How Rare Is That Job?

An Unofficial, Opinionated Look At Class/Job Rarity For FFXIV Roleplayers

By Mis'to Raesthe
Odin Server, Light Datacenter

Last Updated: 11th October 2023
-
Dragoon Rework - Now Tier 5
Extra Reaper Notes, Post 6.5
Small Sage Update re: Custom Deliveries
Added the Eorzean Encyclopedia into the Disclaimer

It's always been a priority of mine to make sure my characters fit well within a world. When I first came to Final Fantasy XIV, I couldn't find many great up to date resources talking about where the Jobs and Classes of the world fit, or how common they might be.So, encouraged by my friends, I set about getting all the information I could on everything anyone would ever want to know about Jobs and how the denizens
of the world see them.This is that guide. It wouldn't be anything without this amazing community.

Before You Begin,
A Disclaimer

This document is full of dangerous things called opinions. As such, you may not agree, and that's okay!This discussion on Job rarity is to help people flesh out their characters in order to let them blend seamlessly and enjoyably into the world. It shouldn’t be something that gets policed by other roleplayers. Some jobs are naturally under higher scrutiny than others because of the past. Others are linked to secretive organizations that hoard that knowledge and refuse to share lightly.And yet many adventurers stand ready to come to the side of the Warrior of Light in their time of need; and they wield the whole spectrum of Jobs with them. The world may have wanted to say ‘no’ to certain disciplines before the Seventh Umbral Calamity - in the face of a cruel, uncaring world and numerable implacable foes, they may have to let bygones be bygones.So take this guide as it is - a look at in-game lore to help expand on your character and how they might interact with the world.Regarding spoilers, there is only so much I can talk about on Jobs without spoiling certain aspects. Rest assured, I won’t spoil any specifics on MSQ or Job stories, but there are things that I have to mention due to their connection to job rarity, or the Job NPCs' current recruitment plans, Soul Crystal shenanigans, Endwalker geographies, and so on.Thus, read at your own peril.NEW: A special note to the Encyclopedia Eorzea (EE) - alas, I do not have any, as many players don't. I think it's important to recognize that this information is not easily accessible as they're hard to get hold of. Lore is lore though, so I as I get information I will make the pertinent notes on classes from it; but I would personally not be as much of a stickler to EE lore as what can be found in game. However, the more tools for players, the better!

• Soul Crystals
• Illegal Magicks
• Hybridizing Jobs
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Bard

“The word "bard" ordinarily puts folk in mind of those itinerant minstrels, fair of voice and nimble of finger, who earn their coin performing in taverns and the halls of great lords. Few know, however, that bards in fact trace their origins back to the bowmen of eld, who sang in the heat of battle to fortify the spirits of their companions.In time, their impassioned songs came to hold sway over the hearts of men, inspiring their comrades to great feats and granting peace unto those who lay upon the precipice of death.”

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Needs Connections.

Promising archers who show an interest in history, remembrance and song will find their way to the path of the Bard.The game does suggest that it’s those from the Archer’s Guild of Gridania who are set on the path to becoming a Bard, as noted earlier archery itself is a widespread enough skill that anyone can do it. The key here is the willingness to understand what it means to be a Bard, the good and the sad. If your adventurer understands that on some level, then you’ll get your Soul Crystal from the moogles.Also, since the events of Shadowbringers, the Twin Adders are actively training promising recruits. I’d therefore say that if you’re aligned with the Twin Adders and have shown some skill with a bow and keeping up the spirits of your companions, the Grand Company might push you towards this job.

In Certain Circumstances, this could
be highly accessible or Commonplace.

Music is hardly going to be limited to the fighter bard alone. Any mighty warrior of any profession might desire to put victories to song or compose a great war ballad to intimidate a foe.And of course, any character who doesn't want the Job but simply wants to be able to perform with musical instruments in character should be perfectly fine to pick up Bard for the ability to do so.

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Red Mage

“On the eastern edge of Abalathia's Spine lies the mountainous region of Gyr Abania.It is in these elevated lands that people took shelter, when a burning star guided them away from the Sixth Umbral Calamity's treacherous floodwaters. The survivors gathered from near and far, and amongst them were refugees of the sorcerous cities of Mhach and Amdapor.These sworn enemies buried their history for the sake of the future, and cast aside their vestments of black and white. Upon the remnants of their arts a new discipline was built, and the first red mages stepped forward with rapiers in hand to fight back against the rising tides of destruction.”

