Ninja

job · NIN

The shadow tank and burst-damage melee: dual katanas, Utsusemi shadows that eat hits, and elemental ninjutsu that magic burst skillchains.

NIN · two-hour Mijin Gakure · 7 job abilities · 36 trait ranks · 158 spells · 45 weapon skills

What the job does:
A Ninja fights with two weapons (Dual Wield), keeps Utsusemi shadows up to swallow the monster's melee hits, and carries a bag of ninja tools that pay for its spells. The job has two faces and a switch between them:

- Yonin is the tank stance: more enmity, better evasion and fewer enemy critical hits while you face the monster, less accuracy.
- Innin is the damage stance: less enmity, and more accuracy, critical hits and ninjutsu damage when you hit the monster from behind.

What it is good at:

- Dodging physical damage. Utsusemi: Ichi and Utsusemi: Ni absorb a hit each, and Yonin and the Ninja's evasion traits add to it. A Ninja can hold a monster that hits hard but not often.
- Burst damage. Futae plus Katon, Hyoton, Huton, Doton, Raiton or Suiton: San, cast inside a skillchain window, is some of the highest burst in the game. The Magic Burst Bonus and Skillchain Bonus traits help.
- Debuffs and buffs by tool. Kurayami, Hojo, Jubaku, Dokumori, Aisha and Yurin on the monster; Myoshu, Kakka, Gekka and Yain on you.

What it is bad at: magic and breath damage (shadows do not stop spells, area moves or TP moves that ignore them), and tool upkeep. A Ninja that runs out of Shihei is not a tank.

Role in a party:
Melee damage dealer and a physical tank, whichever the party is short of.

What a Ninja brings that nothing else does:

- Shadow tanking. The only tank who tanks by not being hit.
- Magic burst on a melee schedule. A Ninja closes a skillchain, then bursts it with a ninjutsu.
- Enmity control. Gekka (level 88) and Yonin raise enmity; Yain (91) and Innin lower it. You choose which side of the line you are on.

It wants a party that does not leave it in front of area damage, and a healer that can Cure the hits that get past the shadows.

Subjobs:
Your support job is as high as your main job, so every ability and spell below is open from the first day.

Subjob | When | What it gives |
Warrior | Tank | Provoke (5), Berserk (15), Defender (25), Warcry (35), Aggressor (45), Retaliation (60). Provoke gives you the hate button Yonin does not. |
Dancer | Damage, start here | Haste Samba (45), Drain Samba (5), Healing Waltz (35), Quickstep, Box Step and Flourishes. The best damage pairing. |
Thief | Damage | Sneak Attack (15), Trick Attack (30), Flee (25), Treasure Hunter (15). Sneak Attack from behind pairs with Innin. |
Samurai | Damage | Third Eye (15), Meditate (30), Sekkanoki (40), Konzen-ittai (65), Store TP (10). Hasso needs a two-hander, so skip it. |
Red Mage | Support | Haste (48), Refresh (41), Convert (40), Phalanx (33), Enspells. |
White Mage | Self-sufficient | Erase (32), Cursna (29), Cure V (61), Haste (40). |

How the abilities work together:
Stances and one-hour.

Ability | Lasts | Recast | What it does |
Yonin | 5 min | 3 min | More enmity, impaired accuracy; better evasion and fewer enemy crits when you face the monster |
Innin | 5 min | 3 min | Less enmity, impaired evasion; more accuracy, crit rate and ninjutsu damage from behind |
Futae | 1 min | 3 min | Your next elemental ninjutsu is stronger; costs two ninja tools |
Sange | 1 min | 3 min | Daken (shuriken throws) fire much more often; uses up shuriken |
Issekigan | 1 min | 5 min | More parrying; each parry gives you enmity |
Mikage | 45 s | 60 min | More main-hand attacks per round, scaled by shadows left |
Mijin Gakure | instant | 60 min | You die; the monster takes 80% of your current HP as damage |

Recasts are the listed times; every job ability recasts 15% faster on Vanadreams. Switching between Yonin and Innin replaces the stance you had.

