FFXIV Patch 7.25 has brought us the Occult Crescent content. Which job is the best one to use? Unlike standard content like Savage raids, where job differences often come down to a few percentage points of performance, Occult Crescent features significant differences between jobs. The wrong job can make the experience frustrating, especially if you're constantly dying. That's why job selection matters here more than usual. Well, luckily, Desperius shared a job tier list for tackling this unique content on his YouTube channel. Let's dive in.
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Top Tier – Tanks
Warrior (S Tier)
The best job for Occult Crescent, hands down. Warrior's insane self-sustain makes it nearly unkillable, even when stacking seven or more Vulnerability debuffs. You can take heavy hits, heal yourself up immediately, and continue fighting without relying on a healer. If you're soloing or struggling to find a group, Warrior is the ultimate choice.
Its toolkit includes powerful abilities like Inner Release, Bloodwhetting, and Nascent Flash, which allow you to recover massive amounts of HP in the heat of battle. Thanks to its forgiving nature and brute-force simplicity, Warrior stands out as the go-to tank for beginners and veterans alike who want to push content with minimal risk.
Paladin (A+ Tier)
Paladin is a classic tank job in FFXIV, known for its noble aesthetic and balanced toolkit. Wielding a sword and shield, Paladin serves as a stalwart protector capable of mitigating damage and even healing both themselves and party members.
It is also an incredibly strong choice in Occult Crescent content, especially in AoE-heavy critical encounters. Its healing capabilities are second only to actual healers, and it excels at surviving multiple incoming mechanics. The only downside is its slightly lower DPS output compared to Warrior. Still, it's a reliable option if you prefer its playstyle.
Gunbreaker (A+ Tier)
Gunbreaker is the most aggressive of the four tank jobs, combining fast-paced melee combos with high-tech gunblade abilities. Introduced in the Shadowbringers expansion, Gunbreaker blends DPS-style gameplay with tank durability. It offers strong self-sustain, which is better than expected and comes surprisingly close to Warrior in durability. It's a solid pick and very viable in solo and group play. That's why it deserved the third place in our tier list.
Dark Knight (A Tier)
Dark Knight lags slightly behind the other tanks. Its main defensive tool, The Blackest Night (TBN), is powerful but unreliable in unfamiliar fights. Without precise timing and mechanic knowledge, it's easy to mistime shields. While still vastly better than most non-tank jobs in terms of survival, it's not as forgiving or sustainable as Warrior or Gunbreaker.
Mid Tier – Healers
Healers don't deal as much damage, but their survivability and ability to raise allies make them incredibly valuable in group content. In a critical encounter, being able to revive others is sometimes more impactful than dealing extra DPS.
Shield Healers (Scholar, Sage, Astrologian) (B+Tier) are excellent if you're struggling with mechanics or your party frequently wipes. Their barriers can save runs during difficult phases.
White Mage (B+ Tier) is a flexible option, offering good personal healing and damage.
Given how common deaths can be in Occult Crescent, having at least one healer in the group is often essential.
Lower Mid Tier – Caster DPS/Ranged DPS
Red Mage (B Tier)
Red Mage is a unique caster-melee hybrid that excels in group utility rather than raw damage. While its damage isn't stellar and melee phases can be risky, Red Mage shines due to its instant Raise capability. In content where people die frequently, unlimited raises can carry an encounter. This makes Red Mage a valuable safety net in high-failure environments or unsynchronized parties. Red Mage played a similar role back in Eureka, acting as the clutch reviver in chaotic battles, and that relevance continues here in Occult Crescent, where resurrection on demand can often mean the difference between victory and wipe.
Summoner (B Tier)
Summoner brings potent ranged magical DPS through its primal summons, delivering consistent damage from a distance. It has solid ranged damage, but Ifrit stance and hard-cast requirements make it clunky in fast-paced AoE situations. The burst windows often require standing still, which can be punishing during movement-heavy phases. Without the same Raise utility as Red Mage, it feels riskier to bring unless you're confident in your positioning and team support. While it's capable of dishing out damage, Summoner's kit is less forgiving when reacting to sudden mechanics or party wipes, especially in disorganized settings.
