Dark Knight Job Guide for FFXIV - Endwalker 6.4 (2024)

Last updated on Jun 04, 2024 at 00:00by A Pile of Cats9 comments

Dark Knight is a tank job in Final Fantasy XIV that have harnessed and utilise the power of darkness to becomeparagons of justice, using their greatswords to protect the people of Ishgard. This job can only be played after reaching Ishgard, the maincity of the Heavensward expansion, and completing a short questline in the city after reaching Level 50.

Dark Knight is a greatsword-swinging tank job with a focus on resourcemanagement, burst damage, and proper application of frequent, short-durationdefensive cooldowns.

Offensively, Dark Knight gameplay involves building and spending both Manaand Blood while managing a suite of high-value offensive cooldowns. A skilledDark Knight player can plan ahead to combine their resource dumps for partybuffs to bring out unparalleled burst damage from the tank role.

On the defensive side, Dark Knight's strengths are flexibility and support.While The Blackest Night alone doesn't match the strength ofthe other tanks' short-cooldown mitigation skills on a per-use basis, it getssimilar effectiveness when backed up with Oblation and canbe used nearly twice as often. Furthermore, each use of these actions can beapplied to yourself or to any party member of your choosing. Dark Mindadditionally provides potent mitigation against the very frequent magic damageencountered in trials and raids, and with a shorter cooldown than othercomparable defensives.

This flexibility, along with its stylish aesthetic, make Dark Knight apopular pick both for casual play and hardcore progression.

To unlock Dark Knight, you must reach at least level 50 on any Disciple ofWar or Magic and finish the final story quest of A Realm Reborn, "Before theDawn." Upon entering Ishgard, accept the quest "Our End" from an NPCcalled "Ishgardian Citizen" in The Pillars (X: 13.2, Y: 8.8) to start the DarkKnight job questline.

Dark Knight's job gauge is split into two major parts; the sword-shaped BloodGauge, and the stylized helm of the Darkside Gauge beneath it.

At lower levels, the Blood Gauge consists only of the small icon to the left,which indicates whether Grit is currently active. Onreaching level 62 and unlocking the Blackblood trait, thegauge expands to display how much Blood you have accumulated. Blood is gainedthrough combo GCDs Souleater and Stalwart Soul, and by all GCD actions while Blood Weapon or its upgrade Delirium areactive. Blood can be spent on Bloodspiller forsingle-target damage or Quietus for AoE.

The Darkside Gauge shows the remaining duration of your Darkside buff, which is gained by using Flood of Darkness and Edge of Darkness ortheir upgraded forms Flood of Shadow and Edge of Shadow. Using up the entire shield granted by The Blackest Night causes the small, sword-shaped element tolight up to indicate a free usage of your next Darkside generator. The finalcomponent of the gauge is a red version of the main Darkside Gauge, whichappears when Living Shadow is summoned and tracks the remaining duration.

If you would prefer to watch a video that provides an overview of Dark Knight,feel free to give the video below a watch. The video was provided by Julia Care, amember of the community on The Balance Discord server.

