ESTNN breaks down the basics of FFXIV’s Ranged DPS Jobs; BRD, MCH and DNC.
Unlike Melee DPS Jobs, Ranged DPS hang out on the back lines. But that doesn’t mean they’re not bringing a lot to the table. Ranged DPS Jobs in FFXIV are some of the most flexible and mobile in the game. If reactive and fast-paced play is your jam, you’re in the right place.
We’ll take you through exactly what each has to offer, as well as giving you some tips to make the most of all that utility and movement.
Bard (BRD)
The last of our core ARR Jobs, Bard builds out of the Archer base class and focus on ranged attacks with a bow and songs which boost their allies damage output and defense. One of the biggest bonuses of BRD is their large arsenal of instant-cast abilities, giving them plenty of mobility. This makes them the ideal choice for duties and raids where mechanics require interaction with the environment. Shadowbringers didn’t bring a huge slew of changes for BRD, but it did increase their raw damage output significantly, as well as receiving a new cap ability – Apex Arrow, which deals damage to multiple enemies in a straight line.
Bard Tips
- Always Be Casting and BRD lives and dies by its buffs and many of their songs proc their GCD timers. Avoid going songless at all costs!
- BRD is heavily shaped by RNG, it has no GCD combos at all and instead its main focus is on responding to procs and managing your DoT and Song uptime
- Always DoT everything and use Iron Jaws to reapply both your DoTs at once for maximum efficiency
- BRD is one of the most mobile DPS classes in the game, take advantage of your ability to reposition yourself while still dealing damage and take pressure off the heals
- Materia Melding priority; Critical Hit > Direct Hit > Determination > Skill Speed
Find a full guide to the BRD Job on SaltedXIV.
Machinist (MCH)
Machinist is another ranged DPS choice available to players from level 50. The Job focuses on the use of turret-like tech and guns to bring slugs and bullets to the battlefield. Like BRD, they bring plenty of mobility and utility to a party. Their ability to summon magitek machines onto the field can provide a much-needed boost to damage in roulettes and raids. Shadowbringers saw some huge reworks for MCH, most notably getting rid of the RNG elements. (Goodbye Gauss Barrel! Hello unlimited ammo!) The changes have made MCH’s playstyle feel much more polished than previous expacs. If you’re looking for a similar feel to BRD but which draws on the game’s magitek flavor, MCH is a great choice that outputs consistently high damage.
Machinist Tips
- Like BRD, you’re a highly mobile Job so take advantage of it and use your oGCDs like Gauss Round and Ricochet liberally. Try not to save more than 1 of each charge
- Your Automation Queen’s damage scales with your Battery Gauge and it mirrors any buff you’re currently affected by except Dragon Sight. So focus its use in raid buff windows
- You can use Flamethrower during your downtime to fish for a tick, making it stronger than Spread Shot. A good optimization choice if your movement is restricted for some reason
- General AoE rule of thumb is Bioblaster for 2 targets or more and Auto Crossbow, Spread Shot for 3 targets or more
- Materia Melding priority; Critical Hit > Direct Hit/Determination > Skill Speed
Find a full guide to the MCH Job on SaltedXIV.
Dancer (DNC)
Introduced in Shadowbringers, Dancer is a chakram wielding ranged battle class with a distinctive combo mechanic. DNC has two flourishing rotations, where your main moves have a 50% chance to trigger your combo abilities. These abilities then feed back into the DNC’s fourfold feather, a resource that can stack up to 4 and is used to trigger special single-target and AOE damage abilities. As well as their interesting playstyle, DNC also has access to some innovative buffs; including their dance partner, a mechanic that allows them to make both themselves and a selected party member more effective at dishing out the damage. The system can be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get into the flow of the mechanics and playstyle, DNC has an effective kit that makes them a solid choice in end game content.
Dancer Tips
- Understand how and when to execute your dance steps. Performing the correct number of steps determines how much damage your finishing move does on your primary target. The DNCs finishing moves are some of the most potent in the game, so you don’t want to mess these up. Use them as part of your prepull and then again to refresh the Standard Finish buff when it drops
- Pick your dance partner as part of your prepull rotation – your dance steps provide a damage% buff and an espirit buff to your dance partner. The espirit buff can provide your Fourfold Feather gauge a boost whenever your dance partner lands spells and weaponskills
- Every successful hit with a proc has a 50% chance of earning you a Feather which unlocks your Fan Dance moves. The Fourfold Feather gauge can hold up to four Feathers, try your best to save these for when you and your dance partner are buffed by your Finishing steps
- Materia Melding priority; Critical Hit > Direct Hit > Determination > Skill Speed
