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When starting for the first time in Final Fantasy XIV, the number of classes available for beginners can induce anxiety. FFXIV allows new players (known as Sprouts in the MMO) to pick between nine distinct classes. These generic disciplines of war or magic are left behind at level 30 when the player transitions into a more specialized job. Furthermore, since launch, the game has added many new jobs that don’t have a starting class and start at a higher level. But what is the best starting class in FFXIV? Which one eventually turns into the easiest job? Let’s discuss the best starting class and easiest job in FFXIV for new players.
6. Easiest Melee DPS in FFXIV – Lancer into Dragoon
Let’s start with the class that begins easy but becomes a little more complicated as it transitions into its specialized job. Lancer is a good choice for a best starting class in FFXIV because most of its time is spent simply going through a simple three-button rotation until it transitions into the Dragoon job at level 30. This allows the player to master the basics of the game and get into the story without worrying about a complicated rotation or switching between AoE and single-target abilities.
However, the reason Lancer isn’t considered the best starting class in FFXIV is that it begins to acquire jumps to weave in between abilities and buffs to line up with strong attacks when it turns into a Dragoon. Melee DPS also have to memorize positions attached to their abilities, meaning their DPS increases based on where they are attacking from relative to the boss.
5. Best Ranged Physical DPS – Dancer
Dancer is one of the jobs added in Endwalker that does not have a starting class attached to it. Players can undertake the quest chain to unlock this physical ranged DPS job once they reach level 60 on another combat job.
Dancers have the benefit of having all instant-cast abilities and a fluid rotation. They rely on procs and respond accordingly but have a simple basic rotation otherwise. Furthermore, the job doesn’t have positional abilities to worry about. While the Dancer is a relatively easy job, the reason it is not listed as the best starting class in FFXIV is that you can’t begin with it. Furthermore, the player still needs to learn to weave abilities that are off the global cooldown and understand their rotation changes on a dime.
4. Best Starting Class in FFXIV for Tanking – Gladiator into Paladin
Tanking seems like a daunting role to play in any MMO. However, the secret here is that tanking dungeons is arguably easy in FFXIV. Furthermore, you will spend much of your time as a sprout doing main scenario quests in the outdoor world, and tanking classes (jobs) have great survivability while also doing decent damage.
Players who begin the game as a Gladiator will eventually turn into the Paladin job at level 30. While leveling as a Gladiator, they share an easy rotation much like the Lancer mentioned above. The Gladiator also has easy-to-maintain buffs and learns its first AoE ability early in the game. Furthermore, tank dungeon queues are short. Just make sure to have your stance on when tanking dungeons and you can’t go wrong. Paladin becomes a bit more complicated because it also starts to include a spell rotation into the mix. However, the Gladiator into Paladin isn’t the only tank in the running for best starting class in FFXIV.
3. Easiest Solo Job – Marauder into Warrior
Marauders are also tanks and are just as easy to play as a Gladiator. Their rotations are similar until they transition into their specialized jobs. Marauder becomes the Warrior job at level 30.
Marauders (Warriors) are a little more self-sufficient than Gladiators (Paladins) because they can heal themselves while doing damage. The only complicated part of the job is learning to generate enough beast gauge to line up with offensive cooldowns and not wasting certain buff windows on lesser abilities.
2. Best Starting Class in FFXIV for Healing – Conjurer into White Mage
Healing is one of the most stressful roles in any MMO. However, the Conjurer is more than up to the task. Players who select the Conjurer will have a very straightforward learning curve. You target a party member, press the heal, and watch their health go up.
Conjurers become White Mages at level 30. However, they continue to play the same. New spells only add to their kit. Furthermore, they also get easy-to-use heal-over-time spells and a job gauge that isn’t complicated. When learning healing, you can’t go wrong with this one.
1. Overall Best Starting Class (Job) in FFXIV – Arcanist into Summoner
The Arcanist is the best starting class in FFXIV overall, as it is simple to learn and turns into both the Summoner and Scholar jobs at level 30. Leveling either of them also levels the other, and you can switch between them at any time. This gives you two roles for the price of one.
Summoners used to be complicated until their revamp in Endwalker. Now, their rotation is exceedingly simple. They alternate between three different summons, utilize their special abilities while the summon is active, and then move on to the next one. As they level up, the only thing that changes is the power of the different summoned Eikons.
Furthermore, players can switch to Scholar at any time while leveling. This lets them get faster queue times for dungeons if they don’t mind healing. This job has an easy time in their role in low-level dungeons because they summon a pet that heals with them.
Final Fantasy XIV is available for PC and PlayStation.
