Final Fantasy 14 has a diverse choice of combat classes that range from DPS to tanks to healers. There is a little something for everyone's play-style. Due to this, there is no wide set consensus on what class is the best of the best. It really depends on the player as to what class in the best.
However, we decided to give a rank system a shot. A lot is involved in this from what gear is available to how strong the class is and how user-friendly it is. Additionally, the aesthetic of each job has factored heavily into the decision-making process — after all, players love to look cool in-game.
Updated on December 17, 2021, By Allison Stalberg: Endwalker has come out, introducing two new combat classes: Sage and Reaper. The former is a new healing job, while the other is a new physical melee DPS. Besides new jobs, all the other ones have been updated. Summoner has completely changed with no more damage over time spells and all classes can now get to level 90 with some new abilities and actions. Expansions always have shaken things up in terms of balance and which classes are the best. Endwalker certainly delivered on that front, and most players are quite pleased. Here's a new ranking, with the new classes added in.
19 Monk
The Monk is an incredibly fast-paced job, requiring the player to be on their toes at all times. They have to be watching their own movement and the movement of their enemies to maximize DPS. Endwalker's updates of the class have had it fall a little on the ladder of favorite classes for the fandom. It has gotten more complex in terms of combos and more simple in terms of positionals.
Many have mentioned the new Blitz system feels like a watered-down Mudra system, like for Ninja. In fact, many on Reddit have called the new version of Monk a "half-baked Ninja." The class also no longer has positionals, which fans have found less challenging in a negative way.
18 Scholar
When looking at the MMO holy trinity, it is a fact that healers are the hardest to design. It's hard to create a healing job that is both engaging and unique since healing is a binary ability. With Final Fantasy 14, the flavor comes in everything designed around smashing that heal button. White Mages get high-potency magic attacks to accompany their high-potency heals, Astrologians get party-wide damage buffs, and Scholars are focused on damage mitigation rather than outright healing.
Scholar is considered not as useful as the other two healers in the game. Tanks have so much built-in mitigation through shields and defensives that Scholar shields can feel underwhelming. Endwalker did add "Expedient" which is a spell Scholars get at level 90 to make players run fast during combat. It is unique, and players have been warming up to the spell.
17 Ninja
Ninja serves a similar role to jobs like Bard or Dancer, providing a lot of extra utility rather than just raw DPS. Its most signature feature is the move Trick Attack, which amplifies damage that the entire party deals. This, among other strong abilities, helps keep the Ninja a staple of the meta for those looking to optimize high-end raids and boss battles.
Players have had mixed feelings about the classes' Endwalker changes. Many have said on Reddit that the class feels more clunky now with the Raiju mechanic and taking away the damage over time.
16 Warrior
Warrior has had its highs and lows since A Realm Reborn. For a while, it was better than its counterpart in Paladin by a large margin, even into Heavensward. Then it got hit with some nerfs, and Paladin became the best tank
Warrior works well enough as a main tank, capable of mitigating damage effectively enough. However, it doesn't play much of a supportive role for the team. The job can put out some serious pain, though, hitting some of the highest DPS numbers of the tank jobs. Warrior fits best as an off-tank, supporting the main tank and dealing solid damage without the risk of dying instantly. It does have some of the worst job quests, especially in comparison to other tanks like Dark Knight.
15 Machinist
Machinist is a good job, capable of putting out incredible DPS. In comparison to the other ranged physical DPS, which are more utility-oriented, the Machinist is here to deliver massive critical hits and get the biggest numbers on screen. They also wield a gun and can summon various mechanical companions.
The class is considered one of the easiest to play, and fans get a fun time with tools like flamethrowers and chainsaws. It is not as unique as it once was, since Sage and Gunbreaker are also gun-wielding. However, it is one of those jobs that makes a lack of magic actually look good.
14 Dragoon
Dragoons have a reputation for dying a lot, and that is due to often jumping around accidentally into AOEs. This does not mean it is a bad job though, as it is a smooth melee DPS that has gotten even better with Endwalker's updates. Now players do not have to constantly smash the Blood of the Dragon ability, as it is automatic at level 54.
Part of what makes the class special is its storyline. Players get to spend a lot of special time with the fan-favorite character, Estinien, far before others get to in Heavensward.
13 Samurai
Samurai is user-friendly and has very well-done attack animations. Some prefer Monk, but Samurai is much smoother and easier in terms of combos. They also get AOE attacks pretty quickly, which cannot be said for other melee DPS classes.
The class is also just plain fun. It's very hack-and-slash and speedy. It is for players that are damaged-focused instead of party-focused. Endwalker has not changed this about the job, and the class has only gotten some new abilities.
12 Gunbreaker
The most recent tank, the Gunbreaker, plays a lot like a DPS-lite job. It has some fairly extensive combos and a number of off-global cooldowns to manage in a rotation. Warrior may have the edge in raw numbers, but Gunbreaker definitely feels more like a DPS job. In fact, DPS players will probably enjoy Gunbreaker more than the others because of that fact.
