Black Mage

Lore

"In days long past, there existed an evil clan and arcane art known as black magic—a potent magic of pure destructive force born forth by a sorceress of unparalleled power. Those who learned to wield this instrument of ruin came to be called black mages, out of both fear and respect for their gift. Yet great power served to corrupt the judgment of mortal man, and so he unknowingly set out upon the path of ruin.
Adventurers who take the black will become agents of devastation, capable of annihilating those who oppose them through little more than the force of their will." — Game Description

General Information

Black Mage is a job that specializes in devastating their enemies through the use of black magic. Black Mage evolves from the class thaumaturge. Using staves and scepters, Black Mages are ranged damage dealers with powerful AoE spells and crowd controls. They have all the abilities and traits of Thaumaturges. The most important stat for the black mage is intelligence, which increases attack magic potency. The level of your Black Mage is equivalent to that of your Thaumaturge.

Requirements

Level 30 Thaumaturge
Completion of Main Scenario quest: Sylph-management

Trainer Locations

NPC	Location	Description
Yayake	Ul'dah - Steps of Nald (x7,y12)	Job Start for ARR
Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (x13,y14)	Job Trainer for 30-40
Kazagg Chah	Eastern Thanalan (x28,y21)	Job Trainer for 41-50
Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (x13,y14)	Job Start for Heavensward
Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (x13,y14)	Job Trainer for 52-60
Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (x12.9,y13.5)	Job Start for Stormblood

Actions

Black Mages use all the Thaumaturge Actions in addition to having their own unique actions for their Job:

