There are many fascinating, fun, and powerful jobs in Final Fantasy 14, but the pet-controlling, elemental-bending Summoner is one of the most unique. This Magical Ranged DPS class has excellent burst damage, movement speed, and a genuinely engaging and easy-to-learn kit accessible for any player, old or new.
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Furthermore, your ability to resurrect fallen comrades and provide heals makes you an essential part of the team, allowing you to keep everyone afloat in hectic situations. Dealing high burst damage from a distance, healing yourself or injured allies, and bringing people back from the brink of death make this role thrilling and rewarding to fill.
Updated December 18, 2024, by Seth Parmer: Dawntrail has been out for quite a while, with Patch 7.11 bringing many changes to the table. The thing is, we haven’t edited this guide since the latest expansion for Final Fantasy 14 launched, meaning this guide was out of date for some time. Nonetheless, we have now updated to include all the adjustments made to the Summoner’s Actions, added a new Opener, and swapped out its gear for the best available!
Becoming A Summoner
The Summoner, like the vast majority of jobs, isn’t available until after you reach Level 30 with a starting class, which can be picked during the character creation or picked up as an alternate job once you start your adventure.
The prerequisite class is the Arcanist, which will place you in the city of Limsa Lominsa if picked. However, if you don’t select it as your starting class, you can obtain it by heading to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks and speaking to Murie at the Arcanist’s Guild (X:4.5, Y:11.2) to pick up the quest “Way of the Arcanist.“
Finishing this quest will unlock the Arcanist class for you. All you have to do now is achieve Level 30 with your new class to transition into the Summoner job!
From Arcanist To Summoner
Upon reaching Level 30 as an Arcanist, you can finally take the steps needed to specialize into the Summoner job. Once at this step, travel to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks and talk to Thubyrgeim (X:4.7, Y:11.4) to receive the quest “Austerities of Fire.” Finishing this quest will give you the soul crystal Soul of the Summoner, allowing you to equip and level the job.
The rest of the guide will primarily cover a Level 100 Summoner’s responsibilities and general gameplay. If the Summoner is an alternate job, or you aren’t Level 100 at the moment, we recommend checking out our leveling guide for tips on making this process less painful.
If you need more information on unlocking jobs, check this guide out for details on obtaining every class and job in the game!
Summoner Rotations
Due to the Summoner being a unique class and filling the role of Magical Range DPS, their standard rotation is vastly different than most other classes and can take some time to get used to if you’re coming from a different role or job.
Rather than chaining actions together to form short combos, you will alternate between phases while choosing Single-Target or Multi-Target GCD Actions, depending on the situation.
Please note that the rotations below won’t be covering any Off-GCD Actions and will focus only on the GCD Actions needed to perform basic combos.
Basic Single-Target Rotation
- Phase 1: Summon Bahamut > Astral Impulse
- Phase 2: Summon Garuda, Ifrit, and Titan > Gemshine
- Order of Primal Summons doesn’t matter. Gemshine also changes based on whichever Primal is out.
- Phase 3: Summon Phoenix > Fountain of Fire
- Phase 4: Repeat Phase 2, then back to Phase 1 and repeat.
Basic AoE Rotation
- Phase 1: Summon Bahamut > Astral Flare
- Phase 2: Summon Garuda, Ifrit, and Titan > Precious Brilliance
- Order of Primal Summons doesn’t matter. Precious Brilliance also changes based on whichever Primal is out.
- Phase 3: Summon Phoenix > Brand of Purgatory
- Phase 4: Repeat Phase 2, then back to Phase 1 and repeat.
Summoner Rotational Phases Breakdown
Since the Summoner job can be unnecessarily confusing in specific areas, we will go over what each summon does to give better context on each phase of the rotations highlighted above. You can find each Summon below, their phase, and what actions they affect when called upon.