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Hard Slash Lv. 1	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 260.
Syphon Strike Lv. 2	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 220.Combo Action: Hard SlashCombo Potency: 360Combo Bonus: Restores MP
Unleash Lv. 6	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies.
Grit Lv. 10	Instant 2.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Significantly increases enmity generation.Effect ends upon reuse.
Release Grit Lv. 10	Instant 1.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Cancels the effect of Grit.
Unmend Lv. 15	Instant 2.5s	↔ 20y 0y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 150.Additional Effect: Increased enmityAdditional Effect: Reduces the recast time of Shadowstride by 5 seconds
Souleater Lv. 26	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 240.Combo Action: Syphon StrikeCombo Potency: 460Combo Bonus: Restores own HPCure Potency: 300Combo Bonus: Increases Blood Gauge by 20
Flood of Darkness Lv. 30	Instant 1.0s	↔ 10y 10y	MP Cost: 3000.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you.Additional Effect: Grants Darkside, increasing damage dealt by 10%Duration: 30sExtends Darkside duration by 30s to a maximum of 60s.Shares a recast timer with Edge of Darkness.
Blood Weapon Lv. 35	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants 3 stacks of Blood Weapon, each stack increasing Blood Gauge by 10 and restoring MP upon landing weaponskills or spells.Duration: 15sEffect does not stack when hitting multiple targets with a single attack.
Shadow Wall Lv. 38	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces damage taken by 30%.Duration: 15s
Edge of Darkness Lv. 40	Instant 1.0s	↔ 3y 0y	MP Cost: 3000.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 300.Additional Effect: Grants Darkside, increasing damage dealt by 10%Duration: 30sExtends Darkside duration by 30s to a maximum of 60s.Shares a recast timer with Flood of Darkness.
Stalwart Soul Lv. 40	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 120 to all nearby enemies.Combo Action: UnleashCombo Potency: 160Combo Bonus: Restores MPCombo Bonus: Increases Blood Gauge by 20
Dark Mind Lv. 45	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces magic vulnerability by 20%.Duration: 10s
Living Dead Lv. 50	Instant 300.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants the effect of Living Dead.When HP is reduced to 0 while under the effect of Living Dead, instead of becoming KO'd, your status will change to Walking Dead.Living Dead Duration: 10sAdditional Effect: Restores HP with each weaponskill successfully delivered or spell castCure Potency: 1500While under the effect of Walking Dead, most attacks will not lower your HP below 1. If, before the Walking Dead timer runs out, an amount of HP totaling your maximum HP is restored, the effect will change to Undead Rebirth. If this amount is not restored, you will be KO'd.Walking Dead Duration: 10sWhile under the effect of Undead Rebirth, most attacks will not lower your HP below 1.Undead Rebirth Duration: Time remaining on Walking Dead
Salted Earth Lv. 52	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 5y	Creates a patch of salted earth at your feet, dealing unaspected damage with a potency of 50 to any enemies who enter.Duration: 15s
Shadowstride Lv. 54	Instant 30.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Rush to a targeted enemy's location.Maximum Charges: 2Cannot be executed while bound.
Abyssal Drain Lv. 56	Instant 60.0s	↔ 20y 5y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 240 to target and all enemies nearby it.Additional Effect: Restores own HPCure Potency: 200Additional Effect: Restores MPShares a recast timer with Carve and Spit.
Carve and Spit Lv. 60	Instant 60.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers a threefold attack with a potency of 510.Additional Effect: Restores MPShares a recast timer with Abyssal Drain.
Bloodspiller Lv. 62	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 580.Blood Gauge Cost: 50
Quietus Lv. 64	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 240 to all nearby enemies.Blood Gauge Cost: 50
Delirium Lv. 68	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants 3 stacks of Delirium and Blood Weapon.Delirium Effect: Changes Bloodspiller to Scarlet Delirium and Quietus to ImpalementDuration: 15sBlood Weapon Effect: Each stack increases Blood Gauge by 10 and restores MP upon landing weaponskills or spellsDuration: 15sEffect does not stack when hitting multiple targets with a single attack.
The Blackest Night Lv. 70	Instant 15.0s	↔ 30y 0y	MP Cost: 3000.0 Creates a barrier around self or target party member that absorbs damage totaling 25% of target's maximum HP.Duration: 7sGrants Dark Arts when barrier is completely absorbed.Dark Arts Effect: Consume Dark Arts instead of MP to execute Edge of Shadow or Flood of Shadow
Edge of Shadow Lv. 74	Instant 1.0s	↔ 3y 0y	MP Cost: 3000.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 460.Additional Effect: Grants Darkside, increasing damage dealt by 10%Duration: 30sExtends Darkside duration by 30s to a maximum of 60s.Shares a recast timer with Flood of Shadow.
Flood of Shadow Lv. 74	Instant 1.0s	↔ 10y 10y	MP Cost: 3000.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 160 to all enemies in a straight line before you.Additional Effect: Grants Darkside, increasing damage dealt by 10%Duration: 30sExtends Darkside duration by 30s to a maximum of 60s.Shares a recast timer with Edge of Shadow.
Dark Missionary Lv. 76	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 30y	Reduces magic damage taken by self and nearby party members by 10%.Duration: 15s
Living Shadow Lv. 80	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Conjure a simulacrum of your darkside to fight alongside you.Duration: 20sAdditional Effect: Grants ScornDuration: 30sSimulacrum Attack Potency: 420Additional Effect: Simulacrum is able to execute Shadowbringer and DisesteemShadowbringer Potency: 570 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemiesDisesteem Potency: 620 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemies
Oblation Lv. 82	Instant 60.0s	↔ 30y 0y	Reduces damage taken by target party member or self by 10%.Duration: 10sMaximum Charges: 2
Salt and Darkness Lv. 86	Instant 20.0s	↔ 0y 0y	All enemies standing in the corrupted patch of Salted Earth take additional unaspected damage with a potency of 500 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.
Shadowbringer Lv. 90	Instant 60.0s	↔ 10y 10y	Deals unaspected damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.Maximum Charges: 2Can only be executed while under the effect of Darkside.
Shadowed Vigil Lv. 92	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces damage taken by 40%.Duration: 15sAdditional Effect: Grants VigilantDuration: 20sVigilant Effect: Restores HP when HP falls below 50% or upon effect duration expirationCure Potency: 1,200
Comeuppance Lv. 96	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 700.Combo Action: Scarlet DeliriumAdditional Effect: Restores MPCan only be executed while under the effect of Delirium.※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.※Scarlet Delirium changes to Comeuppance when requirements for execution are met.
Impalement Lv. 96	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 320 to all nearby enemies.Additional Effect: Restores MPCan only be executed while under the effect of Delirium.※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.※Quietus changes to Impalement when requirements for execution are met.
Scarlet Delirium Lv. 96	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 600.Additional Effect: Restores MPCan only be executed while under the effect of Delirium.※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.※Bloodspiller changes to Scarlet Delirium while under the effect of Delirium.
Torcleaver Lv. 96	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 800.Combo Action: ComeuppanceAdditional Effect: Restores MPCan only be executed while under the effect of Delirium.※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.※Comeuppance changes to Torcleaver when requirements for execution are met.
Disesteem Lv. 100	Instant 2.5s	↔ 10y 10y	Deals physical damage to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 800 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies.Can only be executed while Scorn is active.