Action	Level	Type	Cast Time	Cooldown	Range	Radius	Description	Stormblood Adjustment
Blizzard	1	spell	2.5s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals ice damage with a potency of 180. Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice or removes Astral Fire Duration: 13s	The additional effect "Heavy" has been removed. Umbral Ice duration increased from 12 to 13 seconds.
Fire	2	spell	2.5s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals fire damage with a potency of 180. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire or removes Umbral Ice Duration: 13s Additional Effect: 40% chance next Fire III will cost no MP and have no casting time Duration: 12s	Astral Fire duration increased from 12 seconds to 13 seconds.
Transpose	4	ability	0s	12s	0y	0y	Swaps Astral Fire with a single Umbral Ice, or Umbral Ice with a single Astral Fire.
Thunder	6	spell	2.5s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals lightning damage with a potency of 30. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 40 Duration: 18s Additional Effect: 10% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 12s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.
Sleep	10	spell	2.5s	2.5s	30y	5y	Puts target to sleep. Duration: 30s Cancels auto-attack upon execution.
Blizzard II	12	spell	2s	2.5s	0y	5y	Deals ice damage with a potency of 50 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Bind Duration: 8s Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice or removes Astral Fire Duration: 13s	Action now exclusive to thaumaturge and black mage. Umbral Ice duration increased from 12 seconds to 13 seconds.
Scathe	15	spell	0s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: 20% chance potency will double
Fire II	18	spell	3s	2.5s	25y	5y	Deals fire damage with a potency of 80 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire or removes Umbral Ice Duration: 13s	Potency reduced from 100 to 80. Astral Fire duration increased from 12 seconds to 13 seconds.
Thunder II	26	spell	3s	2.5s	25y	5y	Deals lightning damage with a potency of 30 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 30 Duration: 12s Additional Effect: 3% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 12s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.	Now acquired at level 26 (previously level 22). The effects of this ability have been completely revamped.
Manaward	30	ability	0s	120s	0y	0y	Creates a barrier that nullifies damage totaling up to 30% of maximum HP. Duration: 20s	The effect of Manaward now also includes physical damage.
Convert	30	ability	0s	180s	0y	0y	Sacrifices 20% of maximum HP to restore 30% of MP. Cannot be executed when current HP is lower than 20%.
Fire III	34	spell	3.5s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals fire damage with a potency of 240. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III and removes Umbral Ice Duration: 13s	Astral Fire duration increased from 12 to 13 seconds.
Freeze	35	spell	3s	2.5s	25y	5y	Covers a designated area in ice, dealing ice damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: Bind Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice or removes Astral Fire Duration: 13s
Blizzard III	40	spell	3.5s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals ice damage with a potency of 240. Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice III and removes Astral Fire Duration: 13s	Umbral Ice duration increased from 12 to 13 seconds.
Thunder III	45	spell	2.5s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals lightning damage with a potency of 70. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 40 Duration: 24s Additional Effect: 10% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 12s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.	Now acquired at level 45 (previously level 46). Now a job quest reward. Action now exclusive to black mage. Cast time reduced from 3.5 to 2.5 seconds. The name of the damage over time is effect has been changed to "Thunder III."
Aetherial Manipulation	50	ability	0s	30s	25y	0y	Rush to a target party member's side. Unable to cast if bound.	The character lock immediately after execution has been adjusted.
Flare	50	spell	4s	2.5s	25y	5y	Deals fire damage to a target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 260 for the first enemy, 15% less for the second, 30% less for the third, 45% less for the fouth, 60% less for the fifth, and 70% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III and removes Umbral Ice Duration: 13s	Potency is now reduced by 15% for the second enemy, 30% for the third, 45% for the fourth, 60% for the fifth, and 70% less for all remaining enemies. Astral Fire duration increased from 12 to 13 seconds.
Ley Lines	52	ability	0s	90s	0y	3y	Connects naturally occurring ley lines to create a circle of power which, while standing within it, reduces spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 15%. Duration: 30s
Sharpcast	54	ability	0s	60s	0y	0y	Ensures the next Scathe, Fire, or Thunder spell cast will, for the first hit, trigger Scathe's additional effect, Firestarter, or Thundercloud respectively. Duration: 15s	Duration increased from 10 to 15 seconds.
Enochian	56	ability	0s	60s	0y	0y	Increases magic damage dealt by 5%. Also allows the casting of Blizzard IV and Fire IV. Additional Effect: Grants Polyglot if Enochian is maintained for 30s Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice. Effect is canceled if Astral Fire or Umbral Ice end.	Duration has been removed. The effect is now canceld if Astral Fire or Umbral Ice end.
Blizzard IV	58	spell	2.8s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals ice damage with a potency of 260. Additional Effect: Grants 3 Umbral Hearts Umbral Heart Bonus: Nullifies Astral Fire's MP cost increase for Fire spells and reduces MP cost for Flare by two-thirds Can only be executed while under the effect of both Enochian and Umbral Ice.	Potency reduced from 280 to 260. The effects of this ability have been completely revamped.
Fire IV	60	spell	2.8s	2.5s	25y	0y	Deals fire damage with a potency of 260. Can only be executed while under the effect of both Enochian and Astral Fire.	Potency reduced from 280 to 260.
Between the Lines	62	ability	0s	3s	25y	0y	Move instantly to Ley Lines drawn by you. Cannot be executed while bound.	New Action
Thunder IV	64	spell	0s	2.5s	25y	5y	Deals lightning damage with a potency of 50 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 30 Duration: 18s Additional Effect: 3% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 12s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.	New Action
Triplecast	66	ability	0s	90s	0y	0y	The next three spells will require no cast time. Duration: 15s	New Action
Foul	70	spell	2.5s	2.5s	25y	5y	Deals unaspected damage to a target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 650 for the first enemy, 10% less for the second, 20% less for the third, 30% less for the fourth, 40% less for the fifth, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Polyglot. Polyglot effect ends upon use.	New Action

