FFXIV Dancer (DNC) Basics Guide & FAQs – Shadowbringers Updated!

Shadowbringers Updated! A guide on the basics of Dancer! DNC unlocking & requirements, why play a Dancer, and other FAQ’s

MIN & BTN Leveling Guides updated. Other notes...

Botanist Leveling to 90, as well as Miner Leveling to 90 are updated for the Endwalker tier. Older tiers needs some fixing, although I modernized what I could quickly – I placed the important notes on the top of the aforementioned guides reflecting the major things that you need to take note of.

I will post a personal update soon, for those that are curious…

Dreaming about being a Dancer? Don’t despair, you’ll discern much about the DNC job here! Basic information and FAQs in our FFXIV Dancer Basics Guide. Read on if you’re expecting to learn about unlocking DNC, Dancer Job Identity, trait and skill list, crafters and gatherers related to DNC, and link to other important Dancer info!

Dancer is a Ranged Physical DPS job, and one of two jobs released in 5.0 Shadowbringers (with Gunbreaker). DNC’s were preceded by Machinist and Bard respectively as Ranged Physical DPS jobs.

How to become a Dancer? Unlocking DNC:

Unlock and become a Dancer by doing the quest, “Shall we Dance”, which is found at Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks (NPC: Eager Lominsan). The only requirement is having a level 60 Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic leveled. 

Unlike the Heavensward classes, I’m almost certain you can rush into using DNC once you have the level requirement – and NOT required to be “at” Shadowbringers tier content. 

Note that, upon completing the quest you MUST EQUIP the “Soul of the Dancer” to actually formally BECOME a DNC.

Rushing to or want to know how to unlock a certain class? Learn more:
FFXIV Job Unlock & Requirements Guide.

Dancer Playstyle & DNC Job Identity

If you’ve asked yourself, “Why play, try, or choose Dancer?” – here’s my attempt at selling you the DNC class.

Dancers are probably the least busy DPS class IMO. Being ranged and mobile takes a lot of strain out of resolving mechanics.  Their rotation is mainly based on procs, and isn’t too complex. They also have a cool dance mini game baked into the kit. If you’re a newer player, DNC is definitely a job to consider.

In a meta aspect,They do have quite a bit of supportive skills (both offensive and defensive), and even a small AoE heal. Dancer DPS will likely never be stellar though…

Aesthetically and thematically, FFXIV’s Dancer is pretty sweet – they pay good homage to Final Fantasy’s Dancers of the past. The whole Chakrams, Fans, and flowy dresses are undoubtedly a little on the feminine side, so that means you’re going male Roe aren’t ya?

DISCLAIMER

DISCLAIMER: This is not meant to be a blurb that aligns with the current meta. That changes from patch to patch. Our goal here is to provide you with an idea of what the job is trying to be, getting cues from both the Developers’ concrete decisions on job design, as well as our own feedback.

What Crafters & Gatherers should Dancer level?

While it’s common in MMORPG’s to think you want to craft your own gear as you level up your DNC… I DO NOT RECOMMEND IT.

Leveling up your DoH and DoL jobs should be thought of as a different activity completely. To be honest, if you’re a newer player, simply ensure that you DO NOT OVERCAP Levequests (always have less than 100).

The only relation a combat job has to a crafter or gatherer class is “which classes do you need to repair your gear”? My advice, ultimately, is pretty much all or nothing – level up all DoH classes in tandem. As a separate project, level up all DoL classes in tandem (with the optional Fisher).

Related Dancer Guides – Read More!

Here are a few useful links for you:

Upcoming Odds and Ends

Here’s a few things we’ll be adding on here in the near future:

  • Adding a “links to further resources”, we’re doing a site restructure so once those links are set, they’ll go in here.
  • Human-readable, newbie-friendly skill and trait list.
    > I used to have the in-game skill list here, but I found it useless as the in-game one is better… I’d rather have a new player friendly rundown.
  • More descriptive job identity? Pics?
    > I dunno… pictures of the job gauges? A gif of some flashy skills?
  • Feel free to suggest anything else via comment or socials!

Summary & Outro

Well that’s about it for a really, really basic guide that hopefully points some lost souls in the right direction, or answers some of your questions regarding Dancer.


