Dragoon Job Guide for FFXIV — Dawntrail 7.1
Dragoon is a melee DPS job in Final Fantasy XIV that utilizes a combination of high-flying jumping attacks and draconic energies to disembowel their enemies. They can only be played by reaching Level 30 in Gridania's Lancer class and completing each of the associated Class quests.
What is Dragoon's Playstyle?
Dragoon is a relatively strict rotational melee DPS with a slow base rotation
coupled with packed, frenetic burst windows. The dragoon wields a lance to utilize
a variety of thrusting and jumping maneuvers alongside channeling the power of dragons,
utilizing their power for firing off flashy bursts of energy.
Dragoon carries powerful raid utility by way of 
Battle Litany, which amplifies the party's Critical Hit
Rate (not damage) for a short duration every two minutes, increasing potential damage output of the entire raid group.
Like other melee dps, Dragoon also brings 
Feint for additional minor defensive support.
Beyond that, the core rotation focuses on alternating your two main combos - the 
Chaotic Spring combo
for damage-over-time and the 
Heavens' Thrust combo for raw damage - while weaving in a large amount of
powerful jumping and dragon-themed abilities. The basic rotation is simple to play and its "push everything on cooldown"
approach to maximization makes it a rather beginner-friendly option among the Melee DPS options.
Dragoon Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
Straightforward rotation with no randomness.- Strong raid buff utility.
- High personal DPS.
Weaknesses
Frenetic, frequent burst windows.- One of two melee that lacks a personal mitigation cooldown.
- Very weak ranged disengage options.
How do you Unlock Dragoon?
Dragoon upgrades from one of the starter classes, Lancer, at level 30. If you didn't start as Lancer, you can unlock the class at the Lancer's Guild in Old Gridania (x14.0, y6.0), starting at level 10 by speaking with Jillian.
Once you have reached level 30 as a Lancer and finished all seven class quests,
you can return to Jillian to get the quest Eye of the Dragon. Upon completion of this quest,
you will obtain the Dragoon job stone, unlocking 
Jump in the process.
Equip the stone from the last tab in your Armoury Chest to become a Dragoon.
Dragoon Gauges
The Dragon Gauge tracks a couple of your different mechanics. In the image below,
the two large purple elements to the right indicate your Firstminds' Focus. It also
shows two phases of the gauge. To the left is the base gauge, and on the right is
the Life of the Dragon gauge. From level 60 to 69, prior to learning 
Nastrond,
you will instead enter Blood of the Dragon, which has a blue bar.
The Dragon Gauge changes display based on which actions you use when. In the image below, the giant glowing eye is your Gaze of the First Brood, and the two purple scale-like objects are Firstminds' Focus. It also shows the two phases of the gauge: Blood of the Dragon (left) and Life of the Dragon (right).
The gauge itself is only unlocked at level 60 when you learn 
Geirskogul.
At this level, pressing Geirskogul will enter Blood of the Dragon, a phase
lasting for 20 seconds, during which you deal an additional 10% damage with all actions. At
level 70, you learn Nastrond and your Blood of the Dragon upgrades into
Life of the Dragon, which increases damage by 15% and grants 3 stacks which
allow you to execute one Nastrond per stack.
This phase allows the use of the level 80 skill, 
Stardiver, once you learn
it, as well. This skill can be used once per Life phase. Once you hit level 100, you also learn
Starcross, which is an action that can only be used after Stardiver
and only while within your Life of the Dragon phase.
The other part of the gauge, Firstminds' Focus, is unlocked at level 90. You gain
one stack (to a maximum of two) each time you successfully execute either 
Raiden Thrust
or 
Draconian Fury, both of which act as "rewards" for completing a combo.
When your focus is strong enough (two stacks), you can execute one 
Wyrmwind Thrust,
which clears all stacks. Below is a quick link to hop right into the rotation guide
to get a better idea of how all of these pieces work together.
Dragoon Video Resources
We will provide good Dawntrail video resources here as soon as they become available!
