TL;DR
- Maintain Surging Tempest constantly and never let Beast Gauge cap at 100
- Use Inner Release every 120 seconds for maximum burst damage
- Prioritize Critical Hit > Direct Hit > Determination in your materia builds
- Alternate defensive cooldowns and save Bloodwhetting for consistent healing
- Practice opener timing on dummies before attempting in real content

Ever watched a Warrior shrug off lethal blows and thought, “How do they stay alive while their axe keeps spinning?” Stick with me. I main this job, raid every tier, and spend too much time theory-crafting on dummies. Read on and you’ll learn the rhythm of Warrior tanking, the rotations that crank out damage, and the gear that pushes your stats into the sweet spot. When you finish, you’ll feel ready to jump into Savage, tackle an Ultimate, or just lead roulettes without sweating.

Warrior in One Glance – Why Pick the Axe?

Warrior combines massive self-sustain with straightforward execution. The job excels at turning incoming damage into healing opportunities while maintaining impressive damage output. Its toolkit feels like having a personal healer built into your rotation, making it incredibly forgiving for newcomers while offering depth for veterans seeking optimal performance.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Role | Tank (Fending armor, Vitality mains) |
| Resource | Beast Gauge (0–100) |
| Core Combo | Heavy Swing → Maim → Storm’s Path (gauge + heal) or Storm’s Eye (20% dmg buff) |
| Signature Skills | Inner Release, Bloodwhetting, Holmgang |
| Playstyle | Heavy burst every 120s, endless sustain, simple upkeep |
| Party Value | Strong raid shield (Shake It Off) and fast gap closer |
What makes Warrior truly special is its accessibility ceiling. New players can survive most content with basic rotation knowledge, while hardcore raiders can squeeze out every ounce of DPS through precise timing and resource management. The job’s self-healing capabilities reduce healer burden significantly, allowing more aggressive playstyles in both dungeons and raids.
Common beginner mistakes include letting the Beast Gauge overcap, forgetting to use Bloodwhetting on cooldown, and mismanaging Inner Release timing. Master these fundamentals, and you’ll already outperform 80% of Warriors in casual content.
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Core Rotations – Slice, Swing, Smash
Warrior’s combat flow revolves around three core principles: maintaining buffs, managing the Beast Gauge, and executing burst windows. The rotation feels natural once you understand that Storm’s Eye is your priority buff, Storm’s Path builds gauge and provides healing, and Fell Cleave/Inner Chaos spend that gauge for massive damage.
Single-Target Priority
| Step | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keep Surging Tempest active (use Storm’s Eye) | 20% personal damage buff, lasts 30s |
| 2 | Fill Beast Gauge (Storm’s Path finisher) | Adds 20 gauge and small self-heal |
| 3 | Spend gauge | Fell Cleave (50) or Inner Chaos (Infuriate) |
| 4 | Pop Inner Release every 120s | Three free Cleaves + Primal Rend |
| 5 | Weave Upheaval (30s CD) | Free potency; use on cooldown |
| 6 | Spend Onslaught charges | Mobility or burst filler – never cap |
Never let your Beast Gauge sit at 100 – every point wasted is potential damage lost. A common mistake is using Storm’s Path when Surging Tempest is about to expire. Always prioritize refreshing your buff over gauge generation, even if it means delaying a Fell Cleave by one GCD.
Two-Minute Burst Opener
| Timeline | GCD / oGCD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| -03s | Infuriate | Pre-pull for 50 gauge |
| 0s | Heavy Swing | Pull; weave potion + Inner Release |
| 2s | Maim + Upheaval | Keep buffs rolling |
| 4s | Storm’s Eye (Tempest) | Gauge at ~100 |
| 6s | Fell Cleave (free) + Infuriate | First crit |
| 8s | Fell Cleave (free) + Onslaught | Second crit |
| 10s | Inner Chaos | Massive hit |
| 12s | Primal Rend | End of burst |
| 14s | Resume Path/Eye loop | Build for next window |
Timing is everything in this opener. Missing the weave window for Inner Release or Upheaval can cost you significant DPS. Practice this sequence on a striking dummy until it becomes muscle memory. Remember that latency can affect your timing – if you’re playing with high ping, consider slightly adjusting your weave windows.
