Dark Knight (Final Fantasy XIV)

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Dark Knight
暗黒騎士 (Ankoku Kishi?, lit. Darkness Knight)
Classification
Type	Extra Job
Role	Tank
Starting city	Ishgard
Guildmaster	N/A
Job master(s)	Fray, Sidurgu
Abilities
Primary attribute	Vitality
Arms	Greatswords

Dark Knight is a job in Final Fantasy XIV, introduced in the first expansion pack, Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward. Dark Knight requires no base class and begins at level 30, unlocked by completing the quest "Our End" offered by an Ishgardian Citizen at The Pillars (13, 8).

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Profile

The pious Ishgardian clergy guide the flock, and the devout knights protect the weak. Yet even the holiest of men succumb to the darkest of temptations.

None dare to administer justice to these sacrosanct elite residing outside the reach of the law. Who, then, defends the feeble from the transgressions of those meant to guide and protect them?

A valiant few take up arms to defend the downtrodden, and not even the holy priests and knights can escape their judgment. Pariahs in their own land, they are known by many as "dark knights".

These sentinels bear no shields declaring their allegiance. Instead, their greatswords act as beacons to guide the meek through darkness.

Lodestone

Dark Knight is a tank job, with similar abilities as Paladins and Warriors. The job wields greatswords. In battle, Dark Knights use magicks to infuse their blades with the powers of darkness to strike down their enemies and defend their allies. Most of their abilities involve draining HP from enemies.

Story

Heavensward

After the citizen tells the Adventurer about Dark Knights, they eventually discover Fray. Confident that the Adventurer has the potential to become a great Dark Knight using the darkness within them, Fray instructs them to go on various heroic tasks and bring out the darkness within them and with every meeting, Fray asks them to commune with the voices they've been listening to to further strengthen their darkness. Later on, after helping innocents from the Amalj'aa in Eastern Thanalan, Fray tells the Adventurer that while they are close, they are not fit for the job, although they do not completely give up.

Eventually, cracks within Fray's mind become more visible over time and his body starting to wear, becoming disappointed with the Adventurer's sporadic communions with voices, along with the frustration over helping others with little to no compensation for their trouble. After slaying a gang of Qiqirn bandits at La Noscea and retrieving stolen goods, the adventurer is berated by the distressed original owner and demands compensation, causing Fray to have an emotional outburst over their deeds being unrewarded or worse, criticized.

Eventually, the darkness and frustration within Fray reaches an apex as he is later seen attacking the Whitebrim Front. The adventurer is alerted by Drillemont to attend to the scene. Fray eventually reveals his true identity as the physical manifestation of the Adventurer's own dark side, of everything the Adventurer has been wanting to say deep down inside. Fray's body falling to the ground lifeless as the dark aura around him coalesces into the form of the Adventurer, but wearing a dark suit of armor and a sword unlike theirs. The Esteem brandishes their sword with the intent of cutting down the Adventurer and becoming their own person, beholden to no one. The adventurer defeats the doppelganger, but tells them that they've now seen them for what they really are. However, Drillemont and the inhabitants at Whitebrim raise their voices, proclaiming that they would never forsake them for all they had done or even what they are, restoring the Adventurer's confidence and trust in those around him. the Esteem merely scoffs it off as mere willful ignorance, claiming that the Adventurer is more akin to Weapon of Light if they could be so easily controlled and hailed a a hero. The shade claims it's not too late to change now and free themselves, but the Adventurer, having come to an understanding, embraces the darkness and casts aside their doubt. Though the darkness leaves the Adventurer in peace, it claims it will be waiting still for when they finally tire of the "charade".

Some time after Fray's passing, the Adventurer meets an Auri Dark Knight named Sidurgu, an old friend of Fray who protects a female Ishgardian youth, Rielle, from devout Temple Knights who are on the hunt for her. Rielle eventually reveals that the Temple Knights are hunting her as she is the daughter of a heretic who drank the blood of a dragon. Moreover, the one leading the charge is her own mother Ystride de Caulignont of House Caulignont, which bears strong ties to the Ishgardian Orthodox Church. Ystride challenges the Dark Knights to a duel to determine Rielle's fate, per Ishgardian tradition. Faced with the possibility of having to fight the higher ranking Temple Knights from an influential House of Ishgard, Sidurgu seeks out more power. Their journey brings them to the Mourn in Dravania where, from a Dravanian acquaintance of Rielle's, discovers that the dark knights have ancient ties to Moghome. Upon journeying to Moghome, Rielle is kidnapped by a group of mischievous Moogles who threaten to keep her to themselves. This causes Sidurgu to fly into a blind, murderous rage as the Moogles taunt Sidurgu of her fate. With the adventurer's help he manages to push them into defeat where they then release Rielle. Through this farce, the Moogles taught Sid that the true power of the dark knight stems from love of those close to them. As a dark knight's power is tempered by pure emotion, an especially powerful one like love and the feelings that emerge from wanting to save and protect those closest to them, can draw out their true potential. Sidurgu initially denies this, but cannot deny that there is a hint of truth to it.