Dragoon Actions
| Action Name |
|
|
Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 True Thrust
Lv. 1
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 230. |
 Vorpal Thrust
Lv. 4
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 130. Combo Action: True Thrust or Raiden Thrust Combo Potency: 280 |
 Life Surge
Lv. 6
|
|
|
Ensures critical damage for first weaponskill used while Life Surge is active. Duration: 5s Increases damage dealt when under an effect that raises critical hit rate. Effect cannot be applied to damage over time. Additional Effect: Absorbs a portion of damage dealt as HP Maximum Charges: 2 |
 Piercing Talon
Lv. 15
|
|
|
Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 200. Enhanced Piercing Talon Potency: 350 |
 Disembowel
Lv. 18
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: True Thrust or Raiden Thrust Combo Potency: 250 Combo Bonus: Grants Power Surge Power Surge Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% Duration: 30s |
 Full Thrust
Lv. 26
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. Combo Action: Vorpal Thrust Combo Potency: 380 |
 Jump
Lv. 30
|
|
|
Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 320. Returns you to your original position after the attack is made. Additional Effect: Grants Dive Ready Duration: 15s |
 Lance Charge
Lv. 30
|
|
|
Increases damage dealt by 10%. Duration: 20s |
 Elusive Jump
Lv. 35
|
|
|
Executes a jump to a location 15 yalms behind you. Additional Effect: Grants Enhanced Piercing Talon Duration: 15s Cannot be executed while bound. |
 Doom Spike
Lv. 40
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 110 to all enemies in a straight line before you. |
 Winged Glide
Lv. 45
|
|
|
Rush to a targeted enemy's location. Maximum Charges: 2 Cannot be executed while bound. |
 Chaos Thrust
Lv. 50
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100. 140 when executed from a target's rear. Combo Action: Disembowel Combo Potency: 220 Rear Combo Potency: 260 Combo Bonus: Damage over time Potency: 40 Duration: 24s |
 Dragonfire Dive
Lv. 50
|
|
|
Delivers a jumping fire-based attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 500 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Dragon's Flight Duration: 30s Cannot be executed while bound. |
 Battle Litany
Lv. 52
|
|
|
Increases critical hit rate of self and nearby party members by 10%. Duration: 20s |
 Fang and Claw
Lv. 56
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. 180 when executed from a target's flank. Combo Action: Heavens' Thrust Combo Potency: 300 Flank Combo Potency: 340 |
 Wheeling Thrust
Lv. 58
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. 180 when executed from a target's rear. Combo Action: Chaotic Spring Combo Potency: 300 Rear Combo Potency: 340 |
 Geirskogul
Lv. 60
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 280 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Life of the Dragon Life of the Dragon Effect: Increases damage dealt by 15% Duration: 20s Additional Effect: Grants Nastrond Ready Duration: 20s |
 Sonic Thrust
Lv. 62
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Combo Action: Doom Spike or Draconian Fury Combo Potency: 120 Combo Bonus: Grants Power Surge Power Surge Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% Duration: 30s |
 Drakesbane
Lv. 64
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 440. Combo Action: Wheeling Thrust or Fang and Claw Combo Bonus: Grants Draconian Fire Duration: 30s Can only be executed after successfully landing Wheeling Thrust or Fang and Claw as a combo action. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Wheeling Thrust and Fang and Claw change to Drakesbane when requirements for execution are met. |
 Mirage Dive
Lv. 68
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 380. Can only be executed when Dive Ready. |
 Nastrond
Lv. 70
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 720 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while Nastrond Ready. |
 Coerthan Torment
Lv. 72
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Combo Action: Sonic Thrust Combo Potency: 150 Combo Bonus: Grants Draconian Fire Duration: 30s |
 High Jump
Lv. 74
|
|
|
Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 400. Returns you to your original position after the attack is made. Additional Effect: Grants Dive Ready Duration: 15s |