AoE Flow for Big Pulls
| Condition | Action | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 3+ mobs | Overpower → Mythril Tempest loop | Tempest applies buff to you |
| Gauge at 50+ | Decimate | Hits everything around you |
| Infuriate up | Chaotic Cyclone | Stronger Decimate |
| 30s CD | Orogeny | AoE version of Upheaval |
| Movement | Use Onslaught (line AoE) | Saves sprint |
For maximum efficiency in dungeons, pull multiple packs together when possible. Bloodwhetting’s healing scales with the number of enemies hit, making it incredibly potent during large pulls. Don’t be afraid to use Holmgang aggressively in dungeons – the shorter cooldown compared to raid content allows for more liberal usage.
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Tanking Fundamentals – Hold Hate, Stay Upright
Enmity Basics
Enmity management is crucial but straightforward for Warriors. With Defiance active, your threat generation is naturally high, but proper opener execution ensures you never lose aggro. The key is understanding that Tomahawk generates initial threat, while your combo finishers maintain it through consistent damage.
| Stance | Impact |
|---|---|
| Defiance: ON | +Enmity; use in dungeons and while main-tanking |
| Defiance: OFF | Normal enmity; swap when not tanking to avoid yo-inking boss |
When pulling multiple enemies, lead with Tomahawk on the furthest target, then immediately use Overpower to establish area threat. If a DPS pulls aggro on a stray mob, use Provoke followed by a single-target combo to secure it permanently. Never underestimate the importance of positioning – keeping enemies grouped allows your Overpower to hit everything and makes AoE healing more effective.
Cooldown Toolbox
| Skill | CD | Effect | Use It When… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rampart | 90s | -20% damage (20s) | Auto-attack phases, trash pulls |
| Vengeance | 120s | -30% (15s) + thorns | Tank buster or big pull |
| Thrill of Battle | 90s | +20% HP + self-heal | Pre-buster HP pad |
| Equilibrium | 60s | Instant heal + HoT | Post-buster top-up |
| Bloodwhetting | 25s | 8s self-heal + shield | Use on cooldown when tanking |
| Nascent Flash | 25s | Ally heal + 10% DR | Support co-tank |
| Shake It Off | 90s | Party shield + regen | Raid-wide AoE |
| Reprisal | 60s | -10% enemy damage (10s) | Boss casts or big pack |
| Holmgang | 240s | Cannot drop below 1 HP (10s) | Lethal mechanics |
| Arm’s Length | 120s | Slow attackers | Large trash pulls |
Advanced cooldown management involves planning several steps ahead. Study fight patterns to know when busters are coming, and don’t be afraid to use your 60-second cooldowns more frequently in dungeons. A common mistake is saving cooldowns for too long – it’s better to use them slightly early and have them available again sooner than to let them sit unused.
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Stat Priority and Materia – Tune the Numbers
| Stat | Priority | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Critical Hit | ★★★★★ | Biggest DPS and self-heal gain |
| Direct Hit | ★★★★☆ | Great with auto-crits under Inner Release |
| Determination | ★★★☆☆ | Flat DPS/HP boost; filler meld |
| Tenacity | ★★☆☆☆ | Tiny DPS, small DR; niche |
| Skill Speed | ★☆☆☆☆ | Only chase if you want faster GCD (2.40) |
Understanding stat breakpoints is crucial for optimal gearing. Critical Hit has diminishing returns after approximately 2800, but remains valuable due to its synergy with Inner Release’s guaranteed crits. Direct Hit becomes more valuable as your Crit increases, creating a snowball effect that significantly boosts your overall damage output.
When melding, always prioritize your weapon first – it provides the largest stat gains per materia slot. For accessories, consider whether you need the extra Vitality from pentamelded tanks accessories or can safely use fending accessories with more offensive stats. In most raid scenarios, the offensive approach yields better results provided your healers are competent.
