team. Their support abilities focus on regenerating health over time. They also cast special buffs for their party by pulling cards from a deck. Once an Astrologian pulls enough cards from their deck, they can modify their spells to make them even more powerful.

Astrologians are great for healers who want flexibility in how they support their party. To play as a Astrologian, you need the Heavensward expansion and a character at Lv. 50.

Sage

Not much is known about the brand new job coming to Endwalker later this year. What we do know is that the Sage will focus on shield-based abilities and uses a new weapon type called Nouliths.

Melee DPS

If you want to be a damage dealer and like the idea of attacking up close and personal, consider one of the four melee DPS classes: Monk, Dragoon, Ninja, or Samurai.

When playing a melee DPS character, there is one aspect of combat they have that other jobs do not: positionals. Each of these jobs have attacks that are their most effective when they hit enemies at a certain angle, like from behind.

Monk

Monks are living weapons that get right in the face of their enemies to fight. They use martial arts to kick and punch and deal damage to their opponents. Their combat style is very combo-focused and has so many of positionals that you might feel like you’re playing a fighting game, not an MMO. They can also casts buffs on their party to increase damage.

Monks are great for players who want an involved fighting style with a lot of movement and combos. To play as a Monk, you must choose the Pugilist class and get it to Lv. 30.

Dragoon

Dragoons are high-flying damage dealers. They use their polearms to stab enemies and can take to the skies with leaping attacks that impale enemies. Their combat style focuses on a few combos and positionals, but their heavy strikes and damage buffs make up for the steady play style. They can also buff critical damage for their party.

Dragoons are great for players who want a straightforward and powerful job. To play as a Dragoon, you must get a Lancer class up to Lv. 30.

Ninja

Ninjas employ mystical arts to deal damage and augment their attacks. Their ninjutsu skills allow them to mix and match different seals to perform a wide range of attacks and close-range spells to defeat enemies. Mastering all their moves requires remembering how to combo different abilities together, which could intimidate or excite players.

Ninjas are great for players who want an involved, flexible style of combat with a lot of options. To become a Ninja, you must first get a Rogue class to Lv. 30.

Samurai

Samurais are powerful fighters with heavy-hitting attacks. They wield katanas that deal massive damage to single targets, and they also have a few area of effect attacks. Their combat style focuses on building resources from combos and spending different amounts to pull off various special attacks.

Samurais are great for players who want to deal big damage. To play as a Samurai, you must have the Heavensward expansion and a character at Lv. 50.

Physical Ranged DPS

If you want to deal damage but keep your distance, try one of these physical ranged DPS classes: Bard, Machinist, or Dancer.

While physical ranged DPS characters are focused on dealing damage like their melee counterparts, they also have abilities that support their party.

Bard

Bards use the power of music to power up their abilities. Their bows can attack enemies and play songs that augment their skills and can boost the strength of their party. While they deal consistent damage with long range attacks, their various songs can support their party throughout an entire fight.

Bards are great for players who want an active play style focused on casting buffs for themselves and their party. To play as a Bard, you need to get an Archer class to Lv. 30.

Machinist

Machinists use technology to deal a barrage of damage. They shoot at their enemies with guns and can deploy various automatons to fight alongside them. While they don’t support their party like other physical ranged DPS characters, they make up for it by summoning a powerful robot to deal extra damage.

Machinists are great for players who want to fight alongside a robot companion. To play as a Machinist, you must own the Heavensward expansion and get a character up to Lv. 50.

Dancer

Dancers are graceful fighters that, well, use dance moves to fight. While not as strong as the other physical ranged DPS, their abilities can buff a “dance partner” to amplify their damage output. Their combat style is rhythmic, lending to a unique flow of combat.

Dancers are great for players who want an involved combat style that has a lot of party utility. To play as a Dancer, you need the Shadowbringers expansion and a character at Lv. 60.

Magic Ranged DPS

If you like the idea of casting spells to damage enemies in FFXIV, then try one of these magic ranged DPS characters: Black Mage, Summoner, Red Mage, or Blue Mage.

These characters require time to cast their spells, so they aren’t as mobile as their physical ranged DPS counterparts, but their attack power offsets their lack of movement.

Black Mage

Black Mages cast high-powered magical spells. They have longer casting times than most, so expect to stick to a good position while you cast explosive and deadly magic. At higher levels, these mages must change the type of magic they cast to regenerate their mana so they can continuously bombard the enemy with attacks.

Black Mages are great for players who want to let loose powerful spells to devastate enemies. To play as a Black Mage, you must get a Thaumaturge class to Lv. 30.

Summoner

Summoners fight enemies with the aid of different allies. Each of the summoner’s creatures have different attack styles, giving this class a handful of damage options. Some of these allies even augment the Summoner’s attacks to make them more powerful. This role is a bit more complex as Summoners need to manage their own spells while controlling their companions.

Summoners are great for players who like the idea of summoning minions to help them fight enemies. To play as a Summoner, you must get the Arcanist class to Lv. 30.

Red Mage

Red Mage is a unique class that mixes melee damage with black magic for attacks and white spells to protect and heal. They use a short sword to stab and swipe at enemies while also casting. These characters deal a range of elemental magic attacks along with healing and even a resurrection spell.

Red Mages are great for players who want a character that can do a little bit of everything. To play as a Red Mage, you need the Stormblood expansion and a character at Lv. 50.

Blue Mage

The Blue Mage is a unique limited job that has some restrictions. Their play style involves learning attacks from monsters to build up their repertoire of skills. However, because of this special mechanic, Blue Mages can’t be used in most situations like main story quests or dungeon roulettes.

To play as a Blue Mage, you need a class at Lv. 50.

Hundreds of Final Fantasy 14 players have been paying tribute to Kentaro Miura, the creator of manga Berserk who died at the age of 54.

Images and videos began cropping up on Twitter and reddit over the last few hours, which show hundreds of characters lined up around one of the starting cities, Ul'dah, with others also gathering in Limsa Lominsa. Players have all switched to the Dark Knight class—which draws heavy influence from Berserk—with many characters posing with their swords in the ground.

Players from servers like Balmung, Cactuar, Leviathan, and Midgardsormr have participated, with players from many other servers reporting that people are trickling in to honour Miura. A video from Twitter user @localhyurzen shows so many people lined up on the Balmung server that the game cannot load everybody in at once, while another on reddit said "the line stretches from one side of Ul'dah to the other. I went to check the other parts and it wouldn't let me back to the main part for a few moments because of how congested it is." 

It's a striking tribute to Miura, and has been a way for the community to band together to mourn and celebrate his life and work. Redditors reported Leviathan players handing out pretzels and campfires to those standing in line, while others have spoken about finding comfort in gathering with other players.

Kentaro Miura passed away on May 6 from acute aortic dissection. The editorial department for Young Animal magazine announced his passing on the official Berserk Twitter account earlier today, with a machine translation of the tweet saying "we would like to express our utmost respect and gratitude" to Miura.

A bit of a faux-weeb, Mollie will argue why your JRPG waifu is the wrong choice despite having equally awful taste. When she's not lurking in forums for nuggets of news, she's probably still failing to full combo that one song in a rhythm game she's been playing for years.