Red Mage Guide

This is a guide covering basic mechanics and some optimization tips for Red Mages.

Lv. 50 mechanics

• Every second cast you have is a Dualcast, meaning it has no cast time (but still triggers the normal Global Cooldown, which is around 2.5 seconds.)
• You should always use Dualcast on a spell that normally takes more than 2.5s to cast. These include   Veraero,   Verthunder, and (for multi-target)   Scatter.
  • To be more specific, the spells that have a normal 5s cooldown should all be used with Dualcast to achieve a 0s cooldown.
• You should never "regularly" cast (hardcast) the above spells, except possibly before boss pull.
• For single-target, your hardcast should be   Verfire or   Verstone if they're available, and   Jolt if they're not.
• For multi-target, your hardcast should be   Veraero II or   Verthunder II.
• Use all of your skills that don't trigger global cooldown (oGCDs) -   Fleche and   Acceleration.
  • Even your movement skills,   Corps-a-corps and   Displacement deal decent damage.
  • Do so as much as possible, but without delaying your global cooldowns ("clipping") by using too many together.
• Your spells generate black and white mana.
  • Keep them within 30 of each other, or you will get an invisible debuff that reduces black/white mana generation.
  • Once they're both above 80, launch your melee combo: Enhanced versions of   Riposte,   Zwerchhau,   Redoublement, once each in that order.

Lv. 51-80 mechanics

•   Moulinet (Lv. 52) should become how you spend your black/white mana against multiple targets.
• You get some extra oGCDs as you level, which should all be used on cooldown if possible:
  •   Contre Sixte (Lv. 56) is extra damage.
  •   Embolden (Lv. 58) is a buff for you and nearby physical damage party members.
  •   Manafication (Lv. 60) doubles your mana - it should be used as close to 50 mana as possible. It also refreshes your movement abilities (more damage) and gives you a DPS buff.
• Your "melee" combo lengthens as you level:
  •   Verflare (Lv. 68) or   Verholy (Lv. 70) should always be used after   Redoublement, depending on which mana is lower (black for Verflare, white for Verholy).
  •   Scorch (Lv. 80) replaces   Jolt II after Verflare/Verholy, and it should always be used as well.
• You will get some good party utility:
  •   Vercure (Lv. 54) is a heal, but you generally should not use to heal unless healers are dead.
  •   Verraise (Lv. 64) is great since you can always Dualcast it, ensuring you never have to stand still. An excellent bulwark against wipes.
• You get some situational skills:
  •   Engagement (Lv. 72) is an alternative to   Displacement if you cannot jump back without screwing up a mechanic/jumping off the ledge.
  •   Reprise (Lv. 76) should only be used if you must move and do not have any instant casts to spend.

Basic optimization

• Swiftcast is a straight dps increase for you, even without movement, because you can trigger an extra   Veraero/  Verthunder with it.
• Be extra alert with Embolden cooldown as it should generally be used immediately to avoid shifting the damage window, and also note its small range.
•   Vercure can be used to proc Dualcast when the boss is away.
• Read other Red Mage guides for further optimization techniques.

Older Guides

Red Mage Guide/Stormblood