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With so many jobs in FFXIV and new ones coming with every expansion, it’s normal to ask which ones stand at the top of the popularity rankings. While all of them are fun to play and bring great things to any party, some are easy picks for all players. Sometimes, it’s because of their skills, the glamour, or the overall gameplay feel of a class. So, if you want to see which are the most famous jobs in FFXIV, we have it all here.
All FFXIV Jobs Ranked from Least to Most Popular
Before we delve into the list, we wanted to make a quick disclaimer. This isn’t a tier list of which job is better and the one you should take for a spin to head into the game’s endgame content. This is just a popularity list based on our time playing the game in certain Data Centers, and ultimately, it’s up to you to pick the job you like the most in FFXIV. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
19. White Mage
Despite having some fantastic glamours and a huge healing output in the later levels, the White Mage isn’t a job you’ll see a lot, at least when leveling. Frankly, that is the main reason. While it is quite useful to have this job in a party, leveling it can be a slog. Most people prefer to grab this one once the armory bonus kicks in, but in truth, there are other healer jobs out there that are more engaging when journeying through Eorzea for the first time.
18. Scholar
The Scholar is an odd job because while it feels a bit easier to level due to your fairy helping at all times, people tend to level Summoner instead. Let me explain: Since both jobs level up by gaining Arcanist experience, players tend to stick to Summoner and switch to Scholar just to do the job quests. It’s practically two jobs in one, so that’s the reason why you don’t see a lot of adventurers with fairies as you level through the game.
17. Machinist
For an original job that forgoes swords and staves and instead gives players a big gun and a robot, players tend to leave this job on the side unless it is for certain situations. While the rotation is easy, it’s a job that doesn’t bring as much utility as the Bard or Dancer. However, Machinist is the best job to solo instances such as Palace of the Dead and Heaven on High if you feel like it. It might not be the most popular at the party, but people will see it around eventually.
16. Black Mage
It’s sad to see Black Mage so far down the list because it’s an engaging job to play. The reason why it’s left behind, and we believe it is a misconception, is because it’s not mobile enough. Wrong. This job is quite fast in the right hands, but it takes much time to master. Sadly, many people give this Magical Ranged DPS job a bad reputation when, in truth, it’s one of the best Magic DPS classes you can bring to any raid or trial.
15. Ninja
It hurts to see my main job in this spot, but I can understand why people don’t use it too much. Ninjas have a Mudra mechanic that requires players to remember button inputs to pull off some cool jutsus. While it isn’t hard, a lot of things are happening already during a fight. Putting Mudras in the mix might be a layer of difficulty players don’t want, and sadly, Ninjas stay in the shadow longer than I would’ve liked.
14. Bard
Bards are fantastic party members to have around due to all the buffs they provide. Whether you want more damage, heals, or any other bonus, Bards have them all. However, they lack a bit of damage, which is expected. While a lot of people require Bards for endgame, some tend to leave them aside due to not hitting big numbers on enemies. Still, it is a job we recommend because once it gets its full rotation, it’s really smooth to use.
13. Paladin
Paladin had a surge in popularity during Endwalker, as it was the poster job. However, the hype died down quickly. Even with some of the recent reworks to the rotation, it’s still a fun class to play, but some tend to pick other tanks due to them being flashier or bringing more utility. It’s a bit baffling, though, because the Paladin has some of the best mitigation tools in the game, but we imagine players prefer an edgier approach when it comes to being at the front.
12. Astrologian
If you ever hear a player complaining about RNG when playing, chances are they are an Astrologian. It is a popular class due to how great card buffs are. However, these can be frustrating for some. Only Astrologian mains will understand the pain of getting a card they can’t use in their current party. Still, it is a pretty engaging job to level up with some awesome glamours thrown into the mix.
11. Dancer
Another job that suffers from RNG is the Dancer, but it isn’t as bad as the Astrologian. The RNG relies more on its rotation than buffs, so it’s alright. What makes the Dancer such a popular class is that it’s a ranged job that starts at a high level due to its release in Shadowbringers, which makes this a great starting point for those who didn’t touch Machinist or Bard. Also, it has great job quests and some of the most beautiful glamours in the game.