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
High Skill but Actively Recruited.

Once a secret art it was rediscovered by X’Ruhn and Lambert, who formed a band of the Crimson Duellists. After they fell apart, the art was nearly lost again - until now.At the end of the Red Mage arc, at both level 70 and 80, X’Ruhn expresses a desire to see a new band of Red Mages formed, and promising adventurers trained. As such, anyone who can make their way to Mor Dhona and make contact with the existing Red Mages there would have a chance at joining the Crimson Duellists if they’re skilled enough with both blade and magic - and of a good heart.

In certain circumstances, this could be more accessible.

Red Magic finds its birthplace, and rediscovery, in Ala Mhigo. Folks from there may well have come into contact with the original Crimson Duelists of the Resistance before they fell apart. You would need to consider how they survived the events that saw them disband, how a previous Duelist saw their crystal entrusted to you, or how you might have stumbled upon them independently.Interestingly, Red Magic has made its way to the Garlemald Empire, of all places. In Bozja we see a number of Resistance NPC’s who originally learned it under the IVth Legion; an unusual way to come into contact with this rare art. If you were a naturalized citizen of the Empire, you might well have been trained in this discipline had you the inclination.

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Warrior

“On the northernmost edge of Abalathia's Spine exists a mountain tribe renowned for producing fearsome mercenaries. Wielding greataxes and known as warriors, these men and women learn to harness their inner-beasts and translate that power to unbridled savagery on the battlefield.
In former times which saw war waged ceaselessly in Eorzea, the warriors featured prominently on the front lines of battle. With the arrival of peacetime, however, their art has descended into the shadows of obscurity, where it remains to this day.”

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Needs Connections.

This blurb from the original blog is still accurate: “The Maelstrom have formed a provisional unit of elite troops who are being trained in the ways of the Abalathian warriors. One must attain a highly decorated position before being considered by the Maelstrom for training. Alternatively, one must have originated from one of the scattered Hellsguard tribes of Abalathia’s Spine.”The Inner Beast aspect of the Warrior is an interesting one. It’s presented as a kind of ‘uncontrollable bloodlust’ that overcomes the character and turns them berserk in the heat of battle, making them unable to tell friend from foe. It’s mastered by finding positive ways to channel that bloodlust, such as through protecting and defending the people you love. Certainly an interesting hook for characters.

In certain circumstances, this could be more accessible.

The Azim Steppes has a number of Xaela tribes who share this berserker-like tradition and even suffer from their own problems with the inner beast. Anyone coming from this subrace in that location was highly likely to be trained in these techniques.

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Paladin

“For centuries, the elite of the Sultansworn have served as personal bodyguards to the royal family of Ul'dah. Known as paladins, these men and women marry exquisite swordplay with stalwart shieldwork to create a style of combat uncompromising in its defense. Clad in brilliant silver armor, they charge fearlessly into battle, ever ready to lay down their lives for their liege.
To be a paladin is to protect, and those who choose to walk this path will become the iron foundation upon which the party's defense is built.”

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Needs Connections.

The very start of the Paladin job has the Sultansworn looking for promising adventurers to train as independent paladins and then goes straight out to do so. As such, those who have studied as gladiators or bodyguards could have a natural entry point here. The value of so-called free paladins is made eminently clear to the Sultansworn.Paladin soul crystals also do funky things with hierarchy, though hard to say if that always happens.

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Scholar

“In an age long past, when mankind flourished under the radiance of arcane mastery, the island of Vylbrand was home to a city-state called Nym. Though the history of that age tells of countless wars waged with earth-shattering incantations, it was the brilliant strategic maneuvering of Nym's scholars that allowed their mundane army of mariners to throw back would-be conquerors time and again. These learned men and women defended the freedom of their tiny nation with their unique command over spell-weaving faeries, utilizing the creatures' magicks to heal the wounded and bolster the strength of their allies.”

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Needs Connections.

By the culmination of the Scholar questline, the Royal Marines are putting out feelers for recruits so as to best support the Maelstrom. As such, I’d suggest that those who are in good standing with the Maelstrom and have a desire for tactical healing and strategy would be well positioned to be trained as a Scholar. It's certainly an excellent choice for someone wanting a very militaristic approach to healing.The soul crystal is required as that’s the only way to get the supporting fairy that’s housed within them.

