Arcell's Gladiator Guide
Welcome to the Gladiator class guide for Final Fantasy XIV. With all the freedom and options available in FFXIV even starting down the path of a single class can be confusing or frustrating for some. These guides are designed to help people learn the basics of the class and to get an idea of some sort of structured progress. These guides are by no means definitive or set in stone, the beauty of the Armoury system is that one can deviate to a great degree and still come up with a viable build. In this guide we'll discuss overall skills, gear, cross-class abilities and most importantly viable roles for the class.
Table of Contents
Overview [S1]
Combos [S2]
Roles [S3]
Jobs [S4]
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Overview [S1]
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Weapon(s): Blades such as Daggers, Swords, Spatha, Gladius, Scimitar and Macuahuitl.
The Gladiator also has the ability to wield a variety of shields in their off-hand.
Armor: Chain and Plate
"Gladiators specialize in the handling of all manner of one–handed blades, from daggers to longswords, be they single– or double–edged, straight or curved. A defining characteristic of the guild is its emphasis on diverse combat tactics, training its members to bring their martial skills to bear in any situation.
As such, there are practitioners who marry sword with shield, seeking to defend their fellow companions. Others opt for an empty off hand, choosing instead to focus entirely on their sword arm. The gladiator’s proficiency with blades also extends to those hurled at range, such as throwing knives."
Gladiator is a Disciple of War focused heavily on defense. In addition to their sword skills Gladiators gain many shield skills, which sometimes require having successfully blocked an attack to activate. Gladiators are quite good at soaking up incoming damage considering their heavier armor and use of a shield. They may not do the most damage but they can take the most punishment.
Incapacitation Skills: Savage Blade (Right Arm), Flat Blade (Special (Right))
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Combos [S2]
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Riot Blade -> Rage of Halone
- Increased Accuracy
Fast Blade -> Flat Blade
- Increased enmity.
Fast Blade -> Savage Blade
- Increases damage.
Fast Blade -> Savage Blade -> Goring Blade
- Increased bleed damage.
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Roles [S3]
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Tank
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The job of the tank is to keep the enemies focused on them, you are the first line of defense for the party. Dealing large amounts of damage is not a prime concern for you, just keep hate and let the rest of your party worry about that. For the time being your biggest enmity generating actions are provokes, damage and self-heals. One of the biggest problems you will be dealing with is cooldown management. Most enmity skills have decently long cooldown times, damage is a good way to fill those gaps and self-heals are at the mercy of your MP.
As a Gladiator your greatest asset is the shield. A few skills can only be activated following a block and a fair amount of your buffs affect shield related actions. These abilities are infinitely useful for tanking and could be the difference between life and death in some cases. Shield Bash can be used to stun enemies, Aegis Boon is good for a guaranteed block as well as gaining a bit of health back mid-battle, Outmaneuver can help keep your TP up. One thing to note however. From what I have heard from others and seen myself, it is impossible to block special attacks.
As far as gaining enmity is concerned, Gladiator has a great many abilities at its disposal for this purpose. First and foremost is Sentinel. This ability not only reduces incoming damage while active but it also increase the enmity generated for all actions while active. This means that it should be used before other enmity generating skills and up as often as possible in battle. Rampart is also quite useful as it raises your physical defense, as well as that of your party members after level 12, and generates enmity based on the number of party members affected. War Drum is incredibly useful when paired with Aegis Boon for a guaranteed block. The Fast Blade -> Flat Blade combo comes in handy here and is one of the few combos that is useful while tanking. It can be used from the front (where you should be anyway) and generates some enmity. Aside from all that above, healing yourself is a useful tool in keeping enmity up. This is where Sanguine Rite comes in, a very useful skill from Thaumaturge. When used properly in a long fight Sanguine Rite can give you nearly limitless MP, which comes in handy for throwing out tons of cures. Not only does this keep you alive but it also generates a good amount of enmity.
