Hello everyone, Ponyo here!  This article is part of the “101” series, which gives an overview of each role or class in the game.  Please be aware that this is not an extensive how-to guide nor does it provide optimal skill rotations.  Instead, this is an introductory orientation to the role with some general hints and tips to get you started.

DPS Role

There are 6 DPS classes in Final Fantasy XIV: pugilist, lancer, rogue, archer, thaumaturge, and arcanist.  There is also a DPS job, Machinist, which is available in the Heavensward section of the game, and summoner is a DPS job that evolves from arcanist.  

As a DPS, your job is to do so much damage that you defeat enemies quickly and easily.  Your goal is to pump out high damage numbers.  Additionally, your other job is to dodge.  Much of the fighting in Final Fantasy XIV is built around dodging AOEs so that you reduce the amount of damage that you sustain.  Ideally, your healer should never have to heal you because the enemy attacks should never touch you!

DPS classes come in several different flavors.  Pugilists, lancers, and rogues are physical melee DPS.  The most important statistic for pugilists and lancers is strength, and the most important statistic for rogue is dexterity.  Archer is a physical ranged DPS whose most important statistic is dexterity.  As you level, put all of your ability points into your respective stat and try to buy/pick weapons and armor that have a high strength or dexterity buff.

Thaumaturges and arcanists are ranged caster DPS.  The most important statistic for these classes is intelligence, so put all of your ability points into your respective stat and try to buy/pick weapons and armor that have a high intelligence buff.

DPS limit breaks do a ton of extra damage, so DPS is usually the role that pull limit breaks.  Go to the Actions and Traits menu and make sure to put the Limit Break icon on your hotbar so you can easily access it in a boss fight.  Melee DPS do single-target damage.  Ranged DPS do AOE damage: physical classes do a column AOE, and caster classes do a circular AOE.

Cross-Role Skills

As of Stormblood, cross-class skills have been replaced with cross-role skills. This section will be updated soon!

And that’s it, an introduction to the DPS role!  Happy DPSing! For class-specific information, here are our pugilist, lancer, rogue, archer, thaumaturge, and arcanist guides.