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Final Fantasy 14 boasts an extensive selection of DPS classes, referred to as Jobs within the game, each providing unique gameplay styles. Whether you prefer ranged attacks, melee combat, magical spells, or physical strikes, there’s something for everyone. The choice of what class to play largely hinges on personal preference, as well as the class’s effectiveness in relation to updates and balancing changes that come with new patches.
By evaluating and ranking the DPS classes, we aim to guide you in selecting the best option for tackling the Savage raids featured in Dawntrail, or to help you gauge the strengths and weaknesses of your chosen class.
Understanding Tier List Rankings
When ranking the DPS classes in Final Fantasy 14, it’s crucial to assess their damage output, but other factors also play a significant role. You might deal impressive damage, yet your team’s effectiveness hinges on your contributions to group dynamics during boss battles.
For this evaluation, utility will also be factored in when measuring the quality of each class. Below is an overview of the tier classifications:
- S Tier – These are the top performers regarding both damage and utility, balancing either attribute effectively.
- A Tier – Strong classes that provide substantial contributions to the team, although their damage output may be somewhat limited.
- B Tier – Reliable classes that are often complex or less effective compared to the superior options.
This list is derived from analyzing each class’s performance in high-end content, including Savage raids, Extreme trials, and Ultimate challenges. While you might not be planning to engage in this challenging content, the disparities between classes often become noticeable in these environments.
If you’re primarily engaging in casual content, like daily duty roulettes, you needn’t stress overly about which class performs better.
S-Tier DPS Classes
The S Tier features one top-performing class from each type. Classes within this tier are chosen based on their remarkable performance, especially in damage output, because success in a duty largely revolves around defeating bosses.
However, a class may not excel alone but possesses the right tools to enhance the performance of teammates.
Name |
Type |
Description |
---|---|---|
Pictomancer |
Caster |
Exceptional damage output accompanied by strong team buffs. |
Viper |
Melee |
Delivers high damage and is user-friendly. |
Dragoon |
Melee |
Consistently high damage output paired with valuable buffs. |
Bard |
Physical Ranged |
Impressive damage and a variety of utility skills. |
Since the introduction of Pictomancer in Dawntrail, it has taken the lead in the DPS arena with its array of powerful spells complemented by useful abilities. One standout level 100 spell, “Star Prism,” not only deals massive damage but also heals allies within its range.
Although occasionally outshined, Dragoon remains a long-standing melee DPS favorite, capable of inflicting significant damage. Recent adjustments have simplified its gameplay, making it more accessible. Don’t overlook Dragoon’s signature buff, Battle Litany.
Despite the strengths of S-Tier classes, it’s essential to learn and study the mechanics of fights. You can’t fully leverage their power without understanding the right moments to deploy your skills.
While Viper may not have dominated the raid scene as much as Pictomancer, this new melee class has earned its place as one of the strongest in the game. Its drawback is a lack of party-wide buffs, but the damage it delivers compensates for its limited utility.
Conversely, the Bard class shines with its unique songs that provide raid buffs, alongside solid damage output and extensive utility, making it the best option among physical ranged DPS characters.
A-Tier DPS Classes
Final Fantasy 14 offers numerous classes that can handle endgame content. However, certain unique traits prevent them from reaching S-Tier status. A-Tier classes may approach the damage output of their superior counterparts, yet they tend to fall short in effectiveness.
Name |
Type |
Description |
---|---|---|
Dancer |
Physical Ranged |
User-friendly with great buffs but less powerful and flexible compared to Bard. |
Monk |
Melee |
Solid melee class with excellent raid buffs but has a rigid and punishing rotation. |
Samurai |
Melee |
Impressive burst damage, but challenging to master and doesn’t contribute to the group. |
Ninja |
Melee |
Provides valuable support to the party but lacks in damage output. |
Summoner |
Caster |
Easier to play with great party tools but falls short in damage. |
Red Mage |
Caster |
More complex but offers excellent utility along with reasonable damage. |
The Dancer is an attractive class due to its mobility and buffs, but it relies heavily on synergies with partners to make up for its lower damage, which can be challenging in endgame scenarios. While it’s more straightforward to play than Bard, it also adds extra responsibility for its companion.
If you’re new to Final Fantasy 14 and want to try a DPS class, consider picking one from this tier. They will help you understand how to effectively play as a melee, caster, and ranged character.
Meanwhile, classes like Monk, Samurai, and Ninja fall into this tier not because they are overly difficult to play but because they cannot outperform options like Viper and Dragoon.
These classes excel in providing party buffs or dealing substantial damage, but specific limitations, such as complexity and adaptability during battles, hinder their effectiveness.
Summoner and Red Mage share the A-Tier position for casters due to their similarities. Both classes provide excellent raid buffs—Red Mage’s Embolden and Summoner’s Searing Light—alongside skills capable of reviving fallen allies and healing. While Red Mage tends to be more mobile and easier to control, Summoner offers a more engaging and adaptable gameplay experience.
B-Tier DPS Classes
If you’re thinking about choosing a B-Tier DPS class, keep in mind that while these classes can successfully tackle endgame content, they represent a more challenging pathway. B-Tier classes can perform well if played flawlessly and mastered over time; however, the level of effort needed to achieve impressive damage often seems unjustified.
Name |
Type |
Description |
---|---|---|
Reaper |
Melee |
Less complex than Monk but lacks both damage and utilities. |
Machinist |
Physical Ranged |
Achieving its full potential requires flawless execution and minimal support for the group. |
Black Mage |
Caster |
A powerful class with no raid buffs; its gameplay is complex and challenging. |
The differences between Reaper and other melee options are slight, but enough to make it less optimal compared to Monk.
Although Reaper offers powerful abilities with high damage, excelling at it requires adept preparation for short burst windows. While it does provide some utility by boosting party damage with Arcane Circle, this doesn’t fully offset its other challenges.
Having the Machinist in the B-Tier may seem surprising, given its potential for damage output, yet executing it while maintaining consistent performance is its major hurdle due to the complexity and randomness of its burst damage.
Lastly, the Black Mage, one of the most formidable caster classes in Final Fantasy 14, lands in this tier. Its pure damage potential is significant, especially through its focused single-target spells.
However, it is also notably difficult to master, given its high dependence on positioning and execution of spells, while lacking any supportive abilities to aid the party. Mistakes are heavily penalized, making it challenging to justify its inclusion in group content.