Final Fantasy 14 features a variety of engaging jobs, each with a designated role in different gameplay modes. A prime example is the Paladin, renowned as one of the game’s top-tier Tanks. Paladins excel at close-range combat, combining melee attacks with spellcasting, all while providing crucial protection for their teammates.
With their distinctive sword and shield, Paladins possess a unique skill set, allowing them to excel in both offensive and defensive scenarios. If you’re searching for a job that can anchor your team, defend allies, and inflict respectable damage on foes, the Paladin is an excellent choice.
The Rise of the Shield Hero
Like other jobs in Final Fantasy 14, the Paladin role requires players to level a prerequisite class to Level 30. In this case, you must unlock the Gladiator class before transitioning to Paladin.
The Gladiator is one of the starting jobs, so you can select it during character creation or learn it as early as Level 1.
If Gladiator wasn’t your initial class choice, you can acquire it by visiting Ul’dah – Steps of Thal and talking to Lulutsu at the Gladiator’s Guild (coordinates: X:9.2, Y:11.7). Accept and complete the quest “Way of the Gladiator” to become a Gladiator!
Path to Becoming a Paladin
Once you’ve reached Level 30 with your Gladiator, you can become a Paladin. To start this process, head back to Ul’dah – Steps of Thal and consult with Lulutsu again at the Gladiator’s Guild (coordinates: X:9, Y:11).
Complete the quest “Paladin’s Pledge” to receive the Soul of the Paladin, officially granting you the Paladin class! After this, you’ll need to level up to Level 100 to maximize your potential with this job.
If you’re looking to enhance your leveling experience in Final Fantasy 14, check out our comprehensive guide, which explains the leveling system in detail! Additionally, for an extensive overview on unlocking Paladin and other jobs, visit our detailed guides!
Paladin Rotations
The Paladin’s unique sword and shield setup grants access to special traits and abilities, making the job a solid blend of offense and defense.
One major advantage of the Paladin is that positional attacks are not a concern, as they typically face the target head-on. Below, we will cover the basic rotations for the Paladin without including Off-GCD Actions, which we will discuss later!
The basic rotations for the Paladin underwent changes in Patch 6.3, enabling them to execute two AoE Rotations instead of just one and condensing their Single-Target Rotation to one.
Paladins can now choose to restore MP or HP with their AoE Rotations, proving useful in large mob pulls or specific boss fights.
Fundamental Single-Target Rotation
- Fast Blade > Riot Blade > Royal Authority
Using Royal Authority affords you three stacks of Sword Oath and delivers substantial damage to your target. Sword Oath then allows you to use several Actions, including Off-GCD Actions detailed in the next section of this guide.
Essential AoE Rotation
- Total Eclipse > Prominence
- Confiteor > Blade of Faith > Blade of Truth > Blade of Valor
The Total Eclipse Rotation replenishes your MP while causing area damage, enabling the casting of more Actions. Meanwhile, the Confiteor Rotation inflicts considerable damage across multiple targets while also restoring some HP, allowing you to endure fights more effectively.
Paladin Off-GCD Actions
Now that we’ve covered the basic rotation, it’s time to examine the core Off-GCD Actions that define the Paladin and enhance its gameplay effectiveness. Below is a rundown of the key Off-GCDs for both offensive and defensive strategies.
The Paladin Job experienced the most updates among all the jobs in Patch 6.3 and again in 6.4. While the following tables focus solely on the Off-GCD Actions, many changes will also reflect in the Openers section later in the guide.
Offensive Off-GCD Actions
| Action | Recast Time | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Fight or Flight | 60s | Increases damage dealt by 25% for 20 seconds, enabling up to eleven GCD attacks during this period. Grants Goring Blade for 30 seconds. |
Defensive Off-GCD Actions
| Action | Recast Time | Oath Gauge Cost | Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reprisal | 60s | 0 | Reduces damage taken by 10% for 15 seconds. |
Optimal Paladin Opener in FFXIV Dawntrail
Armed with the information provided in previous sections, you should have a good understanding of your basic rotation and how Off-GCDs can significantly enhance your combos.
As you approach openers, focus on maximizing your job’s potential while preparing for the remainder of the fight. For the Paladin, we present your primary opener and how to transition afterward.
Off-GCD Actions are highlighted in bold and placed in parentheses, making them easy to identify.
Basic Opener
- (Pre-Pull) Holy Spirit
- Cast Holy Spirit about two seconds before the countdown ends.
- Fast Blade > Riot Blade (Grade 1 Gemdraught of Strength) > Royal Authority (Fight or Flight + Imperator) > Confiteor (Circle of Scorn + Expiacion) > Blade of Faith (Intervene) > Blade of Truth > Blade of Valor (Blade of Honor) > Goring Blade > Atonement > Supplication > Sepulchre > Holy Spirit
Burst Window Example
- Royal Authority > Atonement > Fast Blade > Riot Blade > Supplication (Fight or Flight + Imperator) > Confiteor (Circle of Scorn + Expiacion) > Blade of Faith (Intervene) > Blade of Truth (Intervene) > Blade of Valor (Blade of Honor) > Goring Blade > Sepulchre > Holy Spirit > Royal Authority
Top Gear for Paladin in FFXIV Dawntrail
The final piece to creating a robust Paladin build is selecting the right equipment and Materia. This can become particularly tricky for new players, whether they are new to the game or the job itself.
If you haven’t reached Level 100 yet, the following table is still helpful for figuring out which stats and Materia types to focus on when enhancing your Paladin’s gear.
| Equipment | Materia | Stats | How to Obtain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Dark Horse Champion’s Sword |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M4 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for 8 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition IV. |
While the above information outlines the “Best In Slot” gear for Paladins, there are still ways to enhance your damage and defense. The most straightforward method is by eating a meal before engaging in dungeons, raids, or trials.
The best food buff for Paladins is Roast Chicken. Additionally, a strategy mentioned in the “Openers” section is using the Grade 1 Gemdraught of Strength. Incorporating this item into your opener will significantly boost your capabilities in most encounters.