Ninjutsu. Each spell is paid for with a tool. Buy tools and scrolls from Amalasanda in Lower Jeuno.

- Utsusemi: Ichi (12) gives 3 shadows; Utsusemi: Ni (37) gives one more when Ninja is your main job. Each shadow takes one melee hit. Cast Ni first, Ichi to top up as shadows fall. Tool: Shihei.
- Katon, Hyoton, Huton, Doton, Raiton, Suiton: Ichi (15), Ni (40), San (75). Tools:6 items: - Uchitake
- Tsurara
- Kawahori-Ogi
- Makibishi
- Hiraishin
- Mizu-Deppo

- Debuffs: Kurayami (19, 44) blinds, Hojo (23, 48) slows, Dokumori (27) poisons, Jubaku (30) paralyzes, Aisha (78) lowers attack, Yurin (83) lowers TP gain. Tools:4 items: - Sairui-Ran
- Kaginawa
- Kodoku
- Jusatsu

- Self buffs: Tonko (9, 34) invisible, Monomi (25) sneak, Myoshu: Ichi (85) Subtle Blow, Gekka: Ichi (88) more enmity for 5 minutes, Migawari: Ichi (88) a decoy for 60 seconds, Yain: Ichi (91) less enmity for 5 minutes (it replaces Gekka), Kakka: Ichi (93) Store TP.
- Universal tools: Inoshishinofuda, Chonofuda and Shikanofuda stand in for the element tools. Ninjutsu looks in your inventory, then your Mog Sack, then your Mog Case. The Ninja Tool Expertise trait (75) sometimes uses no tool at all.

The tank loop (Yonin).

- Yonin, then Utsusemi: Ni (Ichi to top up).
- Gekka (88), Provoke from Warrior, Flash if you have it.
- Recast Utsusemi when you are down to your last shadow, not after it is gone. Utsusemi: Ichi will not replace a larger set of shadows.
- Issekigan when you are parrying a lot (each parry adds enmity), Migawari as an emergency.

Shadows absorb melee hits. They do not stop spells, breath or area moves, so a Ninja [cut off]

Working with other jobs:
Skillchains. Properties and what closes them:

Weapon skill | Properties | A partner closes with | Result |
Blade: Retsu | Scission | Liquefaction, Reverberation or Detonation | the same property |
Blade: Teki | Reverberation | Impaction or Induration | the same property |
Blade: To | Induration, Detonation | Compression, Impaction, Reverberation or Scission | Compression, Gravitation, Impaction, Fragmentation, Scission |
Blade: Chi | Transfixion, Impaction | Compression, Detonation, Liquefaction, Reverberation or Scission | Compression, Distortion, or the same property |
Blade: Ei | Compression | Detonation or Transfixion | the same property |
Blade: Jin | Detonation, Impaction | Compression, Detonation, Liquefaction or Scission | Gravitation or the same property |
Blade: Ten | Gravitation | Distortion or Fragmentation | Darkness or Fragmentation |
Blade: Ku | Gravitation, Transfixion | Compression, Distortion, Fragmentation, Reverberation or Scission | Darkness, Fragmentation, Distortion, or the same property |
Blade: Yu | Reverberation, Scission | Detonation, Impaction, Induration, Liquefaction or Reverberation | the same property |
Blade: Shun | Fusion, Impaction | Fragmentation, Gravitation, Detonation or Liquefaction | Light, Gravitation, or the same property |
Blade: Kamu | Fragmentation, Compression | Distortion, Fusion, Detonation or Transfixion | Distortion, Light, or the same property |
Blade: Hi | Darkness, Gravitation | Darkness, Distortion or Fragmentation | Darkness or Fragmentation |

Ayame (UC) closes the chains you open. Gessho and Maat hold their TP to close; Selh'teus, Iroha, Iroha II, Ingrid II, Volker, Mildaurion and Karaha-Baruha save TP for closing too. A skillchain with a Ninja usually looks like: you open, the Trust closes, and you burst.