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Dancer

"From the Near Eastern nation of Thavnair comes a troupe of bewitchingly graceful performers. Though certainly elegant and beautiful, their movements also speak of martial discipline─of a pulsing, persistent energy whose rhythm can inspire souls and soothe troubled hearts. Inured to the hardships of the road, these dancers have learned to land throwing weapons with the same exacting precision as their footfalls, removing any who would obstruct the endless beat of the dance."

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Actively Recruited.

Dancer is a Job where the end of the quest line sees its troupe looking for new adventurers to help them in their cause. Someone who’s swift of foot and with a talent for throwing weapons should have little trouble reaching out to them to see if they’re a suitable candidate.We also know that Dancer exists on the First. Getting to (or from, depending on your origin) the First is a task in itself, but as a Job it still seems quite common. Coming from (or going to) the First is a whole other can of worms I’m not opening up here, however.Fun note - in the real world, a number of sword disciplines would recommend you take up dancing to learn the importance of footwork (like fencing). Something to consider if your character would be interested in a style requiring intense footwork.

In Certain Circumstances, this could
be tier 2 or even 1

One can simply just be a dancer, after all.

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Dragoon

“Of all the things that are symbolic of the nation of Ishgard, few are more recognized than the dragoon. Born amidst the timeless conflict between men and dragons, these lance-wielding knights have developed an aerial style of combat, that they might better pierce the scaled hides of their mortal foes.Taking to the firmament as though it were an extension of the land, they descend upon the enemy with every onze of their bodies behind the blow. It is this penetrative power that characterizes the dragoon.”

Therefore, In Most Circumstances, this is Tier 5; a very limited number.

Dragoon is a weird class to place on this list.When I initially wrote this guide, I did not have access to the Encyclopedia Eorzea. Lore from this book puts the Ishgardian Dragoon on a far rarer tier than it's original Tier 3.The Dragoon we see in gameplay focuses very strongly around the position of Azure Dragoon, and the ones that makes up a staple of the Ishgardian army. There’s also those who have been the Azure Dragoon, who were once chosen by the Eye and now go on to train the next generation. All of these types of Dragoons are exceedingly rare, much more so than Tier 3.How rare? According to the guide, there have never been more than thirty Dragoons at a time, and after Heavensward they are at a mere ten, and not recruiting.Atitled Dragoon of the Ishgardian Army is better placed around Tier 5 or even 6. If you're roleplaying a character who is a veteran Dragoon of the Ishgardian Army, then that's how you should treat it. You worked real hard, an honor bought with blood, sweat and many, many tears.On top of that, we also don’t get much insight into how much of the draconic element the normal Dragoon gets access to, particularly the Blood of the Dragon elements. As such, I’ve made an assumption here that your average Dragoon is not going to be at the same power level as the WoL Dragoon. With that said, there’s an interesting arc here to be had with someone who’s roleplaying a heretic Ishgardian (or other adventurer) who has supped (willingly or no) on dragon blood, or who otherwise has good connections with the dragons after the War. They might realistically manifest the fuller Dragoon portfolio. It may not be at the power level of the Azure Dragoon, but it’s going to be formidable nonetheless.To summarize - if you're going for the classic Ishgardian Dragoon, you will need to do your homework to make the concept land. If you're going for a heretic, that's going to be viewed harshly in certain circles. Tensions between the heretical dragonblood drinkers and Ishgard are beginning to ease as of the events in the Restoration, but not all Ishgardians will sit easy in a heretics presence.The Azure Dragoon themselves, of course, is one of a kind. Go here to read about the Azure Dragoon.

Some Concepts are "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Actively Recruited or Available.

There's plenty of concepts for a Dragoon-in-Training though, and that's much more accessible than full on Dragoon. For example, perhaps, a character that was in training to be one but didn't quite make the cut - or the War ended, so they weren't needed.There are other ideas that fit well under the Dragoon job too. A decorated Gridanian Lancer that's gone well beyond the basic techniques, the lone Viera warrioress, a Chocobo cavalier - this is the kind of concept that falls under Tier 3. They're very skilled, moreso than the basic class, reasonably common, and masters are likely out there looking.

