Samurai

job · SAM

The Samurai is the weapon skill specialist: a great katana fighter that builds TP faster than almost anyone and lines up skillchains for the whole party.

SAM · two-hour Meikyo Shisui · 14 job abilities · 24 trait ranks · 122 spells · 40 weapon skills

What the job does:
Samurai swings one big two-handed great katana, and the point of every swing is TP. Store TP traits (up to level 90), Zanshin (a free extra attack after a miss), Meditate, and Hasso's faster swings all feed the same thing: a weapon skill at 1,000 TP, and again, and again. The great katana weapon skills (Tachi: weapon skills) are also unusually good at skillchains, and the Samurai has abilities (Konzen-ittai, Sengikori, Meikyo Shisui, Sekkanoki, Hagakure) that exist only to bend the rules of TP and chains.

What it is good at: weapon skill damage, setting up and finishing skillchains, and surviving a single big hit with Third Eye. What it is bad at: it does not tank, it has no support for the party beyond Warding Circle against demons, and it is a one-weapon job: a great katana or a polearm, and the best weapon skills belong to the great katana.

From the Samurai's seat the fight is a loop. Hasso is on, TP climbs, Third Eye blocks the next big hit, and each time the party has a chain window you decide whether to open it, close it, or go off on your own with Meikyo Shisui.

Role in a party:
Damage and skillchains. A Samurai is expected to hit hard with weapon skills and to chain with the party, opening for others or closing theirs. It is often the one calling the chain. It also shares TP: Shikikoyo gives a party member the TP you have above 1,000, so you can feed a Bard's or a Mage's chain.

What it brings that nothing else does:

- Konzen-ittai: readies the monster for a skillchain for 10 seconds, so the next weapon skill closes a chain without anyone opening one.
- Sengikori: the weapon skill you use next does more skillchain and magic burst damage for 60 seconds.
- Meikyo Shisui: three weapon skills in 30 seconds at 1,000 TP each.
- Warding Circle (and Hamanoha, Demon Killer) against demons.

How the abilities work together:
Base recasts and durations as the server has them. Job ability recasts on Vanadreams are 15% shorter than shown.

Ability | Level | Lasts | Recast | Notes |
Meikyo Shisui | start | 30 s | 1 hour | Gives 3,000 TP; weapon skills cost 1,000 TP |
Warding Circle | 5 | 3 min | 5 min | Party resistance, defense and attack against demons (stronger as a Samurai than as a subjob) |
Third Eye | 15 | 30 s | 1 min | Dodge the next attack |
Hasso | 25 | 5 min | 1 min | Faster swings, accuracy, STR (level / 7); needs a two-handed weapon |
Meditate | 30 | 15 s | 3 min | TP: 20 every 3 seconds as a Samurai |
Seigan | 35 | 5 min | 1 min | Better Third Eye; replaces Hasso |
Sekkanoki | 40 | 1 min | 5 min | Next weapon skill costs 1,000 TP |
Konzen-ittai | 65 | 10 s | 3 min | Readies the monster for a chain |
Blade Bash | 75 | instant | 3 min | Stuns and can cause plague |
Shikikoyo | 75 | instant | 5 min | Gives a party member your TP above 1,000 |
Sengikori | 77 | 1 min | 3 min | Skillchain and magic burst bonus on your next weapon skill |
Hamanoha | 87 | 3 min | 5 min | Weakens demons |
Hagakure | 95 | 1 min | 3 min | Save TP and a TP bonus on your next weapon skill |
Yaegasumi | 96 | 45 s | 1 hour | Evade special attacks and gain weapon skill damage |

Hasso or Seigan. Hasso (swing speed, accuracy and STR) is your default and should be on all the time: it lasts 5 minutes but recasts in 1, so renew it whenever you notice it is missing. Seigan replaces Hasso and improves Third Eye (its recast is halved and counterattacks go up), for when you are tanking or the monster is hitting you hard. Both need a two-handed weapon.

Third Eye. It blocks one attack, lasts 30 seconds and recasts every minute (every 30 seconds with Seigan). Use it when you see a big hit ready, not in advance.

Building TP.

- Open with Hasso and Meditate.
- Keep swinging. Store TP and Zanshin do the rest.
- When you reach 1,000 TP, use Sekkanoki so the weapon skill costs only 1,000 TP and you keep the rest to spend on the next. Or keep going to 3,000 TP for the strongest hit.

