The traditional job system of the Final Fantasy series received quite an overhaul in Final Fantasy XIV. Each character now starts with a basic class - a specialist in a type of weapons - before branching into a specialized job or two at level 30. Classes are divided into four Disciplines, depending on their area of strength, and jobs are divided into the two Disciplines capable of fighting. In addition to classes, there are also special advanced jobs that start at level 30 or 50 directly and have no connected class, as well as special solo-aimed jobs.
Classes and jobs can choose to use several from a list of role abilities, expanding their class or job's repertoire with some basic utilities. Of special note is also the interaction between classes and jobs. A basic job always shares the level of its base class (the one required to be at level 30 to unlock that job), and any experience gained while on a job goes towards leveling the base class.
You can play all classes and jobs in the game on any one character. The Armoury system that enables this is unlocked via the level 10 class quest.
Classes
The classes have been available in Final Fantasy XIV since the beginning, right from the launch of version 1.0. They are divided into the Disciples of War and Magic, capable of fighting, the Disciples of the Hand capable of crafting and the Disciples of the Land capable of gathering resources.
Jobs
Jobs were a late addition to version 1.x, and have of late completely overshadowed the classes in terms of fighting ability. Most jobs require one main class to level 30 to unlock. However, there are also advanced jobs of two kinds. Both these require at least one class at level 50 to unlock. The regular advanced jobs require an expansion pack registered. They do not start at level 1, but are at a higher level from the start. The solo-focused advanced jobs cannot normally join duties, and have special job-specific activities available.
Disciples of War
Disciples of War (ファイター [fighter] in Japanese) are the physical fighters of Eorzea. They wield traditional (ie physical) weapons. They're divided into three basic types: those that rely on the STR stat (melee DD), those that rely on DEX (mostly ranged DD), and those that rely on mostly VIT (tanks).
| Classes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Role | Jobs | Japanese name |
| Archer (ARC) | Physical Ranged DD | Bard | 弓術士 [kyuujutsushi] |
| Gladiator (GLD) | Tank | Paladin | 剣術士 [kenjutsushi] |
| Lancer (LNC) | Physical Melee DD | Dragoon | 槍術士 [soujutsushi] |
| Marauder (MRD) | Tank | Warrior | 斧術士 [fujutsushi] |
| Pugilist (PGL) | Physical Melee DD | Monk | 格闘士 [kakutoushi] |
| Rogue (ROG)* | Physical Melee DD | Ninja | 双剣士 [soukenshi] |
| Jobs | |||
| Job | Role | Unlocking/Notes | Japanese name |
| Bard (BRD) | Physical Ranged DD (/Support) |
ARC | 吟遊詩人 [ginyuu shijin] |
| Dark Knight (DRK) | Tank | HW, starts lv30 | 暗黒騎士 [ankoku kishi] |
| Dragoon (DRG) | Physical Melee DD | LNC | 竜騎士 [ryuukishi] |
| Gunbreaker (GBR) | Tank | SBR, starts lv60 | ガンブレイカー [gunbreaker] |
| Machinist (MCH) | Physical Ranged DD (/Support) |
HW, starts lv30 | 機工士 [kikoushi] |
| Monk (MNK) | Physical Melee DD | PGL | モンク [monk] |
| Ninja (NIN) | Physical Melee DD | ROG | 忍者 [ninja] |
| Paladin (PLD) | Tank | GLA | ナイト [knight] |
| Samurai (SAM) | Physical Melee DD | SB, starts lv50 | 侍 [samurai] |
| Warrior (WAR) | Tank | MRD | 戦士 [senshi] |
*While most classes can be picked from the start, Rogue forms an exception. It is an advanced class that can only be changed into after reaching level 10 and unlocking the armoury system.
