FFXIV Gunbreaker (GNB) Basics Guide & FAQs – Shadowbringers Updated!

Shadowbringers Updated! A guide on the basics of Gunbreaker! GNB unlocking & requirements, why play a Gunbreaker, 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…

Good day… going Gunbreaker? If you’re “gunning” to go for the GNB job, you’ll find a gamut of basic information and FAQs in our Gunbreaker Basics Guide. Read on if you’re expecting to learn about unlocking GNB, Gunbreaker Job Identity, trait and skill list, crafters and gatherers related to GNB, and link to other important Gunbreaker info!

Gunbreaker is a Tank job released in 5.0 Shadowbringers, along with the Dancer. GNBs are the fourth tank job in the game, preceded by Dark Knight.

How to become a Gunbreaker? Unlocking GNB:

Unlock and become a Gunbreaker by doing the quest, “The Makings of a Gunbreaker”, which is found at New Gridania (NPC: Gods’ Quiver Bow). 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 GNB 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 Gunbreaker” to actually formally BECOME a GNB.

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

Gunbreaker Playstyle & GNB Job Identity

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

Gunbreakers are “Gunblade” (I assume you’re familiar? You are playing a Final Fantasy game after all!) wielding tanks, that kinda feel like playing a DPS class. They’re on the hectic side of tanks, when it comes to button mashing. Your rotation “revolves” (kek) around loading and spending ammunition.

Known for good DPS despite being tanks, sacrificing a little on the “hardcore defenses”. They’re pretty flexible, with some utility here and there. Make no mistake, though, I feel as if the GNB trademark is their super active playstyle and DPS-like rotation.

Aesthetically and thematically, if you’re a fan of FFVIII’s Squall and Gunblades in general, FFXIV’s Gunbreaker gets pretty close!

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 Gunbreaker level?

While it’s common in MMORPG’s to think you want to craft your own gear as you level up your GNB… 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).

What’s the best race for Gunbreaker?

Racial stats are (was?) a thing. However, I highly recommend not caring about it. The difference in performance between the “best” and “worst” race for you is not even 0.1%.

My advice? Pick for aesthetics. Will you stay the same job forever? If you change mains, will you race change? Ultimately, the difference is so microscopic that I cannot in good faith tell you that racial stats are an integral part of your character.

I won’t even link the Racial Stats Guide, as I haven’t checked up on this in a while – and I don’t want to cement the idea that the “best race” really matters.

Related Gunbreaker Guides – Read More!

Here are s 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 Gunbreaker.

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1 thought on “FFXIV Gunbreaker (GNB) Basics Guide & FAQs – Shadowbringers Updated!”

  1. As a returning player (stopped playing right before Stromblood came out) I find this job fun.
    Used to be a Dragoon all the time – it was fun, but kind of repetitive, I wanted something new. Tried Samurai, but it’s impossible to level up a DPS job without help from FC mates. Gunbreaker is a tank, so you’ll get a “priority pass” into dungeons and instances, which feels great after waiting for 20+ mins every time as a DPS.
    The downside is that being a Tank is demanding: not only do you deal damage to enemies, but you also need to keep in mind that you must keep enemies’ attention on yourself at all times while keeping your mates out of line of enemy attacks. You also have to know your survival mechanics in case the heal is busy or not fast enough. And you have to know the boss mechanics, especially for content that appeared after HW, since there are now elaborate Tank-only boss mechanics, 2-Tank raids, etc.
    The very good part is that when you get better (and get decent gear), you can make almost-solo runs of dungeons. I’ve seen it several times – Tanks taking on bosses solo in AAR & HW dungeons!
    For me, the challenge is welcome, because now I feel like there is more meaning to my actions.

    Have fun!

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