Meikyo Shisui burst. You get 3,000 TP at once and weapon skills cost only 1,000 each:

- Meikyo Shisui.
- Three weapon skills, at least 3 seconds apart, that make a skillchain: Tachi: Kasha, Tachi: Rana, Tachi: Gekko makes Darkness (a level 3 chain).
- Add Sengikori before the first weapon skill to raise the chain damage.

Hagakure. Gives your next weapon skill the Save TP effect and a TP bonus, and recasts in 3 minutes. Use it on th [cut off]

Working with other jobs:
Skillchains. Use the Skillchains page: close at least 3 seconds after the opener and inside 10 seconds. Samurai chains:

- Level 1: Tachi: Kagero (Liquefaction) then Tachi: Jinpu (Scission, Detonation) makes Scission. Tachi: Jinpu then Tachi: Yukikaze makes Detonation. Tachi: Koki then Tachi: Hobaku makes Induration.
- Level 2: Tachi: Kagero then Tachi: Goten makes Fusion. Tachi: Goten then Tachi: Jinpu makes Distortion. Tachi: Yukikaze then Tachi: Koki makes Fragmentation. Tachi: Jinpu then Tachi: Ageha makes Gravitation.
- Level 3: Tachi: Kasha (Fusion, Compression) then Tachi: Shoha (Fragmentation, Compression) makes Light. Tachi: Kasha, Tachi: Rana, Tachi: Gekko makes Gravitation then Darkness. Tachi: Kagero, Tachi: Goten, Tachi: Rana, Tachi: Gekko makes the same four steps in a row.
- Radiance and Umbra: with the Aeonic Dojikiri Yasutsuna and its Aftermath, Tachi: Shoha gains Light. A level 4 Light closed after 2 to 4 weapon skills (depending on your Aeonic Aftermath level) becomes Radiance. See the Skillchains page.

Partners (you open).

- Tachi: Kasha (Fusion): a Monk closes with Dragon Kick, a Thief with Shark Bite, a Dragoon with Camlann's Torment, for Light.
- Tachi: Rana (Gravitation): a Dragoon, Thief or Monk closes with a Fragmentation weapon skill (Camlann's Torment, Shark Bite, Dragon Kick) for Fragmentation, or with a Distortion one (Geirskogul, Rudra's Storm) for Darkness.
- Tachi: Gekko (Distortion): close with Tachi: Kasha or any Fusion weapon skill for Fusion.

Partners (they open, you close).

- Close a Warrior's Upheaval with Tachi: Shoha for Light, or a Warrior's Steel Cyclone with Tachi: Kasha for Fusion.
- Close a Dragoon's Wheeling Thrust (Fusion) with Tachi: Shoha for Light.

With a Dancer: Wild Flourish readies the monster as Konzen-ittai does, so a Dancer and a Samurai can alternate: the Dancer readies and you close, then you ready and the Dancer closes.

Magic bursts. Light, Fusion, Fragmentation and Darkness chains give the biggest bursts. With Sengikori, magic bursts started by your weapon skill also gain a bonus. Ask a Black Mage or Shantotto to burst Fire, Light, Wind or Thunder on a Light chain.

Bards and Corsairs. March and Minuet raise your swings and attack. Store TP stacks with Samurai's own. Chaos Roll helps your attack, and Tactician's Roll helps you reach TP sooner.

What it needs from the healer. Haste and Cure. Tell them when you are on Seigan, because it replaces Hasso.

Trusts. Ark Angel GK, Gilgamesh and Noi [cut off]

Levelling it:
Level | What you get |
start | Meikyo Shisui |
5 | Warding Circle |
10 | Store TP |
15 | Third Eye |
20 | Zanshin |
25 | Hasso |
30 | Meditate, Store TP II |
35 | Seigan, Zanshin II |
40 | Sekkanoki, Damage Limit+, Demon Killer |
50 | Store TP III, Zanshin III |
65 | Konzen-ittai, Zanshin IV |
70 | Store TP IV |
75 | Blade Bash, Shikikoyo, Ikishoten, Overwhelm |
77 | Sengikori |
78 | Skillchain Bonus |
87 | Hamanoha |
88 | Skillchain Bonus II |
90 | Store TP V |
95 | Hagakure, Zanshin V |
96 | Yaegasumi |
98 | Skillchain Bonus III |

- 1 to 25: a Nodachi or Kotetsu and a healer Trust. Hasso at 25 changes the job.
- 25 to 50: Meditate and Sekkanoki; learn Tachi: Goten and Kagero for your first level 2 chain. Trusts such as Ark Angel GK or Gilgamesh chain with you.
- 50 to 75: Konzen-ittai at 65 lets you chain with any Trust.
- To 99: your level cap starts at 70. Win Shattering Stars from Maat in Ru'Lude Gardens (level 66 or higher) to open level 99. Levelling uses standard experience, Records of Eminence and Trusts. Classic mode keeps you at 75, then 90; Moogle Mode runs at faster rates.

