The Samurai is a job in Final Fantasy 14 that is available in the Stormblood expansion. Samurai are close-range melee warriors who use katanas and Far Eastern swordplay techniques to slash down enemies with tremendous power.
Samurai have one of the highest DPS numbers in the game, allowing them to annihilate anyone who dares to stand in their way. As a tradeoff, Samurai lack raid utility as their kit doesn’t include any group-wide buffs to help out party members or enhance their performance.
Instead, the Samurai’s “utility” is their massive damage output, so their role is to bring as much destruction and mayhem to the playing field as possible.
If you like being in the middle of the action, with a godly amount of strength to boot, the Samurai has you written all over it. Here are the basics of the Samurai job in Final Fantasy 14 so you can become the strongest and bravest warrior in all of Eorzea.
Final Fantasy 14 Samurai Basics
The Samurai is a close-range melee warrior with hard-hitting attacks that can output a ridiculous amount of damage. They are a Disciple of War, which means they use weaponskills as their main offensive abilities.
Unlike other more utility-based DPS jobs in Final Fantasy 14 like the Bard and Ninja, the Samurai is entirely focused on damage. They lack very few abilities that can assist party members in raids, so their playstyle involves being in the middle of the action and racking up high damage numbers.
They use traditional Far Eastern swordplay techniques from the land of Higashi. The katana sword can also store energy that, once the gauge is full, can later be released into special attacks.
Samurai use katanas as weapons and their armor is mostly made up of “Striking” gear, which is light armor with average defenses. As a Samurai, you’ll want to focus on the strength attribute as this enhances your attack power. Like other DPS classes, Samurai also benefit from critical hit, direct hit, skill speed, and determination.
If you’re looking for a class that solely revolves around damage – and plenty of it – the Samurai job is right down your alley.
How to Become a Samurai in Final Fantasy 14
Compared to most other jobs in Final Fantasy 14, obtaining the Samurai job requires a little more effort. The job was introduced in the Stormblood expansion, so you’ll need to make sure you purchase this if you own the Starter Edition of Final Fantasy 14.
The Complete Edition includes the base game and all expansions, but the Starter Edition only contains the base game and Heavensward, the first expansion.
If you already own the Stormblood expansion, simply level up any Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic class to 50. Once your character is leveled up, go to Ul’dah – Steps of Nald and speak to Ul’dahn Citizen who will give you the “The Way of the Samurai” quest.
After you’ve finished the quest, equip the “Soul of the Samurai” to officially become a Samurai.
Final Fantasy 14 Samurai Actions
Here’s the full list of the Samurai’s PVE actions in Final Fantasy 14.
Hakaze
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 200.
Additional Effect: Increases your Kenki Gauge by 5
Jinpu
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Combo Action: Hakaze
Combo Potency: 320
Combo Bonus: Increases your amount of damage by 13%
Combo Bonus: Increases your Kenki Gauge by 5
Third Eye
Reduces the amount of damage you take the next attack by 10%.
Additional Effect: Awards Open Eye when you’re hit
Enpi
Unleashes a ranged attack with a potency of 100.
Enhanced Enpi Bonus Potency: 320
Additional Effect: Increases Kenki Gauge by 10
Shifu
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Combo Action: Hakaze
Combo Potency: 320
Combo Bonus: Decreases your weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 13%
Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 5
Fuga
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a cone in front of you.
Additional Effect: Increases your Kenki Gauge by 5
Gekko
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Combo Action: Jinpu
Combo Potency: 480
Rear Combo Bonus: Increases your Kenki Gauge by 5
Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 5
Combo Bonus: Awards Getsu
Iaijutsu
Performs a weaponskill depending on the current number of Sen stored in the Sen Gauge.
1 Sen: Higanbana
2 Sen: Tenka Goken
3 Sen: Midare Setsugekka
Mangestu
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Combo Action: Fuga
Combo Potency: 160
Combo Bonus: Increases Jinpu duration by 15 seconds to a maximum of 40 seconds
Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 10
Combo Bonus: Awards Getsu
Kasha
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Combo Action: Shifu
Combo Potency: 480
Flank Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 5
Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 5
Combo Bonus: Awards Ka
Oka
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100 to all closeby enemies.
Combo Action: Fuga
Combo Potency: 160
Combo Bonus: Increases Shifu duration by 15 seconds to a maximum of 45 seconds
Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 10
Combo Bonus: Awards Ka
Yukikaze
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Combo Action: Hakaze
Combo Potency: 360
Combo Bonus: Increases Kenki Gauge by 15
Combo Bonus: Awards Setsu
Meikyo Shisui
Perform up to 3 weaponskill combos without requiring combo prerequisites. Doesn’t affect Iaijutsu.
