Will dancer become a 'required' job?

[Haxaan]

Seeing as it kind of took all the utility of other jobs I'd say it's likely.

[Ryaz]

Depends. The only required job I'm seeing right now is Ninja as they still have Trick Attack. DNC could also possibly be a requirement depending on how much DPS they bring to themselves and their partner.

[Gula]

I never got this mentality. I understand it, but I don't get it. World's First clears for SAVAGE content had a DRK didn't they? No content is designed with any absolute roles beyond class requirements no matter how challenging, so why is cookie cutter meta so desired?

[Crushnight]

I'd say dnc will be used even if its not got high pDPS as Curing Waltz and Shield samba are useful progression skills, whether it will be meta will be how far below it is in pDPS, since its a DPS i expect it to have higher than tank numbers but until we get a hold of it firsthand who knows, its utility on the surface is desirable but again we will see.

[Reimmi]

metas will always be a thing
better to ignore it and enjoy the game because at the end of the day it only matters for the top 0.01%

I'm just happy that bard won't be tethered to DRG anymore and vice versa. at least dancer won't be incentivized to play with any one job like bard did

[Jollyy5]

I never got this mentality. I understand it, but I don't get it. World's First clears for SAVAGE content had a DRK didn't they? No content is designed with any absolute roles beyond class requirements no matter how challenging, so why is cookie cutter meta so desired?

Furthermore, last I checked the fastest Chaos Savage run was with a group that had a RDM and Monk in it.

There is a meta, but the difference between "meta" and "non-meta" is very small, below 5% I believe, but many just don't understand that. So instead of a raid leader on PF deciding if they want you in the group, they instead decide if they want your class even if you were significantly better than that DRG they picked, and would've been able to contribute more.

[AxlStream]

Furthermore, last I checked the fastest Chaos Savage run was with a group that had a RDM and Monk in it.

There is a meta, but the difference between "meta" and "non-meta" is very small, below 5% I believe, but many just don't understand that. So instead of a raid leader on PF deciding if they want you in the group, they instead decide if they want your class even if you were significantly better than that DRG they picked, and would've been able to contribute more.

You talk as if you'd be world class. I'd take an average DRG over an average SAM/BLM any day of the week. Even more so if I know I have a good to exceptional BRD/MCH they can enable.

[White_Wolf_X]

Prob a bit to early to say.

[Darkpaw]

Short answer. No they will not be required.

Longer answer: they will likely be a preferred class of the speedrunning meta scene and parse run scene because of the utility and buffs they bring.

Are you going to enter any specific piece of content that absolutely requires that dancer be in your group or you wipe? No. Will having a dancer possibly make some fights faster/easier. Sure.

As the devs have stressed over and over and over again. Any job, any composition can clear any content. Full stop. No other argument needs to be had.

Meta only really applies to speed runners, world first, and parse runs. Not something to be forced on everyone. I know plenty of statics/raid groups that run with what they enjoy playing and clear content including ultimate just fine.

[Connor]

Well, considering how they gutted all the utility from Bard (then gave it to Dancer), it’s not like it has much competition on that front lol.

I’ve not really seen any reference to Machinist and any potential utility it brings outside of the new Tactician so hard to say whether they can take the ranged party spot just for added utility (though I never saw MCH as that kind of job anyway). I’m assuming it’ll have high enough DPS from all the new machinery it gets like Queen mech etc to at least compete with Dancer’s support capabilities.

Hard to say how Bard fits in because I’m not entirely sure how Army’s Muse etc works, or how much DPS it’ll add to Bards compared to now. There’s also the new Soul Voice gauge, but as far as I’m aware that exists solely for Apex Arrow, so it’s not exactly a draw when compared to Machinist’s DPS which will be comparably high, or Dancer’s utility which will generally outshine or at least equal Bard’s. From what I’ve seen the only unique kind of utility Bard is now able to offer is an on-cooldown Esuna, which as far as I’m aware isn’t exactly game-changing in most raid fights lol. You can technically count Minne, but honestly I’d say an actual heal is a step above a healing boost, especially since Healing Waltz is based on both caster and partner positions.

Ultimately I think when it comes down to serious ‘min-max’ stuff, the decision will be between more DPS (Machinist) or more utility (Dancer). I honestly find it difficult to imagine anyone taking Bard over the other two, other than personal preference. And obviously, I’ve not exactly played Shadowbringers lol, so my guesses may be entirely wrong.

Addendum: obviously these predictions are based on personal opinion and my own understanding of the game’s changes in Shadowbringers. Also, even if my predictions did come true, I highly doubt that the overall contribution of the jobs will be so massively disparate that any one of the three will be actively excluded.