Rune Fencer

job · RUN

A great-sword tank that carries up to three elemental runes, and spends them on defense, on damage or on weakening the monster.

RUN · two-hour Elemental Sforzo · 26 job abilities · 31 trait ranks · 160 spells · 50 weapon skills

What the job does:
A Rune Fencer harbors runes, one at a time, with Rune Enchantment. Each rune is an element (Ignis, Gelus, Flabra, Tellus, Sulpor, Unda, Lux, Tenebrae). While a rune is on you it gives resistance to the element that rune is weak to, and the rune is the fuel for every other ability on the job:

- Ward abilities spend nothing and use the runes you hold: Vallation, Valiance, Pflug, Battuta, Liement and One for All.
- Effusion abilities burn runes: Lunge, Swipe, Gambit and Rayke.

What it is good at:

- Magic damage. It is the best tank against spells and breath. Three runes of the monster's element, plus Vallation or Valiance, take away a large share of one element's damage, and Elemental Sforzo makes you immune to magic for 30 seconds.
- Parrying. Inquartata, Battuta and Tactical Parry make it a parry tank that can also dodge with Swordplay.
- Lunge and Swipe. Magic damage of its own, with enmity, that can magic burst.

What it is bad at: raw melee damage, and holding hate in the first seconds. Rune Fencer has no Provoke, so the usual answer is Flash or a Warrior subjob.

From the Rune Fencer's seat a fight is a short loop: put three runes on, put the right Ward up, tank, and when the runes run low burn them with Lunge or Gambit and put the next set on.

Role in a party:
Tank, most strongly against monsters whose danger is spells, breath, or one repeating element. Alongside a Paladin it is the other half of the tank pair: the Paladin is for physical damage and the Rune Fencer for magic.

What a Rune Fencer brings that nothing else does:

- Valiance puts the same elemental protection on the whole party for 3 minutes.
- One for All gives every party member a shield worth 20% of your maximum HP for 30 seconds.
- Gambit and Rayke make a monster weaker to the elements you hold, so the party's spells hit harder.
- Liement turns the damage of your runes' elements into healing.

It needs a healer, Cure and Cure potency, and a party that will use the element it weakens.

Subjobs:
Your support job is as high as your main job, so everything below is open from the first day you pick it.

Subjob | When | What it gives |
Warrior | Start here | Provoke (5), Berserk (15), Defender (25), Warcry (35), Aggressor (45), Retaliation (60). Provoke fills the one hole the Rune Fencer has. |
Paladin | Defensive tank | Sentinel (30), Cover (35), Rampart (62), Majesty (70), Palisade (95), Shield Bash (15). Rampart plus Vallation is a lot of damage gone. |
Ninja | Evasion | Utsusemi: Ichi (12) and Utsusemi: Ni (37); Yonin (40). |
Dancer | Support | Healing Waltz (35), Haste Samba (45), Contradance (50); Waltzes heal the party. |
White Mage | Self-sufficient | Cure through Cure V (61), Erase (32), Cursna (29), Raise, Reraise. |
Red Mage | Spell support | Haste (48), Refresh (41), Phalanx II (75) and Haste II (96), Refresh II (82). |

How the abilities work together:
The rune wheel. Each rune gives resistance to one element and deals damage in a different one when you Lunge or Swipe:

Rune | Resists | Lunge / Swipe element |
Ignis | Ice | Fire |
Gelus | Wind | Ice |
Flabra | Earth | Wind |
Tellus | Lightning | Earth |
Sulpor | Water | Lightning |
Unda | Fire | Water |
Lux | Dark | Light |
Tenebrae | Light | Dark |

Pick the rune that resists what the monster throws. Fire damage? Unda. Ice? Ignis. Wind? Gelus. Earth? Flabra. Lightning? Tellus. Water? Sulpor. Dark? Lux. Light? Tenebrae.

- You hold one rune below level 35, two from 35, three from 65. Runes last 5 minutes. Putting on a fourth replaces the oldest.
- Putting the same rune on twice makes that rune stronger instead of adding a second element, and Lunge counts those duplicates.
- Rune Enchantment recasts in 5 seconds.