Traits

Trait	Level	Description	Stormblood Adjustment
Enhanced Intelligence	20	Increases intelligence by 8.	Now acquired at level 20 (previously level 8). Intelligence bonus increased from 2 to 8.
Magick and Mend	20	Increases base action damage and HP restoration by 10% and allows for the stacking of a second Astral Fire or Umbral Ice.
Thundercloud	28	Grants a 10% chance that after each damage over time tick inflicted by Thunder or Thunder III (3% for Thunder II or Thunder IV), the next Thunder, Thunder II, Thunder III, or Thunder IV will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP. Duration: 12s	Thunder IV is now also affected by this trait.
Enhanced Intelligence II	40	Increases intelligence by 16.	Now acquired at level 40 (previously level 14). Intelligence bonus increased from 4 to 16.
Magick and Mend II	40	Increases base action damage and HP restoration by 30% and allows for the stacking of a third Astral Fire or Umbral Ice which reduces cast times for spells of the opposite element by half.	Now also allows for the stacking of a third Astral Fire or Umbral Ice which reduces cast times for spells of the opposite element by half.
Firestarter	42	Grants a 40% chance that after casting Fire, your next Fire III will require no MP and have no casting time. Duration: 12s	Now acquired at level 42 (previously level 44).
Thunder Mastery	45	Upgrades Thunder to Thunder III.	New Trait
Enhanced Intelligence III	60	Increases intelligence by 24.	Now acquired at level 60 (previously level 32). Intelligence bonus increased from 6 to 24.
Thunder Mastery II	64	Upgrades Thunder II to Thunder IV.	New Trait
Enhanced Umbral Heart	68	Reduces MP required to cast Flare by one-third while under the effect of Umbral Heart. Casting Flare completely removes the Umbral Heart status.	New Trait
Enhanced Enochian	70	Grants the effect of Polyglot upon maintaining Enochian for 30 seconds.	New Trait

Role Actions

Magic Ranged DPS Role Actions

PvP Actions

Action	Type	Cost	Cast Time	Cooldown	Range	Radius	Description
Fire (PvP)	spell	1000 MP	1.8s	2.3s	??	??	Deals fire damage with a potency of 1,250. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire, increasing damage dealt by 10% Duration: 15s Spell has no casting time if executed while under the effect of Umbral Ice.
Blizzard (PvP)	spell	-	1.8s	2.3s	??	??	Deals ice damage with a potency of 750. Additional Effect: Restores 1,000 MP Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice, reducing spell cast and recast times by 10% Duration: 15s Spell has no casting time if executed while under the effect of Astral Fire.
Thunder (PvP)	spell	1500 MP	1.8s	2.3s	??	??	Deals lightning damage with a potency of 500. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 300 Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Grants Thunder III Ready if target is dealt over 6,000 points of damage while under the effect of Thunder Duration: 10s Thunder effect is removed from target upon receiving Thunder III Ready status. ※Action changes to Thunder III while under the effect of Thunder III Ready.
Enochian (PvP)	spell	-	0s	15s	??	??	Allows the casting of Fire IV and Blizzard IV. Additional Effect: Grants Polyglot if Enochian is maintained for 30s. Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice. Effect is canceled if Astral Fire or Umbral Ice end. ※Action changes to Fire IV while under the effect of Astral Fire and Enochian. ※Action changes to Blizzard IV while under the effect of Umbral Ice and Enochian.
Foul (PvP)	spell	Polyglot	2.8s	2.3s	??	??	Deals unaspected damage to a target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 4,500 for the first enemy, 25% less for the second, 50% less for the third, and 75% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be cast while under the effect of Polyglot. Cannot be cast while under the effect of either Astral Fire or Umbral Ice. Polyglot effect ends upon use. ※Action changes to Flare while under the effect of Astral Fire and Polyglot. ※Action changes to Freeze while under the effect of Umbral Ice and Polyglot.
Sleep (PvP)	spell	1500 MP	2.3s	2.3s	??	??	Puts target to sleep. Duration: 3s Cancels auto-attack upon execution.
Swiftcast (PvP)	ability	-	0s	30s	??	??	Next spell is cast immediately. Duration: 10s
Aetherial Manipulation (PvP)	ability	-	0s	30s	??	??	Rush to a target party member's side. Unable to cast if bound.
Convert (PvP)	ability	-	0s	60s	??	??	Restores 25% of maximum HP and MP. Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice. Removes Astral Fire or Umbral Ice upon execution.
Thunder III (PvP)	spell	-	0s	2.3s	??	??	Deals lightning damage with a potency of 2,000. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 300 Duration: 15s Additional Effect: Grants Thunder III Ready if target is dealt over 6,000 points of damage while under the effect of Thunder Duration: 10s Can only be cast while under the effect of Thunder III Ready. Thunder effect is removed from target upon receiving Thunder III Ready status. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Fire IV (PvP)	spell	2000 MP	2.3s	2.3s	??	??	Deals fire damage with a potency of 2,500. Can only be cast while under the effect of Astral Fire and Enochian. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Blizzard IV (PvP)	spell	-	2.3s	2.3s	??	??	Deals ice damage with a potency of 1,500. Additional Effect: Restores 2,000 MP Can only be cast while under the effect of Umbral Ice and Enochian. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Flare (PvP)	spell	Polyglot	2.8s	2.3s	??	??	Deals fire damage to a target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 3,000 for the first enemy, 25% less for the second, 50% less for the third, and 75% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Heavy +50% Duration: 2s Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire, increasing damage dealt by 10% Duration: 15s Can only be cast while under the effect of Astral Fire and Polyglot. Polyglot effect ends upon use. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Freeze (PvP)	spell	Polyglot	2.8s	2.3s	??	??	Deals ice damage to a target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 2,000 for the first enemy, 25% less for the second, 50% less for the third, and 75% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Bind Duration: 4s Additional Effect:Grants Umbral Ice, reducing spell cast and recast time by 10% Duration: 15s Can only be cast while under the effect of Umbral Ice and Polyglot. Polyglot effect ends upon use. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.