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Stormblood

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Equipment

Dark Knights wield two-handed greatswords in battle. They share "Fending" armor and accessories with Gladiators and Marauders, but obtain their own artifacts. At level 50 a Dark Knight is given an equivalent in the form of high-quality Heavy Wolfram gear (the item used to obtain it describing it as armor issued to apprentice Dark Knights), but this can be equipped by any tank-role job. At level 60 a Dark Knight obtains a Chaos set, a spiky, black, and thick-plated suit of armor with a tattered chainmail skirt and cloth over-skirt, and accompanying face-obscuring helm. At level 70 a Dark Knight obtains an Abyssal set, a smoother and thinner suit of plate-armor more directly modeled off of Cecil Harvey's appearance, including a white-eyed and fully-enclosed helm.

Job Gauge

Blood Gauge

The Job Gauge was introduced in 4.0 Stormblood. The Dark Knight uses the Blood Gauge. The Blood Gauge features a heart-shaped blood-red gem set on a base covered with blue spikes. The gauge indicates whether the Dark Knight is in a defensive stance (Grit). When Grit is in effect, the Dark Knight's ability to repel damage increases but their ability to deal damage decreases.

The Blood Gauge also incorporates a sword shaped gauge that displays how much Blackblood the knight has accumulated. The gauge is refilled by certain weaponskills, such as Souleater, and is spent by other weaponskills, inclulding Delirium and Bloodspiller, for higher damage.