Skillchain damage grows with each step; a Ninja behind the monster in Innin also adds to the skillchain's damage.

Magic bursts. Cast within the window of a skillchain that matches your ninjutsu's element:

Ninjutsu | Element | Bursts |
Katon | Fire | Liquefaction, Fusion, Light |
Hyoton | Ice | Induration, Distortion, Darkness |
Huton | Wind | Detonation, Fragmentation, Light |
Doton | Earth | Scission, Gravitation, Darkness |
Raiton | Lightning | Impaction, Fragmentation, Light |
Suiton | Water | Reverberation, Distortion, Darkness |

Each step of the chain adds to the burst, up to +70% on the eighth. You cannot burst Transfixion (Light) or Compression (Dark) with a ninjutsu; Light and Darknes [cut off]

Levelling it:
Every job is open from level 1. Your level cap is 70 until you finish Shattering Stars with Maat in Ru'Lude Gardens (level 65 or higher, with your job's testimony, solo and with no support job). That opens level 99 for every job.

Level | What arrives |
1 to 14 | Stealth (5), Dual Wield (10). Tonko: Ichi (9), Utsusemi: Ichi (12). Katana in the main hand: Wakizashi (7), Mokuto (16). |
15 to 29 | Subtle Blow (15), Katon, Hyoton, Huton, Doton, Raiton, Suiton: Ichi (15), Kurayami (19), Hojo (23), Daken (25), Monomi (25), Dokumori (27). |
30 to 49 | Jubaku (30), Tonko: Ni (34), Utsusemi: Ni (37), the Ni nukes (40), Yonin and Innin (40), Kurayami: Ni (44), Dual Wield III (45), Hojo: Ni (48). |
50 to 69 | Damage Limit+ (50), Daken III (55), Subtle Blow IV (60), Dual Wield IV (65). |
70 | Level cap. Do Shattering Stars. |
75 to 99 | San nukes, Sange and Ninja Tool Expertise (75), Futae (77), Aisha (78), Mag. Burst Bonus (80), Yurin (83), Skillchain Bonus (85), Myoshu (85), Gekka and Migawari (88), Yain (91), Kakka (93), Issekigan (95), Mikage (96). |

Level with a healer Trust and a tank Trust. Keep Utsusemi up and use Daken; throw a nuke between weapon skills. Records of Eminence and Fields of Valor pay experience as you go. Classic mode holds you at level 75 until you finish each era's list (the Ninja's Classic skill is Katana). Moogle Mode gives faster rates.

At 99 and endgame:
Merits. The Ninja's merits are Subtle Blow effect and the six element effects, then Sange, Ninja Tool Expertise, the six San effects, Yonin effect, Innin effect, Ninjutsu magic accuracy and Ninjutsu magic bonus. For damage take Ninjutsu magic bonus, Ninjutsu magic accuracy and the San effect of the element you cast most. For tank take Ninja Tool Expertise and Yonin effect.

Job points (from level 99, with the Job Breaker):

- Damage: Futae Effect (+5 magic damage per rank), Elemental Ninjutsu Effect (+2 per rank), Ninjutsu Accuracy Bonus, Ninjutsu Cast Time (-1% per rank), Innin Effect (+1 accuracy), Mikage Effect (+3 attack), Mijin Gakure Effect (+3% damage).
- Tank: Yonin Effect (+2 evasion), Issekigan Effect (+10 enmity), Tactical Parry Effect.

Gifts worth reaching: Daken Effect (150, 500, 1125, 2000 JP), Ninjutsu Skill Bonus (125, 450, 1050, 1900), Ninjutsu Effect Duration (550), Weapon Skill Damage Bonus (1200), Magic Attack Bonus (45, 320, 845, 1620) and Physical Evasion Bonus (20, 245, 720, 1445). Superior gear opens at 50 JP.

