Picking the perfect class to suit your play style in a role-playing game can be a difficult choice for even the most hardcore RPG fan. Thankfully, classes aren’t a permanent decision in Final Fantasy XIV Online: You can switch classes as quickly as it takes you to switch weapons. But which classes should you invest in first? FANDOM is here to help.
Fans of Swords and Shields: Gladiator
If you love wielding a traditional sword and shield, your best bet is the gladiator class. They draw attention from enemies and protect their friends from harm. Gladiators are what are known as “tanks” for their ability to absorb damage, and their skills and limit breaks are focused on beefing up their tankiness. The Shield Wall limit break, for example, reduces damage taken by all party members by 10% for 10 seconds — especially handy when your team is looking to deliver a fatal blow to a raid boss. Gladiators can also obtain the paladin job, which opens up many new defense actions and traits.
Fans of Punching: Pugilist
If you’re drawn to using your own two fists as weapons, pick the pugilist class. These hand-to-hand fighters excel at close-quarters combat, allowing you to live out your fisticuff fantasies. Positioning is key with this class, as a number of their skills increase power or critical hit rate when attacking from the side or back. But they also can deal massive damage from any direction, especially with their limit breaks, each of which hits a single target with tremendous force. In time, pugilists can access the monk job, which opens up even more melee DPS options.
Fans of Big Axes: Marauder
If you enjoy a brute force approach, you’ll want to go with the marauder class, who specialize in strength and wielding heavy axes to wipe out hordes of enemies with barely a scratch on them. They enter battle in heavy armor, which makes them tanky like the gladiator class. Which comes in handy, since many of their attacks focus enemy counterattacks on them. Marauders can also access the warrior job, which allows them to be a defensive or aggressive tank, depending on your playstyle.
Fans of Polearms: Lancer
If you like to speak softly and carry a literal big stick, choose the lancer class. These fighters wield a polearm as if it was an extension of their own body to bring the pain. They specialize in dealing high damage to targets, and their skills and limit breaks buff that damage up. So do try to avoid being on the receiving end of that polearm. Lancers can unlock the dragoon job, which allows for a variety of devastating attacks that can pierce targets.
Fans of Bows and Arrows: Archer
If you enjoy the long-range precision of a well-placed arrow, go with the archer class because… well, the reasons for this one should be pretty obvious. Also hopefully obvious is the archer’s area of expertise: range. In addition to possessing a variety of essential ranged attacks, they’re also the only class capable of attacking while running away — particularly handy when you’ve got much lower HP than a tank class like the gladiator. Archers can in time access the bard job, who sing songs that buff their party, or the machinist job, who can deploy turrets on the battlefield.
Fans of Stealth: Rogue
Fans of sneaking will find a lot of like in the rogue class, who lurk in the shadows, strike fast with their favored knives and daggers, and adhere to no laws but their own. Like the lancer and the pugilist, they’re high damage dealers, but their focus is on dexterity over brute force. Rogues are considered scouts, in that they can use a stealth ability to assess enemies and launch sneak attacks — enabling some quests and duties to be approached in ways other combat classes cannot. Rogues can eventually unlock the ninja job, who manipulate vital energies to quickly strike enemies.
Fans of Hybrids: Conjurer
If you enjoy a balanced combination of offensive and defensive skills at your disposal, you’ll want to check out the conjurer class. They call upon the elements to focus aether and cast their desired spell. Their skills allow them to shift between offensive and defensive spells as needed, but they’re considered healers for party purposes. Case in point: Each of their limit breaks focuses on recovering the HP and MP of nearby party members. The conjurer can eventually unlock the white mage job, which grants even more health buffing abilities.
Fans of a Challenge: Thaumaturge
If you’re looking for a high-risk, high-reward option, try the thaumaturge class. These magicians summon forth power from within to ruinous effect. It’s best to keep them at range though, as they have limited HP and defense. One of the unique characteristics of the thaumaturge is that they can augment their skills with Astral Fire and Umbral Ice, which affect MP cost and recovery. It’s a difficult class to master, but a devastating one in the right hands. The thaumaturge can gain access to the black mage job, which can unleash devastating black magic attacks.
Fans of Minions: Arcanist
If you enjoy having a friendly face next to you in battle, go with the arcanist class. They derive power from occult symbols and have the ability to summon a familiar to help carry out their bidding. The Emerald Carbuncle specializes in ranged and area of effect damage, while the Topaz Carbuncle focuses on tanking abilities — each handy in their own way to deal with the toughest of bosses. Overall, the arcanists are one of the most versatile classes, switching from a DPS to a tank or a healer when the situation demands. That versatility extends to job access as well, with the arcanist gaining access to the scholar for additional healing abilities or the summoner for additional DPS attracks.
Be sure to check out FANDOM’s other Final Fantasy XIV Online videos to learn how to upgrade your classes into jobs. You can start your free Final Fantasy XIV Online trial now on PlayStation 4 and PC.