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Gunbreaker

"The Hrothgar of northern Ilsabard have passed the art of the gunblade from one generation to the next. The weapon itself combines a sword with a firing mechanism, emitting a range of magical effects by utilizing aetherially imbued cartridges. Originally employed by Queen Gunnhildr's personal guard, they were once known as "Gunnhildr's Blades" and differ greatly from the similarly named weapons used in the Garlean Empire."

This is "Tier 3" in Rarity.
Actively Recruited.

At the end of the Gunbreaker Arc, Radovan explicitly sets about training new Gunbreakers in Mor Dhona. I’d suggest that anyone who’s able to make their way to Mor Dhona and show reasonable skill would have a chance at being trained.A note here for Imperial characters, where gunblades are pretty much the signature weapon - along with Machinist, this is an excellent class to RP a Garlean soldier with. The consequences of being Garlean - either as a naturalized aan/ban titled citizen or an actual pureblood - are not a topic of conversation for this document.Comparing and contrasting the two though, Garlean gunblades are designed differently to the Bojzan gunblade. Bojzan gunblades use aetherically charged cartridges to achieve their effects; Garlean gunblades fire solid projectiles similar to real firearms. Gunbreakers consider Imperial gunblades to be poor imitations of ‘the real thing’.

In Certain Circumstances, this is highly accessible.

The Hrothgar invented the art, after all. Anyone of that race likely knew of the tradition and had a good chance at being trained if they were interested in their youth.

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Samurai

“Far across the rolling waves, towards the rising sun, there lies the island nation of Hingashi.In the distant past, the realm's great lords vied for supremacy over its sea girt confines in a long and bloody conflict. And taking to battle in their lieges' names were noble swordsmen whose art was forged in the crucible of war: the samurai.Eventually, the nation was unified under one banner, and these warriors came to wield their katana not upon fields as part of an army, but upon streets as protectors of the peace.”

This is "Tier 4" in Rarity.
Rare, but not Restricted.

Samurai are currently trained exclusively by Far Eastern characters. The odd one or two has made their way to Eorzea, and now in Ul’Dah the legend of a particular samurai is being told, firing the imaginations of commoner and adventurer alike. That may inspire your character to head to Kugane to take up the blade - if they can find someone willing to teach them. Not an easy task when those of the Far East are hard to persuade into sharing their secrets.If you are going to roleplay a Samurai, particularly one that places significance on philosophy and Bushido, I highly recommend that you take a look into what the names of the Samurai skills mean, as well as the seasonal imagery and philosophy of the 'Snow, Moon and Flowers' that the 3 signature skills (Yukikaze, Gekko and Kasha) relate to. It will give you some really rich ideas for lore and mentality.

In Certain Circumstances, this is high skill needed, but actively recruiting.

Characters from the Far East have better access to samurai training than those from Eorzea. Becoming a Sekiseigumi of Kugane, for example, is eminently possible for those who have the skill.

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Summoner

“The beast tribes of Eorzea worship and summon forth beings known as primals, among which are Ifrit, Garuda, and Titan. Yet what is a god to one man is a demon to another, for the city-states of Eorzea see these beings as a grave threat to their collective survival.In times immemorial, there lived mages who had not only the power to summon the primals, but also the means to transmute the primals' essences, thus binding them to their will. Known simply as summoners, the existence of these men and women and their arcane art have been all but lost to the ages.”

This is "Tier 4" in Rarity.
Rare, but not Restricted.

