In the ever-expanding universe of Final Fantasy XIV, the role of a Scholar stands out as a linchpin to any successful raid, dungeon crawl, or trial. Masters of mitigation and masters of arcane arts, Scholars blend the proactive preparation of a strategist with the reactive finesse of a top-tier healer. This comprehensive guide will excavate pervasive into what makes a Scholar not just good, but exceptional, covering everything from the foundation of becoming a Scholar, mastering your abilities, optimizing your gear, to conquering your class quests.
Becoming a Scholar
The journey to academia excellence begins not with a tome, but with a carbuncle’as a neophyte Arcanist. The path diverges at level 30, where the quest “Forgotten but Not Gone” beckons those of sufficient intellect and determination to the hallowed halls of the Scholar. It’s not just a change of title but a prototype shift, entrusting you with the wellbeing of your allies through preemptive barriers and intelligent healing.
Transitioning from an Arcanist to a Scholar feels akin to evolving from a mere participant in Eorzea’s battles to becoming a deciding factor in their outcomes. It’s vital, therefore, to not only embrace the additional healing responsibilities but to also continue honing the offensive capabilities inherited from your Arcanist days. Balancing these will be your primary trial and the key to your success.
Scholar Skills
Understanding the intricacies of your arsenal is what separates the adept from the merely competent. A Scholar’s toolkit can be broadly categorized into healing, damage, and utility, each essential in maneuvering the challenging content Eorzea throws your way.
Healing Arsenal
At the core of your healing capabilities lie a duo of spells: Adloquium and Succor. Adloquium is your go-to single-target heal, notable not just for its potency but for the galvanizing shield it weaves, absorbing damage equal to the amount healed. Succor, its area-of-effect sibling, extends this protective embrace to your entire party. These spells are your bread and butter, mitigating incoming damage and giving your team breathing room.
Damage Dealers
Do not let the title of healer deceive; a Scholar’s offensive spells are nothing to scoff at. Broil, your primary attack, delivers consistent damage, while Biolysis infects your target with a potent poison, further amplifying your contribution to the team’s overall damage output. Remember, an enemy defeated swiftly is one less threat to heal through.
The Utility Belt
A Scholar’s utility abilities provide unparalleled support, making them indispensable in team dynamics. Aetherflow replenishes your mana and fuels your most powerful spells. Deployment Tactics extend your Adloquium or Succor shields from a single target to nearby allies, ensuring your team’s resilience. And then there’s Excogitation, a failsafe heal triggered when an ally’s health drops perilously low, among others.
Mastering when and where to employ each of these tools will elevate your performance, making you the backbone of any party.
Scholar Healing
Scholar healing is an art form, requiring not just reaction but anticipation. The core of your approach revolves around mitigating damage before it happens. This prophylactic approach, executed through your shields and precast abilities, sets Scholars apart from their reactive healer counterparts.
Effective use of your Faerie companion is also critical. Eos or Selene, your ethereal allies, provide additional healing and buffs, effectively augmenting your capabilities. Micromanaging these companions can seem overwhelming but mastering their deployment is crucial. They can be the difference between victory and defeat, especially when healing resources are stretched thin.
In intense battles, resource management becomes paramount. Balancing your mana, Aetherflow stacks, and the cooldowns of your abilities ensures you can sustain your healing output and utility throughout prolonged engagements. Efficiency is the name of the game; knowing which tool in your vast toolkit to use’and when’will see you through the most grueling encounters.
Scholar Gear
Gear optimization is an ongoing process, crucial for keeping your performance at its peak. As with all classes in FFXIV, item level (ilvl) generally trumps specific stats, but for Scholars, certain attributes deserve special attention. Mind is your primary stat, directly boosting your healing output and damage potency. After Mind, prioritize Critical Hit and Determination for their ability to increase both the potency of your heals and the damage you deal.
Secondary stats to consider include Spell Speed, which decreases cast and recast times, potentially giving you the edge needed to save a life or end a battle. However, balance this with Piety, which influences your mana regeneration, an equally critical factor during drawn-out confrontations.
When it comes to gearing up, your journey through dungeons, raids, and trials will amass a collection of gear. Aim to participate in content that rewards you with the highest ilvl gear available to you, keeping an eye on your stats to maintain an optimal balance.
Scholar Quests
The yarn of a Scholar is one of growth, mastery, and discovery. The class quests, starting from level 30 and available every five levels thereafter, are not just a means to new powers but windows into the lore and essence of being a Scholar.
Each quest is a step in your evolution, presenting challenges that will test your understanding and execution of your healing and strategic abilities. Completing these will not only reward you with essential skills but also immerse you in the rich mosaic of Eorzea’s history and your place within it.
Piloting these quests requires more than just brute force; they demand an understanding of your capabilities and an ingenious application of your toolkit. They are crucibles, honing your skills and solidifying your resolve.