In addition to the above, a guild for the Musketeer (銃術士 [juujutsushi] in Japanese) class has been in the game since the beginning, but it hasn't been implemented1. At the very start of version 1.0 the class Sentinel (SEN, 盾術士 [junjutsushi]) also existed. However, it was a supplementary class that merely provided additional abilities to classes that could equip shields, and was removed quickly. Is abilities were subsequently fused into Gladiator's ability list.
Disciples of Magic
Disciples of Magic (ソーサラー [sorcerer] in Japanese) depend on various fields of magic to hinder and wound their opponents as well as enhance and heal their allies. They wield various staff- and rod-like weapons that enhance the abilities of their minds. They are divided into two types: those that rely on the INT stat (magical DD), and those that rely on MND and PIE (healers).
| Classes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Role | Jobs | Japanese name |
| Arcanist (ACN) | Magical Ranged DD (/Pet) |
Summoner Scholar |
巴術士 [hajutsushi] |
| Conjurer (CNJ) | Healer | White Mage | 幻術士 [genjutsushi] |
| Thaumaturge (THM) | Magical Ranged DD | Black Mage | 呪術士 [jujutsushi] |
| Jobs | |||
| Job | Role | Unlocking/Notes | Japanese name |
| Astrologian (AST) | Healer | HW, starts lv30 | 占星術師 [senseijutsushi] |
| Black Mage (BLM) | Magical Ranged DD | THM | 黒魔道士 [kuromadoushi] |
| Blue Mage (BLU) | Magical Ranged DD (Solo) |
Requires lv 50 | 青魔道士 [aomadoushi] |
| Red Mage (RDM) | Magical Ranged DD | SB, starts lv50 | 赤魔道士 [akamadoushi] |
| Scholar (SCH) | Healer (/Pet) |
ACN | 学者 [gakusha] |
| Summoner (SMN) | Magical Ranged DD (/Pet) |
ACN | 召喚士 [shoukanshi] |
| White Mage (WHM) | Healer | CNJ | 白魔道士 [shiromadoushi] |
Disciples of Hand
Disciples of Hand (クラフター [crafter] in Japanese) are the crafters of Eorzea, and provide the citizens and adventurers with all that they need, from food and medicine to armor and weapons. While regular leveling can be done to max level in all classes, you can only pick up to three classes to specialize in. The sub-skill Desynthesis (as opposed to Synthesis=crafting) also has limitations on leveling it.
| Class | Products | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Alchemist (ALC) | Potions, Books, Staves, Materials | 錬金術師 [renkinjutsushi] |
| Armorer (ARM) | Heavy Armor, Tools, Furniture | 甲冑師 [kacchuushi] |
| Blacksmith (BSM) | Weapons, Tools, Materials | 鍛冶師 [kajishi] |
| Carpenter (CRP) | Staves, Furniture, Materials | 木工師 [mokkoushi] |
| Culinarian (CUL) | Food, Bait | 調理師 [chourishi] |
| Goldsmith (GSM) | Accessories, Rods, Materials | 彫金師 [choukinshi] |
| Leatherworker (LTW) | Light Armor, Accessories, Materials | 革細工師 [kawazaikushi] |
| Weaver (WVR) | Light Armor, Materials | 裁縫師 [saihoushi] |
Disciples of Land
Disciples of Land (ギャザラー [gatherer] in Japanese) are an easily ignored portion of the society, but no less needed for that. They gather in one way or another the raw materials required to make everyday items necessary for living.
| Class | Products | Japanese name |
|---|---|---|
| Botanist (BTN) | Lumber, Plants, Raw Food, Small Critters | 園芸師 [engeishi] |
| Fisher (FSH) | Fish, Small Critters, Corals, Water Plants | 漁師 [ryoushi] |
| Miner (MIN) | Ores, Raw Jewels, Bones | 採掘師 [saikutsushi] |
In addition to the above, the 1.x versions of the game included a guild for the Shepherd class (牧獣師 [bokujuushi] in Japanese). However, it was never implemented as a class and all traces of it have been removed from the game as of version 2.0.
Category: Jobs
