I really hope the developers do not remove or heavily change Dragoon’s new Sky High skill.
To me, this is exactly the kind of job identity FFXIV needs more of. Dragoon surviving by leaping into the sky feels perfect for the job fantasy. It is not just another generic defensive button. It actually feels like something only a Dragoon would do.
I also do not believe this kind of skill would break the game or replace tanks and healers.
A Dragoon having a short survival tool does not mean it becomes a tank. Dragoon cannot hold aggro, cannot control boss positioning, and cannot take over the tank’s responsibility in real encounters. The tank is still the one managing the enemy and taking the main damage.
It also does not replace healers. Even if the Dragoon survives a dangerous moment, they still need healing, recovery, and support afterward. The skill simply gives Dragoon a unique way to survive for a short moment, which fits the job very well.
Instead of being afraid of this type of design, I would love to see more jobs receive identity-based survival or utility tools. They do not need to copy Sky High, and they do not all need to be damage reduction. The important part is that each job gets something that fits its own fantasy.
For example, Ninja could have something like a Substitution Technique. The Ninja enters a prepared stance for a few seconds. If hit during that window, they leave behind a wooden decoy or shadow and reappear behind the enemy, opening a special follow-up attack. This would feel very Ninja-like: surviving through deception, movement, and timing rather than armor or simple damage reduction.
Samurai could have something like a Final Stance. If the Samurai takes a lethal hit during a short window, they do not immediately fall. Instead, they remain standing for a few seconds, giving them a chance to execute one final Iaijutsu or receive healing. This would fit Samurai’s fantasy of resolve, discipline, and refusing to fall before the final cut.
These are just examples, but my main point is simple: Sky High feels like a great direction for job identity. It makes Dragoon feel special, and I think FFXIV needs more skills like this — skills that make each job feel different, flavorful, and memorable.
Please keep Sky High as it is, and I hope we see more identity-based tools like this for other jobs in the future.
What kind of identity-based skills would you like to see for other jobs?
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To me, this is exactly the kind of job identity FFXIV needs more of. Dragoon surviving by leaping into the sky feels perfect for the job fantasy. It is not just another generic defensive button. It actually feels like something only a Dragoon would do.
I also do not believe this kind of skill would break the game or replace tanks and healers.
A Dragoon having a short survival tool does not mean it becomes a tank. Dragoon cannot hold aggro, cannot control boss positioning, and cannot take over the tank’s responsibility in real encounters. The tank is still the one managing the enemy and taking the main damage.
It also does not replace healers. Even if the Dragoon survives a dangerous moment, they still need healing, recovery, and support afterward. The skill simply gives Dragoon a unique way to survive for a short moment, which fits the job very well.
Instead of being afraid of this type of design, I would love to see more jobs receive identity-based survival or utility tools. They do not need to copy Sky High, and they do not all need to be damage reduction. The important part is that each job gets something that fits its own fantasy.
For example, Ninja could have something like a Substitution Technique. The Ninja enters a prepared stance for a few seconds. If hit during that window, they leave behind a wooden decoy or shadow and reappear behind the enemy, opening a special follow-up attack. This would feel very Ninja-like: surviving through deception, movement, and timing rather than armor or simple damage reduction.
Samurai could have something like a Final Stance. If the Samurai takes a lethal hit during a short window, they do not immediately fall. Instead, they remain standing for a few seconds, giving them a chance to execute one final Iaijutsu or receive healing. This would fit Samurai’s fantasy of resolve, discipline, and refusing to fall before the final cut.
These are just examples, but my main point is simple: Sky High feels like a great direction for job identity. It makes Dragoon feel special, and I think FFXIV needs more skills like this — skills that make each job feel different, flavorful, and memorable.
Please keep Sky High as it is, and I hope we see more identity-based tools like this for other jobs in the future.
What kind of identity-based skills would you like to see for other jobs?
Continue reading...