Getting Started
Welcome to the Black Mage guide! This resource is designed to assist you in mastering the Black Mage job in Final Fantasy XIV, providing core strategies, essential tips, and a detailed breakdown of your rotation.
Note: This guide isn't focused on advanced dungeons, trials, or raids; those will be left to their own specific guides. Instead, this guide introduces some foundational strategies for your job in FFXIV.
The goal is to help you grasp the mindset behind your job and to offer some useful approaches as you level.
Video Resources
These video resources from experienced players and content creators will provide additional perspectives on the Black Mage playstyle.
Gear Recommendations
Keeping your equipment up-to-date is crucial. Insufficient gear can hinder your damage output/healing/survivability. Aim to have gear that matches your current level or is only slightly lower.
While progressing through the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ), you will frequently acquire gear upgrades and coffers to keep your setup competitive.
For leveling outside the MSQ, gear can be obtained through vendors (using Gil), the Market Board, or by trading Tomestones and Poetics earned through roulettes and other activities.
Gear Recommendations by Key Levels:
Level 50: Augmented Ironworks Gear (IL 130) – Obtain from Auriana in Mor Dhona or Rowena's Representatives in the main cities.
Level 60: Augmented Shire Gear (IL 270) – Available from Hismena in Idyllshire.
Level 70: Augmented Scaevan Gear (IL 400) – Obtainable from Enna in Rhalgr's Reach.
Level 80: Augmented Cryptlurker Gear (IL 530) – Purchase from Aymark in Eulmore.
Level 90: Augmented Credendum Gear (IL 660) – Obtainable from Cihanti in Radz-at-Han.
Level 100: Neo Kingdom Gear (IL 700) – Available from Zircon in Solution Nine.
Leveling Tips
This sections is for helping you understand how to level an alt job. If you are still doing MSQ this section can also help you catch up another job todo the MSQ with.
Before getting started it is good to make sure you have EXP buffs on. Some come from gear while others come from food or FC or being Rested.
Gear That Increases EXP Gain:
| Gear Name | EXP Buff | Obtained From |
| Moogle Cap | 20% level 10 and below | Pre Ordering ARR |
| Helm of Light | 20% level 10 and below | ARR Collectors Edition |
| Friendship Circlet | 20% level 25 and below | Recruit a Friend Campaign |
| Brand-New Ring | 30% level 30 and below | Hall of Noivce |
| Ala Mhigan Earring | 30% level 50 and below | Pre Ordering Stormblood |
| Aetheryte Earring | 30% level 70 and below | Pre Ordering Shadowbringer |
| Menphina Earring | 30% level 80 and below | Pre Ordering Endwalker |
| Azeyma Earring | 30% level 90 and below | Pre Ordering Dawntrail |
Other EXP Buffs
Food
Make sure to always have a Food buff up whiel leveling. Food Buff gives 3% increase to EXP and is very easy to obtain. I recommend buying Boiled Eggs from a merchant to use for the EXP Since they are cheap.
FC Buff
If you are not a trial player, you have the option to join or create and FC (Free Company). Free Companies are FFXIV's version of Guilds. An FC has the ability to have different Active buffs. Having Either Heat of Battle II or Heat of Battle III active will increase your EXP gained by 10% or 15%
Rested EXP
Make sure you are taking breaks! By taking breaks from the game and logging out in a safe zone with an Aetheryte or Inn you will get Rested EXP. You can store up to one and half levels worth of Rested EXP and you increase your EXP gained by 50% for all monster kills.
How to Level
If you job starts at level 1 the best way to level up is to do Fates and your Hunt Log.
Once you reach level 15 you can start doing dungeons! Running the highest level dungeon available to you is the fastest way to level up.
