FFXIV Stormblood: How to Play as a Samurai – Basic Beginner Tips for Starting Out
The Samurai in FFXIV utilizes a new gauge known as the Sen Gauge. This gauge displays which of 3 Sen effects are accumulated. The three attacks that fill up the Sen gauge are Kasha, Gekko, and Yukiaze. You’ll need to do one of each (not just the same one over and over) to fully charge the gauge. As you fill up the Sen gauge, you’ll power up a weaponskill known as Iaijutsu which unleashes an attack depending on how many Sen effects you currently have.
In some cases, you’ll want to go straight for the first Iaijutsu skill, Higenbana, to apply a powerful damage over time skill on the enemy. In a crowd of enemies, you might opt for weaponskill that requires two Sen effects, Tenka Goken, which does powerful area of effect damage in a cone in front of you. Finally, for a powerful single attack, charge up all three and unleash Midare Setsugekka, which has a potency of 720. Although it might be temping to go straight for Midare Setsugekka, keep in mind that in certain situations going for the other two first will be a better use of your DPS. Also worth mentioning is that Yukiaze applies a slashing down debuff to the enemy, which will likely be effective towards the start of your rotation.
Finally, some other skills worth mentioning are Third Eye, which decreases damage dealt to you for a short amount of time (help out those healers!), and your level 50 skill, Meikyo Shisui. Meikyo Shisui is a very powerful ability that allows you to use any three weaponskill for maximum benefit without the need of using pre-requisite skills. Use it wisely to pile on the DPS and quickly charge up your Sen Gauge if needed.
Certainly as you level up, more complex skills will be added to your bar, and your rotation will take shape as you reach level 70. For now though, these beginner tips should at least give you an idea on how to play the job at its most basic level.
That does it for how to unlock Samurai in FFXIV: Stormblood along with beginner tips to get you started. Best of luck out there in Ala’Mihgo!
