Unlocking the Healing Power: When Does Arcanist Become a Healer in Final Fantasy XIV?
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The core question many aspiring healers ask in Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) is: At what level does the Arcanist class unlock its healing potential? The answer is level 30. Upon reaching level 30 as an Arcanist, you can undertake a quest that will allow you to evolve into either a Scholar (healer) or a Summoner (DPS). It’s a pivotal moment where you choose your path, and for those drawn to the art of healing, the journey to become a Scholar begins.
The Arcanist Foundation
Before delving into the specifics of becoming a Scholar, it’s crucial to understand the basics of the Arcanist class. Arcanist starts as a versatile class that relies on intelligence as its primary stat, utilizing books, grimoires, and picatrix as their weapons. They deal damage through magic, primarily as a DPS, while possessing certain skills that subtly hint at their potential to heal. For the first 30 levels, an Arcanist will typically queue as a DPS class.
The Arcanist’s starting skills offer a taste of both healing and damage dealing, but it’s important to note that before level 30, an Arcanist is NOT considered a dedicated healer in the Duty Finder (the game’s matchmaking system). You CAN heal with a lower-level Arcanist if playing pre-level-30 content with friends.
The Bifurcation: Scholar or Summoner?
Level 30 is a game-changer. Once an Arcanist reaches level 30, they unlock two distinct paths:
- Scholar (Healer): Focuses on shielding, proactive healing, and tactical deployment of their fairy companion, Eos or Selene.
- Summoner (DPS): Transforms into a powerful DPS class with pet management and potent magical attacks.
The choice is yours, and it’s essential to understand the core differences between these roles before making a decision. This decision is not permanent, however! Because of the way jobs work in FFXIV, your character will be able to freely swap between Scholar and Summoner as they continue to level both. This also means leveling one job will automatically level the other.
The Path to Becoming a Scholar
Completing the Arcanist Class Quest
Firstly, ensure you’ve completed your Arcanist level 30 class quest. You can pick this quest up at the Arcanist’s Guild in Limsa Lominsa. This quest is a prerequisite to unlocking both the Scholar and Summoner jobs.
Undertaking the Scholar Job Quest
After completing your Arcanist level 30 class quest, the quest to become a Scholar will become available. Completing this will grant you the Scholar Soul Crystal.
Equipping the Soul Crystal
Once you’ve acquired the Scholar Soul Crystal, simply equip it. Equipping the Soul Crystal transforms you from an Arcanist into a Scholar. This marks the beginning of your journey as a dedicated healer in FFXIV.
Embracing the Scholar Playstyle
Becoming a Scholar is more than just equipping a Soul Crystal. It’s about understanding the job’s unique mechanics and embracing its strategic playstyle. Scholars excel at mitigating damage before it occurs through the use of shields. Scholars also have access to an ethereal fairy companion, Eos or Selene, who provide a constant stream of healing to the party. Effective Scholar gameplay involves mastering these fairy abilities, shielding spells, and reactive healing tools.
Why Level 30 Matters
The level 30 requirement ensures that players have a solid understanding of the game’s basic mechanics and the core gameplay loop before committing to a specific role. It allows players to experience the Arcanist’s initial toolkit, which includes both damage-dealing and healing spells. This gives them a taste of both potential paths and helps them make an informed decision about their future role.
This design is a testament to the thoughtful approach of the game designers at Square Enix, who aim to provide a rewarding and engaging experience for all players. The game encourages experimentation and learning, with systems in place to support players as they explore the various classes and roles available.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Arcanist-Scholar Transition
Can I switch between Scholar and Summoner after level 30?
Yes! One of the beauties of FFXIV’s job system is the ability to switch between jobs on a single character. Once you unlock both Scholar and Summoner, you can freely switch between them by equipping the corresponding Soul Crystal. As you level one, the other will automatically level as well!
What stats are important for Scholar?
The most important stat for Scholar is Mind, which increases your healing magic potency. Additionally, Critical Hit, Determination, and Piety are all useful secondary stats. Critical Hit determines how often your heals critically heal for a higher amount. Determination directly increases the potency of your heals and spells. Piety is a secondary stat that increases your maximum mana.
Is Scholar a difficult healer to play?
Scholar is considered a moderately complex healer. While it has a strong focus on proactive shielding, mastering its oGCD (off-global cooldown) healing and fairy management requires practice and understanding of encounter timelines.
What gear should I prioritize as a Scholar?
As a Scholar, prioritize gear with Mind, Critical Hit, Determination, and Piety. Focus on obtaining gear that maximizes your healing output and provides sufficient mana to sustain your healing efforts.
Can I solo content as a Scholar?
While Scholar is primarily a healer, it can solo some content, especially at higher levels. Utilizing your fairy companion, damage spells, and self-healing capabilities allows you to tackle solo duties and open-world challenges.
How does the fairy work for Scholar?
The fairy companion, Eos or Selene, is an integral part of the Scholar’s toolkit. It provides passive healing, buffs, and can be commanded to use specific abilities. Effective fairy management is crucial for optimizing your healing output.
What is the difference between Eos and Selene?
Eos and Selene are the same fairy, just with different appearances and slightly different passive abilities. Eos has more direct healing potency while Selene focuses on spell speed buffs. Ultimately, it mostly boils down to personal preference, though, since their main actions are identical.
Does Scholar have a strong burst heal?
Scholar does not have a single, incredibly powerful burst heal. Instead, it relies on a combination of shielding, oGCD healing, and fairy support to manage incoming damage. The Scholar relies on effective preparation to avoid damage as much as possible.
How does Scholar compare to other healers in FFXIV?
Scholar is unique in its focus on shielding and fairy management. It excels at proactively mitigating damage, making it a valuable asset in challenging encounters. Each healer has their own strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice depends on personal preference and party composition. According to the article, “Scholar – Has god-tier oGCDs. Of all healers, is the closest to being a must-include for high end content.”
Where can I learn more about advanced Scholar strategies?
Many resources are available for learning advanced Scholar strategies, including online guides, video tutorials, and community forums. Experimenting with different strategies and seeking advice from experienced Scholars is also highly recommended.
Is Scholar a good choice for new players?
Scholar can be a good choice for new players who are interested in healing but prefer a more proactive approach. However, its complexity may be daunting for some beginners. White Mage is often recommended as the easiest healer to start with.
What is the best race for Scholar?
The best race for Scholar depends on your priorities. Races with bonuses to Mind or other relevant stats can provide a slight advantage, but ultimately, race choice is largely aesthetic. The “best” race is the one you enjoy playing the most!
How does gear progression work for Scholar?
Gear progression for Scholar involves acquiring better gear with higher stats through dungeons, trials, raids, and crafting. Prioritize gear that maximizes your healing output and supports your playstyle.
What is the Scholar’s role in a party?
The Scholar’s primary role in a party is to provide healing and shielding to keep allies alive. They also contribute to party damage through damage-over-time (DoT) spells and direct damage attacks.
What expansions are required to play Scholar?
Scholar is available with the base game, A Realm Reborn, and is not tied to any specific expansion.
As you can see, the journey from Arcanist to Scholar is one filled with potential and strategic depth. The transition at level 30 marks a significant step towards mastering the art of healing in Eorzea. Remember that the choice is yours, and both Scholar and Summoner offer unique and rewarding gameplay experiences. The Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org also has a great array of tools for becoming better at gaming!