Ward abilities (they use your runes).

Ability | Lasts | Recast | What it does |
Vallation | 2 min | 3 min | For each rune you hold, you take 15% less damage (more with merits) from the element that rune resists. |
Valiance | 3 min | 5 min | The same protection on the whole party in range. Has no effect on anyone who already has Vallation or Liement up. |
Pflug | 2 min | 3 min | Resists status effects by rune: Ignis paralyze and bind; Gelus silence and gravity; Flabra petrify and slow; Tellus stun; Sulpor poison; Unda amnesia and virus; Lux sleep, blind and curse; Tenebrae charm. |
Battuta | 90 s | 5 min | More parrying (36% extra plus merits); a parry fires spikes of your rune's element. |
Liement | 10 s | 3 min | Takes damage of your rune elements and turns it into healing. |
One for All | 30 s | 5 min | Each party member gets a shield worth 20% of your max HP. |

Effusion abilities (they burn your runes).

Ability | Lasts | Recast | What it does |
Lunge | instant | 3 min | Burns all runes; one magic hit per rune, in that rune's element, with enmity |
Swipe | instant | 90 s | Burns the newest rune; one magic hit |
Gambit | 1 min | 5 min | Burns all runes; the monster is 10% weaker per rune to those elements |
Rayke | 27 to 42 s | 5 min | Burns all runes; the monster's resistance to those elements drops a step |

Lunge and Swipe use your weapon skill and item level, so they are as strong as the sword you carry. Because they are magic, they can magic burst on a skillchain of that element.

Self abilities.

- Swordplay (level 20): 2 minutes, accuracy and evasion start at +3 and climb 3 every 3 seconds up to +60. Recast 5 minutes.
- Embolden (60): [cut off]

Working with other jobs:
Skillchains. Rune Fencer fights with a great sword. Properties:

Weapon skill | Properties | A partner closes with | Result |
Sickle Moon | Scission, Impaction | Liquefaction, Reverberation or Detonation | the same property |
Spinning Slash | Fragmentation | Distortion or Fusion | Distortion or Light |
Ground Strike | Fragmentation, Distortion | Distortion, Fusion or Gravitation | Distortion, Fusion (or Light) and Darkness |
Herculean Slash | Induration, Impaction, Detonation | Compression, Detonation, Impaction, Liquefaction, Reverberation or Scission | Gravitation, Fragmentation, or the same property |
Resolution (Lionheart) | Fragmentation, Scission | Distortion, Fusion, Liquefaction, Reverberation or Detonation | Distortion, Light, or the same property |
Dimidiation (Epeolatry) | Light, Fragmentation | Distortion, Fusion or Light | Distortion or Light |
Savage Blade (sword) | Fragmentation, Scission | Distortion, Fusion, Liquefaction, Reverberation or Detonation | Distortion, Light, or the same property |

Trusts that close for you: Ayame (UC) closes anything you open, Gessho and Maat hold their TP to close, and Selh'teus, Iroha, Iroha II, Ingrid II, Volker, Mildaurion and Karaha-Baruha save TP for closing.

Magic bursts. This is where the Rune Fencer is unusual. A skillchain opens a window; Lunge or Swipe during it bursts with the rune's element:

- Fire (Ignis) bursts Liquefaction, Fusion and Light; Ice (Gelus) bursts Induration, Distortion, Darkness.
- Wind (Flabra) bursts Detonation, Fragmentation, Light; Earth (Tellus) bursts Scission, Gravitation, Darkness.
- Lightning (Sulpor) bursts Impaction, Fragmentation, Light; Water (Unda) bursts Reverberation, Distortion, Darkness.
- Light (Lux) bursts Transfixion, Fusion, Light; Dark (Tenebrae) bursts Compression, Gravitation, Darkness.

Gambit and Rayke plus nukers. Burn Ignis runes with Gambit and the monster takes more fire damage for a minute: have a fire nuker ready. Shantotto, Kayeel-Payeel (ice and thunder), Kukki-Chebukki (the day's element), Gadalar (fire) and Leonoyne (ice) fit well.

