FFXIV Warrior: Endwalker Job changes
Last Updated on: 30th October 2021, 07:57 pm
In the recently live streamed Letter from the Producer LIVE Part 66, numerous details were revealed about the upcoming expansion to the hit MMO Final Fantasy XIV, Endwalker. The Live Letter primarily focused on the changes and adjustments being made to all of the jobs currently in the game and the two new classes. While I’m not a master at every class in the game, I have a baseline knowledge of every class, enough to comment on the most apparent changes. Here’s everything we know about the new FFXIV Warrior!
NOTE: As the Media Tour embargo has lifted, extra info has come out about all jobs. While most of the information is still fairly accurate, I’ll be making a piece per “role” in the game to make note of especially interesting things we couldn’t glean from the Job Actions trailer.
READ MORE: Endwalker Tank changes: new info from the Media Tour
As a disclaimer, all content in the video is technically subject to change, and Naoki Yoshida did mention that not every new trait or action has been shown in the Job Actions trailer. Additionally, my comments are based on a mixture of the content shown and discussed and speculation based on previous job knowledge. Without further ado, let’s get started! Here’s the Job Action Trailer for reference.
Warrior has always been the tank whose goal has been to sponge damage through HP-related mitigation and to hit back HARD. Endwalker’s iteration of the class seems to only further this identity as the most brutal tank through a number of changes related to its offensive and cooldown kits.
The biggest addition to the class appears to be the move used after Inner Release and the Fell Cleave spam phase. As can be seen above, the Warrior makes a massive leap, flips, and crashes its axe down on the enemy. I’d be VERY surprised if this isn’t the hardest hitting move in the job’s toolset now. Additionally, a new action was added where the Warrior puts away the axe to just start decking the enemy a number of times. I’m curious as to where it will fit in the rotation, but the move aesthetically kicks ass.
READ MORE: FFXIV Paladin: Endwalker Job Changes
A new cooldown was featured in which a rock seems to engulf the Warrior and small stones float around it for some time afterwards. While the function isn’t clear yet, many hypothesize it to be a counterattack cooldown as Warrior used to have one back in the day, and many were sad to see it go.
As some quality of life changes, using a gap closer no longer uses Beast Guage, which is just… so nice. Being forced to know one is playing suboptimally while just using a gap closer doesn’t feel fun or rewarding, even to highly skilled players. All other tanks had free gap closers, and now Warrior follows suit.
The addition of damage up effects being added to the AoE combos is one that appears to have extended to Samurai but is a welcome change nonetheless. Being forced to single target to apply buffs, THEN switch to AOE abilities has always felt pretty janky.
READ MORE: FFXIV Dark Knight: Endwalker Job Changes
While these are only the changes that Square Enix has shown off, the FFXIV Warrior appears to have taken its identity of a hyper-aggressive sponge tank to the max with raw-looking moves and appropriate cooldowns. Endwalker can’t come any sooner!
