Stormblood: How to Unlock FFXIV’s Red Mage & Beginner Tips

FFXIV Stormblood: Where and How To Unlock Red Mage

The Red Mage is an exciting new ranged caster class added in Final Fantasy XIV’s second major expansion, Stormblood. The Red Mage combines both White and Black magic to preform powerful attacks and combines all of this with melee strikes as well. However, before we get into more depth about how the Red Mage works, let’s first explain how to even unlock it.

First you must be at least level 50 in a Disciple of War or Magic class and of course have access to the Stormblood expansion. The quest giver is a Distraught Lass found in the Steps of Thal in Ul’Dah at x’14,y’11 and the quest name is “Taking the Red.”

After that, teleport out to Black Brush Station and proceed to the quest marker preferably via some kind of mount to speed things up. Once there, speak to the Well-dressed Lass who is hovering around a Red Mage NPC. After watching the rather bad ass cutscene, speak to the Red-garbed Traveler and then return to where you found the original quest giving NPC in the Steps of Thal. After that, return once again to Black Brush Station, and then ride over to the Coffer & Coffin just a stone’s throw away. Speak to X’rhun Tia twice to complete the quest and unlock the Red Mage soul crystal. Congratulations! You have unlocked the Red Mage in FFXIV alongside a reward of mythrite rapier and a red attire coffer. For some tips to get you started in case you’re completely clueless on how to play, move on over to the second page.

FFXIV Stormblood: How to Play as a Red Mage – Basic Beginner Tips for Starting Out

The Red Mage in FFXIV is a ranged caster that can use both White and Black magic, and melee weaponskills too. Being an effective Red Mage means balancing all three of these attacks. As you attack with White and Black magic spells, you’ll accumulate both white and black mana respectfully.  As a Red Mage, you’ll need to mind a Balance Gauge which displays how much black mana and white mana you have accumulated. You don’t want to overdo it on either otherwise you’ll make it harder to accumulate whichever one you’re currently low in. You want both white and black mana to be as close as possible, eventually building up a critical mass of both which will power up your melee weapon skills such as Riposte, Zwerchhau, and Redoublement.

The end game meta is still settling at the time of this guide, so advanced rotations are still being figured out. However to get you started keep a healthy rotation of both white and black magic attacks (along with keeping your DoT spells on as much as possible). One of your skills, Jolt, can increase both Black and White magic by a small amount as well, so don’t forget to use that. Once you’ve built up 25-30+ of both types of mana, make sure you remember to utilize your enhanced melee weapon skills which are much more powerful in this state.

One important trait to note that you’ll have right at the start of leveling Red Mage is Dualcast, which allows for an immediate use of another spell upon casting one. What you should directly cast after this will depend on the situation, but in general, take it as an opportunity to balance out your black and white mana by following up one with another.

That does it for how to unlock Red Mage in FFXIV along with beginner tips to get you started. Best of luck out there in Ala’Mihgo!