Samurai is a job in Final Fantasy XIV, being introduced in the Stormblood expansion. Originating from the island nation of Hingashi, Samurais wield katanas in combat, hosting a variety of sword weaponskills to deal massive melee damage to their foes, although at the cost of lacking much party support utility in combat. Samurai does not have a base class, and starts at level 50.
Profile[]
Far across the rolling waves, towards the rising sun, there lies the island nation of Hingashi.
In the distant past, the realm's great lords vied for supremacy over its sea-girt confines in a long and bloody conflict. And taking to battle in their lieges' names were noble swordsmen whose art was forged in the crucible of war: the samurai.
Eventually, the nation was unified under one banner, and these warriors came to wield their katana not upon fields as part of an army, but upon streets as protectors of the peace.
But as a neglected blade grows dull with rust, so too do men forget their purpose. Amidst waning memories of the old ways, a determined few hold fast to their convictions, hands by katana grips, awaiting the moment for steel to sing.Lodestone
Samurai is a close-range melee job which specializes solely in dealing damage, having few tools to assist other classes in their work. They learn traditional Far Eastern swordplay techniques from the land of Hingashi, such as Iaijutsu, and the art of "Sen" and its three forces Setsu (Snow), Getsu (Moon), and Ka (Flower). The katana can also store energy in the form of Kenki, to be released in devastating Hissatsu special attacks available once the Kenki gauge is full. In Stormblood, the important characters Zenos yae Galvus and Hien Rijin are Samurai.
Though Samurai is a recurring character class in the Final Fantasy series, this iteration is unique for being themed after the archetypal wandering ronin, or lordless samurai, rather than a traditional armored warrior. Musosai himself fits this bill, as he traveled to Eorzea both to find a student to pass on his skill with a sword, and to follow and destroy evil.
Story[]
Stormblood[]

Equipment[]

A hyuran samurai with the Kiku-ichimonji and Myochin artifact armor.
Samurai wield katanas as their weapon. Their armor is primarily made up of "Striking" gear, light armor with average defenses that they share with monks.
The primary attribute for samurai is strength, which boosts their attack power, and should always be prioritized over other attributes. As a DPS discipline, they draw the most benefit from the critical hit, direct hit, skill speed, and determination secondary attributes, which all improve their damage dealing capabilities in some way.
Lists of samurai equipment | |
---|---|
Job Gauge[]

Sen Gauge.
Job Gauges were introduced in Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. The Samurai uses the Kenki and Sen Gauges. The Sen Gauge displays the accumulation of the three Sen effects – Setsu, Getsu and Ka. Certain weaponskills, such as Mangetsu, grant a Sen. Sen are required to perform Iaijutsu. The number of Sen accumulated determines which weaponskill will be executed – 1 for Higanbana, 2 for Tenka Goken, and 3 for Midare Setsugekka. Unique to all Physical DPS jobs, the Samurai have a cast time in their Iaijutsu skills.

Kenki Gauge.
The Kenki Gauge displays the amount of Kenki the Samurai has collected. All Samurai weaponskills, except Iaijutsu, increases Kenki. It is used to execute powerful Hissatsu instant cast abilities, such as Hissatsu: Kaiten, and Hissatsu: Gyoten.
In 5.2, an additional Meditation gauge was added below the Kenki gauge for the Meditation ability. When filled up, the weaponskill Shoha can be used.
Abilities[]
Job Actions[]
Action | Level | Type | Cast | Recast | MP Cost | Range | Area |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hakaze![]() |
1 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 180 (![]()
| |||||||
Jinpu![]() |
4 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 (![]() ![]() | |||||||
Third Eye![]() |
6 | Ability | Instant | 15s | — | — | — |
Reduces the amount of damage taken by the next attack by 10%.
| |||||||
Enpi![]() |
15 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 20y | — |
Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 100. | |||||||
Shifu![]() |
18 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 (![]() ![]() | |||||||
Fuga![]() |
26 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 90 to all enemies in a cone before you.
| |||||||
Gekko![]() |
30 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 (![]() ![]() 150 ( ![]() ![]()
| |||||||
Iaijutsu![]() |
30 | Weaponskill | 1.8s ( ![]() |
2.5s | — | — | — |
Executes a weaponskill depending on current number of Sen stored in Sen Gauge.
