Final Fantasy XIV details Beastmaster ahead of its September 8 launch
Final Fantasy XIV’s Beastmaster job got a closer look during FanFest Berlin, with Square Enix showing how the limited job fights and how its new solo mode works. Beastmaster is set to arrive September 8 with Patch 7.56.
Like Blue Mage, Beastmaster is a limited job, so it won’t follow the same rules as the standard combat jobs. At launch, it’ll be capped at level 50, which means its early use is tied to A Realm Reborn-era content and its own side systems rather than the full current endgame.
In combat, Beastmaster uses captured creatures assigned to Battlehorns. Those horns can be swapped freely outside combat, but have cooldowns once a fight starts, so the job is built around rotating beasts at the right time. Players can command beasts to use key actions through skills like Trick and Tempered Release, while Borrow and Parting Blow let the Beastmaster either take on a beast-based ability or have the beast fire off an area attack before leaving.
The job also has an “Intentional Order” system tied to its gauge. Beast abilities are grouped into types, and using them in the correct order builds the gauge for stronger attacks. Matching the same type can still add damage, but the clockwise sequence is the bigger payoff.
The other major reveal was The Crucible of the Unbroken, Beastmaster’s dedicated solo mode. It’s a dungeon-crawler-style duty where players build teams of beasts, move through a map with fights, healing points, shops, and treasure, then level both Beastmaster and individual beast ranks along the way.
Beasts keep their own HP during runs, and players will be able to manage who holds enemy attention with duty-specific controls. Beast ranks can go up to 25, with max rank unlocking customization for that beast.
The Crucible will have three difficulty “degrees.” Players who clear the third degree can qualify for rankings, which start two weeks after the mode unlocks and run until the next minor patch. Rewards are planned for higher-ranking players.
