Dark Knight

Introduction

"The pious Ishgardian clergy guide the flock, and the devout knights protect the weak. Yet even the holiest of men succumb to the darkest of temptations.
None dare to administer justice to these sacrosanct elite residing outside the reach of the law. Who, then, defends the feeble from the transgressions of those meant to guide and protect them?
A valiant few take up arms to defend the downtrodden, and not even the holy priests and knights can escape their judgment. Pariahs in their own land, they are known by many as “dark knights.”
These sentinels bear no shields declaring their allegiance. Instead, their greatswords act as beacons to guide the meek through darkness." — Game Description

General Information

See also: Dark Knight (Seafood)

Dark Knight is a Tank job that wields a Greatsword (2-handed sword) as its weapon. Unlike 2.0 jobs, Dark Knight does not have a base class and starts from level 30. It was released in the first expansion pack, Heavensward, in June 2015.

There is no physical guild building for the Dark Knights. After following the first few quests of the job's storyline, Dark Knights receive their job-advancement quests through an NPC located in the Ishgard Inn, The Forgotten Knight.

Play Style

Screen capture of In-game Tool tip from Media Tour.

As a tank, the Dark Knight focuses mainly on getting aggro and keeping it. The job is especially known for its ability to mitigate magic damage through Dark Mind, and can frequently be seen in higher-level raids where the boss deals a lot of it. They can function as off-tanks relatively well given their potential damage output.

The main mechanic Dark Knights will have to work with is at Lvl 62 and above, with the resource Blackblood. While under the effects of Darkside, MP regeneration stops during battle and no external sources can replenish it. However Darkside won't be lost if MP reaches 0.

Blood Gauge

The Job gauge for Dark Knight in Final Fantasy XIV's 4.0 Stormblood expansion brings a visual indicator to three functions relating to the job. The Dark Knight Soul Crystal will display if Grit is enabled by blue blades around the soul gem. The soul gem itself will show a numerical value relating to the amount of Blackblood the Blood Gauge has. The Great sword representing Blood Gauge will be surrounded by a red/purple glow if the gauge reaches 100.

Blackblood is gained by using certain weapon skills, doing auto-attacks under Blood Weapon's effect and/or taking damage while under the effect of Blood Price. Dark Knight does not have a penalty while changing their Grit or Darkside status.

Blackblood is used to execute the three new weapon skills available for Dark Knight.

Requirements

Heavensward
Access to Ishgard, where Dark Knight's quests are located.
Complete the quest Our End (started from NPC in The Pillars at (x12, y8)).

Trainer Locations

NPC	Location	Description
Ishgardian Citizen	The Pillars (x13,y9)	Job Start for ARR
Fray	Foundation (x11,y12)	Job Trainer for 30-50
Unflinching Temple Knight	Coerthas Central Highlands (x13,y16)	Job Start for Heavensward
Sidurgu	Foundation (x13,y12)	Job Trainer for 52-60
Sidurgu	Foundation (x13.3,y12.0)	Job Start for Stormblood