Summon Bahamut (Phase 1)
- A Demi-Bahamut gets Summoned for fifteen seconds
- Ruin III becomes Astral Impulse (Single-Target)
- Tri-disaster becomes Astral Flare (AoE)
- Astral Flow becomes Deathflare
- Enables Enkindled Bahamut
- Readies Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum
- Ruby = Ifrit
- Topaz = Titan
- Emerald = Garuda
Summon Garuda (Phase 2 and 4)
- A Garuda-Egi gets Summoned and casts an Aerial Blast
- Gemshine becomes Emerald Rite (Single-Target)
- Precious Brilliance becomes Emerald Catastrophe (AoE)
- Astral Flow becomes Slipstream
- Gain four stacks of Wind Attunement
Summon Ifrit (Phase 2 and 4)
- An Ifrit-Egi gets Summoned and casts Inferno
- Gemshine becomes Ruby Rite (Single-Target)
- Precious Brilliance becomes Ruby Catastrophe (AoE)
- Astral Flow becomes Crimson Cyclone, which combos into Crimson Strike
Summon Titan (Phase 2 and 4)
- A Titan-Egi gets Summoned and casts Earthen Fury
- Gemshine becomes Topaz Rite (Single-Target)
- Precious Brilliance becomes Topaz Catastrophe (AoE)
- Astral Flow becomes Mountain Buster
- Gain four stacks of Earth Attunement
Summon Phoenix (Phase 3)
- A Demi-Phoenix gets Summoned for fifteen seconds
- Ruin III becomes Fountain of Fire (Single-Target)
- Tri-Disaster becomes Brand of Purgatory (AoE)
- Astral Flow becomes Rekindle
- Readies Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum
- Ruby = Ifrit
- Topaz = Titan
- Emerald = Garuda
Summoner Off-GCD Actions
With the more convoluted aspect of the Summoner covered, it’s time to highlight some of the key Off-GCD Actions available to you. While there are many more actions available, the ones laid out below will be the ones you use excessively and during your Openers. Head to the next section for a complete Opener of a Level 90 Summoner!
|
Action |
Recast Time |
Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Searing Light |
120s |
Increases the damage of your and nearby party member’s attacks by five percent for 20s. Grants the effects of Ruby’s Glimmer for 30s. |
|
Energy Drain |
60s |
Attack with a potency of 200. Gain maximum stacks of Aetherflow. Further Ruin is also granted to you for 60s. Energy Drain shares a recast timer with Energy Siphon. |
|
Akh Morn |
N/A |
Attack with a potency of 1,300 to the first target and 60 percent less to surrounding enemies. Akh Morn can only be used when Demi-Bahamut is Summoned. |
|
Fester |
1s |
Attack with a potency of 300. Fester consumes one stack of Aetherflow. |
|
Swift Cast |
60s |
You cast your next spell immediately. Swift Cast lasts for 10s. |
|
Necrotize |
1s |
Attack with a potency of 420 at the cost of one charge of your Aetherflow Gauge. |
|
Searing Flash Only while under the effects of Ruby’s Glimmer. |
1s |
Attack with a wide AoE action with a potency of 600 to the initial target and all nearby enemies. |
|
Sunflare Only while under the effects of Lightwyrm Trance. |
20s |
Execute a wide AoE action with a potency of 800 to the initial target but 60 percent less for all remaining enemies in the area. |
|
Enkindle Solar Bahamut |
20s |
Command Solar Bahamut to execute Exodus, attacking with a potency of 1,400 to the primary target and 60 percent less for all other enemies in the area. |
|
Exodus Only while Solar Bahamut is Summoned. |
N/A |
Attack with a potency of 1,400 to the primary target and 60 percent less for all other enemies in the area. |
Support Actions
|
Action |
Recast Time |
MP Cost |
Information |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Radiant Aegis |
60s |
N/A |
Send your Carbuncle to perform Radiant Aegis. Radiant Aegis generates a barrier around yourself that can receive incoming damage up to 20 percent of your maximum health for 30 seconds. Radiant Aegis has two charges and can only be used whenever Carbuncle is summoned. |
|
Physick |
2.5s |
400 MP |
Restore your target’s health with a cure potency of 400. |
|
Resurrection |
2.5s |
2,400 MP |
Revives a downed target to a weakened state. |
|
Lux Solaris Only while under the effects of Refulgent Lux. |
60s |
N/A |
Replenishes your own HP, as well as all nearby part members’ HP, with a Cure Potency of 500. |
Best Summoner Opener In FFXIV Dawntrail
Keeping what you’ve learned about the Summoner’s phase system above, along with the highlighted Off-GCD Actions, we can now focus on combining the strengths of each ability to create a coherent combo string that deals significant damage while optimizing your cooldown timers, actions, and buffs.