Healers. A Rune Fencer heals itself with Regen III, Regen IV and Vivacious Pulse, and a healer Trust has less to do. Kupipi, Curilla, Fablinix, Excenmille, Trion and Adelheid Cure whoever holds hate at 75% and everyone else at 50%. Ygnas also removes ailments.

Trusts that help you tank.

- Koru-Moru casts Phalanx II on whoever holds hate, Haste II from level 96 and Refresh II from level 82.
- King of Hearts casts [cut off]

Levelling it:
Every job is open from level 1. Your level cap is 70 until you win a limit break fight: for a Rune Fencer that is Endeavoring to Awaken, the Rune Fencer's own quest in Seekers of Adoulin. Winning it lifts the cap to 99 for every job.

Level | What arrives |
1 to 9 | Effusion and Ward. Level 5: all eight runes, Rune Enchantment, Barstone and the other Bar spells. |
10 to 29 | Vallation (10), Shell (10), Aquaveil (15), Protect (20), Swordplay (20), Regen (23), Lunge and Swipe (25). |
30 to 49 | Shell II, Blink (35), a second rune (35), Pflug (40), Protect II, Flash (45), Blaze Spikes (45), Regen II (48). |
50 to 69 | Valiance (50), Shell III, Stoneskin (55), Foil (58), Embolden (60), Protect III, Refresh (62), Ice Spikes (65), Vivacious Pulse and the third rune (65), Phalanx (68). |
70 | Level cap. Do your limit break fight. |
70 to 99 | Gambit (70), Regen III, Shell IV, Battuta and Rayke (75), Baramnesia (76), Protect IV (80), Shock Spikes and Liement (85), Crusade (88), Shell V (90), One for All (95), Odyllic Subterfuge (96), Regen IV (99). |

Level with a healer Trust behind you and damage Trusts in front. Lunge and Swipe are your damage while you tank, so pick the rune that matches the monster's weakness. 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 Rune Fencer's Classic skill is Great Sword). Moogle Mode gives faster rates.

At 99 and endgame:
Merits. The Rune Fencer's merits are Rune Enhance (extra resistance per rune), Vallation effect, Lunge effect, Pflug effect, Gambit effect, and Battuta, Rayke, Inspiration and Sleight of Sword. Take Rune Enhance and Vallation effect first, then Battuta, Rayke (it lasts 3 seconds longer per merit) and Inspiration (fast cast for your Vallation and Valiance targets).

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

- Rune Enchantment Effect (+1 resistance per rank), Vallation Duration, One for All Duration, Gambit Duration, Swordplay Effect (+2 max accuracy and evasion per rank), Swipe Effect (+1% Lunge and Swipe damage per rank), Embolden Effect, Vivacious Pulse, Elemental Sforzo Effect, Odyllic Subterfuge Effect.

Gifts worth reaching: Magic Defense Bonus (45, 320, 845, 1620 JP), Magic Evasion Bonus (60, 360, 910, 1710), Enhancing Magic Received Duration (100, 1200), Enhancing Magic Skill Bonus (125, 450, 1050, 1900), Inquartata Effect (150, 500, 1125, 2000) and Physical Defense Bonus. Superior gear opens at 50 JP.

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

Where it shines. Wherever the monsters use elemental magic and breath: Omen, Odyssey, Ambuscade, Vagary and Limbus (Trusts allowed, at most 3 in Limbus), and Sortie and Salvage, where Trusts are not allowed and a human Rune Fencer's Valiance and One for All cover the party.

Gear to aim for:
Level | Sets |
1 to 29 | Bronze Cap, Bronze Harness, Bronze Mittens, Bronze Subligar, Bronze Leggings; Claymore (10), Pelte (8) |
30 to 59 | Brass Scale Mail (27), Mythril Claymore (36), Great Sword (41), Zweihander (60) |
60 to 75 | Flamberge (69), Nagan (71), Ruler (71) |
76 to 99 | Artifact Runeist (Runeist Bandeau, Runeist Coat, Runeist Mitons, Runeist Trousers, Runeist Bottes), Relic Futhark (Futhark Bandeau, Futhark Coat, Futhark Mitons, Futhark Trousers, Futhark Boots), Empyrean Erilaz (Erilaz Galea, Erilaz Surcoat, Erilaz Gauntlets, Erilaz Leg Guards, Erilaz Greaves), each with +1 to +3 upgrades |

Weapons: Epeolatry (Dimidiation, Enmity+23, Liement reaches the party), Lionheart (Resolution), Aettir (Oboro in Port Jeuno makes it; Enmity+10, Lunge+10), Futhark Claymore, Montante, Kaja Claymore, Agwu's Claymore, Blurred Claymore.