Abilities

Job Actions

Ability	Level	Type	Cast	Recast	TP Cost	Range	Radius
Hard Slash File:FFXIV Hard Slash Icon.png	1	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	70	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 150.
Spinning Slash File:FFXIV Spinning Slash Icon.png	4	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	60	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Increased enmity. Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 220.
Unleash File:FFXIV Unleash Icon.png	6	Ability	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Spell Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	N/A (MP cost)	—	5y
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 50 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Increased enmity.
Syphon Strike File:FFXIV Syphon Strike Icon.png	10	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	60	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Dark Arts Potency: 240 Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 250 Dark Arts Combo Potency: 390 Combo Bonus: Restores MP MP restoration increased while under the effect of Grit. Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Unmend File:FFXIV Unmend Icon.png	15	Spell	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	N/A (MP cost)	15y	—
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 150. Additional Effect: Increased enmity. Additional Effect: 30% chance that next Unleash will cost no MP. Duration: 15s.
Blood Weapon File:FFXIV Blood Weapon Icon.png	18	Ability	Instant	40s	—	—	—
	Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 10% and converts physical damage dealt into MP, while reducing weaponskill TP cost by 20%. Also increases Blood Gauge by 3 each time a physical attack lands. Duration: 15s Cannot be used while under the effect of Grit.
Power Slash File:FFXIV Power Slash Icon.png	26	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	60	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Increased enmity Combo Action: Spinning Slash Combo Potency: 300 Dark Arts Combo Effect: Increased enmity. Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Grit File:FFXIV Grit Icon.png	30	Spell	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Spell Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	N/A (MP cost)	—	—
	Reduces damage received by 20%, while lowering damage dealt by 20% and increasing enmity Effect ends upon reuse.
Darkside File:FFXIV Darkside Icon.png	30 (Complete the quest "Ishgardian Justice")	Ability	Instant	5s	N/A (MP cost)	—	—
	Increases damage dealt by 20%. MP regeneration stops during battle and Refresh statuses granted by others have no effect. Effect ends upon reuse.
Blood Price File:FFXIV Blood Price Icon.png	35 (Complete the quest "The Voice in the Abyss")	Ability	Instant	40s	—	—	—
	Restores partial MP when damage is taken. Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Increases Blood Gauge by 1 immediately and another 4 over time while in battle. Can only be used while under the effect of Grit.
Souleater File:FFXIV Souleater Icon.png	38	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Skill Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	50	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Dark Arts Potency: 240 Combo Action: Syphon Strike Combo Potency: 280 Dark Arts Combo Potency: 420 Grit Combo Bonus: Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP Combo Bonus: Increases Blood Gauge by 10 Dark Arts fades upon execution
Dark Passenger File:FFXIV Dark Passenger Icon.png	40 (Complete the quest "Heroic Reprise")	Ability	Instant	30s	N/A (MP cost)	10y	10y
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Can only be used when succumbing to the Darkside. Dark Arts Potency: 240 Dark Arts Effect: Blind Duration: 15s Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Dark Mind File:FFXIV Dark Mind Icon.png	42	Ability	Instant	60s	—	—	—
	Reduces magic vulnerability by 15%. Can only be used when succumbing to the Darkside. Duration: 10s Dark Arts Effect: Increase magic vulnerability reduction to 30%. Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Dark Arts File:FFXIV Dark Arts Icon.png	45 (Complete the quest "Declaration of Blood")	Ability	Instant	2s	N/A (MP cost)	—	—
	Attune with the darkness within you, increasing the potency of several actions. Can only be used when succumbing to the Darkside. Effect fades if Darkside is canceled. Duration: 10s
Shadow Wall File:FFXIV Shadow Wall Icon.png	46	Ability	Instant	180s	—	—	—
	Reduces damage taken by 30%. Duration: 10s
Living Dead File:FFXIV Living Dead Icon.png	50 (Complete the quest "Our Answer")	Ability	Instant	300s	—	—	—
	Grants the effect of Living Dead. When HP is reduced to 0 while under the effect of Living Dead, instead of becoming KO'd, your status will change to Walking Dead. Living Dead Duration: 10s While under the effect of Walking Dead, most attacks will not lower your HP below 1. If, before the Walking Dead timer runs out, HP is 100% restored, the effect will fade. If 100% is not restored, you will be KO'd. Walking Dead Duration: 10s
Salted Earth File:FFXIV Salted Earth Icon.png	52 (Complete the quest "The Knight and the Maiden Fair")	Ability	Instant	45s	—	15y	5y
	Creates a patch of salted earth, dealing unaspected damage with a potency of 75 to any enemies who enter. Duration: 21s Additional Effect: Increases Blood Gauge by 1
Plunge File:FFXIV Plunge Icon.png	54 (Complete the quest "Kindred Spirits")	Ability	Instant	30s	—	15y	—
	Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 200. Cannot be executed while bound.
Abyssal Drain File:FFXIV Abyssal Drain Icon.png	56 (Complete the quest "Original Sins")	Spell	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Spell Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	N/A (MP cost)	15y	5y
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 120 to target and enemies near it. Additional Effect: Increased enmity Dark Arts Effect: Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP. Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Sole Survivor File:FFXIV Sole Survivor Icon.png	58 (Complete the quest "The Flame in the Abyss")	Ability	Instant	120s	N/A (MP cost)	25y	—
	Marks the target with the status Another Victim. If that target should be KO'd in battle, 20% of your maximum HP and MP will be restored. Duration: 15s
Carve and Spit File:FFXIV Carve and Spit Icon.png	60 (Complete the quest "Absolution")	Ability	Instant	60s	60	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Also restores MP if used while not under the effect of Dark Arts. Dark Arts Potency: 450 Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Delirium File:FFXIV Delirium Icon.png	62	Ability	Instant	120s	—	—	—
	Restores MP. Additional Effect: Extends Blood Weapon and Blood Price effects by 8s and 16s respectively. Blood Gauge Cost: 50
Quietus File:FFXIV Quietus Icon.png	64	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Spell Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	—	5y
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 160 to all nearby enemies. Dark Arts Potency: 210 Additional Effect: Restores own MP Blood Gauge Cost: 50 Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Bloodspiller File:FFXIV Bloodspiller Icon.png	68	Weaponskill	Instant	2.50s (Base value; the higher the character's Spell Speed stat, the lower the recast time will be)	—	Melee	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 400. Dark Arts Potency: 540 Grit Potency: 475 Dark Arts+Grit Potency: 650 Blood Gauge Cost: 50 Dark Arts fades upon execution.
The Blackest Night File:FFXIV The Blackest Night Icon.png	70 (Complete the quest "Our Compromise")	Ability	Instant	15s	—	30y	—
	Creates a barrier around self that absorbs damage totaling 20% of your maximum HP, or around a party member that absorbs damage totaling 10% of your maximum HP. Duration: 5s Increases Blood Gauge by 50 when full 20% (10%) is absorbed.

