Dragoon Job Guide for FFXIV — Dawntrail 7.0

Dragoon is a relatively strict rotational melee DPS with a slow base rotation coupled with packed, frenetic burst windows. The dragoon wields a lance to utilize a variety of thrusting and jumping maneuvers alongside channeling the power of dragons, utilizing their power for firing off flashy bursts of energy.

Dragoon carries powerful raid utility by way of Battle Litany, which amplifies the party's Critical Hit Rate (not damage) for a short duration every two minutes, increasing potential damage output of the entire raid group. Like other melee dps, Dragoon also brings Feint for additional minor defensive support.

Beyond that, the core rotation focuses on alternating your two main combos - the Chaotic Spring combo for damage-over-time and the Heavens' Thrust combo for raw damage - while weaving in a large amount of powerful jumping and dragon-themed abilities. The basic rotation is simple to play and its "push everything on cooldown" approach to maximization makes it a rather beginner-friendly option among the Melee DPS options.

Strengths

• Straightforward rotation with no randomness.
• Strong raid buff utility.
• High personal DPS.

Weaknesses

• Frenetic, frequent burst windows.
• Opener lacks full burst.
• Only melee that lacks a personal mitigation cooldown.

Dragoon upgrades from one of the starter classes, Lancer, at level 30. If you didn't start as Lancer, you can unlock the class at the Lancer's Guild in Old Gridania (x14.0, y6.0), starting at level 10 by speaking with Jillian.

Once you have reached level 30 as a Lancer and finished all seven class quests, you can return to Jillian to get the quest Eye of the Dragon. Upon completion of this quest, you will obtain the Dragoon job stone, unlocking Jump in the process. Equip the stone from the last tab in your Armoury Chest to become a Dragoon.

The Dragon Gauge tracks a couple of your different mechanics. In the image below, the two large purple elements to the right indicate your Firstminds' Focus. It also shows two phases of the gauge. To the left is the base gauge, and on the right is the Life of the Dragon gauge. From level 60 to 69, prior to learning Nastrond, you will instead enter Blood of the Dragon, which has a blue bar.

The Dragon Gauge changes display based on which actions you use when. In the image below, the giant glowing eye is your Gaze of the First Brood, and the two purple scale-like objects are Firstminds' Focus. It also shows the two phases of the gauge: Blood of the Dragon (left) and Life of the Dragon (right).

The gauge itself is only unlocked at level 60 when you learn Geirskogul. At this level, pressing Geirskogul will enter Blood of the Dragon, a phase lasting for 20 seconds, during which you deal an additional 10% damage with all actions. At level 70, you learn Nastrond and your Blood of the Dragon upgrades into Life of the Dragon, which increases damage by 15% and grants 3 stacks which allow you to execute one Nastrond per stack.

This phase allows the use of the level 80 skill, Stardiver, once you learn it, as well. This skill can be used once per Life phase. Once you hit level 100, you also learn Starcross, which is an action that can only be used after Stardiver and only while within your Life of the Dragon phase.

The other part of the gauge, Firstminds' Focus, is unlocked at level 90. You gain one stack (to a maximum of two) each time you successfully execute either Raiden Thrust or Draconian Fury, both of which act as "rewards" for completing a combo. When your focus is strong enough (two stacks), you can execute one Wyrmwind Thrust, which clears all stacks. Below is a quick link to hop right into the rotation guide to get a better idea of how all of these pieces work together.

We will provide good Dawntrail video resources here as soon as they become available!

