Beginner Warrior Tank Guide for FFXIV Endwalker 6.25

Summary

This video is a comprehensive Warrior guide for players seeking an accessible yet powerful tanking experience in Final Fantasy XIV. Covering key damage-dealing abilities, AoE and single-target rotations, and essential mitigation skills, it breaks down the Warrior’s combos, buffs, and cooldowns in a clear, beginner-friendly way. The guide also touches on optimal opener sequences, Beast Gauge management, and consumables, while highlighting the Warrior’s satisfying ‘big muscle, small brain’ fantasy. With tips on maximizing AOE bursts, survivability, and personal insights on dungeon performance, this guide helps players enjoy the Warrior’s strengths and prepare for upcoming high-level content effectively.

Takeaways

• 💪 Warriors are beginner-friendly tanks with high survivability, strong mitigation, and simple rotations.
• ⚔️ The main single-target combo involves Heavy Swing → Maim → Surging Tempest → Storm's Eye, which provides a 30-second damage buff that should be maintained at all times.
• 🪓 Tomahawk is the Warrior's ranged attack, generating Beast Gauge to fuel powerful abilities like Fel Cleave and Decimate.
• 🔥 Storm's Path and Mythril Tempest are key for building Beast Gauge and applying buffs during AOE situations.
• 🛡️ Infuriate and Inner Release are essential cooldowns: Infuriate generates Beast Gauge and transforms abilities, while Inner Release guarantees critical hits and enhances survivability.
• ⚡ Primal Rend is a high-potency skill that guarantees critical damage, but requires positioning to avoid hitting surrounding enemies.
• 💉 Self-mitigation abilities include Thrill of Battle, Vengeance, Bloodwhetting, and Equilibrium, while party-wide mitigation uses Shake It Off, Rampart, Reprisal, and Arm's Length.
• 📊 Opener rotation focuses on maximizing Inner Release, Fury 8, Storm's Eye uptime, and proper sequencing of abilities to optimize damage.
• 🍲 Recommended consumables are strength or crit-based foods, and gear melds should prioritize Direct Hit and Critical Hit for DPS efficiency.
• 🎯 Maintain buffs and avoid overcapping Beast Gauge or Onslaught charges; use Inner Release and Upheaval on cooldown for consistent damage output.
• 🏰 Warriors excel in dungeon content due to high AOE bursts, though their raid performance may lag compared to other tanks.
• 😎 The Warrior playstyle is a satisfying 'small brain, big muscle' fantasy, emphasizing big numbers and visually impactful abilities.

Q & A

What makes Warrior considered the easiest tank to play in FFXIV?

Warriors are considered easy to play due to their high survivability, strong mitigation abilities, and a relatively simple rotation, making them forgiving for players with shorter attention spans.

What is the purpose of Storm's Eye and how should it be maintained?

Storm's Eye increases Warrior's damage for 30 seconds and should be maintained 100% of the time during encounters, refreshing every ~15 seconds to avoid losing the buff, which caps at one minute.

How does the Beast Gauge work for Warrior and which abilities build it?

The Beast Gauge is built using Maim and Storm's Path (10 gauge each) and Storm's Eye (20 gauge). It is spent on high-damage abilities like Fell Cleave and Decimate (50 gauge each).

What is the difference between Inner Release and Infuriate?

Inner Release allows free casting of Fell Cleave and Decimate with guaranteed critical hits, extends Surging Tempest, and enables Primal Rend, while Infuriate builds Beast Gauge, transforms abilities into Inner Chaos and Chaotic Cyclone, and has two charges with a cooldown.

Which abilities should be used on cooldown for maximum DPS and mitigation?

For DPS: Inner Release, Upheaval, and Infuriate. For mitigation: Thrill of Battle, Vengeance, Bloodwhetting, Equilibrium, and Shake It Off should be used on cooldown to maximize survival and effectiveness.

How should AOE rotation differ from single-target rotation?

AOE rotation swaps Fell Cleave for Decimate, Upheaval is used for burst damage, and Inner Chaos is replaced with Chaotic Cyclone. Mythril Tempest is used to maintain Storm's Eye on multiple targets.

What are some key mitigation abilities for Warriors and their effects?

Thrill of Battle (20% HP boost), Vengeance (30% damage reduction + retaliation), Bloodwhetting (10% damage reduction + healing), Shake It Off (temporary immunity), and Equilibrium (HP restoration over time) are key for survivability.

What are the recommended consumables and melds for Warriors?

Recommended consumables include Propulsion-grade 7 Strength food or Carrot Pudding. For melds, prioritize Direct Hit and Critical Hit for maximizing damage output.

What is the optimal opener for a Warrior as a main tank?

The opener includes activating stance, Tomahawk, entering Fury, executing Storm's Path combo, using Storm's Eye, Inner Release, first Inner Chaos, Upheaval, Onslaught, Primal Rend, then following with second Inner Chaos and Onslaught, maintaining Storm's Path and Fury usage, finishing with Fell Cleave and final Inner Chaos.

Why is Warrior described as a 'small brain, big muscle' fantasy, and how does it perform in dungeons versus raids?

Warrior is described this way because it’s straightforward and focused on dealing high numbers with simple mechanics. It excels in dungeon content with strong AOE bursts, but is less complex and slightly weaker in raid scenarios compared to Paladin or Gunbreaker.

What is the role of Onslaught and how should it be managed?

Onslaught is a gap closer with three charges and a 30-second cooldown. Players should avoid overcapping charges and weave it strategically into the rotation for mobility and burst opportunities.

How should Storm's Eye and Beast Gauge management interact during fights?

Players should refresh Storm's Eye every ~15 seconds while using Beast Gauge efficiently. Avoid overcapping Beast Gauge by spending it on Fell Cleave or Decimate and prioritize maintaining buffs over unnecessary gauge building.