Hissatsu: Kaiten
Increases potency of next weaponskill by 50%.
Kenki Gauge Cost: 20
Hissatsu: Gyoten
Rushes target and unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Kenki Gauge Cost: 10
Can’t be performed while bound.
Hissatsu: Yaten
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 100.
Additional Effect: 10-yalm backstep
Additional Effect: Awards Enhanced Enpi
Kenki Gauge Cost: 10
Can’t be performed while bound.
Merciful Eyes
Instantly restores your HP.
Cure Potency: 200
Can only be performed while under the effect of Eyes Open.
Shares a recast timer with Hissatsu: Seigan.
Meditate (Job Quest)
Gradually increases your Kenki Gauge.
Additional Effect: Awards stacks of Meditation when used in battle, up to a maximum of 3.
Kenki Gauge is not affected when used outside of combat.
The effect ends when you use another action or move.
Cancels auto-attack when performed.
Triggers the cooldown of weaponskills when performed. Can’t be performed during the cooldown of weaponskills.
Hissatsu: Shinten
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 320.
Kenki Gauge Cost: 25
Hissatsu: Kyuten
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 150 to all close-by enemies.
Kenki Gauge Cost: 25
Hissatsu: Seigan
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 220,
Kenki Gauge Cost: 15
Can only be performed while under the effect of Eyes Open.
Shares a recast timer with Merciful Eyes.
Hagakure
Turns Setsu, Getsu, and Ka into Kenki. Each Sen converted increases your Kenki Gauge by 10. Can only be performed while under the effect of at least one of the three statuses.
Ikishoten
Increases Kenki Gauge by 50.
Can only be performed while in battle.
Hissatsu: Guren (Job Quest)
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 850 to all enemies in a straight line in front of you.
Kenki Gauge Cost: 50
Shares a recast timer with Hissatsu: Senei
Hissatsu: Senei
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 1,100.
Kenki Gauge Cost: 50
Shares a recast timer with Hissatsu: Guren.
Tsubame-gaeshi
Repeats the previously executed Iaijutsu with more potency.
Can only be performed immediately after Iaijutsu.
Triggers the cooldown of weaponskills once performed. Can’t be performed during the cooldown of weaponskills.
Shoha
Unleashes an attack with a potency of 400.
Can only be performed after getting three stacks of Meditations by performing Iaijutsu, Tsubame-gaeshi, or Meditate while in battle.
Meditation effect fades when executed.
Final Fantasy 14 Samurai Playstyle
The Samurai is the ultimate DPS class, with heavy-hitting abilities and attacks that can obliterate any enemies in their path. They are consistently considered a top-tier DPS class in Final Fantasy 14 due to their massive damage output.
The Samurai’s playstyle involves being in the middle of the fight and executing melee combos that build up Sen. Based on the number of Sen in your Sen Gauge, you’ll deal more damage and unleash different effects onto enemies.
You’ll also need to accumulate Kenki, the power stored in your katana, by executing specific weaponskills. Doing so will allow you to perform actions like Hissatsu: Kaiten and Hissatsu: Gyoten.
Despite their flashy playstyle and complex-sounding ability names, the Samurai job is quite straightforward and is one of the easiest melee DPS classes to learn. They are pretty forgiving due to their flexibility to adapt to specific scenarios, and their base rotation is relatively simple to grasp.
In addition, the Samurai is self-sufficient due to their recovery ability Merciful Eyes, which is handy if you find yourself in a fight with a particularly strong foe.
The main downside of the Samurai is their zero raid utility in the form of buffs. However, their high damage helps party members bring down bosses quickly, which makes up for their lack of utility abilities.
Final Fantasy 14 Samurai Tips
Although the Samurai job is a little easier to grasp than other jobs in Final Fantasy 14, it can still seem a little overwhelming for new players – there are a lot of abilities, all of which have quite intimidating names.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when playing Samurai to help you get started.
Use Yukikaze last
The Samurai’s three Sen combos all grant different advantages in battle. For example, Hakaze, Shifu, and Kasha increase your attack speed.
However, your third and last combo, Hakaze and Yukikaze, are best saved for last as they fill your Job gauge quicker, allowing you to buff your other combos before executing them.
Don’t let the ability names put you off
With the likes of Kenki and Iaijutsu, the Samurai’s abilities can sound pretty daunting and full-on, but they’re really not as complicated as they seem. All of your possible combo chains will pop up on your screen in the shape of dotted lines over necessary abilities.
Once you’ve got the basics of the job, things only get easier.
Final Fantasy 14 is available on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
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