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FFXIV Dancer L60+ Rotation for leveling

So you’re a fresh Dancer and plopped into this world without a clue. Fear not! Our Dancer L60 & Leveling Rotation guide should help you get into the basic meat of things!

If you’re looking for a list of skills, check our Dancer General Guide, or preferably… your own skill list. Dancer enters the world with the following number of actions, all of which we will account for:

  • FIFTEEN Job actions
  • SIX Role actions

L60+ Dancer Leveling Rotation: Navigation
L60 Rotation Summary | L60 Skills explained | L60+ skills, and rotation effect.

Dancer L60 Rotation Summary

Here we discuss the single target rotation, AoE rotation, and cooldown usage of Dancer. If you need a skill by skill explanation and protips, it’s in the next section.

REMEMBER TO ALWAYS DESIGNATE A DANCE PARTNER!!!!

L60 Dancer Single Target Rotation

It would help to imagine Dancer’s L60 rotation as short combos that give you procs. Your skills have a “priority” system to put it SIMPLY.

 Your basic rotation loop looks something like this:

  1. Cascade > Fountain until you get any procs.
  2. Reverse Cascade and Fountainfall used ASAP, hoping for a Fourfold Feather.
  3. Have Feathers? Use Fan Dance in between GCD’s.
  4. Standard Step is up? Use it. It’s a huge nuke +Damage up buff.

But when thinking of it in a priority system it looks like this:

  1. Standard Step
  2. OGCD Fan Dances
  3. Reverse Cascade and Fountainfall procs
  4. Cascade into Fountain basic combo spam.

L60 Dancer AoE Rotation

This is essentially a mirror of the single target rotation, just using different skills.

Your basic AoE rotation loop looks something like this:

  1. Windmill > Bladeshower praying for procs.
  2. Rising Windmill and BLOODshower used ASAP hoping for Fourfold Feather.
  3. Have Feathers? Use Fan Dance II in between GCD’s.
  4. Standard Step is up? Use it. It’s a huge nuke +Damage up buff.

AoE rotation priority thought process:

  1. Standard Step
  2. OGCD Fan Dance II
  3. Rising Windmill & Blood Shower procs
  4. Windmill into Bladeshower basic AoE combo spam.

It all seems a little weird at first but it’s quite intuitive after a little while.

Dancer L60 skill by skill explanation and binding tips

Here, we bind your actions and help you understand them
IN THE ORDER THEY APPEAR.

Job ActionsRole Actions

If you need it, we have a skill table at Dancer General Guide.

Cascade – Your basic attack. For all intents and purposes is the “1” binding. You’ll be pressing this a lot. It combos into two possible branches so keep that into consideration. Part of your ‘dance step’ binds too.

Fountain – Your basic combo link from cascade. “2” binding. Part of your ‘dance step’ binds too.

Windmill – An AoE mirror of your basic attack. It’s the first skill in your AoE combo. This also has two possible branches. Part of your ‘dance step’ binds too. While I would usually recommend this to your defaul ‘AoE’ buttons, there are dance steps to consider (read the next skill).

Standard Step (short cooldown) – Heavy single target attack. Transforms your basic combos (Cascade, Fountain, Windmill, and Blade Shower) into “Dance Steps”. Meaning you should be very comfortable pressing any of these 4 skills in any order as your dances will use these skills as “steps” like a rhythm game. Also gives a damage up buff!

Reverse Cascade – a chance to combo from your basic combo Cascade, which has a chance to gain you a Fourfold Feather.

Blood Shower – the continuation of your AoE combo from Windmill. The final part of possible dance step binds.

Fan Dance – Use up a Fourfold Feather to deal single target damage. You can think of it as a “possible endpoint for your chance based combo”.

En Avant (short cooldown) – A dashing movement skill that does no damage. Bind it comfortably!

Curing Waltz (cooldown) – Double AoE cure centered around you and your dance partner. Very useful, and shouldn’t be hard to press.

Shield Samba (long cooldown) – Magic AoE dampening effect for your party. Very useful in raids, but it’s long cooldown suggest a further keybinding.

