Manaward (Final Fantasy XIV)

Manaward
(マバリア, Mabaria?, lit. Mabarrier)
Icon
Availability
Obtained	Facing Your Demons
Required	Thaumaturge 30 Black Mage 30
Classification
Type	Ability
Skillset	Class action
Effect	Creates a barrier that nullifies damage totaling up to 30% of maximum HP
Status	Manaward
Specifications
Cast time	Instant
Recast time	120 seconds (oGCD)
Range	Self
Duration	20 seconds
Icon
Availability
Obtained	A Pup No Longer
Required	Black Mage 30 Summoner 30 Red Mage 30
Classification
Type	Ability
Skillset	Additional action
Effect	Creates a barrier around self that absorbs damage
Additional effect	Restores 2500 MP if barrier is destroyed
Status	Manaward
Specifications
Cast time	Instant
Recast time	30 seconds (oGCD)
Range	Self
Duration	10 seconds
Potency	2500
Related pages
Recurring appearance	Manaward (ability)

Manaward is a Thaumaturge and Black Mage ability from Final Fantasy XIV that creates a barrier that nullifies damage. It is also available as an additional action to magic ranged DPS disciplines in PvP.

Mechanics

PvE version Manaward Thaumaturge/Black Mage 30 Ability Class action Effects Grants Manaward for 20 seconds, absorbing damage equal to 30% of max HP PvP version Manaward Black Mage/Summoner/Red Mage 30 Ability Additional action Effects Grants Manaward for 10 seconds, absorbing damage equal to a heal of 2500 potency Restores 2500 MP if barrier is destroyed No MP is restored if barrier duration runs out

Use

Manaward nullifies damage equal to up to 30% the Black Mage's maximum HP. It is a powerful defensive option, but its long recast prevents it from being used regularly. It is important in solo content as it is the only strong defensive option available to Black Mages. In party content it should be used to lessen the need for healers to use single-target healing on the Black Mage, such as from taking unexpected damage, or finding themselves the victim of a targeted attack. If the Black Mage is but one of many players in need of healing, Manaward can be a waste as the healers will be providing healing to the entire party regardless.

Manaward is an instant cast off-global cooldown (oGCD) ability. This allows players to weave it between global cooldowns (GCD) after using instant cast weaponskills or spells.

PvP

Manaward is an additional action in PvP content, and is available to all magic ranged DPS rather than just Black Mages. The strength of its barrier is now equal to a heal of 2500 potency rather than being based on max HP. In addition, when the barrier is destroyed it will restore 2500 MP to the user. With only a 30s recast the barrier provided by Manaward is a potent defensive option for all disciplines, though its MP restore is only situationally useful.

Players can only set two additional actions at any given time, so they must choose actions which complement their combat strategy. Manaward must compete with Drain, Addle, Aetheric Burst, and Swiftcast for an available slot. As a defensive ability it can pair well with Drain, Aetheric Burst, or Addle.

Patch history

Version	Changes
A Realm Reborn	Added, creating a barrier which nullified magic damage equal to 15% of max HP. Level 48 Thaumaturge trait Enhanced Manaward increased barrier potency to 30% of max HP.
Stormblood	Barrier now nullifies all damage. Base barrier potency increased to 30% of max HP. Enhanced Manaward removed. No longer available in PvP.
Shadowbringers	New PvP exclusive version added. See below for its patch history.

PvP version

Version	Changes
Shadowbringers	Added, creating a barrier which nullified damage equal to 20% of max HP. Had a 6s duration and 45s recast.
Patch 5.1	Barrier changed to equal a heal of 2500 potency. Duration increased to 10s.
Patch 5.3	Recast time reduced to 30s.