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
True Thrust Lv. 1	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 230.
Vorpal Thrust Lv. 4	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 130. Combo Action: True Thrust Combo Potency: 280
Life Surge Lv. 6	Instant 40.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Ensures critical damage for first weaponskill used while Life Surge is active. Duration: 5s Increases damage dealt when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. Effect cannot be applied to damage over time. Additional Effect: Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP Maximum Charges: 2
Piercing Talon Lv. 15	Instant 2.5s	↔ 20y 0y	Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 150.
Disembowel Lv. 18	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: True Thrust Combo Potency: 250 Combo Bonus: Grants Power Surge Power Surge Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% Duration: 30s
Full Thrust Lv. 26	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Combo Action: Vorpal Thrust Combo Potency: 380
Jump Lv. 30	Instant 30.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 320. Returns you to your original position after the attack is made. Additional Effect: Grants Dive Ready Duration: 15s
Lance Charge Lv. 30	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Increases damage dealt by 10%. Duration: 20s
Elusive Jump Lv. 35	Instant 30.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Executes a jump to a location 15 yalms behind you. Cannot be executed while bound.
Doom Spike Lv. 40	Instant 2.5s	↔ 10y 10y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 110 to all enemies in a straight line before you.
Winged Glide Lv. 45	Instant 60.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Rush to a targeted enemy's location. Maximum Charges: 2 Cannot be executed while bound.
Chaos Thrust Lv. 50	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. 140 when executed from a target's rear. Combo Action: Disembowel Combo Potency: 220 Rear Combo Potency: 260 Combo Bonus: Damage over time Potency: 40 Duration: 24s
Dragonfire Dive Lv. 50	Instant 120.0s	↔ 20y 5y	Delivers a jumping fire-based attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 500 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Dragon's Flight Duration: 30s Cannot be executed while bound.
Battle Litany Lv. 52	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 30y	Increases critical hit rate of self and nearby party members by 10%. Duration: 20s
Fang and Claw Lv. 56	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. 180 when executed from a target's flank. Combo Action: Heavens' Thrust Combo Potency: 300 Flank Combo Potency: 340
Wheeling Thrust Lv. 58	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. 180 when executed from a target's rear. Combo Action: Chaotic Spring Combo Potency: 300 Rear Combo Potency: 340
Geirskogul Lv. 60	Instant 60.0s	↔ 15y 15y	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 280 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Life of the Dragon Life of the Dragon Effect: Increases damage dealt by 15% Duration: 20s Additional Effect: Grants 3 stacks of Nastrond Ready Duration: 20s
Sonic Thrust Lv. 62	Instant 2.5s	↔ 10y 10y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Combo Action: Doom Spike Combo Potency: 120 Combo Bonus: Grants Power Surge Power Surge Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% Duration: 30s
Drakesbane Lv. 64	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 440. Combo Action: Wheeling Thrust or Fang and Claw Combo Bonus: Grants Draconian Fire Duration: 30s Can only be executed after successfully landing Wheeling Thrust or Fang and Claw as a combo action. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Wheeling Thrust and Fang and Claw change to Drakesbane when requirements for execution are met.
Mirage Dive Lv. 68	Instant 1.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200. Can only be executed when Dive Ready.
Nastrond Lv. 70	Instant 2.0s	↔ 15y 15y	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 360 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while Nastrond Ready.
Coerthan Torment Lv. 72	Instant 2.5s	↔ 10y 10y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Combo Action: Sonic Thrust Combo Potency: 150 Combo Bonus: Grants Draconian Fire Duration: 30s
High Jump Lv. 74	Instant 30.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 400. Returns you to your original position after the attack is made. Additional Effect: Grants Dive Ready Duration: 15s
Raiden Thrust Lv. 76	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 320. Additional Effect: Sharpens the Firstminds' Focus by 1 Can only be executed while under the effect of Draconian Fire. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※True Thrust changes to Raiden Thrust when requirements for execution are met.
Stardiver Lv. 80	Instant 30.0s	↔ 20y 5y	Delivers a jumping fire-based attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 620 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Starcross Ready Duration: 20s Effect ends when Life of the Dragon expires. Can only be executed while under the effect of Life of the Dragon. Cannot be executed while bound.
Draconian Fury Lv. 82	Instant 2.5s	↔ 10y 10y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 130 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Additional Effect: Sharpens the Firstminds' Focus by 1 Can only be executed while under the effect of Draconian Fire. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Doom Spike changes to Draconian Fury when requirements for execution are met.
Chaotic Spring Lv. 86	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. 180 when executed from a target's rear. Combo Action: Spiral Blow Combo Potency: 300 Rear Combo Potency: 340 Combo Bonus: Damage over time Potency: 45 Duration: 24s
Heavens' Thrust Lv. 86	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: Lance Barrage Combo Potency: 440
Wyrmwind Thrust Lv. 90	Instant 10.0s	↔ 15y 15y	Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 440 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Firstminds' Focus Cost: 2
Rise of the Dragon Lv. 92	Instant 1.0s	↔ 20y 5y	Deals physical damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 550 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Dragon's Flight.
Lance Barrage Lv. 96	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 130. Combo Action: True Thrust Combo Potency: 340
Spiral Blow Lv. 96	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: True Thrust Combo Potency: 300 Combo Bonus: Grants Power Surge Power Surge Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% Duration: 30s
Starcross Lv. 100	Instant 1.0s	↔ 3y 5y	Deals physical damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 700 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Starcross Ready.

