Final Fantasy XIV (FF14) offers players a vast selection of classes, each with unique mechanics and playstyles. Among the many roles available in this MMORPG, the Astrologian stands out as a fascinating healing class, drawing on the power of the stars to aid allies and smite enemies. Known for its versatility and high skill ceiling, the FF14 Astrologian requires finesse, a deep understanding of the job’s mechanics, and strategic thinking to master.
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Astrologian in FF14, from basic mechanics to advanced tips that will elevate your gameplay.
A Brief Overview of the Astrologian
The Astrologian, a job introduced in the Heavensward expansion of Final Fantasy XIV, is one of the three healing jobs in the game. Unlike the White Mage, which excels in raw healing power, or the Scholar, with its shields and fairy companion, the Astrologian focuses on balancing direct healing and shielding, making it incredibly versatile.
Astrologians draw power from the stars through their Star Globe and the Arcana Deck, which are cards they draw during combat to provide buffs to the party. The Astrologian is a powerful support job capable of managing healing and bolstering the party’s damage output through these cards.
Unlocking the Astrologian Job
To unlock the Astrologian job, players need to meet a few requirements:
Purchase the Heavensward Expansion: Astrologian was introduced in the Heavensward expansion, so you’ll need to have access to it.
Reach Level 50 with Any Combat Class: The Astrologian can only be unlocked by players who have reached Level 50 in any combat class.
Go to Ishgard: Once the requirements are met, head to Ishgard, the main hub of Heavensward. Look for Jannequinard at The Pillars (X: 15.2, Y: 10.0), who will give you the quest “Stairway to the Heavens.” Upon completion, you will be able to unlock and play as an Astrologian.
The Core Mechanics of the FF14 Astrologian
Understanding the Astrologian’s mechanics is essential for mastering the job. Below are the main features that define this class.
The Arcana Deck
At the heart of the Astrologian’s toolkit is the Arcana Deck, which contains six cards that can be drawn during combat. Each card offers different buffs to party members, primarily boosting their offensive capabilities. Cards are divided into two categories:
- Melee Cards: These cards boost melee DPS and tanks.
- Ranged Cards: These cards boost ranged DPS and healers.
The Astrologian’s role is to distribute these buffs optimally to the correct party members.
The six cards in the Arcana Deck are:
- Balance: Increases damage dealt.
- Arrow: Increases attack speed.
- Spear: Reduces recast timers on abilities.
- Bole: Reduces damage taken.
- Ewer: Restores MP.
- Spire: Restores TP (though this card has become obsolete in recent patches due to TP removal).
The key to excelling as an Astrologian is to understand which card to use and when. Cards like Balance are often prioritized due to their damage-boosting potential, but knowing when to hold or redraw a card can make or break your effectiveness in battle.
Divination and Minor Arcana
Divination is a powerful ability in the Astrologian’s toolkit. It increases the damage of all party members and scales based on the type of cards you’ve drawn from your Arcana Deck. Using Divination at key moments during fights, such as raid-wide damage checks or burn phases, can significantly improve the party’s overall performance.
Another powerful mechanic is the Minor Arcana, which allows you to convert a drawn card into a stronger version of itself. This can offer you two new cards: Lord of Crowns, which deals significant AoE damage, or Lady of Crowns, which provides additional healing. These cards are particularly useful for reacting to the evolving needs of a fight.
Diurnal and Nocturnal Sect
Astrologians have access to two distinct healing styles: Diurnal Sect and Nocturnal Sect. These stances change the nature of your healing spells and must be chosen based on your party composition and the specific encounter.
- Diurnal Sect: Focuses on healing over time (HoT) effects. This stance is best suited for encounters where you can anticipate damage and heal preemptively. It works well when paired with jobs like Scholar that excel in shielding.
- Nocturnal Sect: Focuses on shielding and instant healing. This stance is ideal for situations where incoming damage is bursty and you need to prevent your party from being overwhelmed. It also complements White Mages, as it provides a different style of healing.
