FFXIV Dawntrail Guide: Top Jobs, Raid Tips & Fast Crafting
Key Takeaways
- Best DPS jobs for Dawntrail: Viper and Pictomancer are top-tier for damage and utility, but Samurai and Black Mage remain strong if you know their rotations.
- Raid survival tip: In the first savage tier, prioritize learning tankbuster patterns over max DPS—wipe recovery costs more time than a missed GCD.
- Crafting leveling shortcut: Use the new "Grand Endeavor" levequests in Solution Nine to reach level 100 in under 3 hours per craft, but only if you have level 90 gear melded.
- Gatherer trick: For level 100 nodes, use the "Blessed Harvest II" ability every 2nd gather to maximize yield without depleting the node.
Best Jobs for Dawntrail (7.0)
Let's talk about what actually works in the new expansion. I've spent about 200 hours in Dawntrail so far, and here's what I've seen on the frontlines.
DPS Jobs
Viper is the new melee DPS everyone wants. Its burst window hits around 95,000 potency over 15 seconds with the right opener. But don't let the shiny coat fool you—it requires precise positioning to avoid losing stacks of "Honed Reavers." I've seen too many new Viper players drop to 60% of their potential because they ignored mechanics.
Pictomancer is the ranged magical DPS that can pump 22,000 DPS on a single target at level 100. Its weakness? A 2.5-second cast time on "Creature Motif" that can't be slide-cast. You need to know fights to avoid losing uptime.
Samurai still holds its own with 21,500 DPS at level 100, but its rotation is 30% longer than Viper's burst window. For casual content, it's fine. For savage, you'll sweat.
Tank and Healer
Paladin got a new skill called "Holy Sheltron" that reduces damage by 20% for 6 seconds. Pair it with "Intervention" on cooldown, and you can take 2 tankbusters in a row without a shield. Warrior remains the easiest tank for progression because of its self-healing. White Mage is the best healer for raids due to "Temperance" and "Plenary Indulgence"—it saved my group on the final boss of the first tier at least 8 times.
Comparison Table: Top DPS Jobs for Savage
| Job | Level 100 DPS | Burst Window | Difficulty | Best For |
| ----- | --------------- | -------------- | ------------ | ---------- |
| Viper | 23,100 | 15s | High | Top-tier damage with practice |
| Pictomancer | 22,000 | 20s | Medium | Ranged flexibility |
| Samurai | 21,500 | 25s | Medium | Consistent damage, easier rotation |
| Black Mage | 21,200 | 18s | Very High | Maximum single-target if you master movement |
Raid Strategies: The First Savage Tier
The first savage tier in Dawntrail (AAC Light-heavyweight M1-M4) has a few nasty surprises. Here's what I learned after wiping 150+ times on M3S.
M1S: "Raid on the Lost City"
- Buster pattern: The boss does "Dark Pulse" every 45 seconds. Use cooldowns on the 2nd and 4th hits—most groups wipe because tanks save cooldowns for the wrong timings.
- Spread mechanic: "Voidstorm" forces 8 players to spread 8 yalms apart. If you're melee, use a macro to mark your spot. I use `/p <<< {player} >>> spread left`.
M3S: "The Final March"
- Intermission phase: At 40% HP, the boss teleports to center and does a raid-wide AoE called "Unlimited Resolve." Pre-cast shields at 40.5%—healers often miss this and cause wipes.
- Tank swap: After "Heavy Swing," the debuff lasts 90 seconds. Swap every 45 seconds to keep both tanks alive.
General Tips
- Use food like "Baked Eggplant" for +10% max HP if your gear is below item level 710.
- For DPS checks, the enrage timer is 10 minutes 30 seconds on M4S. If you hit 11 minutes, you're dead. I recommend using ACT (with permission) to track your group's DPS.
Crafting and Gathering Leveling Fast
Leveling crafters in Dawntrail is easier than Shadowbringers—but only if you know the right leves.
Crafting: The 3-Hour Method
1. Pre-requisite: Have all crafters at level 90 with level 90 gear melded (craftsmanship 3200, control 2900).
2. Leves: Go to Solution Nine (coordinates 12.3, 8.7) and pick up "Grand Endeavor" levequests. These give 450,000 XP per turn-in at level 90, scaling to 1.2 million at level 99.
3. Macro: Use this macro for "Grand Endeavor" items:
- `/ac "Careful Synthesis"
- `/ac "Basic Touch"
- `/ac "Great Strides"
- `/ac "Innovation"
- `/ac "Byregot's Blessing"
- Repeat until durability is 0.
4. Time: Each turn-in takes 2 minutes. From level 90 to 100, you need 40 turn-ins = 80 minutes. Add teleporting time: 3 hours total for one crafter.
Gathering: The Node Farm
- Level 90-95: Mine "Radiant Ore" in Heritage Found (area 14). Each node gives 18,000 XP. You need 550 nodes to level once. Use "Toil of the Mountaineer" for +15% yield.
- Level 95-100: Switch to "Solarite" in Living Memory (area 23). Nodes give 42,000 XP each. Use "Blessed Harvest II" every 2nd gather—it restores 1 GP per use, so you never run out.
- Time: From 90 to 100, it takes about 6 hours of active gathering. Bring food like "Peppered Popoto" for +10% XP.
FAQ
Q: What's the best job for a beginner in Dawntrail?
A: Start with Warrior (tank) or White Mage (healer). Both have simple rotations and are forgiving. For DPS, Summoner is easier than Viper or Pictomancer—it's the only job with a 30-second burst that doesn't require positionals.
Q: Do I need to finish Endwalker before starting Dawntrail?
A: Yes. You must complete the 6.55 quest "The Coming Dawn" to unlock Dawntrail. This includes all MSQ from Shadowbringers and Endwalker. If you skipped to level 90 via a story skip, you still need to do the last 10 quests manually.
Q: How do I unlock the new jobs Viper and Pictomancer?
A: Viper starts in Ul'dah (Steps of Nald, coordinates 9.2, 11.5) with the quest "The Viper's Sting." Pictomancer starts in Gridania (Old Gridania, coordinates 10.2, 6.3) with "The Artist's Way." Both require a level 90 job and completion of the Dawntrail MSQ up to "The Call of the Wild."