Action changes to the above listed actions when conditions are met. | |||||||
Mangetsu![]() |
35 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | — | 5y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies. | |||||||
Kasha![]() |
40 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 (![]() ![]() 150 ( ![]() ![]()
| |||||||
Oka![]() |
45 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | — | 5y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies. | |||||||
Yukikaze![]() |
50 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 (![]() ![]() | |||||||
Meikyo Shisui![]() |
50 | Ability | Instant | 55s | — | — | — |
Execute up to 3 weaponskill combos without meeting combo prerequisites. Does not affect Iaijutsu or Ogi Namikiri. | |||||||
Hissatsu: Shinten![]() |
52 | Ability | Instant | 1s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 250.
| |||||||
Hissatsu: Gyoten![]() |
54 | Ability | Instant | 5s | — | 20y | — |
Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 100.
Cannot be executed while bound. | |||||||
Hissatsu: Yaten![]() |
56 | Ability | Instant | 10s | — | 5y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100.
Cannot be executed while bound. | |||||||
Meditate![]() |
60 ![]() |
Ability | Instant | 60s | — | — | — |
Gradually increases your Kenki Gauge.
Kenki Gauge not affected when used outside battle. | |||||||
Hissatsu: Kyuten![]() |
62 | Ability | Instant | 1s | — | — | 5y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies.
| |||||||
Hagakure![]() |
68 | Ability | Instant | 5s | — | — | — |
Converts Setsu, Getsu, and Ka into Kenki. Each Sen converted increases your Kenki Gauge by 10. Can only be executed if under the effect of at least one of the three statuses. | |||||||
Ikishoten![]() |
68 | Ability | Instant | 120s | — | — | — |
Increases Kenki Gauge by 50.
Can only be executed while in combat.
| |||||||
Hissatsu: Guren![]() |
70 ![]() |
Ability | Instant | 120s ( ![]() |
— | 10y | 10y line |
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 500 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemies.
Shares a recast timer with Hissatsu: Senei. | |||||||
Hissatsu: Senei![]() |
72 | Ability | Instant | 120s ( ![]() |
— | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 800.
Shares a recast timer with Hissatsu: Guren. | |||||||
Tsubame-gaeshi![]() |
74 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | — | — |
Repeats the previously executed iaijutsu. Cannot be used to repeat Higanbana. Can only be executed immediately following Iaijutsu while under the effect of Tsubame-gaeshi Ready. Action changes to Kaeshi: Goken, Kaeshi: Setsugekka, Tendo Kaeshi Goken or Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka when conditions are met. | |||||||
Shoha![]() |
80 | Ability | Instant | 15s | — | 10y | 10y line |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 560 (![]() Can only be executed after accumulating three stacks of Meditation by executing Iaijutsu, Meditate, or Ogi Namikiri while in combat. Consumes all stacks of Meditation upon execution. | |||||||
Tengetsu![]() |
82 | Ability | Instant | 15s | — | — | — |
Reduces the amount of damage taken by the next attack by 10%.
| |||||||
Fuko![]() |
86 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | — | 5y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies.
| |||||||
Ogi Namikiri![]() |
90 | Weaponskill | 1.3s | 2.5s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers a critical hit to all enemies in a cone before you with a potency of 860 (![]() Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. Grants a stack of Meditation, up to a maximum of 3. Can only be executed while under the effect of Ogi Namikiri Ready. Action changes to Kaeshi: Namikiri upon execution. | |||||||
Kaeshi: Namikiri![]() |
90 | Ability | Instant | 2.5s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers a critical hit to all enemies in a cone before you with a potency of 860 (![]() Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. Triggers the cooldown of weaponskills upon execution. Cannot be executed during the cooldown of weaponskills. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Ogi Namikiri changes to Kaeshi: Namikiri when requirements for execution are met. | |||||||
Gyofu![]() |
92 | Ability | Instant | 2.5s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 240.
