Does Gunbreaker Have a Gap Closer? A Deep Dive into FFXIV’s Gunblade Wielder

Yes, the Gunbreaker in Final Fantasy XIV absolutely has a gap closer. This ability is called Rough Divide, and it’s a crucial tool in their arsenal for maintaining uptime and maximizing damage. It allows the Gunbreaker to quickly close the distance between themselves and their target, ensuring they can keep the pressure on in any combat situation. Knowing how to utilize Rough Divide effectively is essential for any aspiring Gunbreaker looking to master the job.

Understanding Rough Divide: Gunbreaker’s Mobility Tool

Rough Divide is more than just a way to get close to an enemy. It’s an integral part of the Gunbreaker’s rotation and playstyle. It’s a Weave in your rotation to inflict damage in the middle of a fight. Its proper execution is key to maximizing damage output and contributing effectively to a party. Here’s a more detailed look:

• Functionality: Rough Divide allows the Gunbreaker to dash towards a targeted enemy. This is invaluable for repositioning during fights, catching up to moving targets, or quickly returning to the fray after mechanics.

• Strategic Use: Understanding when to use Rough Divide is critical. Overusing it can lead to being out of position or wasting a valuable cooldown. Ideally, it should be used to maintain uptime on the boss, recover from knockbacks, or quickly switch targets.

• Rotation Integration: While primarily a mobility tool, Rough Divide also deals damage. It should be woven between other weaponskills to optimize DPS, seamlessly integrating movement and offense.

The strategic use of Rough Divide defines a skilled Gunbreaker player. It’s more than just pressing a button; it’s about understanding encounter mechanics, positioning, and optimizing damage output.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Gunbreaker

1. What level do I need to be to unlock Gunbreaker?

To unlock Gunbreaker, you need to have reached level 60 with any Disciple of War job. You also need to own the Shadowbringers expansion. After meeting these requirements, you can start the Gunbreaker questline.

2. Where do I unlock Gunbreaker?

Once you meet the level and expansion requirements, head to God’s Quiver Bow in Central Shroud (X:19, Y:28) and speak to the relevant NPC to begin the Gunbreaker questline.

3. What is Gunbreaker’s playstyle like?

Gunbreaker is a fast-paced, high-damage tank that blends tanking responsibilities with a DPS-like rotation. They use cartridges to execute powerful combos, delivering bursts of damage during specific windows. It’s often described as having a “melee DPS” feel among the tank roles.

4. What are the priority stats for Gunbreaker?

The stat priority for Gunbreaker is generally as follows:

1. Weapon Damage: This is the most important stat.
2. Strength: This is the main stat for tanks.
3. Critical Hit: Increases the chance of dealing critical damage.
4. Skill Speed: Affects the speed of weaponskill casts.
5. Direct Hit: Increases the chance of dealing direct damage.
6. Determination: Increases overall damage output.
7. Tenacity: Reduces damage taken and increases damage dealt.

5. Is Gunbreaker good for PvP?

Gunbreaker can be a strong contender in PvP. Their skills allow them to burst down single targets quickly and deal potent AoE damage, making them effective in team fights.

6. How does Gunbreaker generate cartridges?

Gunbreaker generates cartridges primarily through the use of specific weaponskills and the ability Bloodfest. These cartridges are then spent on powerful combos like the Continuation combo.

7. What is the “No Mercy” buff for Gunbreaker?

No Mercy is a key damage buff for Gunbreaker. It increases the damage you deal, and your main priority is to spend your cartridges during the duration of this buff to maximize your burst damage.

8. Can I play Gunbreaker without the Shadowbringers expansion?

No, you cannot play Gunbreaker without owning the Shadowbringers expansion. The job was introduced with this expansion and requires it to be unlocked.

9. Is Gunbreaker a difficult tank to play?

Gunbreaker is considered to have a higher skill ceiling than some other tanks due to its faster-paced rotation and reliance on timed bursts. However, it is also highly rewarding and engaging, and can be learned with practice. Some players have stated Gunbreaker is if you wanted a tank with the buttons of a melee DPS, but still watered down some.

10. Is there a preferred tank to main in FFXIV?

What is the best tank to main is ultimately subjective. Some prefer Warrior for its simple rotation and self-healing, while others favor Paladin for its utility and strong defensive cooldowns. Dark Knight can be seen as complex, and Gunbreaker offers high damage output with a dynamic rotation.

11. What is the role of a Tank in FFXIV?

The primary role of a Tank in Final Fantasy XIV is to maintain aggro on enemies, protect party members from damage, and strategically mitigate incoming attacks. Tanks must also be aware of positioning and encounter mechanics.

12. What is the Trust System?

The Trust System is a feature in Final Fantasy XIV that allows you to complete Main Scenario dungeons with a party of NPCs instead of other players. It’s a great way to experience the story at your own pace.

13. Is Tank the hardest role in FFXIV?

The difficulty of the Tank role in Final Fantasy XIV depends heavily on the content you are doing. In casual content, tanking is relatively straightforward. However, in high-end content like Savage raids and Ultimate fights, tanking requires a deep understanding of encounter mechanics, precise cooldown management, and excellent communication with the other tank and healers. Ultimately, tanking in these scenarios is often considered among the most challenging roles. IF YOUR NOT DOING SAVAGE/ULTIMATE just play whatever you want, both are optional.

14. Do defensive cooldowns stack?

Ideally you want to alternate between Rampart and Nebula when dealing with tank busters, and you rarely want to stack them as it’ll leave you with fewer options later. A more appropriate option is to stack Camouflage with Rampart, as they share the same duration and same cooldown.

15. What makes FFXIV so unique?

Final Fantasy XIV offers a compelling story, diverse character customization, a robust crafting and gathering system, and a vast amount of end-game content. Its inclusive community and constant updates also contribute to its enduring popularity. Moreover, FFXIV creates a unique sense of community and provides a collaborative experience for players, enabling them to learn together and share their knowledge. Organizations such as the Games Learning Society explore how these immersive gaming experiences can enhance learning and engagement. You can learn more at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Mastering the Gunbreaker

Ultimately, mastering the Gunbreaker in Final Fantasy XIV requires understanding its core mechanics, strategic ability usage, and seamless integration into various combat scenarios. Utilizing Rough Divide effectively is just one aspect of becoming a skilled Gunbreaker, but it’s a crucial one. By continually practicing and refining your gameplay, you can maximize your potential and excel in the role of the gunblade-wielding tank.