Machinist (B Tier)
Machinist is a physical ranged DPS that focuses on individual output and technological precision. It is an excellent pick for solo play. It has strong personal damage (ADPS), doesn't rely on party buffs, and can handle mechanics from a safe distance. Its straightforward, burst-heavy playstyle allows players to focus on survival and positioning without managing group synergy. Since it doesn't need to worry about melee positioning or buff windows, it's ideal for "lone wolf" players who prefer autonomy over coordination. This independence makes it one of the most reliable jobs when tackling content solo or with random groups.
Bard & Dancer (B Tier)
Bard and Dancer are both support-oriented physical ranged DPS jobs that offer considerable utility through buffs, healing, and mitigation. These two have smoother AoE handling than Machinist, with stronger utility and support capabilities. Their songs and dances can enhance party performance, making them valuable in coordinated teams. However, their personal DPS is lower, and they still die quickly to avoidable mechanics. Their survivability relies heavily on movement discipline and knowing fight patterns. Between them, Bard may edge out due to slightly better survivability tools like Nature's Minne and Second Wind, giving it a marginal advantage in solo resilience.
Pictomancer (B Tier)
Pictomancer is a newer magic DPS job introduced with an artistic twist, conjuring whimsical creations and elemental magic. Pictomancer is surprisingly solid in Occult Crescent. It offers decent flexibility and mobility compared to more stationary casters. Unlike Black Mage or Summoner, it isn't locked into rigid casting windows, making it easier to respond to unpredictable mechanics. Its forgiving movement options make the difference between surviving and failing mechanics, especially in unpredictable open-world encounters. While not a top-tier damage dealer, its adaptability and consistent uptime make it a dependable choice for players who value fluid combat and reactive play.
C Tier – Melee DPS/Caster DPS
Melee jobs tend to struggle more in Occult Crescent simply because of their proximity to danger and reliance on precise positioning. That said, some melees perform better than others, particularly those with more flexible rotations or built-in survivability.
Samurai (C+ Tier)
Samurai stands out as the best melee option. Its rotation is very flexible, with only two positional requirements and a straightforward burst setup. You don't need to track too many mechanics, and its ability to deliver high burst damage at the start of fights is extremely useful — especially in fates or short critical encounters.
Unlike other melee jobs that rely on party synergy or complicated setup phases, Samurai is fully self-sufficient. With tools like Tsubame-gaeshi and Kaeshi abilities, it can unleash powerful attacks with minimal ramp-up. Its damage is front-loaded and efficient, making it a strong pick for burst-centric objectives where speed is critical and downtime is minimal.
Reaper (C Tier)
Reaper has solid survivability thanks to its built-in shield mechanics, which can help mitigate fatal damage. It also maintains good damage without overly complex positioning requirements.
Its identity revolves around weaving in and out of the Enshroud phase, where it unleashes powerful hits while being immune to some forms of damage. The job's natural lifesteal and shield effects make it surprisingly tanky for a DPS, giving it an edge in unpredictable fights. Reaper doesn't require tight team coordination and works well in chaotic environments, which makes it a safe and stable melee choice even if it's not topping the charts.
Dragoon, Viper, Monk (C Tier)
These three are relatively equal in terms of viability. Viper is notably beginner-friendly and easy to play. Monk and Dragoon require more mechanical awareness but still perform adequately if played well.
Ninja (C Tier)
Ninja falls a bit behind due to its longer setup time and rotation dependency. While it can frontload some damage with powerful combos like Yoshi Ranu, once the burst is over, its overall rotation feels more vulnerable in hectic encounters.
Its signature Mudra system allows for potent bursts through Trick Attack windows, but these setups require timing, positioning, and party coordination. In solo or less-structured environments, those advantages often go underutilized. Additionally, frequent movement phases can cause interruptions that delay or ruin its carefully timed sequences. For players who can master its rhythm, Ninja remains satisfying—but for most, it's less forgiving under pressure.
Black Mage (C Tier)
Black Mage has seen some notable improvements. However, in Occult Crescent, it still struggles. Many fights require constant movement, making uninterrupted casting difficult. While the removal of the Enochian timer is helpful, the job still feels clunky compared to more mobile classes. Black Mage won't be placed in the bottom tier because it has improved, but it's certainly one of the less ideal choices here.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, you can play any job in Occult Crescent — but some will make your experience much smoother, especially if you plan to solo or join random groups. Tanks, especially Warrior, remain the safest and most effective choice overall. Ranged DPS like Machinist and Bard offer solid alternatives. Melees can still succeed but require better awareness and survivability.