Closed Position (short cooldown) – designate a party member as your dance partner. You wont change this up very often mid-fight unless you’re a tryhard of the highest level (aligning dance partners to DPS cooldowns). Shouldn’t be too hard to click though, as you should redesignate a dance partner in the untimely death of your current one.

I’ll loosely discuss these Ranged DPS Role Actions in relation to Dancer.

Second Wind (Long cooldown): A heavy self-heal that can literally save your life in raids. I would bind it somewhere in the “6-7” tier. Not pressed too often, but should never be out of reach.

Peloton: A luxury skill that’s useful to walk faster out of combat in dungeons, towns, or the world map. Clicking this is fine.

Arm’s Length (Long cooldown): A very niche skill for Dancer, clicking this should be fine as you will very rarely find Raids wherein this is useful, and even then only a minimal amount of times in a fight.

Head Graze: Can be very useful in dungeons and some raids, tho very rarely still. It’s good to get used to this, and you may need to find space in your binding for it. But, almost every other class can interrupt too… It’s a tough call. Maybe click on it until your group needs it badly.

Leg Graze, Foot Graze: Are barely used outside of soloing. I wouldn’t put a specific Binding to these that you would be hassled for. Clicking would suffice.

Dancer L60+ How new skills affect rotation

I’ll add to this very soon.

WELL THATS IT FOR NOW. I’ll definitely be adding information. Good luck wrangling your Fresh L60+ Dancer Leveling Rotation!!!!

FFXIV Ranged DPS Role Actions: Guide & FAQ (Shadowbringers UPDATED)

All you need to know about Healer Role Actions in FFXIV, the replacement for cross-class skills!

Here’s quick  guide about Physical Ranged DPS Role Actions! Shadowbringers has brought yet another update to the Role Actions system (previously the cross-class skills system). This time around, we no longer have to choose – and have access to all Role Actions!

(As a note, people informally refer to these classes as “Ranged”)

What Jobs get the Physical Ranged Role Actions?

Job Classes

Bard (BRD)
Machinist (MCH)
Dancer (DNC)

Base Classes 

Archer (ARC)

Ranged DPS Role Actions – Navigation:
Ranged Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Ranged DPS Role Actions list

LevelActionDescriptionCastRecastDuration
6Leg GrazeAfflicts target with Heavy +40% for 10s.Instant3010
8Second WindRestore own HP, scales with attack power.
Cure Potency: 500
Instant120-
10Foot GrazeBinds target for 10s.Instant3010
20PelotonIncreases out of combat movespeed for nearby party members.Instant530
24Head GrazeInterrupts the use of a target's action.Instant30-
32Arm's LengthIgnore most position altering effects for 5s. Cause Slow +20% for 15s when struck.Instant1206(15)

Ranged DPS Role Actions: Quick Strategy & Discussion

Here we talk a little bit about each of the role actions, and their applications.

Leg Graze & Foot Graze

Mostly useful while soloing. This very very VERY becomes useful in raids. If it does, don’t fret not binding these skills as they aren’t commonly used anyway. Heavy and Bind really don’t come up very often in hardcore content.

The usefulness of Bind (and to a lesser extent Heavy) while questing is amazing!

Second Wind

Can save your life in raids when expertly used. Learn how to use it well! Never bad to have a self-heal while soloing too, of course.

Note: As a healer main there are very few instances where Second Wind ACTUALLY helps. It’s great for when you accidentally took a hit before a damaging mechanic. Ask your healers about it!

Head Graze

Interrupts are rarely used in raids, but very important when they are. Being a ranged character, it’s usually you or the tank who is responsible for it. Don’t sweat binding to a useful button, as it doesn’t come up very often.

Peloton

A great little luxury skill to speed up dungeon runs in between pull and all non-combat walking in general. Godlike for questing and moving around in town, haha.

Arm’s Length

A very niche skill to cheese some raid encounters. Don’t worry about binding this (I would click it), as it really is quite rare. Remember this skill each time a knockback happens in a raid, and imagine how it could be most useful.

Ranged DPS Role Actions – Navigation:
Ranged Role Actions List | Role Actions Uses & Discussion

Well, that’s about it for Ranged DPS Role Actions! FOR NOW! I’ll be adding to this soon.

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