Welcome to the 7.1 Patch Guide! This update brings improvements across many jobs, with some changes to skills and traits designed to improve gameplay. It also provides some enhancements for ease of use in PvP. Let’s break down these adjustments job by job, followed by a brief summary of the PvP tweaks and Final Fantasy XIV’s top-tier caster status.
| Job | Changes |
| Paladin | Cover range is now increased, allowing better team protection. Intervene is acquired earlier at level 66, and Hallowed Ground’s effect activates more quickly. |
| Warrior | Home Gang’s effect now activates faster, providing quicker protection. |
| Dark Knight | Physical damage protection is enhanced. Abyssal Drain’s healing has increased, and Carian Spit now restores HP. Dark Knight gains a stronger solo capacity. |
| Gunbreaker | Aurora’s healing potency is up by 100, Superbolide’s HP reduction is now capped at 50% instead of 1%, making it safer. |
| Dragoon | Piercing Talon and Elusive Jump get buffs to improve range gameplay, aligning Dragoon more with Reaper’s reach. |
| Ninja | Dream Within A Dream changes to a cone attack for area damage. Ninja can now move freely with Ten Chi Jin, improving usability. |
| Samurai | Skills like Gekko and Kaeshi: Setsugekka have reduced cooldowns, and potency of some key attacks is boosted for better burst damage. |
| Reaper | Reaper’s main buff skill, Immortal Sacrifice, stacks more consistently, benefiting the whole party. |
| Machinist | Key skills like Heated Clean Shot and Blazing Shot get damage increases. Flamethrower’s range and damage improve, while core abilities cost less. |
| Dancer | Main skills like Fan Dance II and Fan Dance III receive potency boosts, and healing range on Curing Waltz is increased. |
| Black Mage | Cast times reduced for powerful spells like Flare and Despair, making the rotation smoother. Ley Lines now have two charges, giving flexibility. |
| Summoner | Summons like Ifrit and Garuda have increased potency on primary attacks, with additional flexibility in Crimson Strike. |
| Red Mage | Buffs for burst skills like Verflare, Verholy, and Scorch, enhancing Red Mage’s power in its burst windows. |
| White Mage | Holy cast times reduced for faster AOE usage, and healing potency on certain spells is increased. |
| Astrologian | Gravity’s AOE is expanded, giving Astrologian more range for crowd control in fights. |
| Scholar | MP cost reduced for major spells, with stronger healing and shielding abilities. |
| Sage | Enhanced AOE range on major spells, MP costs lowered, and slight potency increases on primary heals. |
PvP Adjustments
Minor adjustments improve general PvP gameplay:
- Adjustments to damage dealt and received in Frontline modes.
- Changes to job-specific PvP abilities for improved balance, especially in Crystalline Conflict.
PCT (Physical Caster Top) Status: Red Mage and PCT Caster Power
Despite tweaks across all caster jobs, Red Mage maintains its top position as the most efficient and highest DPS caster in Final Fantasy XIV’s current meta, also known as the “PCT” or Physical Caster Top status.
- Consistent Damage — Red Mage continues to excel due to its powerful burst window and dependable damage output, especially valuable in high-stakes fights.
- Skill Accessibility — Red Mage’s rotation benefits from streamlined skill interactions, meaning that it is easier to consistently perform at high levels.
- Team Benefits — It brings value with a unique set of abilities that support the team while maintaining high damage.
Summoners and Black Mages, although competitive, have slightly lower sustained DPS compared to Red Mage. Red Mage’s powerful burst makes it essential for groups needing steady and substantial damage output.
Conclusion
Patch 7.1 brings subtle yet impactful changes that enhance gameplay smoothness and make each job more engaging. Red Mage remains the top caster choice for high performance, though all jobs now offer improved usability and efficiency in battles. Enjoy exploring the patch and testing out these enhancements in-game!