Food matters more than many players realize. A well-chosen meal can push you over important stat thresholds, potentially adding an extra crit to your Inner Release window. Popular choices include Dhalmel Pie (Crit/Det) and Rabbit Pie (Crit/DH), depending on your current stat distribution.
Gear Path and Best-in-Slot (7.25)
From Fresh 100 to Raid-Ready
| Stage | Target Gear | How to Get It |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 100 | Artifact Set | Job quest chest |
| Step 2 | HQ Crafted or Quetzalli Tomes | Marketboard or hunts/dailies |
| Step 3 | Augmented Historia Tomes | Exchange + upgrade items |
| Step 4 | Arcadion Savage pieces | Clear Cruiserweight tier |
| Flex | FRU Ultimate Axe | Conquer Futures Rewritten |
The gearing process requires strategic planning to optimize your weekly lockouts. Focus on acquiring weapon first, as it provides the largest stat jump. For tome gear, prioritize pieces with the best substat distribution – typically body and legs offer the highest secondary stat totals. Don’t neglect your accessories; a well-melded ring can provide more value than a poorly itemized armor piece.
Current BiS Example
| Slot | Piece | ILvL | Main Substats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Babyface Champion’s Greataxe | 760 | Crit / DH |
| Head | Babyface Champion’s Helm | 760 | Crit / Det |
| Body | Augmented Historia Cuirass | 760 | Crit / DH |
| Hands | Babyface Champion’s Gauntlets | 760 | Crit / Det |
| Legs | Babyface Champion’s Brais | 760 | Crit / DH |
| Feet | Augmented Historia Sollerets | 760 | DH / Det |
| Ring 1 | Babyface Champion’s Ring | 760 | Crit / DH |
| Ring 2 | Augmented Historia Ring | 760 | Crit / Det |
This BiS configuration prioritizes reaching the Crit cap while maintaining balanced DH and Det stats. The mixed Savage/tome approach allows you to hit optimal stat breakpoints without sacrificing too much item level. Remember that BiS is a moving target – future patches may introduce better alternatives, so stay flexible with your gearing strategy.
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Warrior Tips, Tricks, and FAQ
| Question | Fast Answer |
|---|---|
| Survive tough hits? | Pre-plan CDs, pop Bloodwhetting often, keep gear up-to-date. |
| Lose aggro on pulls? | Stance on, Overpower, then Decimates. Provoke strays. |
| Inner Release timing? | Every 120s unless boss untargetable inside that window. |
| Need full BiS? | Not for most duties. BiS only shines in Savage/Ultimate. |
| Dungeon vs. raid tanking? | Dungeons: wall-to-wall + self-heal. Raids: time CDs on busters, share Shake It Off. |
| Practice path? | Dummy rotation → 90-100 dungeons → older Extremes → current tier. |
Advanced players should focus on optimizing their Infuriate usage to align with both Inner Release windows and fight mechanics. Learning to hold Infuriate for specific phases can dramatically increase your damage output. Additionally, mastering the art of weaving oGCDs without clipping your GCDs separates good Warriors from great ones.
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Conclusion
Mastering Warrior requires dedication but rewards players with one of the most satisfying tanking experiences in FFXIV. The job’s blend of self-sufficiency, damage output, and party utility makes it valuable in virtually all content types. Remember that improvement comes gradually – focus on one aspect at a time, whether it’s perfecting your opener, optimizing cooldown usage, or improving your positioning.
Pick up the greataxe, slam that first Fell Cleave, and lead the charge. The party will notice. The boss will feel it. And you’ll wonder why you ever played anything else.
Action Checklist
- Practice basic rotation on striking dummy until Surging Tempest never drops
- Master the 2-minute burst opener with proper oGCD weaving
- Learn optimal cooldown timing for current raid tier’s busters
- Optimize materia melds based on your current gear and stat breakpoints
- Practice wall-to-wall dungeon pulls with proper cooldown usage
- Join a practice party for current Savage tier to apply all concepts
No reproduction without permission:Tsp Game Club » FFXIV Warrior Guide 7.25 – Rotation, BiS Gear & Tank Tips Master FFXIV Warrior tanking with expert rotations, BiS gear, and pro survival strategies