incredibly dangerous for those without the echo

I recommend reading the section on Illegal Magicks if you're thinking of RP'ing a Summoner. Summoners are rare, are associated with Primals, and are very flashy, so a concerned citizen might easily worry.Following the 60-70 and 80 Summoner quests, the Immortal Flames have started actively recruiting Summoners as a special branch of the military and have gained access to better training thanks to events with Y’mhitra. These days, someone looking to become a Summoner who has good connections to the Immortal Flames will find it much easier now. The threat of the Primals, after all, is never over.However, due to the necessity to have been exposed to the aether of a Primal - specifically, the burst from a vanquished Primal that imprints it’s essence upon the summoner-to-be’s aether - the danger of learning to be a Summoner is quite extreme. Coupled with the scarcity of Summoner soul crystals (being from the Allagan Empire), that makes this tougher than most other recruiting jobs to join. It may be more accessible than white/black magic, but its wielders need to be made of sterner stuff and that will make it much rarer to encounter.Fun note on this one - it’s not necessary to have the Echo to be one as a fairly powerful NPC Summoner explicitly states that they don’t have it. That makes SMN an incredibly dangerous job if you’re seeking primal aether, but it can be done.Another fun note is you can only summon the primal if your aether has been ‘imprinted’ by the dying primal. This is why the majority of Flames summoners can only summon Ifrit: the Amalj'aa just keep summoning him over and over and over, and the Flames keep killing him and dispersing his aether, so there are more opportunities with Ifrit than any other Primal.It’s also worth noting that Summoning has something of an Ascian connotation to it. It is, after all, linked inextricably to Primal summoning. A self-taught Summoner then might attract attention from those who are concerned that an Ascian is involved...And given the Ascians’ constant interests in summoning, maybe they are.

CLICK HERE FOR SUMMONER THOUGHTS POST-ENDWALKER
(MSQ Spoilers)

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Dark Knight

“The pious Ishgardian clergy guide the flock, and the devout knights protect the weak. Yet even the holiest of men succumb to the darkest of temptations. None dare to administer justice to these sacrosanct elite residing outside the reach of the law. Who, then, defends the feeble from the transgressions of those meant to guide and protect them?A valiant few take up arms to defend the downtrodden, and not even the hold priests and knights can escape their judgment. Pariahs in their own land, they are known by many as “dark knights.”These sentinels bear no shields declaring their allegiance. Instead, their greatswords act as beacons to guide the meek through darkness."

This is "Tier 4" in Rarity.
Rare, but not Restricted.

Dark Knight is an interesting one. If the game storyline is anything to go by, the Soul Crystals of Dark Knights have a certain...willful nature to them and it could be argued that the Soul Crystal seeks out the wearer rather than the other way around.As the original blog mentions, Dark Knights specifically arose from vigilantism in the face of the Ishgard Church’s corruption, and that makes them outlaws in the state of Ishgard - at least, certainly during the Dragonsong War. Similar to the Soul Crystal then, it’s likely that you’ll need to attract the attention of existing Dark Knights for them to take you under their wing.Outside of the traditional job, players often use Dark Knight to explore having a secondary, darker self or otherwise uncontrolled, angry aspect. That’s a topic for Class +.

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Monk

“Though now under Garlean rule, the city-state of Ala Mhigo once boasted the greatest military might of all Eorzea. Among its standing armies were the monks—ascetic warriors as dreaded by foes on the field of battle as the city-state's great pikemen.The monks comprised an order known as the Fist of Rhalgr, and it was to this god—the Destroyer—that they devoted their lives of worship. By mastering seats of power within the body known as chakra, they are capable of performing extraordinary physical feats.”

This is "Tier 4" in Rarity.
Rare, but not Restricted.

There are currently two known paths to the ways of a monk that we’ve seen in game - the original Fists of Rralgr, and the revival of the tradition currently happening at Rralgr’s Reach.The original Fists of Rhalgr were destroyed in 1552. King Theodoric did his best to wipe the monks out, so survivors are few and far between. To play someone from this period, you’d need to be a certain age - someone who was 18 at this time period would be 45 now (assuming 2 years between ARR and current, and the passage of time is another can of worms...).With the liberation of Ala Mhigo however, the Fists are seeing a renaissance and there is now a highly skilled monk training the Resistance fighters. Someone who has been interested in this, has ties to the Resistance, or is an Ala Mhigan looking to reclaim their heritage would have an inroad there.We also do see in the storyline that those who are sensitive to background aether can unlock their powers by fighting upon proven battlegrounds. That could well happen accidentally at any major skirmish, setting an unwitting character down the path to enlightenment.

In Certain Circumstances, this is Class+ for those who invent their own.

The real world is full of people inventing their own martial arts.. Monk lends itself well to Class+ -the idea that people can grow and develop their own disciplines - in that way.Although we’ve only seen two paths in the Job quests, it’s extremely likely that there are other, equally powerful disciplines of martial arts that also pass on their methods through soul crystals - such as that of a particular villain seen in Shadowbringers, for example. Someone wanting to RP a monk-like tradition has a lot of flexibility to invent their own established order.

