Understanding Roles, Classes, and Jobs in FFXIV

• Roles: Tanks, DPS, Healers
• Classes: Entry point for new players
• Jobs: Specializations of Classes
• Class to Job examples: Gladiator ➜ Paladin
• Expansion Jobs: Dark Knight, Samurai, Gunbreaker

FINAL FANTASY XIV: THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ROLES, CLASSES, AND JOBS EXPLAINED

Final Fantasy XIV has a lot of different terms. Let's get to know them better.

By Simon Mackinley Estey

Published Wednesday 11:20 AM

Roles

Roles are the categories that every Class and Job fall into. They broadly explain the specific function they are expected to fill in combat.

Like other team-based games, the three main roles are:

• Tanks
• DPS
• Healers

Tanks use their high health pools and defensive abilities to attract and sustain enemy attention, called enmity in FF14. This causes enemies to attack Tanks instead of their more vulnerable teammates.

DPS roles are the primary method of damage output against enemies. Unlike the other two roles, DPS has three subroles:

• Melee DPS like the Monk get in close to opponents and utilize positioning for maximum attrition.
• Physical Ranged DPS like the Bard class attack from a distance and offer consistent damage.
• Magical Ranged DPS like the Black Mage deal massive amounts of damage per attack but act less frequently due to casting times.

Healers make sure their allies' HP do not reach zero. They also provide other useful buffs to give them and others the edge in combat.

Classes

Classes are the entry point for new players. They determine what type of skills you obtain and how you approach each combat encounter.

When creating a new character, players choose from one of eight Classes:

• Tank Classes: Gladiator and Marauder
• Melee DPS Classes: Pugilist and Lancer
• Physical Ranged DPS Class: Archer
• Magic Ranged DPS Classes: Thaumaturge and Arcanist
• Healing Class: Conjurer

Each Class has its own guild offering unique questlines and rewards. After completing the level 10 quest, players can swap to any other class by interacting with its respective Guild.

New players may place significant importance on Class, but around Level 30, Classes take a backseat as the Class questline ends, giving access to a more powerful version of the Class.

Jobs

Jobs are specializations of Classes but cannot be used early in the game. After hitting Level 30 and completing the Level 20 Main Story Quest (MSQ), you'll gain access to Jobs.

To get a Job, you'll need a Job Stone. Many Jobs are obtained through different methods, though the ones available in the base game all share a similar condition. When each Class is leveled up to 30, you can accept a specific quest that gives a Job Stone as its reward.

For example, if you are a Gladiator and reach level 30 and complete the MSQ, you can accept the mission "Paladin's Pledge," which provides the Soul of the Paladin, allowing you to become that Job.

Below is a list of all the Classes and the Jobs they turn into:

• Tanks: Marauder ➜ Warrior, Gladiator ➜ Paladin
• DPS: Pugilist ➜ Monk, Lancer ➜ Dragoon, Rogue ➜ Ninja, Archer ➜ Bard, Thaumaturge ➜ Black Mage
• Healer: Conjurer ➜ White Mage

The Arcanist Class is special as after reaching level 30, you can pick from one of two Jobs: the DPS Job Summoner or the Healer Job Scholar.

How Are Classes and Jobs Different?

Gameplay-wise, Classes and Jobs aren't totally different. Classes are an introduction to Jobs, teaching players the best practices for the specialization they will soon inherit.

Once a Class's corresponding Job Stone is unlocked, there isn't a good reason not to use it as it offers greater stat boosts and stronger abilities. A Job will share the same level as its Class, so progress continues even if the Soul Crystal is not equipped.

Jobs Without a Class Association

Some Jobs don't stem from a Class but still require a Job's Soul Crystal to use. Jobs like the Gunbreaker, added in expansions, have specific requirements to accept their quest.

Below is a list of the Jobs added in each expansion and their requirements:

Heavensward

Requirement: Reach Ishgard by completing A Realm Reborn and level a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic past 50.

• Dark Knight (Tank)
• Machinist (Physical Ranged DPS)
• Astrologian (Healer)

Stormblood

Requirement: Level a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic past Level 50.

• Samurai (Melee DPS)
• Red Mage (Magical Ranged DPS)

Shadowbringers

Requirement: Level a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic past Level 60.

• Gunbreaker (Tank)
• Dancer (Physical Ranged DPS)

Endwalker

Requirement: Level a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic Level 70.

• Reaper (Melee DPS)
• Sage (Healer)

Dawntrail

Requirement: Level a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic past Level 80.

• Viper (Melee DPS)
• Pictomancer (Magical Ranged DPS)

While Jobs and Classes are incredibly similar, it is important to remember that Jobs are advanced versions of Classes and should be used as soon as you receive them.

The only reason to focus on your Class after getting a Job is if you want to obtain a new Job, which comes after learning a new Class. FF14 not only allows juggling multiple Jobs but encourages it.

Now you know what all these terms mean, you can play Final Fantasy XIV like it's your Job, but in a fun way.