Spend all 2100 job points on a level 99 Ninja to master it; with the Master Breaker, Master Levels open.

Where it shines. Anywhere skillchains and bursts matter: Omen, Odyssey, Ambuscade, Vagary, Voidwatch and Dynamis. In Sortie and Nyzul Isle (no Trusts) a Ninja's shadows and bursts are a staple. In Limbus (at most 3 Trusts) a Ninja pairs with Matsui-P.

Gear to aim for:
Level | Sets |
1 to 29 | Bronze Cap, Bronze Harness, Bronze Mittens, Bronze Subligar, Bronze Leggings; Wakizashi (7), Mokuto (16), Kodachi (32); Shuriken (18) |
30 to 59 | Artifact: Ninja Hatsuburi, Ninja Chainmail (enhances Dual Wield), Ninja Tekko, Ninja Hakama, Ninja Kyahan |
60 to 75 | Koga Hakama (71), Koga Kyahan (72), Koga Hatsuburi (73), Koga Chainmail (74), Koga Tekko (75) |
76 to 99 | Artifact Hachiya (Hachiya Hatsuburi, Hachi. Chainmail, Hachiya Tekko, Hachiya Hakama, Hachiya Kyahan), Relic Mochizuki (Mochi. Hatsuburi, Mochi. Chainmail, Mochizuki Tekko, Mochizuki Hakama, Mochizuki Kyahan), Empyrean Hattori (Hattori Zukin, Hattori Ningi, Hattori Tekko, Hattori Hakama, Hattori Kyahan), each with +1 to +3 upgrades |

Weapons: Heishi Shorinken (Blade: Shun), Kikoku (Blade: Metsu), Nagi (Blade: Kamu), Kannagi (Blade: Hi), Shigi (Oboro in Port Jeuno makes it; ninjutsu bonuses), Kunimitsu, Gokotai, Tauret (dagger), Yagyu Darkblade and Kaja Katana. Ammo:
5 items: - Date Shuriken
- Happo Shuriken
- Seki Shuriken
- Hachiya Shuriken
- Ginsen

Accessories:
7 items: - Telos Earring
- Cessance Earring
- Suppanomimi
- Eabani Earring
- Hattori Earring
- Ilabrat Ring
- Regal Ring

Vanagear builds and swaps these for you, including a ninjutsu set; see its guide.

Common mistakes:
- Meleeing while shadows are down. Recast Utsusemi, then fight.
- Innin from the front. The bonuses need you behind the monster.
- Running out of tools. Buy Shihei and the element tools by the stack from Amalasanda, or carry the universal tools.
- Tanking spells with shadows. Shadows stop melee only.
- Burst outside the window. Cast during the skillchain's 10 seconds; wait at least 3 seconds after the last weapon skill so the chain has formed.
- Trying to burst Transfixion or Compression. No ninjutsu is Light or Dark.
- Wearing the Ninja Chainmail and a shield. Dual Wield needs two weapons.

Job abilities: Mijin Gakure (SP, recast 1h): Sacrifices your own life to deal damage to your enemy. | Innin (Lv 40, recast 3 min): Reduces enmity and impairs evasion. Grants a bonus to accuracy, critical hit rate, and ninjutsu damage when striking target from behind. | Yonin (Lv 40, recast 3 min): Increases enmity and enhances "ninja tool expertise" effect, but impairs accuracy. Improves evasion and reduces enemy's critical hit rate when in front of target. | Sange (Lv 75, recast 3 min): Increases Daken activation rate but consumes shuriken. | Futae (Lv 77, recast 3 min): Grants a bonus to your next elemental ninjutsu by expending two ninja tools. | Issekigan (Lv 95, recast 5 min): Increases chance of parrying and gives an enmity bonus upon a successful parry attempt. | Mikage (Lv 96, recast 1h): Grants a bonus to number of main weapon attacks that varies with the number of remaining Utsusemi shadows.