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Astrologian

“Ever has man coveted knowledge, and none more so than that of his fate. Thus did he labor to master the skill of foresight - but initial efforts bore little fruit. That is, until he looked to the stars above, which foretell the coming seasons, and learned to read the heavens.Though this gift is known today as astrology, the people of Sharlayan saw fit not only to read the stars, but to write their movements as well. By attuning their aetherial energies to that of constellations, they learned to wield magicks with heretofore unseen properties.Thus was astromancy born - a new form of magick which grants its users power over fate. Employing a star globe and divining deck in their miraculous deeds, fortune always smiles on these masters of arcana.”

This is "Tier 5" in Rarity.
Restrictive and/or Secretive

The traditional Ishgardian Astrologian job is kept tightly under lock and key by both the Ishgardians and the Sharlayans. There are efforts underway to share this knowledge but even as of the 80 Astrologian quest, such efforts are still very much restricted.There is - sort of - a counterpart in Hingashi called the Geomancer. Instead of drawing from the constellations, the Geomancer draws instead from the air, earth, and water. This is called Geomancy, and we also learn that it’s a tradition that lost itself in the pursuit of earning money. It is, however, no less powerful than traditional Ishgardian/Sharlayan Astrology and is done in much the same way that we can tell. Following the storyline events, it’s potentially seeing something of a revival, as well as knowledge sharing between Ishgard. I’d be careful of this one though because we don’t know a lot and it is separate enough to be potentially it’s own thing; even potentially a future job.

In Certain Circumstances, this might be more accessible.

Sharlayan and Ishgardian characters would have better access
to this job for obvious reasons.For a character who’s from Hingashi, becoming a Geomancer is likely to be less restrictive than it is for a typical Astrologian.As a general soothsaying/predictive job that reads the stars, it's not hard to see a more primitive, limited take on this developing in spiritual communities who place a high value on the bodies of the night sky. Looking at you, Keepers of the Moon.

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Ninja

“Hailing from the war-torn lands of the Far East, the secret arts of the ninja were born of necessity, and have since given rise to a unique breed of highly-trained combatants.Able to manipulate the vital energies of the land, the air, and living beings, they manifest their power through the weaving of signs, unleashing a wide array of attacks against their foes. Master the arts of the ninja and learn to bend the tide of battle to your will.”

This is "Tier 5" in Rarity.
Restrictive and/or Secretive

Ninja is one of the few jobs that doesn’t complete its arc by setting out to train new recruits. Indeed, the shinobi of Doma are quite reclusive and I’d suggest that’s the same even for those born in Doma. There are inroads to be made through the Rogue’s Guild of Limsa Lominsa for a character that’s skilled enough.The storyline for Ninja is somewhat more lighthearted than being an actual shinobi would suggest. Stormblood constantly hints at the severe training and life-or-death situations that they willingly put themselves through in order to fight against the Garlean Empire. A skilled shinobi who survived up to the liberation of Doma has been living a second life for a very long time with many a close shave.

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Reaper

“The Garleans' forebears were once humble farmers who made their home among the sun-drenched fields of southern Ilsabard. That was, until they were driven from this paradise by invaders wielding arcane magicks. Forced north into the frigid mountains, the survivors sought a means to tap into the reservoir of aether otherwise closed to them. A daring few found their answer within the void, binding themselves to its creatures to gain forbidden power─power fed by the souls of the slain. Once more they took up their scythes, this time to reap a crimson harvest.”

This is "Tier 6" in Rarity.

Botanist jokes aside, the history of the Reapers links the job to Garlemald and those of Garlean descent. The interesting note here is that these Garleans - famous for being unable to wield aether - turned to summoning and binding the infamous Voidsent to overcome that issue.I’m placing this as a highly restricted class due to the Voidsent pact. No one in their right mind willingly pacts with a voidsent; those we’ve seen do this in the past have never done it for altruistic means and it never has a good outcome. Therefore, anyone seen to be openly doing this should come under a great deal of suspicion. Hiding their pact, a la Black/White Mage, feels like the right interpretation at this time. No matter how nice a person you are, your average commoner isn't going to be able to distinguish between a highly trained Reaper and a power-mad possessed at a glance, and authorities might well choose the path of 'kill first and let the Twelve judge later'.However, unlike the other restricted classes, it's a lot more accessible to Eorzeans, thanks to the presence of the Lemures in Ul'dah. As their own mercenary gang operating in the city, they might well be keeping an eye out for suitable candidates to induct into the fold. No doubt they'd warn any such future Reapers of the dangers of their decision.