Also Nyame Helm, Nyame Mail, Nyame Gauntlets, Nyame Flanchard and Nyame Sollerets work for any job and are a good defense set. Vanagear builds and swaps these for you; see its guide.

Common mistakes:
- Wrong rune for the monster. Check the damage you are taking and put on the rune that resists it.
- Vallation and Valiance together. Valiance has no effect on someone who has Vallation, so use Valiance when the whole party needs it and Vallation when it is only you.
- Burning runes by accident. Lunge, Gambit and Rayke use all your runes. Do not use them when you are about to take a big magic hit.
- No hate tool. Rune Fencer has no Provoke. Use Flash, or pick Warrior as your support job.
- Letting the runes expire. They last 5 minutes. Put the next set on before the monster's next big move.
- Forgetting Embolden. Embolden on Regen IV or Phalanx is free defense.
- Using Elemental Sforzo against physical damage. It only stops magic.

Job abilities: Elemental Sforzo (SP, recast 1h): Grants immunity to all magic attacks. | Effusion (Lv 1): Converts harbored runes into offensive energies. | Ward (Lv 1): Causes defense energies to emit from harbored runes. | Flabra (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against earth and deals wind damage. | Gelus (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against wind and deals ice damage. | Ignis (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against ice and deals fire damage. | Lux (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against darkness and deals light damage. | Rune Enchantment (Lv 5): Allows you to harbor runes. | Sulpor (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against water and deals lightning damage. | Tellus (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against lightning and deals earth damage. | Tenebrae (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against light and deals darkness damage. | Unda (Lv 5, recast 5s): Increases resistance against fire and deals water damage. | Vallation (Lv 10, recast 3 min): Reduces elemental damage. The types of elemental damage reduced depend on the runes you harbor. | Swordplay (Lv 20, recast 5 min): Increases accuracy and evasion until you take severe damage. | Lunge (Lv 25, recast 3 min): Expends all runes to deal damage to a target. | Swipe (Lv 25, recast 2 min): Expends one rune to deal damage to a target. | Pflug (Lv 40, recast 3 min): Enhances resistance. The types of resistance enhanced depend upon the runes you harbor. | Valiance (Lv 50, recast 5 min): Reduces elemental damage for party members within area of effect. The types of elemental damage reduced depend on the runes you harbor. | Embolden (Lv 60, recast 10 min): Enhances the effects of the next enhancing magic spell you cast, but reduces effect duration. | Vivacious Pulse (Lv 65, recast 1 min): Restores your HP. | Gambit (Lv 70, recast 5 min): Expends all runes harbored to reduce an enemy's elemental defense. The types of elemental defense reduced depend on the runes you harbor. | Battuta (Lv 75, recast 5 min): Increases the likelihood of parrying and deals counter damage after parrying dependent upon harbored runes. | Rayke (Lv 75, recast 5 min): Expends runes to reduce elemental resistance of the target. | Liement (Lv 85, recast 3 min): Absorbs elemental damage. The types of elemental damage absorbed depend on the runes you harbor. | One for All (Lv 95, recast 5 min): Grants a Magic Shield effect for party members within area of effect. | Odyllic Subterfuge (Lv 96, recast 1h): Greatly reduces the target's magic accuracy.