Role Actions

Role actions are abilities common to classes and jobs with the same role. Jobs can select and use up to five role actions, while classes can select and use up to ten.

Action	Level	Type	Cast	Recast	Range	Radius	Role Affinity
Rampart File:FFXIV Rampart Icon.png	8	Ability	Instant	90s	—	—
	Reduces damage taken by 20% Duration: 20s
Low Blow File:FFXIV Low Blow Icon.png	12	Ability	Instant	25s	—	—
	Stuns the target Duration: 5s
Provoke File:FFXIV Provoke Icon.png	16	Ability	Instant	40s	—	—
	Gesture threateningly, placing yourself at the top of a target's enmity list.
Convalescence File:FFXIV Convalescence Icon.png	20	Ability	Instant	120s	—	—
	Increases own HP recovery via healing magic by 20% Duration: 20s
Anticipation File:FFXIV Anticipation Icon.png	24	Ability	Instant	60s	—	—
	Increases parry rate by 30% Duration: 20s.
Reprisal File:FFXIV Reprisal Icon.png	32	Ability	Instant	60s	—	—
	Lowers target's damage dealt by 10% Duration: 5s.
Awareness File:FFXIV Awareness Icon.png	36	Ability	Instant	120s	—	—
	Nullifies chance of suffering critical damage Duration: 25s
Interject File:FFXIV Interject Icon.png	40	Ability	Instant	30s	—	—
	Silences target Duration: 1s
Ultimatum File:FFXIV Ultimatum Icon.png	44	Ability	Instant	90s	—	—
	Provoke nearby enemies, placing yourself at the top of their enmity list.
Shirk File:FFXIV Shirk Icon.png	48	Ability	Instant	120s	—	—
	Diverts 25% of enmity to target party member.

Job Traits

Name	Level	Description
Enhanced Vitality File:FFXIV Enhanced Vitality Icon.png	20	Increases vitality by 8.
Enhanced Vitality II File:FFXIV Enhanced Vitality II Icon.png	40	Increases vitality by 16.
Enhanced Vitality III File:FFXIV Enhanced Vitality III Icon.png	60	Increases vitality by 24.
Blackblood File:FFXIV Blackblood Icon.png	62	Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation upon the landing of certain actions.
Enhanced Blackblood File:FFXIV Enhanced Blackblood Icon.png	66	Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation while under the effect of Blood Weapon or Blood Price.

PvP Actions

Action	Type	Cast	Recast	Cost
Hard Slash File:FFXIV Hard Slash PVP Icon.png	Weaponskill	Instant	2.3s	—
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 750. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Spinning Slash File:FFXIV Spinning Slash PVP Icon.png	Weaponskill	Instant	2.3s	—
	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 1,000 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Power Slash File:FFXIV Power Slash PVP Icon.png	Weaponskill	Instant	2.3s	—
	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Spinning Slash Combo Potency: 1,500 Additional Effect: Reduces target's HP recovered by healing magic by 10% Duration: 15s ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Syphon Strike File:FFXIV Syphon Strike PVP Icon.png	Weaponskill	Instant	2.3s	—
	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 1,250 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Souleater File:FFXIV Souleater PVP Icon.png	Weaponskill	Instant	2.3s	—
	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Syphon Strike Combo Potency: 1,250 Combo Bonus: Absorbs 100% of damage dealt as HP Combo Bonus: Restores 1,000 MP Combo Bonus: Increases Blood Gauge by 20 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Bloodspiller File:FFXIV Bloodspiller PVP Icon.png	Weaponskill	Instant	2.3s	Blackblood: 50
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 2,000. Additional Effect: Silence Duration: 2s
Unmend File:FFXIV Unmend PVP Icon.png	Spell	Instant	10s	2500 MP
	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 500. Additional Effect: 10-yalm draw-in
The Blackest Night File:FFXIV The Blackest Night PVP Icon.png	Ability	Instant	10s	2500 MP
	Creates a barrier around self or target party member that absorbs damage totaling 20% of your maximum HP. Duration: 5s Increases Blood Gauge by 20 when full 20% is absorbed.
Low Blow File:FFXIV Low Blow PVP Icon.png	Ability	Instant	5s	300 MP
	Delivers an attack with a potency of 750. Additional Effect: Stun Duration: 2s
Plunge File:FFXIV Plunge PVP Icon.png	Ability	Instant	30s	—
	Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 500. Recast time is reset if Plunge records a KO or an assist. Cannot be executed while bound.
Sole Suvivor File:FFXIV Sole Survivor PVP Icon.png	Ability	Instant	60s	—
	Increases target's damage taken by 10%. Restores 25% of your maximum HP and MP and increases Blood Gauge by 50 if target is KO'd before effect expires. Duration: 10s
Grit File:FFXIV Grit PVP Icon.png	Ability	Instant	5s	—
	Reduces both damage taken and damage dealt by 25%. Effect ends upon reuse.