The actions presented in bolded parentheses are Off-GCD Actions that you will weave throughout your Opener to maximize your job’s potential.
Basic Opener
- Pre-Pull: Ruin III
- Summon Solar Bahamut (Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Light) > Umbral Impulse > Umbral Impulse (Energy Drain) > Umbral Impulse (Enkindle Solar Bahamut + Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Sunflare + Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Flash) > Summon Titan II > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Summon Garuda II
Exodus/Swiftcast Opener
- Pre-Pull: Ruin III
- Summon Solar Bahamut (Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Light) > Umbral Impulse > Umbral Impulse (Energy Drain) > Umbral Impulse (Exodus + Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Sunflare + Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Flash) > Summon Titan II > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Summon Garuda II (Swiftcast) > Slipstream
Best Gear For Summoner In FFXIV Dawntrail
One of many underutilized systems in Final Fantasy 14 is the ability to meld Materia to your equipment to focus stats and craft builds for specific jobs and playstyles. Overall, there are tons of different combinations you can experiment with to give you better odds in an encounter.
The build below focuses on maintaining a low GCD cooldown without using Quicktongue Materia (Spell Speed). While the build below is excellent for most cases, you could easily mix and match all kinds of Materia and make it work if you wanted to prioritize other stats. So long as it’s beneficial to the job, role, and situation.
|
Equipment |
Materia |
Stats |
How To Obtain |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Weapon |
Dark Horse Champion’s Index |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M4 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x8 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition IV. |
|
Head |
Augmented Quetzalli Hood of Casting |
|
|
Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Twine and the corresponding Quetzalli Armor to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6). |
|
Body |
Dark Horse Champion’s Coat of Casting |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M3 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x4 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition II. |
|
Hands |
Augmented Quetzalli Gloves of Casting |
|
|
Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Twine and the corresponding Quetzalli Armor to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6). |
|
Legs |
Augmented Quetzalli Hose of Casting |
|
|
Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Twine and the corresponding Quetzalli Armor to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6). |
|
Feet |
Dark Horse Champion’s Shoes of Casting |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M3 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x4 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition II. |
|
Earrings |
Dark Horse Champion’s Earring of Casting |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M1 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x3 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition I. |
|
Necklace |
Augmented Quetzalli Necklace of Casting |
|
|
Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Glaze and the corresponding Quetzalli Accessory to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6). |
|
Bracelets |
Dark Horse Champion’s Bangle of Casting |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M1 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x3 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition I. |
|
Left Ring |
Augmented Quetzalli Ring of Casting |
|
|
Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Glaze and the corresponding Quetzalli Accessory to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6). |
|
Right Ring |
Dark Horse Champion’s Ring of Casting |
|
|
Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M1 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x3 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition I. |
Equipping the “Best In Slot” gear and finely tuning your Materia will significantly boost your overall damage output and performance. However, as showcased above, using the Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence early in your Opener will give you an even more tremendous boost to your stats.
Furthermore, consuming meals like the Roast Chicken before queueing up for activities will also be incredibly beneficial to you, allowing you to squeeze the most out of your Summoner with hardly any effort.
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