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Rampart Lv. 8	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces damage taken by 20%.Additional Effect: Increases HP recovery via healing actions on self by 15%Duration: 20s
Low Blow Lv. 12	Instant 25.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Stuns target.Duration: 5s
Provoke Lv. 15	Instant 30.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Gesture threateningly, placing yourself at the top of a target's enmity list while gaining additional enmity.
Interject Lv. 18	Instant 30.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Interrupts the use of a target's action.
Reprisal Lv. 22	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 5y	Reduces damage dealt by nearby enemies by 10%.Duration: 15s
Arm's Length Lv. 32	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects.Duration: 6sAdditional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struckDuration: 15s
Shirk Lv. 48	Instant 120.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Diverts 25% of enmity to target party member.

Action Name	Acquired	Effect
Tank Mastery	Lv. 1	Reduces damage taken by 20%. Furthermore, grants a bonus to maximum HP based on your vitality attribute, and a bonus to damage dealt based on your strength attribute.
Blackblood	Lv. 62	Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation upon the landing of certain actions.
Enhanced Blackblood	Lv. 66	Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation upon the landing of any weaponskill or spell while under the effect of Blood Weapon.
Blood Weapon Mastery	Lv. 68	Upgrades Blood Weapon to Delirium.
Darkside Mastery	Lv. 74	Upgrades Flood of Darkness and Edge of Darkness to Flood of Shadow and Edge of Shadow respectively.
Enhanced Unmend	Lv. 84	Reduces recast time of Shadowstride by 5 seconds when executing Unmend on most targets.
Melee Mastery	Lv. 84	Increases the potency of Hard Slash to 180, Syphon Strike to 120, and Souleater to 140.
Enhanced Living Shadow	Lv. 88	Increases the potency of attacks dealt by your simulacrum to 420.
Enhanced Living Shadow II	Lv. 90	Upgrades Flood of Shadow executed by your simulacrum to Shadowbringer, which delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before it with a potency of 570 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemies.
Shadow Wall Mastery	Lv. 92	Upgrades Shadow Wall to Shadowed Vigil.
Melee Mastery II	Lv. 94	Increases the potency of Hard Slash to 260, Syphon Strike to 220, Souleater to 240, Stalwart Soul to 120, Bloodspiller to 580, and Quietus to 240.
Enhanced Delirium	Lv. 96	Upgrades Bloodspiller and Quietus to Scarlet Delirium and Impalement respectively.
Enhanced Living Shadow III	Lv. 100	Grants the effect of Scorn after executing Living Shadow. Duration: 30s Additionally upgrades Carve and Spit executed by your simulacrum to Disesteem, which delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before it with a potency of 620 for the first enemy, and 25% less for all remaining enemies.

The pious Ishgardian clergy guide the flock, and the devout knights protectthe weak. Yet even the holiest of men succumb to the darkest of temptations.

None dare to administer justice to these sacrosanct elite residing outsidethe reach of the law. Who, then, defends the feeble from the transgressions ofthose meant to guide and protect them?

A valiant few take up arms to defend the downtrodden, and not even the holypriests and knights can escape their judgment. Pariahs in their own land, theyare known by many as “Dark Knights.”