Final Fantasy XIV is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) set in the universe of Final Fantasy XIV. With so many classes available to choose from, how do you know which one best suits your play style? For today’s article, we’ll be focusing on the Marauder class. Here’s what you need to know about the Marauder class on your Final Fantasy XIV account.

Marauders are combat specialists whose weapon of choice is the great axe—a fearsome arm long associated with Eorzea’s pirates. Their approach to battle is one of brute force, as they rely on pure strength and good steel to crush enemies and sunder weapons. They are highly sought after for their ferocity and intimidating presence, and are often employed to hunt down monsters plaguing the land or to turn the tide of battle between warring nations. Skilled marauders have been known to take on entire packs of slavering beasts and emerge with little more than a few scrapes and bruises.”

In other words, Marauders are the kind of like the juggernaut type on your FFXIV account. We’ll discuss that further below.

Marauder Class Introduction
The Marauder is a physical, melee combat specialist that relies on solid strength to pulverize enemies. Marauders wear plate and mail armor, and the most important stat for them is vitality, which increases the character’s maximum health points (HP). As a Disciple of War class, the Marauder specializes in great axes, and that means, you can only use great axes as a Marauder on your Final Fantasy XIV account The Marauder’s Guild is located in the marine city of Limsa Lominsa.

If you choose Marauder as your first class, you will start off in the city of Limsa Lominsa. The Marauder can acquire the job Warrior at level 30 if he or she also has level 15 in the gladiator class.

Marauder Class Gameplay Mechanics
First of all, the Marauder is a tanky class, but it doesn’t exactly play like one as you would expect. Usually, tanks have high defenses but have low or average damage output. The Marauder is a unique variation to the tank archetype, as it is able to dish out a considerably high damage mitigation while not compromising its general defenses. Compared to other damage-type classes however, you would be doing less damage, but you’ll last longer in battles. So if you want to be tanking waves of enemies and dealing damage at the same time, then perhaps the Marauder class is for you.

Remember that vitality equals your health, which equals your damage mitigation. Marauders tank by colliding head-on with enemies, relying on life leech and healers to keep their health up. Focus on getting your health up as a Marauder for you to stay on the battlefield for a much longer time than the other classes.

Marauder Class Skills and Abilities
Heavy Swing is your first basic attack. You’ll use it throughout as it’s your combo opener. Foresight gives damage reduction for 20 seconds, for tanking waves of enemies. Skull Sunder is the second part of the combo with Heavy Swing. Fracture is used for additional damage. Bloodbath converts 25% of your damage into healing, useful while tanking and while soloing and fighting tough mobs. Brutal Swing stuns targets and prevents them from casting spells. Overpower is an AoE taunt. Tomahawk is your first ranged attack, basically used to pull. Maim is a combo after Heavy Swing that increases damage by 20% for 18 seconds. Berserk increases attack power by 50% for 15 seconds. After the 15 seconds, however, you can’t use weapon skills anymore. It locks your skills for 5 seconds, but gives you 50% more damage for 15 seconds which means you’ll do more total damage, while losing control for 5 seconds. Mercy Stroke is a finisher that deals a ton of damage if a target is below 20%. If you finish an enemy with this skill, you’ll gain 20% of your health back. Thrill of Battle increases maximum HP by 10% and restores the amount increased. Storm’s Path converts 50% of the damage done is healed as health, but it’s a combo after Maim. Holmgang roots both you and your target, to keep them from running away. Vengeance causes you to auto-attack for 15 seconds with a mild attack. Finally, Storm’s Tip follows Maim and deals a large amount of damage when it hits. It also decreases slashing resistance and prevents regeneration via curing magic by 50%.