This is a tentative "Tier 6" then. Outlawed because of the voidsent Pact, but potentially more common than
others in that tier.

As noted, this might be one of the most common 'restricted' classes, as it's restricted by both the whim of the leader of the Lemures, or to those of the appropriate Garlean descent. It is obviously a new route for those people wanting to roleplay Garleans, and I suggest you play through the job quests to understand what the role of the Reapers in Garlean society was.I also foresee that Reaper is going to get a lot of “Class +” interpretation; it's the first time we've seen a Job actively call on Voidsent. It's a good option for people who want to play that kind of villain but don't necessarily want the Garlean history attached.Non-voidsent pact interpretations will need to be handled on a case by case basis, and it will really come down to the ‘flavour’ of the bound spirit. Or, some people might want to forgo the binding part entirely for the fighting style. Class+ will be your best inspiration there.It's worth noting that a lot of Reaper Lore is revealed in the 6.1+ patches of
Endwalker. I won't spoil that here, but make sure you go digging around and
reading dungeon notes; especially if you're interested in the Garlean
traditions.

A quick note on the pact

So for the traditional 'as-is' soul crystal Reaper class, it's important to note that the pact is not 'you're possessed by a voidsent'. You make a pact with a voidsent, which lends you power in the form of the 'avatar' in return for donations of aether.Doesn't make it safe. You'll learn that following the job storyline.

Post 6.5 Thoughts

This section will not spoil any of the events of 6.1-6.5; but may spoil the general nature of the Thirteenth.It is my opinion that public opinion will not change about Reapers and the voidsent pact. It is still a risky bargain made between your character and a voidsent, and even the WoL is not immune to those suspicions. You'll see that called out as you play through the plot.The average layman is not going to know the events that occurred yet; nor the truth of the Thirteenth Shard, and the average voidsent remains a dangerous aether-starved thing desperate to break down the barrier between worlds. Therefore, I'd assume the average person is no more sympathetic to the hellish existence of the Thirteenth than they were before.

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Sage

“The nation of Sharlayan is the cradle of knowledge, and the Studium its foremost institution of learning. Yet more so than its incomparable library and formidable assemblage of Archons, this prestigious academy is famed for blending traditionally distinct fields to produce revolutionary new disciplines. Among these, perhaps the most distinguished is an altruistic art which draws upon the wisdom of aetherology, sorcery, and medicine. Dubbed somanoutics, the art seeks to heal and protect by manipulating corporeal aether through the use of nouliths, a flying array of foci. Practitioners are dedicated to the betterment of mankind, and for their wisdom and compassion, eventually came to be known simply as sages.”

This is "Tier 5" in Rarity.
Restrictive and/or Secretive

As somanoutics is specifically a Sharlayan art, this is a rare one to find and learn outside of that reclusive nation.Characters wanting to play a Sage will need some connection to Sharlayan, such as a former student/Archon, being born of Sharlayan descent, or having a good reason to travel to the nation and then learn the art off a willing teacher. If not necessarily, it'll certainly make the job far more accessible to have studied in Sharlayan.As we see at the very start of the quests for Sage though, there are those who travel the world on Sharlayan business and they may have reason to have a soulstone with them to locate a potential candidate. A possible way for an outsider to be accepted into the art.

In Certain Circumstances, this might be more accessible.

If you are from Sharlayan or studied there, then you'd have had access to study somanoutics as readily as any other discipline. As such, it would then come down to personal aptitude, rather than the ability to get past the restrictive entry laws of Sharlayan.It is also worth noting that a certain Custom Delivery discusses actively making Sharlayan education more accessible and thus opening the door to concepts for new students seeking Sharlayan knowledge.

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Black Mage

“In days long past, there existed an occult and arcane art known as black magic—a potent magic of pure destructive force born forth by a sorceress of unparalleled power. Those who learned to wield this instrument of ruin came to be called black mages, out of both fear and respect for their gift. Yet great power served to corrupt the judgment of mortal man, and so he unknowingly set out upon the path of ruin.Adventurers who take the black will become agents of devastation, capable of annihilating those who oppose them through little more than the force of their will.”