At 99 and endgame:
Merits (five levels each):

- Group 1: Third Eye and Warding Circle recasts (2 and 10 seconds shorter a level), Store TP (+2 a level), Meditate recast (6 seconds a level), Zanshin rate (+1% a level).
- Group 2: Shikikoyo (the TP you share goes further), Blade Bash (longer plague), Ikishoten (more TP from Zanshin) and Overwhelm.
- Weapon skill merits: Tachi: Shoha, Apex Arrow, Stardiver and Requiescat for a Samurai, at 20 to 30 merits a level.

Job points. Master the job at 2,100 job points. Gifts that matter:

- 80: Zanshin effect +2. 100: Hasso and Seigan Zanshin +5. 125: Store TP +2.
- 150, 500, 1,125, 2,000: Skillchain Bonus +2 each time. 405, 980, 1,805: Zanshin chance up.
- 550: Third Eye effect. 2,100: Meikyo Shisui and Yaegasumi come back 15 minutes sooner.
- Spend category points on Konzen-ittai (+1% skillchain damage a rank), Meditate (+5 TP a rank), Yaegasumi and Hagakure first.

Master levels. Maat or the Nomad Moogle in Ru'Lude Gardens gives Job Breaker at 99, and Master Breaker on a mastered level 99 job.

Where it shines. Omen, Odyssey, Ambuscade, Vagary, Dynamis - Divergence and Limbus all allow Trusts. A Samurai with Konzen-ittai chains with Trusts no one else can time. Sortie, Nyzul Isle, Einherjar, Salvage and Assault do not allow Trusts, so bring players there. Against demons, Warding Circle, Hamanoha and Demon Killer give a real edge.

Gear to aim for:
Band | Weapons | Armor and accessories |
1 to 30 | Nodachi, Kotetsu | Rajas Ring |
30 to 49 | Mikazuki, Odenta | Keep your earlier accessories |
50 to 74 | Namioyogi | Myochin Kabuto, Myochin Domaru, Myochin Kote, Myochin Haidate, Myochin Sune-Ate (levels 52 to 60), Fortitude Torque |
75 to 98 | Totsukanotsurugi, Amanomurakumo, Masamune, Kogarasumaru | Unkai Domaru (89), Unkai Haidate (83), Brutal Earring |
99 | Dojikiri Yasutsuna, Kurikaranotachi (made by Oboro in Port Jeuno), Hachimonji, Kusanagi, Zanmato +2 | The sets below |

- Artifact: Wakido Kabuto, Wakido Domaru.
- Relic: Kasuga Kabuto +3, Kasuga Domaru +3, Kasuga Kote +3, Kasuga Haidate +3.
- Empyrean: Sakonji Kabuto +3, Sakonji Domaru +3, Sakonji Kote +3, Sakonji Haidate +3.
- Accessories: Moonshade Earring, Ishvara Earring, Cessance Earring, Telos Earring, Chirich Ring, Petrov Ring, Fotia Gorget, Fotia Belt.
- Weapon skill weapons: Amanomurakumo (Tachi: Kaiten), Kogarasumaru (Tachi: Rana), Masamune (Tachi: Fudo), Dojikiri Yasutsuna (Tachi: Shoha).

Common mistakes:
- Hasso with a one-handed weapon. It, Seigan and Blade Bash all need a two-handed weapon.
- Letting Hasso lapse. It is on a 1 minute recast; renew it.
- Weapon skills at 1,000 TP on every chance. Use Sekkanoki to make 1,000 TP count, or hold for 3,000 TP when a chain is lined up.
- Using Meikyo Shisui for one weapon skill. It is three weapon skills in 30 seconds; plan a chain.
- Using Konzen-ittai without a partner ready. It lasts only 10 seconds.
- Closing a chain too fast. Wait 3 seconds after the opener.
- Using Third Eye in advance. It lasts 30 seconds and blocks one attack. Use it when a big hit is incoming.
- Using Seigan and Hasso together. Each cancels the other.