Dungeons List
| Duty | Level Range | Unlocked Via |
|---|---|---|
| A Realm Reborn | ||
| Sastasha | 15-18 | It's Probably Pirates |
| The Tam-Tara Deepcroft | 16-19 | Fire in the Gloom |
| Copperbell Mines | 17-20 | Into a Copper Hell |
| Halatali | 20-23 | Hallo Halatali |
| The Thousand Maws of Toto-Rak | 24-27 | Into the Beast's Maw |
| Haukke Manor | 28-31 | Skeletons in Her Closet |
| Brayflox's Longstop | 32-34 | The Things We Do for Cheese |
| The Sunken Temple of Qarn | 35-37 | Braving New Depths |
| Cutter's Cry | 38-40 | Dishonor Before Death |
| The Stone Vigil | 41-43 | In Pursuit of the Past |
| Dzemael Darkhold | 44-46 | Fort of Fear |
| The Aurum Vale | 47-49 | Going for Gold |
| Heavensward | ||
| The Dusk Vigil | 51-52 | For All the Nights to Come |
| Sohm Al | 53-54 | Mourn in Passing |
| The Aery | 55-56 | Into the Aery |
| The Vault | 57-58 | A Knight's Calling |
| The Great Gubal Library | 59 | Forbidden Knowledge |
| Stormblood | ||
| The Sirensong Sea | 61-62 | Not without Incident |
| Shisui of the Violet Tides | 63-64 | The Palace of Lost Souls |
| Bardam's Mettle | 65-66 | In the Footsteps of Bardam the Brave |
| Doma Castle | 67-68 | The Die Is Cast |
| Castrum Abania | 69 | The Price of Freedom |
| Shadowbringers | ||
| Holminster Switch | 71-72 | The Lightwardens |
| Dohn Mheg | 73-74 | The Key to the Castle |
| The Qitana Ravel | 75-76 | The Burden of Knowledge |
| Malikah's Well | 77-78 | A Fresh Start |
| Mt. Gulg | 79 | Extinguishing the Last Light |
| Endwalker | ||
| The Tower of Zot | 81-82 | In the Dark of the Tower |
| The Tower of Babil | 83-84 | Gateway of the Gods |
| Vanaspati | 85-86 | Skies Aflame |
| Ktisis Hyperboreia | 87-88 | Caging the Messenger |
| The Aitiascope | 89 | Her Children, One and All |
| Dawntrail | ||
| Ihuykatumu | 91-92 | For All Turali |
| Worqor Zormor | 93-94 | The High Luminary |
| The Skydeep Cenote | 95-96 | Road to the Golden City |
| Vanguard | 97-98 | All Aboard |
| Origenics | 99 | The Resilient Son |
Duty Roulette
Everyday you can do your Duty Roulettes for a large chunk of EXP.
| Roulette | Min. Level Req. |
| High Level Dungeons | 50 |
| Leveling | 15 |
| Trials | 50 |
| Main Scenario | 50 |
| Normal Raids | 60 |
| Alliance Raids | 50 |
| Frontline | 30 |
Wondrous Tails
The Wondrous Tails are one of if not the best weekly EXP you can get. No matter what level you are you will always get half of a level upon turning in the book.
Speak with the NPC Khloe Aliapoh in Idyllshire (X:5.7, Y:6.1) to receive a book
Once you have your book make sure to complete 9 of the task and then turn the book back end at the end of the week or when you get your job to half a level before levelcap to min max your EXP gain!
General Tips for Black Mage
Rotation Mastery: Black Mage heavily focuses on maintaining a seamless flow between your Astral Fire and Umbral Ice phases.
DoT Management: Always refresh your Thunder DoT whenever it expires, ensuring that you're keeping up maximum damage over time.
Positioning: Black Mage has limited mobility, so careful positioning is key. Use Aetherial Manipulation to adjust your placement when necessary.
Ley Lines: Drop Ley Lines in safe spots, as they significantly boost your spellcasting speed. Try to stay inside them for as long as possible.
Triplecast: Use Triplecast during movement-heavy mechanics to keep your damage output high while you’re repositioning.
Managing Enochian: Maintain Enochian by alternating your fire and ice phases effectively.
Rotation Overview
Black Mage’s rotation focuses on swapping between Fire and Ice phases. In Astral Fire, you'll deal massive damage with Fire spells, while Umbral Ice restores your MP for another burst phase.
Single Target Rotation
Start with Blizzard III
→ Blizzard IV 
to enter Umbral Ice.Switch to Fire III
→ Fire IV 
x3, refresh your Astral Fire timer with Paradox 
, and cast another three Fire IV .End your Astral Fire phase with Despair
.Use Xenoglossy
as it becomes available to prevent overcapping.Cast Paradox
when in Umbral Ice for additional MP recovery and damage.
Multi-Target Rotation
Alternate Thunder
DoTs on multiple targets to maintain uptime.For AoE, use Blizzard II
→ Freeze 
followed by Fire II 
x3 → Flare 
x2.Refresh Thunder II
as needed and use Foul 
for both weaving and movement purposes.
Off-Global Cooldowns and Utility
Use Transpose
to switch between Fire and Ice phases when needed.Manaward
can help mitigate incoming damage.Manafont
allows you to extend your Fire phase by cutting out an Ice phase.Utilize Ley Lines
and reposition them with Retrace 
if necessary.Use Between the Lines
to quickly return to your Ley Lines after movement.Triplecast
is ideal for casting your most powerful spells instantly, especially during movement.Make use of Amplifier
to generate a Polyglot stack for Foul or Xenoglossy .