This is "Tier 6" in Rarity.
Outlawed, Illegal For Nearly All

I recommend reading the section on Illegal Magicks if you're thinking of RP'ing a Black Mage.Black Mage is probably the single most well-known restricted job. Firstly, it’s incredibly dangerous, drawing either from the ambient aether of the land or burning the wielder from the inside out if they don’t have a Soul Crystal. On top of that, being a Black Mage is illegal, due to how badly the War of the Magi ravaged the land.Canonically, it can be interpreted that there is exactly one legal Soul Crystal, which is currently in the hands of the Warrior of Light. However, there were far more of them around in the time of the War of the Magi. This ended in the Sixth Umbral Calamity, whereupon which the arts of Black and White magic were lost, willingly kept hidden. An adventurer who is willing to brave the old, voidsent infested cities of the Mhachi empire could well stumble upon a Soul Crystal. Such valuable sources of power also find their way to the black market.However, following the 80 Job quest, it is also reasonable to suggest that there are some officially sanctioned black mages working with the Thaumaturge guild to safely study this discipline of magic.So with all that said, someone looking to become a Black Mage through self-study, sheer hard work and effort could probably do it, provided they can fix the ‘don’t burn yourself from the inside-out’ problem or are able to find a Black Mage Soul Crystal. Once they start sucking aether from the land however, someone is going to notice. An adventurer seeking this path may need to fend off those who would both seek their power for nefarious purposes, or those who constantly test them to see if they’re about to fall to the dark side. The BLM storyline goes in depth into exactly this, and I recommend playing it through to get a sense.

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White Mage

“White magic, the arcane art of succor, was conceived eras past that the world might know comfort. Alas, man began perverting its powers for self-gain, and by his wickedness brought about the Sixth Umbral catastrophe. Although the art subsequently became forbidden, it is now in the midst of a revival at the hands of the Padjal, chosen of the elementals.Those who would walk the path of the white mage are healers without peer, possessed of the power to deliver comrades from the direst of afflictions—even the icy grip of death itself.”

This is "Tier 6" in Rarity.
Outlawed, Illegal For Nearly All

I recommend reading the section on Illegal Magicks if you're thinking of RP'ing a White Mage.Just like Black Magic, White Magic became illegal due to its toll on the land from the War of the Magi. Legal White Soul Crystals are exclusively in the hands of the Padjal, so someone looking to become a White Mage would need to be in very, very good standing with them. They’d need to be trusted not to abuse that power and to keep the ways of the Twelveswood. An errant White Mage would no doubt be stripped of their crystal and rank and punished.Alternatively, anyone brave enough to scour the ruins of Amdapor or delve into the black market may stumble across one of these stones.A conjurer who is determined to improve themselves through hard work and effort is likely to unlock some secrets of White Magic without needing a Soul Crystal. Again, once that starts bleeding the land dry - or slowly killing themselves - someone is likely going to come knocking. If you’re in Gridania, that’s playing with a lot of fire.On the flip side, if you're outside Gridania, they aren't tremendously likely to be able to stop you. An accomplished enough conjurer should be able to feel when they're drawing too much from the land - assuming they haven’t gone mad with power...Finally, Lenneth Andrew had a very interesting note on Amdapori magicks that may be of inspiration to you:"Amdapori white magic was a different school than the much-later Gridanian white magic, and had a great deal to do with animating inanimate things such as statues to act as powerful guardians. A white mage carrying an ancient Amdapori crystal may well not even 'look' like a white mage to most and would quite possibly seem more like a golemancer/puppetmaster sort of mage, which would be a very interesting notion for an RPer to run with."

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The Azure Dragoon

"Are you Estinien?"

This is "Tier 6" in Rarity.
One of a kind.

Canon is clear that we only have two - Estinien, and the Warrior of Light.It's also interesting/amusing in that it’s one of the few jobs where the ‘face’ of the job is clearly more powerful than what the Warrior of Light can do!I strongly suggest keeping away from being the full blown Azure Dragoon.With that said, as noted in the normal Dragoon entry there’s some discussion here that someone who has supped elder draconic blood or otherwise entered a pact with a dragon could reach the same power level.Tread lightly here though as that is going to get into real ‘uh huh sure’ territory with other roleplayers if not done very well.

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