How a Blue Mage Could Work in FFXIV

[Brightshadow]

So I wanted to share some insight about how do some of these mechanics work.

A.) How do they mitigate?

BLU doesn't use a tank stances instead they must recast tanking spells to mitigate damage. their main signature tanking spells are:

-Cocoon: Used for boss fights, or to keep enmity. (w/ Unbridled Learning it functions more like a proper tank stance.)

-Metallic Body: Which is used for regular enemy groups, and tankbusters. (delays most of the damage you receive.)

-Self Destruct: Which is their emergency button, it has damage but that's to keep the BLU flavor, it also has half the duration
of Hallowed Ground, and a 50% stat penalty for the high damage it deals.

-Zephyr Mantle: basically allows you to dodge one attack, or three with Unbridled Learning. It's a great ability for tank busters but it only has a 50% chance of actually dodging them, and it consumes all of your shadows.

-Convergence: One of your main mechanics will mostly only be available at 35% HP as an emergency tool, due to how powerful it is. You get a trait at 66 that allows you to get the Beast Within status effect earlier than that, but it only has a 10% chance.

-Harden Shell: It is interesting, its a Stoneskin which is useful for a hit or two, but what really makes this spell useful is the Unbridled Learning due to it spreading it to all nearby party members.

-??? Needles: by itself it's a DPS skill with little to no use; however, what really sets this spell apart is the Unbridled Version which grants you a spike shield that deals damage to the enemies that attack you, and to put a cherry on top the damage redirect is also mitigated.

B.) Job Resource?
While it seems like it'll be tough to accumulate soul essence for your Azure Lore or Convergence in reality its not so bad and by every 25s you should have Azure Lore or Convergence up, all you have to do is use your combos which do not increase damage but instead drastically increase your soul essence generation, and even if you don't use your combos you should still get a lot from your breath attacks and other utility skills. In addition you have Assimilation which allows you to use two Azure Lore's simultaneously.

C.) Why fending gear?
They suffer from the same problem RDM does which is that RDM doesn't use just Mage gear, they also use medium type gear, as a comprise I decided they should use fending gear to not add more gear sets its just not practical. They will be able to glamour mage gear with the current glamour system by selecting the item, but they will NOT be able to naturally equip mage gear. other than their AF gear and any special gear they might receive.

D.) Are spells hunted?
Sort of, your first quest to unlock the job will have you travel around Eorzea to discover the secrets behind the former master of the job crystal Strago Magus, with the job you activated the quest, so every BLU should have their required skills. After unlocking all the spells of the former job stone you will meet Strago Magus and learn more about the secrets of Blue Magic, unlocking more spells from job quests/w some being automatically learned like the other jobs. So basically the only hunting will be mostly in your unlock quest, and other job quests will deal with the BLU story and perhaps new monster skills.

E.) Pros & Cons?
Well for starters some cons are the Blue Mage has a higher skill level than the other tanks, so it requires more reactive playing than the other tanks because they don't have a proper tank stance making it easier for them to wipe. Another thing is that they have to maintain their mana, if they don't its game over because a Blue Mage without mana isn't going to tank anything. Some pros are its different and something the game could use to attract more players. Its not a Samurai or a Red Mage but Blue Mages are a fan favorite. And they deal insane damage, actually they are the best at dealing damage when it comes to the tanks, but as you can see everything has a cast time, so you have a higher chance of getting interrupted, and wasting your unbridled learning on DPS skills might not be the wisest choice since you might need it for your tanking spells.
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Credits:
1.) Square Enix for inventing such a wonderful job, and for past final fantasy skills and some mechanics.
2.) Kazrah for similar title.
3.) To other mmorpgs for some mechanic ideas.