ff14 how to become a paladin

Shadowbringersis the latest expansion for Final Fantasy 14, and it appropriately focuses on darkness and shadow. That doesn't mean holy warriors are any less powerful, though! The light-bearing Paladin is back again and more powerful than ever. And along with every other class in FF14, the sword-and-shield tank is getting several changes. They're mostly very good changes, too. If you've ever wanted to try the Paladin before, now might be the time. That's why we've put together this guide to the Paladin Job in FF14: Shadowbringers.

Paladin Role – FF14 Shadowbringers Guide

The Paladin, as you can probably tell, is not a DPS Job in FF14. They're tanks! And they get all the advantages that every tank in FF14 does. That means they wear heavier armor, get access to damage mitigating skills, and can become temporarily invincible. The Paladin in particular also gets an off-hand weapon in the form of a shield. This makes them the only tank in the game (at the moment) that dual wields two distinct items — and gets benefits from both.

Less directly, the Paladin also benefits from the relative rarity of tank players in FF14. Paladins can often get "Hero in Need" XP and gil bonuses by participating in daily roulettes. This makes them (and any other tank for that matter) somewhat easier to level up than DPS Jobs and sometimes even healers in Final Fantasy. They can also be quite complicated to play, however, as most dungeons, raids, and trials have unique (and complicated) mechanics exclusive to tank players. There's a lot of responsibility on your broad shoulders!

Tanks received some across-the-board changes in Shadowbringers, as well. Whereas the role previously had two stances — one that increased damage output and one that lowered the damage you take — each tank now only has a defensive stance. The reworked modes don't decrease damage, either. They only increase enmity generation. The upside is that defensive stances no longer reduce the damage you do, either. Tanks also have new area of effect combos to complement their normal, single-target damage combos.

Paladin Rework – FF14 Shadowbringers Guide

Overall, the Paladin is one of the more untouched classes coming into Shadowbringers. More specifically, nearly all of the Job's abilities have received on change or another. Most of the differences are just very simple. Their attack abilities now deal more damage on the whole, while building up to some powerful finishing moves once you reach level 70 and above.

Two of the biggest ability changes are one addition and one removal. Flash is now gone — meaning the Paladin can no longer blind foes. This was a unique skill for the tank, and will be sorely missed. In its place, though, you now get an AoE combo attack (just like every other tank in FF14 now). Intervene, meanwhile, is a new "gap closer." Previously, the Paladin was the only tank in FF14 that couldn't jump to long-distance enemies very quickly. Now they can once they reach level 74. The move also gets two charges, owing to the new charge system in Shadowbringers.

And, yes, the Paladin did technically lose Sword Oath: its old offensive stance that increased damage by 20 percent. The new damage values on most of their abilities should more than make up for this, though, since Shield Oath (the defensive stance) no longer reduces damage. And you were always going to use the defensive stance more often anyway. Not to mention Sword Oath has returned in a new and very different form. It's now a buff you get from your standard melee combo, and can expend to spam another new skill called Atonement. This does significant damage while restoring MP — allowing you to fill back up after spamming spells under the effect of Requiescat.

Requiescat now boosts your magical damage and healing done even more, lets you cast spells instantly, and enables the incredibly powerful Confiteor skill. This level 80 ability does ridiculous damage to a single target and all enemies nearby. Together with the other changes, this might just make the tank Shadowbringers' most damaging tank class.

TL;DR the tank isn't much different to play than it used to be. It's just much, much more powerful. Spamming magic attacks at the upper levels should feel more natural, too. You can look at all of the Warrior abilities in FF14 here.

Paladin Guide FF14 Shadowbringers

Paladin Tips – FF14 Shadowbringers Guide

Open with Goring Blade.The Paladin can do quite a lot of passive damage over time with its two poisonous skills: Circle of Scorn and Goring Blade. Goring Blade, however, is a unique combo ender that you use in place of Royal Authority. You should always open with this combo — particularly while under the effect of Fight or Flight — to make sure you're passively applying damage over time. Royal Authority, by contrast, doesn't provide any immediate benefit. You must instead use Atonement to burn up its stacks of Sword Oath. These stacks don't last forever, either. So it's best to use all three stacks on Atonement back to back.
Save Confiteor till the end. This ultimate ability has no real cooldown to speak of, but should still be saved for the right moment. That's because it both requires and burns up your buff from Requiescat. But since Requiescat now makes casting spells instantaneous, while improving their potency more than ever, it's better to spam Clemency (to heal) and Holy Spirit (to deal damage) than ever before, too.
Two charges of Intervene is more than you need. You very, very rarely need to close the gap on bosses more than once every 30 seconds. That means you can use one charge of Intervene as a free damage skill, even if you're up close and personal. It's not much (just 200 potency), but you might as well use it.
Don't confuse Intervene and Intervention. These are two completely different skills with two very different effects. I don't know why they're named so similarly…

How to Unlock the Paladin Job – FF14 Shadowbringers Guide

Like most Jobs in FF14, you can select the Paladin right at the start of the game. You just need to make a character with the "Gladiator" class. This will eventually morph into the Paladin once you unlock the full Job at level 30. Otherwise, if you started as a different class, you begin the first Gladiator quest at the Gladiator's Guild is in Ul'dah – Steps of Thal.

That's all for now, folks! Thanks for taking the time to read our guide to the Paladin in FF14: Shadowbringers. We hope it helps you master this puritanical tank to the best of your ability. Until then, good luck learning the new reworks, abilities, and intricacies of the Paladin going forward.

Photo of Steven Strom