Choosing the right sect is key to optimizing your healing potential.
Healing and Support Abilities
As a healer, your primary responsibility is to keep your party alive during intense fights. The Astrologian excels in this role with a variety of spells and abilities.
Single-Target Healing
- Benefic: Your basic single-target healing spell. It’s quick and efficient for topping off a single party member.
- Benefic II: A stronger version of Benefic, used for heavier damage scenarios.
- Essential Dignity: A powerful single-target heal that becomes more potent as the target’s HP drops. It has a short cooldown, making it one of the most reliable panic buttons.
Area-of-Effect (AoE) Healing
- Helios: Your go-to AoE healing spell. It provides immediate healing to all nearby party members.
- Aspected Helios: An upgraded version of Helios, providing healing over time (HoT) or shielding depending on your chosen sect.
Regeneration and Shields
- Aspected Benefic: This spell provides either a regenerative HoT or a shield based on your chosen sect. It is essential for both sustained healing in the Diurnal Sect and preemptive shielding in the Nocturnal Sect.
- Collective Unconscious: A powerful area-based ability that provides a regeneration effect and damage reduction. It’s highly effective during periods of intense raid-wide damage.
Essential Buffs and Utilities
- Lightspeed: Reduces cast times for spells, allowing you to quickly react to high-pressure situations. This is invaluable when you need to heal on the move or manage large bursts of incoming damage.
- Celestial Intersection: Provides both healing and shielding, giving you an on-demand response to sudden damage spikes.
- Neutral Sect: One of the most potent abilities in the Astrologian’s kit, Neutral Sect enhances both Diurnal and Nocturnal abilities, providing HoTs and shields simultaneously. It’s perfect for moments of extreme raid damage, offering both proactive and reactive mitigation.
Optimal Card Management and Buff Usage
One of the most challenging aspects of playing an Astrologian is card management. You need to quickly assess which card will be most beneficial and for whom.
Targeting the Right Roles
- Melee DPS: Generally benefit the most from offensive cards like Balance and Arrow due to their high burst damage potential.
- Ranged DPS: Should also receive offensive cards, but they tend to have more consistent damage output, so spreading buffs equally can be important.
- Tanks and Healers: Depending on the situation, defensive cards like Bole may be critical for ensuring survival during heavy damage phases. However, in most situations, tanks and healers will receive less priority compared to DPS when it comes to offensive buffs.
Timing Divination
Using Divination at the correct moment is crucial for maximizing raid damage. You should coordinate with your party to use it during phases where burst damage is most important, such as during Limit Break usage or during enrage timers.
Advanced Tips for Mastering Astrologian
While the basics of the Astrologian are accessible, mastering the job requires practice and attention to detail. Here are some advanced tips to elevate your gameplay.
GCD and OGCD Management
Like most healing jobs, the Astrologian relies heavily on the efficient use of Global Cooldowns (GCD) and Off-Global Cooldowns (OGCD). Spamming healing abilities can cause you to waste MP and lose out on DPS opportunities. Instead, weave OGCD heals like Essential Dignity, Celestial Opposition, and Celestial Intersection between GCD casts to maximize your efficiency.
Stay Flexible with Sects
While many players prefer sticking to one sect, there are scenarios where it’s advantageous to switch between Diurnal and Nocturnal. For example, if your co-healer is a Scholar, you may start in Diurnal but switch to Nocturnal if you notice the raid needs more shielding.
Coordinate with Your Co-Healer
Communication with your co-healer is key to ensuring smooth healing throughout a fight. If both of you use healing-over-time abilities, they can overwrite each other, leading to wasted resources. Make sure you are aware of each other’s healing styles and adjust accordingly.
Conclusion: Becoming a Stellar Astrologian
The Astrologian is one of the most rewarding jobs in Final Fantasy XIV, combining complex mechanics, powerful healing abilities, and strategic buff management. With its ability to shift between healing and shielding, the Astrologian can adapt to any
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