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Second Wind Lv. 8	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 800
Leg Sweep Lv. 10	Instant 40.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Stuns target. Duration: 3s
Bloodbath Lv. 12	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Converts a portion of physical damage dealt into HP. Duration: 20s
Feint Lv. 22	Instant 90.0s	↔ 10y 0y	Lowers target's physical damage dealt by 10% and magic damage dealt by 5%. Duration: 15s
Arm's Length Lv. 32	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struck Duration: 15s
True North Lv. 50	Instant 45.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Nullifies all action direction requirements. Duration: 10s Maximum Charges: 2

Action Name	Acquired	Effect
Enhanced Jump	Lv. 54	Increases the potency of Jump to 320.
Life of the Dragon	Lv. 70	Upgrades Blood of the Dragon to Life of the Dragon. Life of the Dragon Effect: Increases damage dealt by 15% Upon successfully landing Geirskogul, grants 3 stacks of Nastrond Ready. Duration: 20s
Jump Mastery	Lv. 74	Upgrades Jump to High Jump.
Lance Mastery	Lv. 76	Increases the potency of True Thrust to 230, Vorpal Thrust to 130, and Disembowel to 140. Grants Draconian Fire if Drakesbane is executed following Fang and Claw or Wheeling Thrust. Duration: 30s Effect of Draconian Fire ends upon execution of any melee weaponskill. Upgrades True Thrust to Raiden Thrust while under the effect of Draconian Fire.
Enhanced Coerthan Torment	Lv. 82	Grants the effect of Draconian Fire after successfully completing a combo with Coerthan Torment. Duration: 30s Effect of Draconian Fire ends upon execution of any melee weaponskill. Upgrades Doom Spike to Draconian Fury while under the effect of Draconian Fire.
Enhanced Winged Glide	Lv. 84	Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Winged Glide. Maximum Charges: 2
Lance Mastery II	Lv. 86	Upgrades Full Thrust to Heavens' Thrust and Chaos Thrust to Chaotic Spring. Also increases the potency of Drakesbane to 400.
Enhanced Life Surge	Lv. 88	Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Life Surge. Maximum Charges: 2
Lance Mastery III	Lv. 90	Increases the potency of Geirskogul to 280 and Nastrond to 360. Allows for the sharpening of the Firstminds' Focus upon successfully landing Raiden Thrust or Draconian Fury, up to a maximum of 2 units.
Enhanced Dragonfire Dive	Lv. 92	Grants Dragon's Flight upon executing Dragonfire Dive. Duration: 30s
Melee Mastery	Lv. 94	Increases the potency of Fang and Claw to 140, Wheeling Thrust to 140, Drakesbane to 440, Raiden Thrust to 320, Heavens' Thrust to 140, and Chaotic Spring to 140.
Enhanced Second Wind	Lv. 94	Increases the healing potency of Second Wind to 800.
Lance Mastery IV	Lv. 96	Upgrades Vorpal Thrust to Lance Barrage and Disembowel to Spiral Blow.
Enhanced Feint	Lv. 98	Extends the duration of Feint to 15 seconds.
Enhanced Stardiver	Lv. 100	Grants Starcross Ready upon executing Stardiver. Duration: 20s Effect ends when Life of the Dragon expires.

Of all the things that are symbolic of the nation of Ishgard, few are more recognized than the dragoon. Born amidst the timeless conflict between men and dragons, these lance-wielding knights have developed an aerial style of combat, that they might better pierce the scaled hides of their mortal foes.

Taking to the firmament as though it were an extension of the land, they descend upon the enemy with every onze of their bodies behind the blow. It is this penetrative power that characterizes the dragoon.