Warrior Job Critique – Final Fantasy XIV (Patch 7.2)
Summary:
Warrior (WAR) continues to dominate as the most self-sufficient and beginner-friendly tank in Final Fantasy XIV. Its identity as a relentless berserker is well-preserved, but the job's simplicity has begun to border on stagnation.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Suggested Improvements:
1. Refresh Inner Release Window:
2. Rework Onslaught:
3. Revamp the Beast Gauge:
4. Shake It Off Evolution:
Conclusion:
Warrior in 7.2 remains a tank powerhouse defined by comfort and resilience. Its simplicity makes it approachable, but also causes it to lag in complexity and raid value. A refresh of its gauge system, more variety in its burst phase, and added utility scaling would go a long way in maintaining its identity while giving veteran players new tools to master. Warrior should always feel like an unstoppable force — but with just enough nuance to make every swing matter.
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Summary:
Warrior (WAR) continues to dominate as the most self-sufficient and beginner-friendly tank in Final Fantasy XIV. Its identity as a relentless berserker is well-preserved, but the job's simplicity has begun to border on stagnation.
Strengths:
- Unmatched self-sustain: Bloodwhetting, Nascent Flash, and Equilibrium make Warrior nearly unkillable in many scenarios, easing healer pressure.
- Simple, powerful rotation: A clear, easy-to-execute burst window with Inner Release and Fell Cleave/Decimate ensures consistent damage.
- Best-in-class dungeon tank: High AoE damage and sustainability make Warrior the top choice for 4-man content.
Weaknesses:
- Stale burst window: The Inner Release window has barely changed since Stormblood, making the rotation feel repetitive over time.
- Underwhelming gauge interaction: The Beast Gauge functions more as a limiter than a meaningful resource system.
- Limited raid utility: Outside Shake It Off and niche uses of Nascent Flash, Warrior brings little raid-wide support compared to Paladin or Dark Knight.
Suggested Improvements:
1. Refresh Inner Release Window:
- Add a new Beast Gauge spender during Inner Release (e.g., Titanic Rupture – a line AoE cleave with bonus crits).
- Give Inner Release a secondary trait at higher levels: while active, each Beast Gauge spender buffs the next with bonus potency or utility (e.g., healing, DoT, or DR).
2. Rework Onslaught:
- Making it cost no gauge during Inner Release (to encourage strategic movement/DPS weaving) that applies a minor debuff or self-buff (e.g., "Increases next Fell Cleave potency by 20%").
3. Revamp the Beast Gauge:
- Introduce a passive trait that generates additional gauge when Warrior mitigates damage while Defiance is active.
- Create a new combo finisher (e.g., Mammoth Slam) that uses 50 Beast Gauge and does bonus damage based on missing HP (encouraging risk-reward play).
4. Shake It Off Evolution:
- At higher levels, allow Shake It Off to grant a 10s regen effect to party members or an additional short magic vuln down debuff to enemies hit.
- Tie it to the Beast Gauge: the more gauge you spend before activation, the more powerful the shield (rewarding active play).
Conclusion:
Warrior in 7.2 remains a tank powerhouse defined by comfort and resilience. Its simplicity makes it approachable, but also causes it to lag in complexity and raid value. A refresh of its gauge system, more variety in its burst phase, and added utility scaling would go a long way in maintaining its identity while giving veteran players new tools to master. Warrior should always feel like an unstoppable force — but with just enough nuance to make every swing matter.
Continue reading...