Mastery Level - Sub Job Traits/Priorities

Warrior: Double Attack +12%, Max HP +60, Resist Virus (Disease/Plague) +20%, Fencer +300 TP Bonus, +5% Crit. Rate

Used by (Pre-Master levels): Samurai, Dragoon, Blue Mage, Paladin, Ranger, Ninja, Rune Fencer, and rarely anything else (for Provoke).

Pros: It's all about double attack and Fencer bonus (single wield only). With the amount of TP Bonus we get these days, players can hit higher level weapon skills even sooner. Warcry remains beneficial for melee parties. Naegling users will appreciate this.

Cons: Gains so little defensively that non-tanks will continue to struggle to survive on higher content. Provoke isn't as useful now, because other choices provide better hate moves and defensive traits.


Monk: Kick Attacks +10%, Max HP+240

Used by: Nothing.

Pros: The most HP on a subjob.

Cons: The same Subtle blow traits can be found on Ninja. Kick Attacks only activate when using Hand-to-Hand. Don't use this.


Thief: Evasion Bonus +35, Damage Limit +0.1, Triple Attack +5%

Used by: Players who can't main THF and need Treasure Hunter. Situationally for Trick & Sneak Attack.

Pros: Treasure Hunter and fights that require Regain TP and stacking SATA (eg. Erinys).

Cons: Triple Attack and other traits are so negligible it isn't worth it outside of what was stated.


White Mage: MP Recovered while resting +9 +1 MP/tick cumulative, AoE Status Removal with Divine Seal, Magic Defense Bonus +14, 10% Fast Cast -5 Enmity for status ailment recovery -- Holy, Curaga III, Recall, Auspice, Raise II, Reraise II, Shell/Shellra III

Used by: Red Mage, Scholar, Geomancer, and anything else prioritizing healing.

Pros: Curaga III, Auspice, and AoE Status removal, provides more ways to sub in for a White Mage.

It is steadily becoming normal to see WHM subbed out for RDM or SCH because of their bonuses. Although, this can only be trusted to the most dedicated. It doesn't (normally) allow other jobs like GEO to main heal, but it's easier to provide support.

Cons: Aside from some magic defense bonus, the player does not gain much else defensively. Also, you may miss out on Red Mage's Phalanx.


Black Mage: Magic Attack Bonus +28, -10% Elemental Casting Time, Magic Burst Bonus +7% (not subject to the MB cap) -- Freeze, Stone III, Firaga II, Quake, Water III, Retrace, Sleepga II, Burst, Blizzaga II, Flood, Aero III

Used by: Red Mage, Scholar, Geomancer, and anything else needing stronger elemental damage. Also Warps.

Pros: It should be noted that while Black Mage gets another trait of Magic Attack Bonus over Red Mage, it's only a difference of +4. Still, it remains the best for nuking and elemental weaponskills. Sleepga II is massive for crowd control, more so for a RDM, but also for jobs like SCH and GEO. Elemental Seal remains situationally excellent.

Cons: I'm not overly thrilled for spells other than Sleepga II. Also, it does not provide the same defensive and MP recovery options of Red Mage.


Red Mage: Resist Petrify +20%, MP Recovered while resting +6, Fast Cast +20% -- Fire II, Blizzard II, Shell III, all En- II spells except Water

Used by: Most mage jobs for Convert, Fast Cast, Haste, Flurry, defensive spells like Stoneskin, Phalanx, and more.

Pros: This amazing support has added even more Fast Cast. It provides plenty of defensive and MP recovery options, along with Magic Attack Bonus for nukers.

Cons: It didn't gain any extra healing ability, making /whm more appealing for difficult setups. The biggest middle finger here is not being allowed to use Composure, but I'm sure many would admit that it would break the game.


Paladin: Defense Bonus +35, Shield Mastery +20 TP -- Raise, Protect III, Cure IV, Holy

Used by: Niche situations that call for a job to stack defense and make use of abilities like Sentinel and Holy Circle.

Pros: This rare support gains even more defense, but more importantly, Raise and Cure IV. Best used by somebody standing in as a non-engaging tank while other options aren't viable.

Cons: It's difficult to recognize when it will shine without being told, and most players wouldn't be prepared to take it on.