Quests

Quest	Level	NPC	Zone	Coordinates	EXP	Reward
Taking the Black	30	Yayake	Ul'dah - Steps of Nald	(x7,y12)	7410	,
You'll Never Go Back	35	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	9020
International Relations	40	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	11270
The Voidgate Breathes Gloomy	45	Kazagg Chah	Eastern Thanalan	(x28,y21)	12420	, , , ,
The Blood Must Flow	45	Kazagg Chah	Eastern Thanalan	(x28,y21)	12420	, , ,
Always Bet on Black	50	Kazagg Chah	Eastern Thanalan	(x28,y21)	0	, , ,
A Relic Reborn (Stardust Rod)	50	Gerolt	North Shroud	(x30,y20)	0
Black Books	50	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	24000
An Unexpected Journey	52	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	26400
A Cunning Plan	54	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	31200
Black Squawk Down	56	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	36000
Destruction in the Name of Justice	58	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	40800
The Defiant Ones	60	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12,y13)	0
Shades of Shatotto	60	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12.9,y13.5)	167400
Golems Gone Wild	63	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12.9, y13.5)	191700
When the Golems Get Tough	65	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12.9, y13.5)	207900
Unnatural Selection	68	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12.9, y13.5)	232200
One Golem to Rule Them All	70	Lalai	Ul'dah - Steps of Thal	(x12.9, y13.5)	0

Job Gauge

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

Elemental Gauge

The Elemental Gauge indicates whether you are under the influence of Astral Fire (after casting a Fire spell) or Umbral Ice (after casting a Blizzard spell). While under the influence of Astral Fire, all Fire spells will have increased potency, but require more MP to cast. While under the influence of Umbral Ice, all Blizzard spells will have no cost, and will recover MP upon striking a target. Furthermore, when maintaining stacks of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice, a spell of the opposite element can be cast at no cost but will deal reduced damage.

The action

Umbral Soul (acquired at level 35) halts the expiration of Umbral Ice. Reapplying this effect, or casting a spell of the opposite element, will cause its expiration to resume.

Coming under the influence of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice will grant

Enochian, and set the lower-right corner of the gauge aglow, indicating its effect is active. Enochian increases the potency of magic attacks, as well as unlocks powerful spells such as

Blizzard IV. Enochian fades when Astral Fire or Umbral Ice expires.

Casting

Freeze or

Blizzard IV grants 3 Umbral Hearts which are represented by the arrows in the gauge's lower-left corner. An Umbral Heart is consumed each time a Fire spell is cast, nullifying the MP cost increase applied by the Astral Fire status.

The Enochian bar will fill every 30 seconds the status is maintained. When the crystal at the bottom of the Elemental Gauge glows pink, you will be under effect of Polyglot, which allows the spells

Foul and

Xenoglossy (acquired at level 80) to be cast, consuming a crystal.

Upon learning the trait

Enhanced Polyglot, you will be able to stack a second Polyglot.

Upon learning the trait

Aspect Mastery V, the Paradox Gauge will be displayed. If your element switches to the opposite element when under the effects of either Astral Fire or Umbral Ice and in possession of the maximum number of Umbral Hearts, the left side of the Paradox Gauge will light up. You will then be able to use