Sign In »
Register Now!
Help
) Warrior Guide stickyed at the top of this section. I realize there's a stickyed thread, but most people skip stickies for "normal" threads because I still see people asking about subjobs.
Anyway, any comments from the experiences of other WARs are also welcome. Try to keep the bias out, I don't want to turn this into another flame thread like the one that started in the relic bhuj thread. ><
Without further ado, my long-winded subjob thread:
1-75: MNK is always useful, especially in a main tank role, but becomes less of a main tank after 50 in favor of more sturdy or evasive jobs. MNK does offer a number of Job Abilities and Traits that allow it to hold hate like none other. Boost, Dodge, and Counter are all very valuable when tanking and show very solid results, particularly from 1-30.
After 50, though, your typical IT+ mobs are slightly more difficult, and pretty much require PLD or NIN, but that isn't to say a WAR/MNK can't tank past 50. With enough DEF and VIT gear and food, a hefty Great Axe, and solid mage support, a WAR/MNK can tank very well, but the same can be said for all tanks.
If you still use MNK after 50, expect it for DD only. Focus is very nice and when staggered in its use with Aggressor, you can maintain permanent, higher-than-normal Accuracy. THF, though, would be much better served for its high burst damage in skillchains in the DD role.
20-30: DRG, yes, DRG. If you're in a purely DD role from Qufim through the jungles, the ability to jump and the early Attack Bonus trait (DRG get it at 10 whereas a WAR gets theirs at 30) *is* useful. This becomes pretty much useless after 30, though.
24-75: NIN becomes useful as a subjob to backup tank starting at 24 with the availibilty of Utsusemi: Ichi and Chainmail. Most career WARs will tell you that NIN sub doesn't start to shine until 48 with dual Viking Axes, 50 with the NIN's Dual Wield II trait, and 55 with Rampage WS. NIN is by far the most popular subjob choice, but isn't always the best. Again, let me stress that it is the most widely used, but isn't always the best.
There are some mobs, or some party setups where using a NIN subjob is more pain than pleasure. Just as a NIN main tanking, you need to pay greater attention to what you are doing. On the other hand, WAR/NIN also requires extra support from the rest of your party. Debuffs from your mages are almost necessary because you won't have success using Hojo or Kurayami as a subjob.
As a main tank relying on shadows alone, it is difficult until Elegy becomes availible at 39 BRD. However, WAR/NIN is a fine backup tank to a NIN main or PLD with a THF in the party for SATA.
At 66, Mistral Axe becomes the WS you'll most likely be using. It serves as the opening WS to a Light Skillchain followed by Shark Bite, Dragon Kick, or Spinning Slash to close for excellent damage.
At 74, and Utsusemi: Ni, WAR/NIN is able to main tank mostly anything, but they are far from invincible. Utsusemi: Ni, when subbed, only offers 3 shadows instead of 4, and you still can't match a NIN's evasion. But having 9 shadows (Ichi, Ichi, Ni) at your disposal from the moment the pull comes in is much better than 6 (Ichi, Ichi).
30-75: THF is an excellent choice beginning at 30 when Sneak Attack (SA) becomes availible. Paired with a Great Axe, THF sub can offer high burst damage, and allows for one of the best Skillchain closers in the early levels. SA + Sturmwind will close Fragmention for amazing damage when you get it, so find yourself a DRK using a GS (Frostbite/Freezebite), a WAR/NIN (Smash Axe), or a SAM (Tachi: Hobaku) to open this devesating Skillchain. When timed properly, you can also open a fight with SA for a free critical hit, and have SA ready again in time for the skillchain.
At level 60, and Trick Attack (TA), you'll be finding yourself using SA and TA primarily for Skillchains only. Raging Rush is also learned at this level, and is excellent to open or close Fragmentation. Guillotine (DRK) ==> SATA Raging Rush, or SATA Raging Rush ==> Sidewinder/Slug Shot (RNG) are two very high damage Skillchains.
At 71 and Steel Cyclone, you can close either Darkness or Distortion Skillchains, depending on the weapons your party is using. Either way, Steel Cyclone is a very devastating WS, replacing Raging Rush in almost all circumstances.
60-75 SAM is a good subjob choice beginning at 60 with the use of Meditate and Store TP II. Before 60, it is possible to use SAM for minimal TP gains from Store TP I and Third Eye while a THF sets up SATA on the main tank. At 60, SAM can be used to a higher potential.
At 65 and Full Break, you are able to open the fight with a Full Break, follow up with a Meditate, and have TP ready to open or close with Raging Rush. Keep in mind that when subbed, Meditate returns only 60% TP instead of 100-120% from SAM main.
More WSs can mean more damage output and faster kills, but unlike THF sub, you can't set that extra hate onto your tank. Be prepared for some inadvertent tanking if you start to lay into a mob too much, too early!
60-75 DRK might be a decent choice post-60 with higher STR than any other sub, Attack Bonus II, Last Resort, and Souleater. Staggering your Attack+ abilities would mean you can have 4:30 out of every 5:00 of consistently higher than normal attack power. However, the effect of all these traits and abilities could cause you to become the main tank by dealing too much damage.
Because you can't use Trick Attack, passing hate onto your tank is impossible, and you end up with a lot on yourself.
DRK sub is possibly the least used sub for anything other than screwing around, but it could have some rewards in an exp party situation and is probably only safe to use when a PLD is main tanking and can cover your crazy ass when needed. Not much is really known because it is barely used.
---
As you can probably tell by now, being a WAR makes you the "RDM of the melee" as I like to see them. You can deal damage, main or support tank, and offer plenty of skillchain possibilities through the use of a wide assortment of weapons.
Being a WAR is being flexible in any situation, and this is largely accomplished by the variety of subjob and equipment choices you can make. Some are standard, others are more oddball than anything, but sometimes, even the strangest combinations can work.
Being a WAR is also being misunderstood and underestimated. Because you are neither pure DD nor pure tank, some... ignorant party leaders will pass you over for either role. There are others that will see you as only one role. This is the case with the recent wave of WAR/NINs and only /NINs that have surfaced recently. Remember your flexibility, and never be afraid to remind others. You're a Warrior, you're supposed to be fearless. ;P
In the end, take pride in being a Warrior; it's one of those jobs that just keeps getting better with each level gained. And always, always, always remember, no matter what job it is, to have fun with it!
Warrior Pride!
A note to 75's: Subjob choices tend to specialize Warrior in whichever direction the main job version would go. In essence, most rational SJ choices only enhance the power of Warrior, and choices are more plentiful. So, at 75, you can prenty much sub w/e you want if it fits the needs of the situation.
Back to top