Additional PvP Actions

These actions are common to all jobs, and can only be used in PvP areas. The number of additional actions that can be set is limited to two.

Action	Type	Cast	Recast
Recuperate File:FFXIV Recuperate Icon.png	Ability	Instant	45s
	Restores 25% of maximum HP.
Muse File:FFXIV Muse Icon.png	Ability	Instant	90s
	Restores 25% of maximum MP.
Enliven File:FFXIV Enliven Icon.png	Ability	Instant	90s
	Restores 50% of maximum TP.
Purify File:FFXIV Purify Icon.png	Ability	Instant	45s
	Removes Stun, Sleep, Bind, Heavy, Slow, and Silence from target. Can be used regardless of own status affliction.
Concentrate File:FFXIV Concentrate Icon.png	Ability	Instant	45s
	Creates a barrier preventing Stun, Sleep, Bind, Heavy, Slow, Silence, and knockback effects. Duration: 10s
Safeguard File:FFXIV Safeguard Icon.png	Ability	Instant	90s
	Reduces damage taken by 25%. Duration: 10s
Bolt File:FFXIV Bolt Icon pvp.png	Ability	Instant	45s
	Reduces damage taken by 25%. Duration: 10s

PvP Traits

These traits are common to all jobs, and only take effect when in PvP areas. The number of PvP traits that can be set is limited to three.

Traits	Effect
Increased HP	Increases maximum HP by 5%.
Increased Action Speed File:FFXIV Increased Action Speed Icon.png	Decreases weaponskill and spell cast and recast times by 3%.
Increased Damage Dealt File:FFXIV Increased Damage Dealt Icon.png	Increases damage dealt by 3%.
Decreased Damage Taken File:FFXIV Decreased Damage Taken Icon.png	Decreases damage taken by 3%.
Increased Healing Potency File:FFXIV Increased Healing Potency Icon.png	Increases spell-based HP restoration by 5%.
Decreased Recast Time File:FFXIV Decreased recast time Icon.png	Decreases recast time of additional actions by 20%.
Increased Resistance Duration File:FFXIV Increased REsistance Duration Icon.png	Increases duration of resistances by 50%.
Increased MP Regeneration File:FFXIV increased MP Regeneration Icon.png	Increases MP regeneration rate by 25%.
Increased TP Regeneration File:FFXIV Increased TP Regeneration Icon.png	Increases TP regeneration rate by 40%.

Limit Break

Main article: Limit Break (Final Fantasy XIV)

Dark Knights' Limit Breaks focus on drastically raising the defense and magic defense of the entire party for a short period of time. Dark Knight has the same Level 1 and Level 2 limit breaks as other Tanks.

Ability	Level	Description	Image
Shield Wall	1	Reduces damage taken by all party members by 10% for a period of 10 seconds.
Mighty Guard	2	Reduces damage taken by all party members by 20% for a period of 15 seconds.
Dark Force	3	Reduces damage taken by all party members by 50% for a period of 12 seconds.

Gallery

Artwork of Sidurgu.

Render of Sidurgu.

In-game render of an Auri Dark Knight.

DRK Soul Crystal.png

Dark Knight Soul Crystal

Victory pose.

Artifact equipment from Stormblood.

Dark Knight in the Benchmark.

Abilities

Blood Weapon.

Grit.

Darkside.

Dark Arts.

Benchmark DarkKnight 02.jpg

Shadow Wall.

Dark Knight Skill.png

Plunge.

Quietus.

Bloodspiller.

The Blackest Night.

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Trivia

• The journal entries for the Dark Knight are much more personal in nature and only become increasingly more aggressive over time, extending to even the in-game objectives themselves. This appears to be the power of the soul crystal itself at work, heavily implying a level a sentience as well as Fray's real identity.
• The Dark Knight class has a few references to Cloud Strife:
  • The male idle pose when their weapon is drawn is based off of his iconic pose with his sword slung over his shoulder.
  • Similarly, the Victory Pose emote is identical to Cloud's.
  • The second mentor of the Dark Knight job, Sidurgu, wields a large two-handed sword, has a spiked hairstyle, and has a brooding personality.