Swiftcast

Swiftcast
(迅速魔, Jinsoku Ma?, lit. Swift Magic)
Icon
Availability
Required	Conjurer 18 White Mage 18 Scholar 18 Astrologian 18 Sage 18 Thaumaturge 18 Black Mage 18 Arcanist 18 Summoner 18 Red Mage 18 Pictomancer 18 Blue Mage 18
Classification
Type	Ability
Effect	Next spell is cast immediately
Status	Swiftcast
Specifications
Cast time	Instant
Recast time	60 seconds (40 with Enhanced Swiftcast)
Range	Self
Duration	10 seconds

Swiftcast is a role action and additional action from Final Fantasy XIV. It causes the next spell used by the player to be cast immediately.

Use

Swiftcast reduces the cast time of the next spell used to instant. Spells that are already instant cast will not consume Swiftcast. It only affects actions specifically categorized as spells, and will not work with Limit Breaks. Swiftcast is itself 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.

Swiftcast is best used with spells with cast times longer than the 2.5s GCD. For most disciplines, the only spells that fall into this category are revive spells. As being able to provide an instant revive is an important support option, said disciplines will typically save Swiftcast for these spells. Red Mages are particularly well known for their ability to instantly revive two party members back to back by combining Swiftcast with their Dualcast trait.

Swiftcast can also be used for DPS purposes. This is particularly true for Black Mages, the only job without access to a revive spell and thus no need to hold Swiftcast in reserve. Black, Red, and Blue Mages are the only disciplines with damaging abilities that have a cast time longer than the GCD, and will get the most use out of using Swiftcast for this purpose.

If using Swiftcast on a spell with a GCD cast time, it is important to weave Swiftcast after an instant cast spell, as otherwise Swiftcast's animation will delay the next spell, pushing back the GCD and significantly limiting Swiftcast's effectiveness.

Swiftcast spells will still activate the GCD, providing an opportunity to weave other oGCD abilities between spell casts. Using Swiftcast on a spell with a GCD cast time without weaving another oGCD ability during the next GCD will have no significant effect to overall damage or healing.

Patch history

Version	Changes
A Realm Reborn	Added as a Thaumaturge and Black Mage class action learned at level 26. Was available as an additional action to Arcanists, Archers, Conjurers, Gladiators, Lancers, Marauders, Pugilists, Scholars, Summoners, and White Mages.
Patch 2.4	Added as an additional action to Rogues. Potency of attack magic cast under the effect of Swiftcast now halved in PvP content.
Heavensward	Added as an additional action to Astrologians.
Stormblood	No longer available as an additional action. Now learned as a role action by all healer and magic ranged DPS disciplines. Acquired level increased to 32. No longer available in PvP. New PvP exclusive version added. See below for its patch history.
Shadowbringers	Acquired level reduced to 18.

PvP version

Version	Changes
Stormblood	Added as a Black Mage job action with a 30s recast.
Shadowbringers	Now an additional action available to all magic ranged DPS disciplines.
Patch 5.3	Recast time reduced to 15s.