Dark Knight: Attack Bonus +35, Resist Paralyze +20%, Smite +19.9%, Damage Limit + 0.3, Occult Acumen +50 TP / 100 MP -- Aero II, Sleep II

Used by: Rune Fencer and other two-handers wanting Last Resort and higher attack.

Pros: It has become increasingly more popular because of it's crazy Attack (more so for 2-handers/H2H) and damage limit, making it competitive with Warrior. Not only that, but it has hate tools, Stun, and Last Resort. Some mages may like to play with the Occult Acumen trait. Absorb-TP is useful in some fights.

Cons: Aero II and Sleep II changes nothing. Most of the attack starved jobs are 1-handers and they can't make use of Smite. Damage dealers may want a more defensive support in some content. Feels sluggish when Last Resort is down.

Beastmaster: Aquan Killer +8%, Resist Slow +20%, Resist Amnesia +20%

Used by: Nothing

Pros: Tandem Blow & Strike could be an option for a Puppetmaster or anyone else using a pet, but it's not great.

Cons: Doesn't give enough to be useful. Avoid.


Bard: Dark Carol, Blade Madrigal, Dragonfoe Mambo, Gold Capriccio, Mage's Ballad II, Shining Fantasia, Foe Requiem V, Carnage Elegy

Used by: Nothing

Pros: Carnage Elegy is one of the best pulling tools in the game. 24 yalm distance. Minimum recast of 24 seconds.

Cons: Songs aren't enhanced and are virtually useless.


Ranger: Accuracy/Ranged Accuracy +35, Ranged Critical Hits +10%, Recycle +30%, Unlimited Shot

Used by: Corsair when accuracy starved

Pros: Provides the most natural accuracy for melee and ranged jobs. Unlimited Shot makes it so the next shot does not expend ammo. New Corsairs may consider ranger support to help them land ranged attacks on content that is too evasive for them.

Cons: Despite having the highest accuracy, it doesn't provide much else. With buffs, rarely would this extra accuracy trait make a difference. Corsair loses out on too much damage. Also, it already has access to Recycle +30%, so it's not saving bullets either.


Summoner: Max MP+40, Elemental Siphon, Avatar's Favor
Avatars: Double Slap, Meteorite, Bitter Elegy, Ecliptic Howl, Eerie Eye, Dream Shroud

Used by: Anyone needing extra Mewing Lullaby to consistently reset a target's TP

Pros: Mewing Lullaby remains a very useful tool for some fights, although it can't be used as frequently on a support.

Cons: Because other jobs get such low Summoning Magic Skill, it makes Elemental Siphon, Avatar's Favor, and anything else too weak to consider.


Samurai: Store TP+20, Zanshin +35%

Used by: Warrior, Dark Knight, Dragoon, Dancer, and other damage dealers looking for TP overflow

Pros: Having used it for many years on my Dark Knight, Samurai's TP generation helps so much. Third Eye acts as a defense, even more so with Seigan, although some jobs need to full-time Hasso. WS frequency is notably higher.

Cons: Does not have attack bonus or any serious defensive capability; especially against magic and AoE moves. Attack starved jobs may have to consider something else, along with damage dealers struggling to survive on dangerous content.


Ninja: Resist Bind, Damage Limit +0.1, Daken (Shurikens) +30%

Used by: Jobs looking to evade moves and spells with shadows, and for dual wielding

Pros: Previously the go-to defensive subjob for many. It remains situationally useful for some fights. The dual wield III trait makes it easier to cap magic haste.

Cons: Gains nothing with master levels. Only essential if you're on a job like Corsair, that doesn't have natural dual wield and doesn't like the idea of Dancer.


Dragoon: WS Damage +10%, Conserve TP +18%, Super Jump

Used by: Damage dealers looking to shed hate so they can keep on going without the enemy killing them

Pros: With High Jump, and especially Super Jump, damage dealers can shed accumulated hate so targets turn their attention to somebody else. Also, Dragoon gains a hefty weaponskill damage bonus, minor accuracy, and the conserving of TP from weaponskills. This makes it a viable support for melees and rangers.

Cons: Only shines in content where you fight the same targets for long periods (preferably with tanks) like Dynamis-D and Ambuscade. In other content, like Odyssey segment farming, you wouldn't waste time using Jumps on targets with low HP. The WS damage is nice, but if you're hitting low numbers or capping at 99,999, it loses appeal next to other supports like Samurai. Lacks defensive abilities (other than Jump) and traits.

