Useful class/job?

Out of curiosity, and since I really like the game, what class does most guilds; oh wait - free companies in this game find they need, for end game raids? If this game even has them.

I wish I had started playing when the game was released, but unfortunately I was still playing another mmo so didn't get that head-start, but I have already fell in love with this game, and picked up both the collectors edition and Heavensward, so unfortunately for all of you, you're stuck with me. :)

I usually play a tank, but am not averse to playing a dps role. I would like to be useful though and plan my way to a class/job that is needed and will help me get a spot on a decent raiding guilds roster, as quickly as possible before i flesh out the other classes on my character.

I'm not big on PvE, but from everything I've heard it's something like this.

For tanks: All of them are needed. PLD and WAR are both great tanks that, obviously, every FC will need a few of. DRK, the new tank Job, is a bit bugged and imbalanced atm, and jury is out on how they'll compare to the other two in larger duties.

For healers: Similar to tanks, all of them are needed. WHM and SCH are both great healers that, again similar to tanks, every FC will need a handful of. For AST, the new healer Job, the jury is still out on how they'll compare to the other two in larger duties, and I've heard both good and bad things about the new Job and its performance.

For DPS: NIN is a DPS most FCs will want at least one of for their +10% DMG Taken debuff they can apply to an enemy for 10s every 60s and their new Enmity Control skills. Most FCs will also want a BRD for their songs - recovering MP, lowering enemy magic resistances, and all that good stuff - even if their actual DPS is lower than most other DPS Jobs. If a group has a BRD (which they almost definitely will), they'll likely want a DRG for the Piercing Resistance Reduction debuff and solid DPS. I'm not sure about MNK, but I've heard that they're one of the best single target DPS in the game in sheer numbers. Most FCs will want a BLM for their insane AoE capability - and yes, it's insane even after the recent nerf to Flare. Many FCs will want SMN, too, for their very solid DPS, which apparently has been made even more solid in Heavensward. As for MCH, the new DPS Job, many people are concerned about their current state, as their DPS seems abysmal in most cases - chances are, they'll be buffed; until then, the jury is out.

In short: every Job in existence has reason to be taken into groups and all of them are wonderful (and have their own quirks, too). With the exception of new Jobs, of course, which are still...being learned about by the community.

I have found that most statics (a group of players who regularly schedule times together to tackle a raid; as opposed to filling it with pick-ups), are limited by good tanks. Almost every tank who raids is invited to at least one static. This can't always be said for healers or DPS; although good players are always in demand.

One reason there are so few tanks is that tanks catch a lot of flak when a run goes bad, even if its not their fault. Paladin and Warrior are the more established tanks and have very solid damage mitigation and survivability. Dark Knight seems to have less defense against physical attacks, but they might do well at endgame raids because of their buffs against magic attacks. If previous raids are any proof, the raid bosses will be using a lot of magic attacks and the DRK will be in demand then.

Of the healers, many play scholars, so white mage may be a better in for you. Astrologist is a decent healer but their buffs require them to pay attention to each character's rotation and buffs, or to communicate with a group. It might work out very well in a static, but is too random to be used in most PuGs where the astrologist does not know the other player's playstyle and rotation.

Monk was considered to have the highest DPS in the previous raid. This is mostly because of their insane attack speed. Ninja is also a solid choice, with Goad as a party utility and their synergy with warriors. Both classes will melt enemies down. Monk was also more difficult to play, especially as its damage output required you not to lose your stacks. They addressed this issue and added some complexity to ninja, so we'll have to wait until Alexander to really know the new hierarchy.

Thank you for your detailed responses. You both gave a fairly detailed snapshot of the state of the game as it is right now. Especially, for which classes do what and where, and when needed.

I will probably restart then and follow the warrior path. I am not new to being a tank, and taking a bit of flak (or even a lot) doesn't really bother me, as I learn the class, and mechanics. This way I also get to keep playing a position I really enjoy as well. Being the main raid tank for eight years for one of the top guilds in another game, and switching to a dps kinda makes me feel lacking in some way; even if it another game.

Once again thank you again.

You don't really have to restart. Keep levelling and eventually you'll get the ability to swap classes.

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Originally Posted by Garlyle

You don't really have to restart. Keep levelling and eventually you'll get the ability to swap classes.

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Which unlocks when you get your first class to level 10. So it shouldn't take too long :)

Thanks for letting me know that. I already started it though, but I'll keep it in mind. Wish I had known that right away. Hehe. Oh well.

It was so low level that don't think it really matters that much anyway. I knew you could switch classes but didn't realize you could do it so level. I assumed you would have to be much higher.

Thanks again for all your advice everyone.