Traits: Stealth (Lv 5), Dual Wield (Lv 10), Resist Bind (Lv 10), Subtle Blow (Lv 15), Max HP Boost (Lv 20), Daken (Lv 25), Dual Wield II (Lv 25), Resist Bind II (Lv 30), Subtle Blow II (Lv 30), Daken II (Lv 40), Max HP Boost II (Lv 40), Dual Wield III (Lv 45), Subtle Blow III (Lv 45), Damage Limit+ (Lv 50), Resist Bind III (Lv 50), Daken III (Lv 55), Max HP Boost III (Lv 60), Subtle Blow IV (Lv 60), Dual Wield IV (Lv 65), Daken IV (Lv 70), Resist Bind IV (Lv 70), Ninja Tool Expert. (Lv 75), Subtle Blow V (Lv 75), Tactical Parry (Lv 77), Mag. Burst Bonus (Lv 80), Max HP Boost IV (Lv 80), Resist Bind V (Lv 81), Dual Wield V (Lv 83), Skillchain Bonus (Lv 85), Tactical Parry II (Lv 87), Mag. Burst Bonus II (Lv 90), Subtle Blow VI (Lv 91), Daken V (Lv 95), Skillchain Bonus II (Lv 95), Tactical Parry III (Lv 97), Max HP Boost V (Lv 99)

Spells by level: Shantotto 1, Naji 1, Kupipi 1, Excenmille 1, Ayame 1, Nanaa Mihgo 1, Curilla 1, Volker 1, Ajido-Marujido 1, Trion 1, Zeid 1, Lion 1, Tenzen 1, Mihli Aliapoh 1, Valaineral 1, Joachim 1, Naja Salaheem 1, Prishe 1, Ulmia 1, Shikaree Z 1, Cherukiki 1, Iron Eater 1, Gessho 1, Gadalar 1, Rainemard 1, Ingrid 1, Lehko Habhoka 1, Nashmeira 1, Zazarg 1, Ovjang 1, Mnejing 1, Sakura 1, Luzaf 1, Najelith 1, Aldo 1, Moogle 1, Fablinix 1, Maat 1, D. Shantotto 1, Star Sibyl 1, Karaha-Baruha 1, Cid 1, Gilgamesh 1, Areuhat 1, Semih Lafihna 1, Elivira 1, Noillurie 1, Lhu Mhakaracca 1, Ferreous Coffin 1, Lilisette 1, Mumor 1, Uka Totlihn 1, Klara 1, Romaa Mihgo 1, Kuyin Hathdenna 1, Rahal 1, Koru-Moru 1, Pieuje (UC) 1, I. Shield (UC) 1, Apururu (UC) 1, Jakoh (UC) 1, Flaviria (UC) 1, Babban 1, Abenzio 1, Rughadjeen 1, Kukki-Chebukki 1, Margret 1, Chacharoon 1, Lhe Lhangavo 1, Arciela 1, Mayakov 1, Qultada 1, Adelheid 1, Amchuchu 1, Brygid 1, Mildaurion 1, Halver 1, Rongelouts 1, Leonoyne 1, Maximilian 1, Kayeel-Payeel 1, Robel-Akbel 1, Kupofried 1, Selh'teus 1, Yoran-Oran (UC) 1, Sylvie (UC) 1, Abquhbah 1, Balamor 1, August 1, Rosulatia 1, Teodor 1, Ullegore 1, Makki-Chebukki 1, King of Hearts 1, Morimar 1, Darrcuiln 1, AAHM 1, AAEV 1, AAMR 1, AATT 1, AAGK 1, Iroha 1, Ygnas 1, Monberaux 1, Cornelia 1, Matsui-P 1, Excenmille [S] 1, Ayame (UC) 1, Maat (UC) 1, Aldo (UC) 1, Naja (UC) 1, Lion II 1, Zeid II 1, Prishe II 1, Nashmeira II 1, Lilisette II 1, Tenzen II 1, Mumor II 1, Ingrid II 1, Arciela II 1, Iroha II 1, Shantotto II 1, Tonko: Ichi 9, Utsusemi: Ichi 12, Katon: Ichi 15, Hyoton: Ichi 15, Huton: Ichi 15, Doton: Ichi 15, Raiton: Ichi 15, Suiton: Ichi 15, Kurayami: Ichi 19, Hojo: Ichi 23, Monomi: Ichi 25, Dokumori: Ichi 27, Jubaku: Ichi 30, Tonko: Ni 34, Utsusemi: Ni 37, Katon: Ni 40, Hyoton: Ni 40, Huton: Ni 40, Doton: Ni 40, Raiton: Ni 40, Suiton: Ni 40, Kurayami: Ni 44, Hojo: Ni 48, Katon: San 75, Hyoton: San 75, Huton: San 75, Doton: San 75, Raiton: San 75, Suiton: San 75, Aisha: Ichi 78, Yurin: Ichi 83, Myoshu: Ichi 85, Gekka: Ichi 88, Migawari: Ichi 88, Yain: Ichi 91, Kakka: Ichi 93

