With the release of Patch 7.4, Final Fantasy XIV once again proves why it remains one of the most well-balanced MMORPGs on the market. This tier list and job analysis, shared by Desperius on his YouTube channel, is based primarily on Arcadian Normal Raid data and current job design trends. That said, Normal mode still provides valuable insight into damage profiles, utility value, and rotational efficiency, all of which tend to translate into Savage with only moderate adjustments.
As Savage raids approach in Patch 7.4, many players are also preparing gear, consumables, and alt jobs. Having enough Gil ahead of time can make the transition into high-end raiding much smoother. As one of the earliest and most established websites selling FFXIV Gil since the game's release, MmoGah can be a good choice.
Healers: Stronger Than Ever Across the Board (S Tier)
White Mage – The Biggest Surprise of Patch 7.4
White Mage is arguably the most surprising winner of Patch 7.4. While its core rotation remains largely unchanged, a crucial quality-of-life adjustment has dramatically improved its opener potential. With Lilies and the Blood Lily now fully loaded at the start of every encounter, White Mage gains immediate access to Afflatus Misery, enabling a powerful burst right from the pull.
This change alone elevates White Mage's early damage profile significantly without compromising its traditional identity as a pure healer. Additionally, Plenary Indulgence now grants damage mitigation, narrowing the gap between White Mage and Astrologian in terms of party utility.
Shield vs Pure Healers – The Ongoing Meta
Since Endwalker, shield healers have dominated high-end content, and Patch 7.4 continues that trend—even if Normal mode does not yet fully showcase their strength. Encounters in Normal difficulty simply don't demand heavy shielding, but this will almost certainly change once Savage is released.
That said, the balance between healers is so refined that any healer pairing works well. Whether you prefer the proactive playstyle of Scholar and Sage or the reactive strength of White Mage and Astrologian, parties will welcome you without hesitation.
Tier Verdict:
All healers comfortably sit at S Tier, making healers one of the safest and most in-demand roles in Patch 7.4.
Tanks: The Best Balance We've Seen in Years (A+ Tier Overall)
Patch 7.4 may represent the strongest tank balance FFXIV has ever achieved—not just in Dawntrail, but potentially in the game's history.
Dark Knight & Gunbreaker – Damage-Oriented Tanks
Dark Knight and Gunbreaker continue to edge ahead in raw damage output, compensating for slightly weaker defensive kits compared to Paladin and Warrior. In practice, many players are seeing higher DPS on Dark Knight than Warrior, even in average play scenarios.
Gunbreaker's redesign remains divisive—some players love the new flow, others don't—but its performance remains solid and competitive.
Paladin & Warrior – Defensive Kings
Paladin and Warrior shine defensively, with Paladin's superior ranged toolkit becoming especially valuable in movement-heavy encounters. If Savage fights demand strict positioning or uptime maintenance, Paladin may very well climb into S Tier territory.
For now, however, the balance is tight enough that all tanks sit comfortably at A+, with role choice driven more by encounter design and player comfort than raw numbers.
Magical DPS: Precision, Utility, and Burst
Red Mage vs Summoner – A Clear Shift
Patch 7.4 brings notable rotational changes to Red Mage, significantly improving its damage output. As a result, Summoner unfortunately draws the short straw. While both jobs remain beginner-friendly and excellent for learning mechanics, Red Mage now offers better damage, strong utility, and superior progression value.
Tier Placement:
Red Mage: A+ Tier
Summoner: B Tier
Black Mage & Pictomancer – Raw Power vs Flexibility
Black Mage and Pictomancer perform closely on paper, but when evaluating pure DPS charts, Black Mage pulls clearly ahead. Since Patch 7.2, the idea that "the raid must adjust for Black Mage" has largely disappeared. Modern Black Mage feels far more accessible, without sacrificing its unmatched damage ceiling. For players seeking maximum personal DPS, Black Mage remains the undisputed king.
Tier Placement:
Black Mage: S Tier
Pictomancer: A+ Tier
Physical Ranged DPS: Utility, Consistency, and a Surprise Winner
Bard & Dancer – Stable but Limited
Bard and Dancer remain consistent picks, offering strong party buffs and reliable damage. Certain encounters—particularly multi-target fights like the second boss of this tier—may slightly favor Bard due to its multi-target song interactions. However, the traditional ranged tax still applies, and most jobs now passively handle AoE within single-target rotations, limiting the gap.
Tier Placement:
Bard: A Tier
Dancer: A Tier
Machinist – The Dark Horse of Patch 7.4
Few expected this, but Machinist is performing better than it ever has since Shadowbringers. While its theoretical peak DPS still trails behind top-tier melee and casters, median performance has skyrocketed. In real raid finder scenarios, the average Machinist now competes directly with melee DPS—and even approaches top ADPS values. For players not chasing hyper-optimized compositions, Machinist is now an excellent and highly rewarding choice.
Tier Placement:
Machinist: A+ Tier
Melee DPS: Strong Competition, Tight Margins
Melee jobs should always be evaluated within their own category, and Patch 7.4 delivers fierce competition.
The Top Performers
Samurai, Monk, and Ninja lead the melee pack, with Samurai boasting exceptional ADPS and Monk and Ninja excelling through uptime and raid contribution.
Tier Placement:
Samurai: A+ Tier
Monk: A+ Tier
Ninja: A+ Tier
Reaper – Falling Slightly Behind
Reaper struggles due to weaker scaling with higher item levels and substats introduced in Patch 7.4. While it retains useful utility, its raw DPS currently lags behind the top melee trio. Savage tuning may improve this, but for now, it sits just below the leaders.
Tier Placement:
Reaper: A- Tier
Dragoon & Viper – Middle of the Pack, with Potential
Viper received several AoE-focused adjustments and minor nerfs that slightly impact raid performance. Dragoon, however, benefits heavily from critical hit scaling, meaning it may grow stronger as Savage gear and upgraded tomestone equipment become available. Both jobs remain solid picks and could climb higher as the tier progresses.
Tier Placement:
Dragoon: A Tier
Viper: A Tier
Final Thoughts
Patch 7.4 showcases exceptional job balance, with no role feeling mandatory or unplayable. Savage encounters may shift this landscape, particularly for melee uptime and shield healer value, but for now, Patch 7.4 stands as a testament to FFXIV's mature and thoughtful job design.
Related Link: https://www.mmogah.com/news/ffxiv/ffxiv-patch-74-job-changes-explained-buffs-nerfs-and-gameplay-impact