| |||||||
Zanshin![]() |
96 | Ability | Instant | 1s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a cone before you with a potency of 900 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Zanshin Ready. |
Iaijutsu[]
Action | Level | Type | Cast | Recast | Range | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Higanbana![]() |
30 | Weaponskill | 1.8s ( ![]() |
2.5s | 6y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Can only be executed after accumulating 1 Sen. | ||||||
Tenka Goken![]() |
40 | Weaponskill | 1.8s ( ![]() |
2.5s | — | 8y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 300 to all nearby enemies.
Can only be executed after accumulating 2 Sen. | ||||||
Midare Setsugekka![]() |
50 | Weaponskill | 1.8s ( ![]() |
2.5s | 6y | — |
Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 620 (![]() Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate.
Can only be executed after accumulating 3 Sen. | ||||||
Kaeshi: Goken![]() |
74 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 8y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 300 to all nearby enemies. | ||||||
Kaeshi: Setsugekka![]() |
74 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | 6y | — |
Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 640. Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. | ||||||
Tendo Goken![]() |
100 | Weaponskill | 1.3s | 2.5s | — | 8y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 410 to all nearby enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Tendo, and after accumulating 2 Sen. | ||||||
Tendo Setsugekka![]() |
100 | Weaponskill | 1.3s | 2.5s | 6y | — |
Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 1,020. Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Tendo, and after accumulating 3 Sen. | ||||||
Tendo Kaeshi Goken![]() |
100 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | — | 8y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 410 to all nearby enemies. | ||||||
Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka![]() |
76 | Weaponskill | Instant | 2.5s | 6y | — |
Delivers a critical hit with a potency of 1,020. Damage dealt is increased when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions. |
Role Actions[]
Traits[]
Name | Level | Description |
---|---|---|
Kenki Mastery![]() |
52 | Increases Kenki Gauge when landing select weaponskills or when taking damage while under the effect of Third Eye. |
Kenki Mastery II![]() |
62 | Increases Kenki Gauge when landing all weaponskills excluding Iaijutsu. |
Way of the Samurai![]() |
66 | Increases the potency of Hakaze to 200, Jinpu to 120, and Shifu to 120. |
Enhanced Iaijutsu![]() |
74 | Reduces Iaijutsu cast time to 1.3 seconds. Also grants Tsubame-gaeshi Ready after excecuting iaijutsu excluding Higanbana.
|
Enhanced Meikyo Shisui![]() |
76 | Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Meikyo Shisui.
|
Enhanced Fugetsu and Fuka fka. Enhanced Jinpu and Shifu ![]() |
78 | Improves Fugetsu's damage increase to 13% and Fuka's reduction to weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay to 13%. |
Third Eye Mastery![]() |
82 | Upgrades Third Eye to Tengetsu. |
Enhanced Tsubame-gaeshi![]() |
84 | Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Tsubame-gaeshi.
Also grants the effect of Tsubame-gaeshi Ready upon executing Meikyo Shisui.
|
Way of the Samurai II![]() |
84 | Increases the potency of Gekko, Kasha, and Yukikaze to 120. |
Fuga Mastery![]() |
86 | Upgrades Fuga to Fuko. |
Enhanced Ikishoten![]() |
90 | Grants Ogi Namikiri Ready upon execution of Ikishoten.