Recommended Gear
Rank 10
Weapon: Ash Macuahuitl
Shield: Round Shield
Head: Dodoskin Pot Helm
Body: Hempen Acton
Hands: Sheepskin Mitts
Waist: Merchant's Purse
Legs: Hempen Kecks
Feet: Sheepskin Leggings
Rank 15
Weapon: Bronze Spatha
Shield: Bronze Buckler
Head: Bronze Barbut
Body: Plundered Haubergeon
Hands: Sheepskin Mitts
Waist: Dodoskin Hunting Belt
Legs: Dodoskin Subligar
Feet: Dodoskin Caligae
Rank 20
Weapon: Brass Gladius
Shield: Vintage Square Shield
Head: Iron Sallet
Body: Leather Jacket
Hands: Leather Mitts
Waist: Voyager's Belt
Legs: Dodoskin Subligar
Feet: Leather Leggings
Rank 25
Weapon: Iron Spatha
Shield: Viper-crested Round Shield
Head: Velveteen Turban of Slaying
Body: Eternal Shade
Hands: Iron Vambraces
Waist: Voyager's Belt
Legs: Velveteen Sarouel of Slaying
Feet: Leather Crakows of Slaying
Rank 30
Weapon: Warden's Dagger
Shield: Shield of the Savage
Head: Warden's Barbut
Body: Toadskin Jacket
Hands: Warden's Gauntlets
Waist: Voyager's Belt
Legs: Velveteen Sarouel of Slaying
Feet: Leather Crakows of Slaying
Rank 35
Weapon: Flametongue
Shield: Decorated Buckler
Head: Conquistador Elmo
Body: Kokoroon's Darkshell Mail
Hands: Warden's Gauntlets
Waist: Steel Tassets
Legs: Paladin's Trousers
Feet: Boarskin Crakows of Slaying
Rank 40
Weapon: Goblin Longsword
Shield: Bladed Lantern Shield
Head: Conquistador Elmo
Body: Steel Cuirass
Hands: Steel Gauntlets
Waist: Steel Plate Belt
Legs: Linen Trousers
Feet: Steel Sabatons
Rank 45
Weapon: Cobalt Katzbalger
Shield: Eagle-crested Round Shield
Head: Mythril Chain Coif
Body: Steel Cuirass
Hands: Steel Gauntlets
Waist: Steel Plate Belt
Legs: Woolen Trousers
Feet: Steel Sabatons
Rank 50
Weapon: Cobalt Winglet/Morbid Mogblade
Shield: Vintage Kite Shield/Canopus Shield
Head: Cobalt Celata/Paragon's Crown
Body: Cobalt Cuirass/Sentinel's Cuirass
Hands: Cobalt Gauntlets/Sentinel's Gauntlets
Waist: Cobalt Plate Belt
Legs: Felt Trousers/Sentinel's Trousers
Feet: Cobalt Sabatons/Sentinel's Sabatons
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Jobs [S4]
====================================================================================================
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Paladin
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Coming soon! (Patch 1.21)
Obviously, this is a work in progress so please, I greatly encourage people to post their experiences, thoughts and opinions on this class.
Table of Contents
Overview [S1]
Combos [S2]
Roles [S3]
Jobs [S4]
====================================================================================================
Overview [S1]
====================================================================================================
Weapon(s): Blades such as Daggers, Swords, Spatha, Gladius, Scimitar and Macuahuitl.
The Gladiator also has the ability to wield a variety of shields in their off-hand.
Armor: Chain and Plate
"Gladiators specialize in the handling of all manner of one–handed blades, from daggers to longswords, be they single– or double–edged, straight or curved. A defining characteristic of the guild is its emphasis on diverse combat tactics, training its members to bring their martial skills to bear in any situation.
As such, there are practitioners who marry sword with shield, seeking to defend their fellow companions. Others opt for an empty off hand, choosing instead to focus entirely on their sword arm. The gladiator’s proficiency with blades also extends to those hurled at range, such as throwing knives."
Gladiator is a Disciple of War focused heavily on defense. In addition to their sword skills Gladiators gain many shield skills, which sometimes require having successfully blocked an attack to activate. Gladiators are quite good at soaking up incoming damage considering their heavier armor and use of a shield. They may not do the most damage but they can take the most punishment.
Incapacitation Skills: Savage Blade (Right Arm), Flat Blade (Special (Right))
====================================================================================================
Combos [S2]
====================================================================================================
Riot Blade -> Rage of Halone
- Increased Accuracy
Fast Blade -> Flat Blade
- Increased enmity.
Fast Blade -> Savage Blade
- Increases damage.
Fast Blade -> Savage Blade -> Goring Blade
- Increased bleed damage.
====================================================================================================
Roles [S3]
====================================================================================================
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Tank
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
The job of the tank is to keep the enemies focused on them, you are the first line of defense for the party. Dealing large amounts of damage is not a prime concern for you, just keep hate and let the rest of your party worry about that. For the time being your biggest enmity generating actions are provokes, damage and self-heals. One of the biggest problems you will be dealing with is cooldown management. Most enmity skills have decently long cooldown times, damage is a good way to fill those gaps and self-heals are at the mercy of your MP.