Actions

Action	Level	Type	Cast Time	Cooldown	Range	Radius	Description	Stormblood Adjustment
Hard Slash	1	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	3y	0	Delivers an attack with a potency of 150.
Spinning Slash	4	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	3y	0	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Increased enmity Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 220
Unleash	6	Spell	0s	2.5s	0	5y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 50 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Increased enmity	Now acquired at level 6 (previously level 8). Potentecy decreased from 100 to 50. Enmity effect has been increased.
Syphon Strike	10	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	3y	0	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Dark Arts Potency: 240 Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 250 Dark Arts Combo Potency: 390 Combo Bonus: Restores MP MP restoration increased while under the effect of Grit. Dark Arts fades upon execution.	Now acquired at level 10 (previously level 12). Dark Arts potency and Dark Arts combo potency effects have been added. The effect "MP restoration now increases while under the effect of Grit" has been added. Effect will now fade upon the execution of Dark Arts.
Unmend	15	Spell	0s	2.5s	15y	0	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 150. Additional Effect: Increased enmity Additional Effect: 30% chance that next Unleash will cost no MP Duration: 15s	Enmity effect has been increased.
Blood Weapon	18	Ability	0s	40s	0	0	Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 10% and converts physical damage dealt into MP, while reducing weaponskill TP cost by 20%. Also increases Blood Gauge by 3 each time a physical attack lands. Duration: 15s Cannot be used while under the effect of Grit.	Recast time reduced from 60 to 40 seconds. The effect increasing attack speed by 10% has been changed to reduce weaponskill cast time and recast time, spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 10%. The Blood Gauge will now increase by 3 each time a physical attack lands.
Power Slash	26	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	3y	0	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Increased enmity Combo Action: Spinning Slash Combo Potency: 300 Dark Arts Combo Effect: Increased enmity Dark Arts fades upon execution.	Enmity effect has been increased.
Grit	30	Spell	0s	2.5s	0	0	Reduces damage taken by 20%, while reducing damage dealt by 20% and increasing enmity. Effect ends upon reuse.	No longer increases chance to hit.
Darkside	30	Ability	0s	5s	0y	0y	Increases damage dealt by 20%. MP regeneration stops during battle and Refresh statuses granted by others have no effect. Effect ends upon reuse.	The effect increasing damage dealt has been changed from 15% to 20%. MP regeneration now stops during battle and Refresh statuses granted by others have no effect.
Blood Price	35	Ability	0s	40s	0y	0y	Restores partial MP when damage is taken. Duration: 15s Additonal Effect: Increases Blood Gauge by 1 immediately and another 4 over time while in battle. Can only be used while under the effect of Grit.	The effect "Increases Blood Gauge by 1 immediately and another 4 over time while in battle" has been added. Grit must now be in effect to execute. The amount of partial MP restored when damage is taken has been reduced.
Souleater	38	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	3y	0	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Dark Arts Potency: 240 Combo Action: Syphon Strike Combo Potency: 280 Dark Arts Combo Potency: 420 Grit Combo Bonus: Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP Combo Bonus: Increases Blood Gauge by 10 Dark Arts fades upon execution.	Combo potency increased from 260 to 280. Dark Arts combo potency increased from 400 to 420. Grit combo bonus has been changed from "Absorbs 50% of damage dealt as HP" to "Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP." Combo bonus "Increases Blood Gauge by 10" has been added.
Dark Passenger	40	Ability	0s	30s	10y	0y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Can only be executed when succumbing to the Darkside. Dark Arts Potency: 240 Dark Arts Effect: Blind Duration: 15s Dark Arts fades upon execution.	Potency reduced from 150 to 100. Dark Arts combo potency reduced from 250 to 240. MP cost has been increased.
Dark Mind	42	Ability	0s	60s	0	0	Reduces magic vulnerability by 15%. Can only be executed when succumbing to the Darkside. Duration: 10s Dark Arts Effect: Increases magic vulnerability reduction to 30% Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Dark Arts	45	Ability	0s	3s	0y	0y	Attune with the darkness within you, increasing the potency of several actions. Can only be executed when succumbing to the Darkside. Effect fades if Darkside is canceled. Duration: 10s	Recast time reduced from 3 to 2 seconds.
Shadow Wall	46	Ability	0s	180s	0	0	Reduces damage taken by 30%. Duration: 10s
Living Dead	50	Ability	0s	300s	0y	0y	Grants the effect of Living Dead. When HP is reduced to 0 while under the effect of Living Dead, instead of becoming KO'd, your status will change to Walking Dead. Living Dead Duration: 10s While under the effect of Walking Dead, most attacks will not lower your HP below 1. If, before the Walking Dead timer runs out, HP is 100% restored, the effect will fade. If 100% is not restored, you will be KO'd. Walking Dead Duration: 10s
Salted Earth	52	Ability	0s	45s	15y	5y	Creates a patch of salted earth, dealing unaspected damage with a potency of 75 to any enemies who enter. Duration: 21s Additional Effect: Increases Blood Gauge by 1	The additional effect "Increases Blood Gauge by 1" has been added.
Plunge	54	Ability	0s	30s	15y	0y	Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 200. Cannot be executed while bound.
Abyssal Drain	56	Spell	0s	2.5s	15y	0y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 120 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Increased enmity Dark Arts Effect: Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP Dark Arts fades upon execution.	The Dark Arts effect "Absorbing 100% of damage dealt as HP" has been changed to "Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP."
Sole Survivor	58	Ability	0s	120s	25y	0y	Marks target with the status Another Victim. If that target should be KO'd in battle, 20% of your maximum HP and MP will be restored. Duration: 15s
Carve and Spit	60	Ability	0s	60s	3y	0y	Delivers a threefold attack with a potency of 100. Also restores MP if used while not under the effect of Dark Arts. Dark Arts Potency: 450 Dark Arts fades upon execution.
Delirium	62	Ability	0s	120s	0y	0y	Restores MP. Additional Effect: Extends Blood Weapon and Blood Price effects by 8s and 16s respectively. Blood Gauge Cost: 50	New Action
Quietus	64	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	0y	5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 160 to all nearby enemies. Dark Arts Potency: 210 Blood Gauge Cost: 50 Dark Arts fades upon execution.	New Action
Bloodspiller	68	Weaponskill	0s	2.5s	3y	0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 380. Dark Arts Potency: 520 Grit Potency: 475 Dark Arts+Grit Potency: 650 Blood Gauge Cost: 50 Dark Arts fades upon execution.	New Action
The Blackest Night	70	Ability	0s	15s	30y	0y	Creates a barrier around self that absorbs damage totaling 20% of your maximum HP, or around a party member that absorbs damage totaling 10% of your maximum HP. Duration: 5s Increases Blood Gauge by 50 when full 20% (10%) is absorbed.	New Action

Traits

Trait	Level	Description	Stormblood Adjustment
Enhanced Vitality	20	Increases vitality by 8.	Now acquired at level 20 (previously level 8). Vitality bonus increased from 2 to 8.
Enhanced Vitality II	40	Increases vitality by 16.	Now acquired at level 40 (previously level 16). Vitality bonus increased from 4 to 16.
Enhanced Vitality III	60	Increases vitality by 24.	Now acquired at level 60 (previously level 24). Vitality bonus increased from 6 to 24.
Blackblood	62	Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation upon the landing of certain actions.	New Trait
Enhanced Blackblood	66	Allows for Blood Gauge accumulation while under the effect of Blood Weapon or Blood Price.	New Trait