Blue Mage: Additional Points & Spell Set Limit - Ice Break, Self-Destruct, Frightful Roar, Cold Wave, Filamented Hold, Hecatomb Wave, Radiant Breath, Feather Barrier, Light Of Penance, Flying Hip Press & Magic Fruit

Used by: Tanks and other jobs looking to turtle up and be difficult to kill

Pros: Provides many hate tools, like Jettatura, Geist Wall, Sheep Song, and others. Cocoon's 50% defense boost is exceptional. With master levels, player's get access to other useful spells like:

Frightful Roar - An area attack with 10% defense down, but does not stack with other defense down effects from Armor/Full Break, Tachi Ageha, etc.

Cold Wave - An area attack move like Geist Wall, except it also gives a Frost DoT and AGI down. It only costs 1 skill point, 2 more MP to cast, and links up for the Auto Refresh trait. The downfall is it takes twice as long (1 minute) to recast than Geist Wall.

Filamented Hold - A conal attack of 9' yalms that gives Slow +25%, if it lands.

Feather Barrier - If Evasion matters, this gives +25 Evasion every 2 minutes for 30 seconds. Casts almost instantly.

Light of Penance - If it lands, for every minute it will reduce a single target's TP by 100. May also give an additional Blind (-100 accuracy) and Bind effect. 640 volatile enmity isn't bad.

Magic Fruit - Extremely powerful because it allows the casting of a healing spell similar to Cure IV... every 6 seconds! Its downfall is it costs 72 MP. That shouldn't matter if it's not spammed and there is enough Refresh.

-- It should be noted that the Max HP Boost trait isn't possible because two spells are needed to set it, so Flying Hip Press on its own won't suffice. This also applies to Resist Gravity. However, with the right spells set, Blue Mage now gets access to Auto Refresh (+1 MP) & Magic Defense Bonus (+10).

The update greatly helps Rune Fencer, because it lacks healing options and ways to regenerate MP.

Cons: Blue Mage provides a ton of physical defense, but magic damage is a weakness. Therefore, it is important for non-Rune Fencers to recognize when targets call for extra physical damage mitigation. I wouldn't use it over Rune Fencer support if the targets are magic heavy, unless somebody else is already providing Runes.

Speaking from experience, it can be difficult for some players to get used to how Blue Mage works after playing with Warrior for so long. There's a learning curve. Tanks are busier than usual, especially in the early stages of fights. Recommended to get used to playing it in a solo setting before trying on difficult content.


Corsair: Resist Amnesia +15%, Random Deal - Puppet, Gallant's & Wizard's Roll

Used by: When Corsair's Roll gives extra points in CP/EP parties without hurting performance

Pros: Sometimes a mage or Bard doesn't require an optimal support job, so they may bring a Corsair's roll for more points. Having Random Deal is a bonus because it randomly resets some abilities for the party.

Cons: Only gets one standard roll that isn't enhanced like a main job Corsair. Struggling to think of any reason you'd use it outside of Corsair's Roll, even after gaining access to three others.


Puppetmaster: Resist Slow +15%, Martial Arts 380 Delay, Resist Amnesia +20%

Used by: Nothing

Pros: Getting beyond 147 Puppetry skill gives an automaton access to Cure IV and Haste, but that's all I can find.

Cons: The extra traits give nothing useful and the Automation is far too weak to consider. Avoid.


Dancer: Resist Slow +15%, Skillchain Damage +12%, Contradance, Chocobo Jig, Building Flourish

Used by: Melee jobs lacking healing trusts, or the content does not allow trusts. Staggering enemies in the old Dynamis areas. If the party wants Haste Samba and defense down from Boxstep. Also Dual Wield, which if combined with Haste Samba, requires less magic haste to hit the delay cap

Pros: Useful on solo content for the added skillchain damage, of which a mastered job gains an additional 4%. Chocobo Jig gives 20% extra movement speed that can be maintained indefinitely. Therefore, all jobs get a quicker way (other than main job BRD COR SMN) of getting around. It serves a purpose outside of battling.

Contradance doubles the healing of a Curing Waltz, but also makes Healing Waltz a 10' yalm radius area effect. So, if you and your trusts (or party) are being hit with nasty status effects, you can erase one every 5 minutes.