10. Gunbreaker
Now that we’ve reached the top 10 of the FFXIV jobs ranked by popularity let’s open up with my favorite tank, Gunbreaker. This tank class is fantastic due to its rotation. It has one combo, inside another combo, and inside another combo, making it extremely engaging at later levels. While the mitigation tools might not be the best, this is the job DPS players should take if they ever want to tank.
9. Monk
The Monk job is a strange one because, while it beats the ever-living Hydaelyn out of enemies, leveling it up can be tough. It doesn’t have a ranged option to pull mobs, and the combos get more complicated as you level up. However, those who master the way of the fist can become a killing machine that is welcome in any group. Besides, who doesn’t want to punch an Ascian in the face from time to time?
8. Dragoon
The Dragoon has been one of the most iconic jobs in the Final Fantasy series, and it isn’t an exception in the MMO. Dragoons stand so high in the popularity of the job list of FFXIV because of how mobile and resourceful they are for a DPS job. They hit hard, take a lot of damage, have a great rotation, and even have some helpful skills to help other players. As long as you don’t jump into an AoE attack, you have what it takes to be a Dragoon.
7. Red Mage
If you ever wanted a Magical Ranged DPS job that feels like a melee one as well, Red Mage is for you. This job became popular due to the perfect mix of melee and ranged attacks. Furthermore, its mechanics are so great that it is really strange to mess up a rotation. And, if that wasn’t enough, the glamours of this job are fantastic, making it a perfect choice for fashion lovers.
6. Dark Knight
We’ve reached the edgiest job on the list. To this day, Dark Knight remains one of the most popular tanks in the game. The reason why it is so great is because of one particular skill that sometimes allows players to ignore mechanics. However, it comes with a price. You can either get the best Dark Knight of all in your party or a bad one that uses The Blackest Night a bit too much and gets cocky. We hope you get the former.
5. Sage
Since some players tend to avoid healing jobs while leveling, it shouldn’t be a surprise that many adventurers’ first healer job is the Sage. This one starts at level 70, and it is a great way to dip your toes into healing. It has an interesting set of weapons and some amazing shielding skills. Gundam fans surely love this job due to the flying drones you have around you.
4. Samurai
The Samurai is one of those jobs known as selfish DPS. Why? Well, they don’t really bring a lot of support to the party, but what they lack in that, they make up for the big numbers. It might have received a rework in Endwalker that some people didn’t like a lot, but it is still a fantastic job to have. Plus, who wouldn’t want to feel like a badass Ronin slicing their way through Eorzea and beyond?
3. Summoner
Due to the Endwalker rework, Summoner rose through the popularity ranks of FFXIV and became one of the most played jobs. Now, you can actually summon Primals when fighting, and the rotation has become extremely smooth. Beyond that, it has better damaging skills that compete against other Magical Ranged DPS jobs. And, if that wasn’t enough, it has an emergency resurrection spell, making it a jack-of-all-trades.
2. Warrior
If you’ve heard the Unga Bunga term in FFXIV, people are talking about the Warrior. Due to its newest skills, this is an unkillable tank. People have even done the latest treasure maps alone with this job, making it quite versatile. What’s best, though, is that due to its self-healing capabilities, healers have a less stressful time. Well, that is if they get a good Warrior; if not, prepare to struggle a bit.
1. Reaper
Last but not least, the winner of the jobs ranked by popularity in FFXIV is the Reaper. This is one of the newest kids on the block and took the game by storm. It checks a lot of things we were asking for. It is an original job in the franchise, it has one of the biggest damage potentials, its rotation is quite easy to learn, and it is as edgy as it can get. Plus, once possessed, you get an avatar form, so it looks quite cool, even if you’re a Lalafell.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to choose one job or all of them. FFXIV allows you to pick every class in one character, so don’t be afraid to try them all. Also, every job works perfectly in all content, so don’t worry if you don’t see your class around at all times. Everyone brings something to the table, so grab your favorite and stick with it regardless of what people think.