Role Actions

Tank Actions

PvP Actions

Action	Type	Cost	Cooldown	Range	Radius	Description
Hard Slash (PvP)	weaponskill	-	2.3s	??	??	Delivers an attack with a potency of 750. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Spinning Slash (PvP)	weaponskill	-	2.3s	??	??	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 1,000 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Power Slash (PvP)	weaponskill	-	2.3s	??	??	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Spinning Slash Combo Potency: 1,500 Additional Effect: Reduces target's HP recovered by healing magic by 20% Duration: 15s ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Syphon Strike (PvP)	weaponskill	-	2.3s	??	??	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Hard Slash Combo Potency: 1,250 Combo Bonus: Restores 1,000 MP ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Souleater (PvP)	weaponskill	-	2.3s	??	??	Delivers an attack to target. Combo Action: Syphon Strike Combo Potency: 1,250 Combo Bonus: Absorbs 100% of damage dealt as HP Combo Bonus: Restores 1,000 MP Combo Bonus: Increases Blood Gauge by 20 ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Bloodspiller (PvP)	weaponskill	Blackblood: 50	2.3s	??	??	Delivers an attack with a potency of 2,000. Additional Effect: Silence Duration: 2s Blood Gauge Cost: 50
Unmend (PvP)	spell	2500 MP	10s	??	??	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 500. Additional Effect: 10-yalm draw-in
The Blackest Night (PvP)	ability	2500 MP	10s	??	??	Creates a barrier around self or target party member that absorbs damage totaling 20% of your maximum HP. Duration: 5s Increases Blood Gauge by 20 when full 20% is absorbed.
Low Blow (PvP)	ability	300 TP	5s	??	??	Delivers an attack with a potency of 750. Additional Effect: Stun Duration: 2s
Plunge (PvP)	ability	-	30s	??	??	Rushes target and delivers an attack with a potency of 500. Recast time is reset if Plunge records a KO or an assist. Cannot be executed while bound.
Sole Survivor (PvP)	ability	-	60s	??	??	Increases target's damage taken by 10%. Restores 25% of your maximum HP and MP and increases Blood Gauge by 50 if target is KO'd before effect expires. Duration: 10s
Grit (PvP)	ability	-	5s	??	??	Reduces both damage taken and damage dealt by 20%. Effect ends upon reuse.

Quests

Quest	Level	NPC	Zone	Coordinates	EXP	Reward
Our End	50	Ishgardian Citizen	The Pillars	(x13,y8)	24000
Ishgardian Justice	30	Fray	Foundation	(x11,y12)	7410
The Voice in the Abyss	35	Fray	Foundation	(x11,y12)	9020
Heroic Reprise	40	Fray	Foundation	(x11,y12)	11270
Declaration of Blood	45	Fray	Foundation	(x11,y12)	12420
Our Answer	50	Fray	Foundation	(x11,y12)	24000
The Wages of Mercy	50	Unflinching Temple Knight	Coerthas Central Highlands	(x12,y16)	24000	Gil 574
The Knight and the Maiden Fair	52	Sidurgu	Foundation	(x13,y12)	26400
Kindred Spirits	54	Sidurgu	Foundation	(x13,y12)	31200
Original Sins	56	Sidurgu	Foundation	(x13,y12)	36000
The Flame in the Abyss	58	Sidurgu	Foundation	(x13,y12)	40800
Absolution	60	Sidurgu	Foundation	(x13,y12)	0
In Memories We Walked	60	Sidurgu	Foundation	(x13.3,y12.0)	0	-NA-

Job Gauge

Official Lodestone Job Guide (Always up-to-date)

Blood & Darkside Gauge is Dark Knight's Job Gauge.

Blood Gauge

Upon learning the action Grit (tank stance) at level 10, a symbol will appear on the screen indicating when it is in effect. Grit increases enmity gained from using other actions.

Upon learning the trait Blackblood, the symbol which indicates the use of Grit will change to also display the Blood Gauge.

The Blood Gauge displays the amount of Blackblood a dark knight has accumulated, which can be used to execute actions such as Bloodspiller and Quietus.

Simple Mode

Grit (Active)

Darkside Gauge

Upon learning the action Flood of Darkness, an additional gauge will be displayed, indicating the remaining duration of Darkside.

Darkside increases damage dealt, and its duration can be extended by using actions Flood of Darkness and Edge of Darkness.

Upon learning the action The Blackest Night, an icon indicating the effect of Dark Arts will be displayed on the Darkside Gauge.

Dark Arts is granted when the barrier created by The Blackest Night is completely absorbed. It can then be used to execute Flood of Darkness or Edge of Darkness without MP cost.

Upon learning the action Living Shadow, you can conjure a simulacrum to fight alongside you. Its duration will be displayed alongisde the Darkside Gauge.