As a Gladiator your greatest asset is the shield. A few skills can only be activated following a block and a fair amount of your buffs affect shield related actions. These abilities are infinitely useful for tanking and could be the difference between life and death in some cases. Shield Bash can be used to stun enemies, Aegis Boon is good for a guaranteed block as well as gaining a bit of health back mid-battle, Outmaneuver can help keep your TP up. One thing to note however. From what I have heard from others and seen myself, it is impossible to block special attacks.
As far as gaining enmity is concerned, Gladiator has a great many abilities at its disposal for this purpose. First and foremost is Sentinel. This ability not only reduces incoming damage while active but it also increase the enmity generated for all actions while active. This means that it should be used before other enmity generating skills and up as often as possible in battle. Rampart is also quite useful as it raises your physical defense, as well as that of your party members after level 12, and generates enmity based on the number of party members affected. War Drum is incredibly useful when paired with Aegis Boon for a guaranteed block. The Fast Blade -> Flat Blade combo comes in handy here and is one of the few combos that is useful while tanking. It can be used from the front (where you should be anyway) and generates some enmity. Aside from all that above, healing yourself is a useful tool in keeping enmity up. This is where Sanguine Rite comes in, a very useful skill from Thaumaturge. When used properly in a long fight Sanguine Rite can give you nearly limitless MP, which comes in handy for throwing out tons of cures. Not only does this keep you alive but it also generates a good amount of enmity.
Recommended Gear
Rank 10
Weapon: Ash Macuahuitl
Shield: Round Shield
Head: Dodoskin Pot Helm
Body: Hempen Acton
Hands: Sheepskin Mitts
Waist: Merchant's Purse
Legs: Hempen Kecks
Feet: Sheepskin Leggings
Rank 15
Weapon: Bronze Spatha
Shield: Bronze Buckler
Head: Bronze Barbut
Body: Plundered Haubergeon
Hands: Sheepskin Mitts
Waist: Dodoskin Hunting Belt
Legs: Dodoskin Subligar
Feet: Dodoskin Caligae
Rank 20
Weapon: Brass Gladius
Shield: Vintage Square Shield
Head: Iron Sallet
Body: Leather Jacket
Hands: Leather Mitts
Waist: Voyager's Belt
Legs: Dodoskin Subligar
Feet: Leather Leggings
Rank 25
Weapon: Iron Spatha
Shield: Viper-crested Round Shield
Head: Velveteen Turban of Slaying
Body: Eternal Shade
Hands: Iron Vambraces
Waist: Voyager's Belt
Legs: Velveteen Sarouel of Slaying
Feet: Leather Crakows of Slaying
Rank 30
Weapon: Warden's Dagger
Shield: Shield of the Savage
Head: Warden's Barbut
Body: Toadskin Jacket
Hands: Warden's Gauntlets
Waist: Voyager's Belt
Legs: Velveteen Sarouel of Slaying
Feet: Leather Crakows of Slaying
Rank 35
Weapon: Flametongue
Shield: Decorated Buckler
Head: Conquistador Elmo
Body: Kokoroon's Darkshell Mail
Hands: Warden's Gauntlets
Waist: Steel Tassets
Legs: Paladin's Trousers
Feet: Boarskin Crakows of Slaying
Rank 40
Weapon: Goblin Longsword
Shield: Bladed Lantern Shield
Head: Conquistador Elmo
Body: Steel Cuirass
Hands: Steel Gauntlets
Waist: Steel Plate Belt
Legs: Linen Trousers
Feet: Steel Sabatons
Rank 45
Weapon: Cobalt Katzbalger
Shield: Eagle-crested Round Shield
Head: Mythril Chain Coif
Body: Steel Cuirass
Hands: Steel Gauntlets
Waist: Steel Plate Belt
Legs: Woolen Trousers
Feet: Steel Sabatons
Rank 50
Weapon: Cobalt Winglet/Morbid Mogblade
Shield: Vintage Kite Shield/Canopus Shield
Head: Cobalt Celata/Paragon's Crown
Body: Cobalt Cuirass/Sentinel's Cuirass
Hands: Cobalt Gauntlets/Sentinel's Gauntlets
Waist: Cobalt Plate Belt
Legs: Felt Trousers/Sentinel's Trousers
Feet: Cobalt Sabatons/Sentinel's Sabatons
====================================================================================================
Jobs [S4]
====================================================================================================
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Paladin
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Coming soon! (Patch 1.21)
Obviously, this is a work in progress so please, I greatly encourage people to post their experiences, thoughts and opinions on this class.
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