Weapon skills: Combo (Hand-to-Hand 5; Impaction), Shoulder Tackle (Hand-to-Hand 40; Reverberation/Impaction), Backhand Blow (Hand-to-Hand 100; Detonation), Spinning Attack (Hand-to-Hand 150; Liquefaction/Impaction), Wasp Sting (Dagger 5; Scission), Viper Bite (Dagger 100; Scission), Shadowstitch (Dagger 70; Reverberation), Gust Slash (Dagger 40; Detonation), Cyclone (Dagger 125; Detonation/Impaction), Energy Steal (Dagger 150; ), Energy Drain (Dagger 175; ), Evisceration (Dagger 230; Gravitation/Transfixion), Aeolian Edge (Dagger 290; Scission/Detonation/Impaction), Fast Blade (Sword 5; Scission), Burning Blade (Sword 30; Liquefaction), Flat Blade (Sword 75; Impaction), Shining Blade (Sword 100; Scission), Circle Blade (Sword 150; Reverberation/Impaction), Spirits Within (Sword 175; ), Blade: Rin (Katana 5; Transfixion), Blade: Retsu (Katana 30; Scission), Blade: Teki (Katana 70; Reverberation), Blade: To (Katana 100; Induration/Detonation), Blade: Chi (Katana 150; Transfixion/Impaction), Blade: Ei (Katana 175; Compression), Blade: Jin (Katana 200; Detonation/Impaction), Blade: Ten (Katana 225; Gravitation), Blade: Ku (Katana 250; Gravitation/Transfixion), Blade: Kamu (Katana; Fragmentation/Compression), Blade: Yu (Katana 290; Reverberation/Scission), Blade: Hi (Katana; Darkness/Gravitation), Blade: Shun (Katana 357; Fusion/Impaction), Tachi: Enpi (Great Katana 5; Transfixion/Scission), Tachi: Hobaku (Great Katana 30; Induration), Tachi: Goten (Great Katana 70; Transfixion/Impaction), Tachi: Kagero (Great Katana 100; Liquefaction), Tachi: Jinpu (Great Katana 150; Scission/Detonation), Tachi: Koki (Great Katana 175; Reverberation/Impaction), Tachi: Ageha (Great Katana 300; Compression/Scission), Shining Strike (Club 5; Impaction), Brainshaker (Club 70; Reverberation), Starlight (Club 100; ), Skullbreaker (Club 150; Induration/Reverberation), True Strike (Club 175; Impaction/Detonation), Exenterator (Dagger 357; Fragmentation/Scission)