Building Flourish works as a Boost to weaponskills. If you are landing Steps to weaken a target, you can store up to 5 finishing moves. It boosts the next weaponskill in the following way:

1 Finishing move gives Accuracy+40
2 Finishing moves give Accuracy+40 and Attack+25%
3 Finishing moves give Accuracy+40, Attack+25%, and Critical Hit Rate+10%.

There isn't much point of using it with one finishing move, but the Attack+25% stat is significant. The critical hit rate helps a weaponskill like Evisceration. This gives the Dancer support job another way of using up finishing moves, other than Reverse Flourish.

Cons: Vulnerable to nasty attacks. Therefore, it is often discouraged in favor of something else. Curing Waltz isn't enough to offset the extra damage a melee would take. Using up TP for Waltz and Steps goes against the point of a damage dealer. Unlike main job Dancer, the benefits a support provides usually isn't worth it in endgame. It's a great support for a solo player who is new or returning to the game.


Scholar: MP Recovered while resting +9 +1 MP/tick cumulative, Rapture, Ebullience, 3 Stratagem Charges (40 seconds less to recharge) - Stona, Protect III, Ice Spikes, Thunder II, Stone III, Cure IV, Water III, Regen III

Used by: White Mage, Red Mage & Black Mage in some situations for the stratagems

Pros: Getting access to Stona, Cure IV, and Regen III is significant, because it allows an alternative to the White Mage support. Buffing is easier, because Accession grants a single target spell (other than Haste/Flurry) to the party. Previously, having a recharge time of two minutes and a limit of two stratagems was restrictive. 1 minute 20 recharge with three stratagems allows more freedom. White Mage's have to sum up if this outweighs the usefulness of Red Mage. Not only that, but nukers get Ebullience, that boosts the next spell by 20% on top of being able to cast their own Storms and Klimaform.

Cons: It won't heal like a White Mage support, and you have to be weary about having the stratagems to change from Light to Dark, and back to Light if needed. You get Sublimation, but you lose out on Convert. And unless you're playing Red Mage main, you won't have access to Phalanx, which is huge if you are consistently in harm's way. It remains a viable support for when it makes sense to focus on buffing and you aren't worried for your safety, although less so if you have someone playing main job Scholar (because of Regen V and other things).


Geomancer: Elemental Casting Time -10%, Conserve MP +34%, Life Cycle - Blizzard II, Geo-Acumen, Thundara, Indi-Torpor, Geo-STR, Geo-Slow, Thunder II, Geo-Torpor, Indi-Slip

Used by: Nothing

Pros: Struggling to think of any.

Cons: The bubbles are so weak it isn't worth it. Avoid.


Rune Fencer: Magic Defense Bonus +14, Accuracy Bonus +10, Valiance - Shell III, Stoneskin, Foil

Used by: Any job looking to mitigate magic damage

Pros: As a master Rune Fencer, and having used it as a support on two melee jobs earlier this year, the benefits are noticeable if you know what runes to use. If you're unsure, I have a guide listing every mob type here: Which Runes To Use? Gathering Info. - Valiance is big because it puts the benefits of the runes on a whole party. With that and Vallation, you're always safer from magic damage.

The elephant in the room is Paladin getting access to Stoneskin and Foil. The job is already excellent at taking physical damage, and its weakness has always been on the magic side. Unless an enemy is extremely physical or uses no elements, Rune Fencer is king. Also, provided the PLD is on the hate list, Foil is a consistently useful tool for enmity. Most melee damage dealers (that don't have natural dual wield) should think about using it if they are low manning enemies with heavy magical attacks. Take Caturae's for example. Having Lux Runes for them helps so much.

Cons: It's not great unless the enemy is dangerous and uses elemental magic. There are no other reasons to use it. Yes, a PLD/RUN gains a plethora of hate with Sentinel, Rampart, Foil etc. However, it should be known that Paladin's only area attacks are Banishga and Circle Blade. If you need area moves to get hate on a crowd, Blue Mage is better.

There's also the disadvantage of Rune Fencer's lack of healing. If a Paladin feels like Runes aren't mitigating damage more than Magic Fruit heals, Blue Mage wins. A damage dealer has to account for not having extra tools to heal themselves, or avoid moves with shadows, and Foil would often work against them by pulling hate. Also, you only usually want one person with Runes in a party, unless it's an extraordinary circumstance.