However, the real usefulness of the Gunbreaker comes in the number of raid-wide defensive cooldowns it has. The job packs so much extra utility outside of blasting monsters with a Gunblade that it really does feel like a complete package. Endwalker left the job mostly alone, as there is no need to update what already works well.
11 Bard
Bard is one of the most user-friendly classes. They can move while attacking, which a lot of magic-based classes cannot. The gear available is also pretty stylish. This class has been around since the beginning (though called archer instead), so it is a starting point for a lot of new players.
What's more, this is the only class that gives players the ability to play an instrument. It is not unusual to see Bard players having jam sessions in the middle of a town. Bards have not changed much in Endwalker, but have gotten better with more buffs.
10 Astrologian
Astrologians are the prettiest of the healing classes, as their aesthetics are space and tarot cards. What makes playing them so fun is that players have a deck of cards that they draw from that can give bonuses to their party. So, in addition to dealing damage and healing, they also get to deal out bonuses. The class was introduced in Heavensward though, so it is not a starting point for players. It is best to learn how to heal through the White Mage class first.
The class got a decent amount of change from Endwalker, as it no longer has sects and Redraw does not have a charge. The Crown cards also have different effects, which are more interesting than they used to be.
9 Reaper
Aesthetically, everyone loves Reaper. The class has beautiful-looking attacks, a cool weapon, and satisfying sound effects. The hype may have been a little overboard though, as Endwalker's Reaper has proved to have little to do in the beginning until players get the class to level 80. It certainly gets better, but other classes like Monk and Summoner are more engaging at lower levels.
Reaper is best in Endwalker content, and is less fun in anything lower. Some even say level 70 Reaper plays like Warrior.
8 Sage
Sage is the new healer class and has proven quite fun to play. Some on Reddit are even calling it the most fun healer of all. However, this could just be because it is new. Players are still learning a lot about the class. Some say it is the best parts of Scholar made better.
Early comments online have noted Scholar actually might be stronger than Sage, as Sage can struggle with wall-to-wall pulls in dungeons, but that will likely change in future patches. Sage can run out of resources quicker than other healers, so players have to plan their moves more.
7 Dancer
The Dancer job was introduced in Shadowbringers. While players cannot get this class until level 60, it is incredibly user-friendly. Players can move while they attack, and get a fun AOE.
A lot of players fell in love with this class, because while the damage output isn't the best, they make up for it by boosting the stats of players around them. Also, players have gotten really fun and creative when it comes to glamours for this class. Endwalker did not change this class very much.
6 White Mage
White Mage is the best (and only) starting point for new healers. Most also agree that it is plainly the best of the healing classes. Scholars and Astrologians just don't heal as much as a White Mage can.
If players have a White Mage in their party, they can feel confident that they are going to get major heals. Players are also fans of the White Mage aesthetic, as the class is deeply connected to nature.
5 Black Mage
Black Mage is for players that love AOEs. Their spells may take a little longer to cast than others, but they make up for that with their damage and the area of damage. They are the opposite of White Mages, so they are all about destruction.
A major reason fans love this class is that they never run out of mana. If they do, they just change their spells to ice-based and that can quickly get their mana regenerated. It is also the favorite job of Yoshi-P, the head director of the game, so it gets a little extra love. Endwalker's updates to the class have been all-around positive.
4 Paladin
Paladin is for those that dislike dying. These tanks are the best at defense and survival. They are a thick wall between enemies and their party members. The DPS can be lacking, but the defense is unparalleled and they even to heal themselves.
Furthermore, it's invulnerability is the best, allowing for complete immunity to damage without dropping them to one HP or requiring emergency healing after it's used (unlike Warrior, Gunbreaker, and Dark Knight). Endwalker made this class even better with gorgeous-looking new abilities and attacks.
3 Dark Knight
Firstly, the class quests for Dark Night are the best of them all. All other class quests often involve the Warrior of Light doing hi-jinks with their teacher or guild where the teacher of the guild is the main focus. For the Dark Knight, though, it's actually very psychologically compelling for the character.
Job actions added in Endwalker are all positive, with Salt and Darkness, /oblation, and Shadowbringer all adding more defense and damage to the table.
2 Red Mage
Red Mage is an incredible class because they can completely save a doomed party. This is because they can raise dead healers and also have their own heal spells. It is also just a plain fun class.
The dual-cast system has a flow to it that is addicting, and its satisfying to close in on an opponent and just start slashing them after casting some spells. Lastly, it is just a cool design idea to have the sword and amulet turn into a staff when players use magic.
1 Summoner
Our number one class is Summoner, and for a variety of reasons. Firstly, like Red Mages, Summoners can raise dead healers. This can make or break whether an entire party goes down or not.
Secondly, they have something no other class has: a healing class that levels with it. Gamers can play as Summoner and switch to Scholar to get into dungeons faster. Endwalker changed the class a lot, and for the better. It added a ton of burst attacks and way more summon-focused abilities.