Mastering the Kenki Gauge v1.0 - Level 60 Samurai Guide

1. Introduction
First and foremost, this is meant as an advanced guide, and this thread expects you to at least understand how to play SAM at level 50. You can always watch the basic guide for level 50 SAM by Xuen first beforehand. Secondly, this is not a level 70 guide. This is because numerous level 70 guides already exist, and my goal is to fill the gap between 50 (Beginner) and 70 (Endgame) guides specifically for Samurai.

The Kenki Gauge is unlocked on level 52 along with Kaiten. The Kenki Gauge will generate only on certain requirements until level 62, in which Kenki Generation will become much easier to generate and maintain. I'm sure many of you feel that the Kenki Gauge is generated so easily afterwards, it's easy to forget the much tougher requirements of the past Kenki Gauge. Sadly, that is the case whenever we go to a level 60 duty.

This guide is made in order to help fellow Samurai players tackle the limitations imposed by what I call the Kenki Gauge v1 on all Heavensward content, in order to be able to adapt to any situation. The goal is to generate as many Kenki as possible in order to pull off Kaiten finishers more often, possibly resulting in a very high DPS output.

2. Kenki Generation
Below are the ways you can generate Kenki on the level 60 content, each gaining 5 Kenki when fulfilled. If it's part of a combo, then it must be a combo bonus, or when Meikyo Shisui is in effect.

• Gekko from the rear.
• Kasha from the flank.
• Yukikaze
• Enpi
• Mangetsu / Oka

Once you've reached level 62, most of the above requirements will instead gain you 10 Kenki. Useful if you want to use Hissatsu moves as much as possible.

Meditate will generate 10 Kenki every 3 seconds over approximately 15 seconds, gaining 50 Kenki at maximum.

3. Kenki Usage
By level 60, you will have three skills that uses up the Kenki gauge, which are as follows:

Kaiten to boost your next weaponskill damage by 50%. Consumes 20 Kenki.
Gyoten Gap Closer. Consumes 10 Kenki.
Yaten Disengage with Enhanced Enpi. Consumes 10 Kenki.

4. Rotation (Under construction)
As I'm a level 70 SAM myself, going back to 60 means I'll have to relief some... usage of Kaiten, and be more conservative about it. So, here are some example rotations that you might find useful, based on my personal experience:

• Start with a normal rotation to gain 3 Sen, and use Midare Setsugekka. You'll gain 15 Kenki with the right positions and some decent damage.
• Next, get another 5 Kenki by getting 1 Sen, and perform Kaiten + Higanbana and deal massive DoT to the boss. Perform Enpi when short on Kenki.
• Repeat the normal combo and use Midare Setsugekka again. On the 2nd rotation, with the right positionals, you'll gain enough Kenki to Kaiten + Midare Setsugekka for this rotation and the next.
• Apply Kaiten + Higanbana again when the DoT ends, or aim for Kaiten + Midare Setsugekka when the boss is low.

(I plan on adding videos of myself performing the rotations with and without the use of Enpi after a combo for proof of concept)

5. Strategies & Useful Tricks
I have compiled some strategies and useful tricks on playing as a level 60 Samurai based on my own experience. Of course, this can change over time as I learn new strategies / tips from all sources. I'll be sure to credit you when you contribute. :)

• Use Kenki sparingly, and only when it is truly necessary! Looking at you, Gyoten and Yaten.
• Priority order of Kaiten usage vs Bosses: Higanbana > Midare Setsugekka
• Try to do positionals for Gekko and Kasha, but never take it as priority over mechanics and dodging.
• Enpi after a combo will net you an extra 5 Kenki per rotation. Ideally, you'll be able to gain 10 Kenki per Sen this way. This has potential, but I would still need to test if this really improves overall DPS in the long run.
• Tenka Goken, then Kaiten + Tenka Goken as goal for maximum AoE damage in dungeons.
• Don't forget to use Third Eye + Merciful Eyes as your personal damage mitigation!
• Use Meditate on Phase Transistions. In dungeons, I think it is alright to to use it at the start of a boss fight.
• It's possible to use Meditate between GCDs if you need a quick 10 Kenki.

6. Closing

Thank you for reading! I'd like to note that this is my first guide I've ever made on FFXIV. I am just a midcore player with a desire to enjoy the game. SAM is my favorite DPS class other than BLM, just because I love Katana wielding in general, and especially how it plays here! Of course I find SAM to be much more fun in 70, but there's also the challenge that is the 60 SAM, and I wish to share it to everyone! I am open to discussions, so ask away. Kudos, credits, and thanks to various guides helping me find my own way of the blade. I would plan on making my own level 70 guide in the future.

Please take your time, innovate your own strategies, and enjoy the class your way. :)

You can fit it all into one post by hitting the 'edit' button and copy pastaing into it.

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Originally Posted by Kabooa

You can fit it all into one post by hitting the 'edit' button and copy pastaing into it.

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Oh my. I find the 1000 character limit to be tough for me to handle. Thanks for the save. I've made my edits up there and make it as a complete set. :)

Suggesting to use enpi after a combo (unless you used Hissatsu: Yaten beforehand, and only for the reason of dodging mechanics) is not only misleading, but a huge dps loss for no reason. Yes you get 10 kenki when Enpi is out of combo, but you can get 50 more potency just starting a new combo with Hakaze, and the same amount of kenki anyway once you hit 62

I'll be blunt about Merciful Eyes. Outside of palace of the dead, it should never be on your hotbars. Ever. There's nothing redeeming about this skill aside from throwing away 200 potency attacks at level 66. The guide is nice for a level 60 class, but ultimately is a useless guide, in my opinion, because it plays dramatically different at 62, let alone 70, or 68. Why bother with a guide that is completely and utterly useless because it isn't a max level guide?

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Originally Posted by Enjuden

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At ease, friend. First, remember this is a guide meant for tackling with any level 60 content, and not 70 (yet). 50/60 roullete, Trials Roullete, Leveling, and simply for going back to the ol' contents with a desire to play it synced. I am one of those people who wants a good challenge. If you're not comfortable with seeing a level 60 guide, you can always look for a level 70 guide. Be on your way.

I've only suggested, but it's not tested whether it's a huge DPS loss or not. Compared to level 70, Kenki is much more valuable in level 60, and Enpi giving an easy 5 kenki can be a good strategy to get that little stretch to use Kaiten. I don't use Enpi to generate Kenki at all once I've reached 62 since it's much easier to generate afterwards.

Merciful Eyes may look small, but it has a much lower cooldown than Second Wind and really just mitigates damage taken in a reliable way. Also, on level 60, only Merciful Eyes is available.

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Originally Posted by Enjuden

I'll be blunt about Merciful Eyes. Outside of palace of the dead, it should never be on your hotbars. Ever. There's nothing redeeming about this skill aside from throwing away 200 potency attacks at level 66. The guide is nice for a level 60 class, but ultimately is a useless guide, in my opinion, because it plays dramatically different at 62, let alone 70, or 68. Why bother with a guide that is completely and utterly useless because it isn't a max level guide?

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Seigan isn't a great use of Kenki either.

It maths out to like 13 per kenki when Shinten is 12 and doesn't have to dance around Third Eye, where as the heal doesn't cost a thing.