|
Hakaze Mastery![]() |
82 | Upgrades Hakaze to Gyofu. |
Enhanced Hissatsu![]() |
94 | Reduces Hissatsu: Guren and Hissatsu: Senei recast time to 60 seconds. |
Way of the Samurai III![]() |
94 | Increases the potency of Jinpu to 140, Shifu to 140, Enhanced Enpi to 270, Gekko to 160, Higanbana damage over time to 50, Kasha to 160, Yukikaze to 160, Midare Setsugekka to 640, Kaeshi: Setsugekka to 640, Shoha to 640, Ogi Namikiri to 900, and Kaeshi: Namikiri to 900. |
Enhanced Ikishoten II![]() |
96 | Grants Zanshin Ready upon executing Ikishoten.
|
Enhanced Meikyo Shisui II![]() |
100 | Grants Tendo upon executing Meikyo Shisui.
Tenka Goken changes to Tendo Goken and Midare Setsugekka changes to Tendo Setsugekka while under the effect of Tendo. |
Role Traits[]
Name | Level | Description |
---|---|---|
Enhanced Second Wind![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Increases the healing potency of Second Wind to 800. |
Enhanced Feint![]() |
![]() |
Extends the duration of Feint to 15 seconds. |
PvP Actions[]
Action | Type | Cast | Recast | MP Cost | Range | Radius |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yukikaze![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.2s | — | 5y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 6,000. ※Action changes to Hyosetsu while under the effect of Kaiten. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
Gekko![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.2s | — | 5y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 6,000.
※Action changes to Mangetsu while under the effect of Kaiten. | ||||||
Kasha![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.2s | — | 5y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 6,000.
※Action changes to Oka while under the effect of Kaiten. | ||||||
Ogi Namikiri![]() |
Weaponskill | 1.3s | 16s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all enemies in a cone before you. Potency is increased to 12,000 when attacking only a single target.
This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions. | ||||||
Hissatsu: Soten![]() |
Ability | Instant | 10s | — | 20y | — |
Swiftly charges forward, dealing damage with a potency of 3,000 to targets in your path.
Cannot be executed while bound. | ||||||
Hissatsu: Chiten![]() |
Ability | Instant | 24s | — | — | — |
Reduces damage taken by 25% and delivers an attack with a potency of 4,000 every time you suffer damage.
※Action changes to Zanshin upon execution. | ||||||
Mineuchi![]() |
Ability | Instant | 16s | — | 5y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 2,000.
Extends Kuzushi duration by 4s to a maximum of 6s. Effect cannot be stacked with Kuzushi when extending its duration.
| ||||||
Meikyo Shisui![]() |
Ability | Instant | 20s | — | — | — |
Grants Meikyo Shisui.
※Action changes to Tendo Setsugekka upon execution. | ||||||
Hyosetsu![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 1.76s | — | — | 5y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 6,000 to all nearby enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Kaiten. | ||||||
Mangetsu![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 1.76s | — | — | 5y circle |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all nearby enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Kaiten. | ||||||
Oka![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 1.76s | — | — | 5y circle |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all nearby enemies.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Kaiten. | ||||||
Kaeshi: Namikiri![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.2s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 8,000 to all enemies in a cone before you. Potency is increased to 12,000 when attacking only a single target.
※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
Zanshin![]() |
Ability | Instant | 1s | — | 8y | 8y cone |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 5,000 to all enemies in a cone before you.
Can only be executed while under the effect of Zanshin Ready | ||||||
Tendo Setsugekka![]() |
Weaponskill | 1.32s | 2.2s | — | 8y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 10,000. Can only be executed while under the effect of Tendo Setsugekka Ready. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Action changes to Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka upon execution. | ||||||
Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka![]() |
Weaponskill | Instant | 2.2s | — | 8y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 10,000.
※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. | ||||||
Zantetsuken![]() |
Limit Break | Instant | 10s | — | 20y | 5y radius |
Swiftly charges forward, dealing damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 24,000. If target is afflicted with Kuzushi, deals damage equal to 100% of their maximum HP. Ignores the effects of Guard when dealing damage. The additional effect of Kuzushi cannot be applied to players riding a machina and non-player combatants. Can only be executed when the limit gauge is full.
