Thunder IV is a Black Mage spell from Final Fantasy XIV that deals area of effect (AoE) damage and additional damage over time. It is upgraded from
Thunder II at level 64.
Mechanics[]
PvE version | |
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Base mechanics |
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Traits |
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Formulae | Base direct damage formula: Where Potency can be 230 with Thundercloud or 50 without. |
Base damage over time formula: | |
Cast time formula: Cast time becomes instant with Thundercloud. | |
Recast time formula: | |
PvP version | |
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Use[]
Thunder IV is used to deal damage over time (DoT) to multiple enemies. It should always be applied as soon as possible against a target to maximize its effects. Against weak enemies expected to die in less time than its duration it may be safely skipped. Thunder IV is best used during the Umbral Ice state, as the MP it consumes will not regenerate in the Astral Fire state and it doesn't benefit from the state's damage increase.
Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target, preventing Thunder IV from stacking with Thunder III, which is preferred in single-target encounters.
DoT effects deal damage every server tick, or 3 seconds, independent of the effect's duration. This means that the effect may deal damage anywhere between 0 and 3 seconds after it is applied, and in 3 second intervals afterwards. In order to maximize efficiency on damage over time effects, it is generally recommended to reapply them with under 3 three seconds remaining, as the final tick of damage from the effect can occur anywhere in that window. This may result in the loss of a tick, but waiting for the effect to drop off before reapplying can result in the loss of two or more ticks and greater DPS loss.
The Thundercloud trait grants each damage tick of Thunder IV a 3% chance to grant the
Thundercloud status. The status causes the next Thunder spell of any grade to add its full DoT amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP. With Thundercloud active, Thunder IV becomes one of the most powerful AoE spells available to a Black Mage. Despite this Black Mages shouldn't use a Thundercloud Thunder IV until either the previous DoT or Thundercloud itself are about to run out in order to maximize the damage of the previous DoT.
Sharpcast will guarantee a Thundercloud proc on the next Thunder spell used, and it is generally preferable to use it in this manner than for the other effects it provides.
As Thunder IV has a cast time longer than the global cooldown (GCD), it can pair well with Swiftcast and
Triplecast if the caster has Thundercloud. Without Thundercloud
Flare is a better use use of these abilities.
PvP[]
In PvP Thunder IV is instant cast with no MP cost. Thundercloud now activates whenever the target takes 4000 damage while under the effect of Thunder IV, which also ends the DoT effect. Thundercloud's effect is changed to instead upgrade Thunder and
Thunder II to the much stronger
Thunder III and Thunder IV, and Thundercloud is consumed in using the stronger spells.
Thunder IV's damage threshold to activate Thundercloud is lower than that of the single-target variations, allowing Black Mages to more easily activate Thundercloud without needing to focus on a specific target. Since Thunder III and Thunder IV can generate their own Thundercloud procs, it is possible to chain Thundercloud spells together.
As an instant cast spell that activates the global cooldown (GCD), Thunder IV can be used to weave abilities that are off the global cooldown (oGCD), such as Night Wing, in between spellcasts.
Patch history[]
Version | Changes |
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Stormblood | Added with an instant cast time and 18% base MP cost. Thundercloud had a 12 second duration. |
Patch 4.2 | Thundercloud duration increased to 18 seconds. |
Shadowbringers | MP cost set at 400 with MP system overhaul. |
Patch 5.1 | New PvP exclusive version added. See below for its patch history. |
Version | Changes |
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Patch 5.1 | Added. |