Job abilities: Meikyo Shisui (SP, recast 1h): Lowers TP cost of weapon skills to 1000. Monipulator: Eliminates TP cost of your next monster skill. | Warding Circle (Lv 5, recast 5 min): Grants enhanced resistance, defense, and attack against demons to party members within area of effect. | Third Eye (Lv 15, recast 1 min): Allows you to dodge the next attack directed at you. | Hasso (Lv 25, recast 1 min): Grants a bonus to attack speed, accuracy, and Strength when using two-handed weapons, but increases recast and casting times. May also trigger Zanshin after a successful attack. | Meditate (Lv 30, recast 3 min): Gradually charges TP. | Seigan (Lv 35, recast 1 min): Grants a bonus to "Third Eye" when using two-handed weapons, but increases recast and casting times. Also increases chance of counterattack based on Zanshin attack rate. | Sekkanoki (Lv 40, recast 5 min): Limits TP cost of next weapon skill to 1000. | Konzen-ittai (Lv 65, recast 3 min): Readies target for a skillchain. | Blade Bash (Lv 75, recast 3 min): Delivers an attack that can stun the target and occasionally cause plague. | Shikikoyo (Lv 75, recast 5 min): Share TP above 1000 with a party member. | Sengikori (Lv 77, recast 3 min): Grants a bonus to skillchains and magic bursts initiated by your next weapon skill. | Hamanoha (Lv 87, recast 5 min): Lowers accuracy, evasion, magic accuracy, magic evasion, and TP gain for demons. | Hagakure (Lv 95, recast 3 min): Grants "Save TP" effect and a TP bonus to your next weapon skill. | Yaegasumi (Lv 96, recast 1h): Allows you to evade melee and magic special attacks. Grants both a TP bonus and a weapon skill damage bonus that vary with the number of special attacks evaded.

Traits: Resist Blind (Lv 5), Store TP (Lv 10), Zanshin (Lv 20), Resist Blind II (Lv 25), Store TP II (Lv 30), Zanshin II (Lv 35), Damage Limit+ (Lv 40), Demon Killer (Lv 40), Resist Blind III (Lv 45), Store TP III (Lv 50), Zanshin III (Lv 50), Resist Blind IV (Lv 65), Zanshin IV (Lv 65), Store TP IV (Lv 70), Ikishoten (Lv 75), Overwhelm (Lv 75), Skillchain Bonus (Lv 78), Damage Limit+ II (Lv 80), Resist Blind V (Lv 81), Demon Killer II (Lv 86), Skillchain Bonus II (Lv 88), Store TP V (Lv 90), Zanshin V (Lv 95), Skillchain Bonus III (Lv 98)

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

Weapon skills: Wasp Sting (Dagger 5; Scission), Shadowstitch (Dagger 70; Reverberation), Gust Slash (Dagger 40; Detonation), Energy Steal (Dagger 150; ), 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; ), Double Thrust (Polearm 5; Transfixion), Thunder Thrust (Polearm 30; Transfixion/Impaction), Leg Sweep (Polearm 100; Impaction), Penta Thrust (Polearm 150; Compression), Vorpal Thrust (Polearm 175; Reverberation/Transfixion), Impulse Drive (Polearm 240; Gravitation/Induration), Stardiver (Polearm 357; Gravitation/Transfixion), 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: Yukikaze (Great Katana 200; Induration/Detonation), Tachi: Gekko (Great Katana 225; Distortion/Reverberation), Tachi: Kasha (Great Katana 250; Fusion/Compression), Tachi: Rana (Great Katana; Gravitation/Induration), Tachi: Ageha (Great Katana 300; Compression/Scission), Tachi: Fudo (Great Katana; Light/Distortion), Tachi: Shoha (Great Katana 357; Fragmentation/Compression), Shining Strike (Club 5; Impaction), Seraph Strike (Club 40; Impaction), Brainshaker (Club 70; Reverberation), Starlight (Club 100; ), Moonlight (Club 125; ), Skullbreaker (Club 150; Induration/Reverberation), True Strike (Club 175; Impaction/Detonation), Judgment (Club 200; Impaction), Apex Arrow (Archery 357; Fragmentation/Transfixion), Requiescat (Sword 357; Gravitation/Scission)