Traits: Tenacity (Lv 5), Magic Def. Bonus (Lv 10), Inquartata (Lv 15), Max HP Boost (Lv 20), Tenacity II (Lv 25), Magic Def. Bonus II (Lv 30), Auto Regen (Lv 35), Max HP Boost II (Lv 40), Tactical Parry (Lv 40), Inquartata II (Lv 45), Tenacity III (Lv 45), Accuracy Bonus (Lv 50), Magic Def. Bonus III (Lv 50), Max HP Boost III (Lv 60), Tactical Parry II (Lv 60), Auto Regen II (Lv 65), Accuracy Bonus II (Lv 70), Magic Def. Bonus IV (Lv 70), Inquartata III (Lv 75), Tenacity IV (Lv 75), Magic Def. Bonus V (Lv 76), Max HP Boost IV (Lv 80), Tenacity V (Lv 80), Tactical Parry III (Lv 85), Accuracy Bonus III (Lv 90), Inquartata IV (Lv 90), Magic Def. Bonus VI (Lv 91), Auto Regen III (Lv 95), Tenacity VI (Lv 95), Magic Def. Bonus VII (Lv 99), 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, Barstone 4, Barsleep 6, Barwater 8, Barpoison 9, Shell 10, Barparalyze 11, Baraero 12, Aquaveil 15, Barfire 16, Barblind 17, Protect 20, Barblizzard 20, Barsilence 22, Regen 23, Barthunder 24, Shell II 30, Blink 35, Barvirus 38, Protect II 40, Barpetrify 42, Flash 45, Blaze Spikes 45, Regen II 48, Shell III 50, Stoneskin 55, Foil 58, Protect III 60, Refresh 62, Ice Spikes 65, Phalanx 68, Shell IV 70, Regen III 70, Baramnesia 76, Protect IV 80, Shock Spikes 85, Crusade 88, Shell V 90, Regen IV 99

Weapon skills: Fast Blade (Sword 5; Scission), Burning Blade (Sword 30; Liquefaction), Red Lotus Blade (Sword 50; Liquefaction/Detonation), Flat Blade (Sword 75; Impaction), Shining Blade (Sword 100; Scission), Seraph Blade (Sword 125; Scission), Circle Blade (Sword 150; Reverberation/Impaction), Spirits Within (Sword 175; ), Vorpal Blade (Sword 200; Scission/Impaction), Swift Blade (Sword 225; Gravitation), Savage Blade (Sword 240; Fragmentation/Scission), Sanguine Blade (Sword 300; ), Hard Slash (Great Sword 5; Scission), Power Slash (Great Sword 30; Transfixion), Frostbite (Great Sword 70; Induration), Freezebite (Great Sword 100; Induration/Detonation), Shockwave (Great Sword 150; Reverberation), Crescent Moon (Great Sword 175; Scission), Sickle Moon (Great Sword 200; Scission/Impaction), Spinning Slash (Great Sword 225; Fragmentation), Ground Strike (Great Sword 250; Fragmentation/Distortion), Herculean Slash (Great Sword 290; Induration/Impaction/Detonation), Resolution (Great Sword 357; Fragmentation/Scission), Dimidiation (Great Sword; Light/Fragmentation), Raging Axe (Axe 5; Detonation/Impaction), Smash Axe (Axe 40; Induration/Reverberation), Gale Axe (Axe 70; Detonation), Avalanche Axe (Axe 100; Scission/Impaction), Spinning Axe (Axe 150; Liquefaction/Scission/Impaction), Rampage (Axe 175; Scission), Decimation (Axe 240; Fusion/Reverberation), Ruinator (Axe 357; Distortion/Detonation), Shield Break (Great Axe 5; Impaction), Iron Tempest (Great Axe 40; Scission), Sturmwind (Great Axe 70; Reverberation/Scission), Armor Break (Great Axe 100; Impaction), Keen Edge (Great Axe 150; Compression), Weapon Break (Great Axe 175; Impaction), Steel Cyclone (Great Axe 240; Distortion/Detonation), Fell Cleave (Great Axe 300; Scission/Detonation/Impaction), Upheaval (Great Axe 357; Fusion/Compression), Shining Strike (Club 5; Impaction), Brainshaker (Club 70; Reverberation), Starlight (Club 100; ), Skullbreaker (Club 150; Induration/Reverberation), True Strike (Club 175; Impaction/Detonation), Judgment (Club 200; Impaction), Black Halo (Club 230; Fragmentation/Compression), Realmrazer (Club 357; Fusion/Impaction), Requiescat (Sword 357; Gravitation/Scission)