Cannot be executed while bound. | ||||||
Standard-issue Elixir![]() |
Ability | 4.5s | 5s | — | — | — |
Restores your HP and MP to maximum. Casting will be interrupted when damage is taken. | ||||||
Recuperate![]() |
Ability | Instant | 1s | 2500 MP | — | — |
Restores own HP.
| ||||||
Purify![]() |
Ability | Instant | 24s | — | — | — |
Removes Stun, Heavy, Bind, Silence, Deep Freeze, and Miracle of Nature.
Can be used even when under the effect of certain status afflictions. | ||||||
Guard![]() |
Ability | Instant | 30s | — | — | — |
Reduces damage taken by 90% and grants immunity to Stun, Heavy, Bind, Silence, Half-asleep, Sleep, Deep Freeze, and knockback and draw-in effects.
Movement speed is reduced by 50% for the duration of this effect. | ||||||
Sprint![]() |
Ability | Instant | 1.5s | — | — | — |
Increases movement speed. Effect ends upon reuse or execution of another action. |
Removed actions[]
The following actions are no longer usable. Removed actions will still appear on a hotbar, their icon greyed out icon with a red strikethrough. They will have no effect and must be removed by the player. The given statistics represent their last form before their removal.
Action | Level | Type | Cast | Recast | MP Cost | Range | Area |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ageha![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 10s | — | 3y | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 250. Additional Effect: Increases Kenki Gauge by 10 (30 if killing blow is dealt) Can only be executed when target's HP is below 20%. Removed in patch 5.0. | |||||||
Hissatsu: Kaiten![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 1s | — | — | — |
Increases potency of next weaponskill by 50%. Duration: 10s Kenki Gauge Cost: 20 Removed in patch 6.1. | |||||||
Merciful Eyes![]() |
![]() |
Ability | Instant | 1s | — | 3y | — |
Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 200 Can only be executed while under the effect of Open Eyes. Shares a recast timer with Hissatsu: Seigan. Removed in patch 6.0. | |||||||
Hissatsu: Seigan | ![]() |
Ability | Instant | 1s | — | — | — |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 220. Kenki Gauge Cost: 15 Can only be executed while under the effect of Open Eyes. Shares a recast timer with Merciful Eyes. Removed in patch 6.0. | |||||||
Kaeshi: Higanbana![]() |
76 | Ability | Instant | 60s | 6y | — | |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
Effect cannot be stacked with Higanbana. Removed in patch 7.0. | |||||||
Shoha II![]() |
82 | Ability | Instant | 15s | — | — | 5y radius |
Delivers an attack with a potency of 200 to all nearby enemies. Can only be executed after accumulating three stacks of Meditation by executing Iaijutsu, Meditate, or Ogi Namikiri while in combat. Meditation effect fades upon execution. Shares a recast timer with Shoha. Removed in patch 7.0. |
Limit Break[]
Samurai's Limit Break focuses on dealing powerful damage to a single target. Samurai have the same Level 1 and Level 2 limit breaks as other Melee DPS classes.
Action | Level | Description | Image |
---|---|---|---|
Braver | 1 | Delivers an attack to a single target. | ![]() |
Bladedance | 2 | Delivers an attack to a single target, dealing 2.2x the damage of Braver. | ![]() |
Doom of the Living | 3 | Delivers an attack to a single target, dealing 3.5x the damage of Braver. | ![]() |
Gallery[]
- PvE actions
- Role Actions
- PvP actions
- Removed PvE actions
Etymology[]
Samurai were the military nobility of medieval and early-modern Japan. They were not just great swordsmen, but also powerful horse archers and martial artists of other fields. Though their status was that above commoners, samurai were bound to forms of etiquette and a way of life known as Bushido, stressing honor to one's devoted and preparing oneself in the face of death.