The Dancer job in Final Fantasy XIV is a unique and engaging ranged physical DPS class known for its elegant movements and powerful party support capabilities. Wielding chakrams as their primary weapon, Dancers utilize rhythmic dances to not only deal damage but also to buff and support their allies. This guide will delve into the intricacies of the Dancer job, exploring its playstyle, strengths, weaknesses, and everything you need to know to master this captivating class in FFXIV.
Understanding the Dancer Playstyle in FFXIV
Dancer in FFXIV is more than just a damage dealer; it’s a dynamic support DPS hybrid. Their gameplay revolves around a fascinating blend of direct damage, party buffs, and tactical support. At its core, the Dancer’s rotation is about managing “procs” – skill enhancements triggered by specific actions – and executing powerful dance sequences that provide significant buffs to both themselves and their party members.
One of the Dancer’s defining features is the Dance Partner mechanic. By using Closed Position, a Dancer can designate another party member as their Dance Partner. This bond is crucial, as many of the Dancer’s buffs, particularly those from their dance finishers, are shared with their partner, amplifying their effectiveness in party play. Beyond the Dance Partner, Dancers also bring vital raid-wide mitigation with Shield Samba, a valuable tool for reducing incoming damage for the entire raid. Furthermore, they possess an area-of-effect (AoE) heal in Curing Waltz, adding another layer of utility to their kit.
The Dancer’s combat flow is centered around building and spending resources. As both the Dancer and their Dance Partner execute Global Cooldown (GCD) weapon skills or spells, they generate Esprit. This resource, tracked on the Dancer’s job gauge, fuels powerful GCD actions like Saber Dance. Simultaneously, the Dancer’s weapon skills trigger Off-GCD (oGCD) procs, enhancing their damage output. Abilities like Flourish are key to maximizing these procs, granting access to a burst of enhanced abilities.
The Dancer job is often praised for its accessibility. Its relatively straightforward rotation and forgiving mechanics make it an excellent choice for players new to FFXIV or those unfamiliar with the ranged DPS role. However, mastering the Dancer involves optimizing partner synergy and effectively utilizing their diverse utility toolkit to contribute significantly to party success.
Dancer Strengths and Weaknesses: Balancing Grace and Power
Strengths
- Exceptional Party Utility: Dancers are renowned for their substantial contributions to party utility. Improvisation and Curing Waltz provide potent healing capabilities, supplementing healers and offering crucial support during encounters.
- Flexible Resource Management: The Espirit gauge offers a flexible resource system. It rewards proactive play and partner synergy, allowing for adaptable damage output based on encounter needs.
- High Mobility: Like other physical ranged DPS jobs, Dancer boasts excellent mobility. En Avant provides multiple charges of dashes, enabling swift repositioning and maintaining damage uptime while handling mechanics.
Weaknesses
- Partner Dependency (Synergy): While the Dance Partner mechanic is a strength, it also introduces a degree of dependency. The Dancer’s full potential is realized when their partner performs well, as Esprit generation relies partly on the partner’s GCD actions. In less coordinated groups or with less experienced partners, Dancer’s resource generation and therefore overall performance can be slightly hampered.
- Lower Personal Damage Ceiling: Compared to some other DPS jobs, particularly in highly optimized scenarios, Dancer may exhibit a slightly lower personal damage ceiling. Their strength lies in their balance of damage and support, making them invaluable for raid utility but not necessarily topping damage charts in every situation.
Unlocking the Dancer Job in FFXIV: Joining the Dance
To unlock the Dancer job and begin your rhythmic journey in FFXIV, you need to meet a few prerequisites:
- Level Requirement: You must have at least one Disciple of Magic or War job leveled to Level 60.
- Expansion Requirement: You need to own the Shadowbringers Expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, as Dancer was introduced with this expansion.
Once you meet these requirements, follow these steps to unlock Dancer:
- Location: Head to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks (x:9.8, y:12.0). This bustling port city is where your Dancer adventure begins.
- Quest NPC: Seek out the NPC named Eager Lominsan at the specified coordinates. He will offer the quest “Shall We Dance.”
- Complete the Quest: Accept and complete the “Shall We Dance” quest. This introductory quest will guide you through the initial steps of becoming a Dancer.
- Reward: Upon completing the quest, you will be rewarded with the Dancer job stone from Nashmeira. Using this job stone will officially unlock the Dancer job, starting you at Level 60.
Unlock the Dancer job in Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks by speaking to the Eager Lominsan.
Decoding the Dancer Gauges: Step Gauge and Espirit
The Dancer Job Gauge in FFXIV is crucial for understanding and managing the job’s core mechanics. It consists of two primary components: the Step Gauge and the Espirit/Fourfold Feathers Gauge.
Step Gauge: This gauge is central to executing the Dancer’s powerful dance finishers: Standard Finish and Technical Finish.
- Initiating a Dance: Using either Standard Step or Technical Step will activate the Step Gauge.
- Step Actions: Once active, the gauge displays a sequence of four Step Actions: Emboite, Entrechat, Jete, and Pirouette. These must be executed in the order presented on the gauge.
- Dance Finishers: Successfully completing the step sequence transforms the Standard Finish and Technical Finish, respectively. Executing these finishers unleashes a powerful attack with potency scaling based on the accuracy of the steps performed.
Espirit and Fourfold Feathers Gauge: This section of the gauge tracks the Dancer’s resource generation.
- Espirit Generation: Espirit, represented by the yellow bar and numerical value, is generated when the Dancer or their Dance Partner successfully lands GCD weapon skills or spells. Specific Dancer GCDs like Cascade, Fountain, and their AoE counterparts contribute to Espirit gain.
- Espirit Consumption: Accumulating 50 Espirit unlocks the use of Saber Dance, a potent GCD weapon skill that damages both the primary target and nearby enemies.
- Fourfold Feathers: Using Dancer GCD weapon skills also has a chance to grant stacks of Fourfold Feathers. These stacks enable the use of powerful oGCD abilities: Fan Dance (single target) and Fan Dance II (AoE). Both Fan Dance skills have a chance to further proc Fan Dance III, another damaging oGCD.
Understanding and effectively managing both the Step Gauge and the Espirit/Fourfold Feathers Gauge is key to maximizing the Dancer’s damage and support potential in FFXIV.
Dancer Action Breakdown: Skills and Abilities
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Dancer Lore: The Soulful Rhythm of Thavnair
“From the Near Eastern nation of Thavnair comes a troupe of bewitchingly graceful performers. Though certainly elegant and beautiful, their movements also speak of martial discipline ─ of a pulsing, persistent energy whose rhythm can inspire souls and soothe troubled hearts. Inured to the hardships of the road, these dancers have learned to land throwing weapons with the same exacting precision as their footfalls, removing any who would obstruct the endless beat of the dance.”
This lore excerpt beautifully encapsulates the essence of the Dancer job, highlighting their origins in Thavnair, their blend of grace and martial prowess, and their ability to inspire and overcome adversity through the power of dance.
Conclusion: Embrace the Dance of Battle with Dancer FFXIV
The Dancer job in FFXIV offers a captivating blend of elegance, support, and engaging gameplay. From their rhythmic dance sequences to their valuable party buffs and healing utility, Dancers bring a unique flavor to the ranged DPS role. Whether you are a seasoned FFXIV player or just starting your adventure in Eorzea, the Dancer provides an accessible yet rewarding job to master. Embrace the chakrams, learn the steps, and let the dance guide you to victory!