 Raiden Thrust
Lv. 76
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 320. Additional Effect: Sharpens the Firstminds' Focus by 1 Can only be executed while under the effect of Draconian Fire. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※True Thrust changes to Raiden Thrust when requirements for execution are met. |
 Stardiver
Lv. 80
|
|
|
Delivers a jumping fire-based attack to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 820 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Additional Effect: Grants Starcross Ready Duration: 20s Effect ends when Life of the Dragon expires. Can only be executed while under the effect of Life of the Dragon. Cannot be executed while bound. |
 Draconian Fury
Lv. 82
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 130 to all enemies in a straight line before you. Additional Effect: Sharpens the Firstminds' Focus by 1 Can only be executed while under the effect of Draconian Fire. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar. ※Doom Spike changes to Draconian Fury when requirements for execution are met. |
 Chaotic Spring
Lv. 86
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. 180 when executed from a target's rear. Combo Action: Spiral Blow Combo Potency: 300 Rear Combo Potency: 340 Combo Bonus: Damage over time Potency: 45 Duration: 24s |
 Heavens' Thrust
Lv. 86
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: Lance Barrage Combo Potency: 440 |
 Wyrmwind Thrust
Lv. 90
|
|
|
Delivers an attack to all enemies in a straight line before you with a potency of 440 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Firstminds' Focus Cost: 2 |
 Rise of the Dragon
Lv. 92
|
|
|
Deals physical damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 550 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Dragon's Flight. |
 Lance Barrage
Lv. 96
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 130. Combo Action: True Thrust or Raiden Thrust Combo Potency: 340 |
 Spiral Blow
Lv. 96
|
|
|
Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: True Thrust or Raiden Thrust Combo Potency: 300 Combo Bonus: Grants Power Surge Power Surge Effect: Increases damage dealt by 10% Duration: 30s |
 Starcross
Lv. 100
|
|
|
Deals physical damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 1,000 for the first enemy, and 50% less for all remaining enemies. Can only be executed while under the effect of Starcross Ready. |
Role Actions
| Action Name |
|
|
Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
 Second Wind
Lv. 8
|
|
|
Instantly restores own HP. Cure Potency: 800 |
 Leg Sweep
Lv. 10
|
|
|
Stuns target. Duration: 3s |
 Bloodbath
Lv. 12
|
|
|
Converts a portion of physical damage dealt into HP. Duration: 20s |
 Feint
Lv. 22
|
|
|
Lowers target's physical damage dealt by 10% and magic damage dealt by 5%. Duration: 15s |
 Arm's Length
Lv. 32
|
|
|
Nullifies most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: When you are struck by a physical attack, the striker will be afflicted with Slow +20% Duration: 15s |
 True North
Lv. 50
|
|
|
Nullifies all action direction requirements. Duration: 10s Maximum Charges: 2 |
Dragoon Traits
| Action Name | Acquired | Effect |
|---|---|---|
 Enhanced Jump |
Lv. 54 |
Increases the potency of Jump to 320. |
 Life of the Dragon |
Lv. 70 |
Upgrades Blood of the Dragon to Life of the Dragon. Life of the Dragon Effect: Increases damage dealt by 15% Upon successfully landing Geirskogul, grants Nastrond Ready. Duration: 20s |
 Jump Mastery |
Lv. 74 |
Upgrades Jump to High Jump. |
 Lance Mastery |
Lv. 76 |
Increases the potency of True Thrust to 230, Vorpal Thrust to 130, Piercing Talon to 200, Enhanced Piercing Talon to 350, and Disembowel to 140. Grants Draconian Fire if Drakesbane is executed following Fang and Claw or Wheeling Thrust. Duration: 30s Effect of Draconian Fire ends upon execution of any melee weaponskill. Upgrades True Thrust to Raiden Thrust while under the effect of Draconian Fire. |
 Enhanced Coerthan Torment |
Lv. 82 |
Grants the effect of Draconian Fire after successfully completing a combo with Coerthan Torment. Duration: 30s Effect of Draconian Fire ends upon execution of any melee weaponskill. Upgrades Doom Spike to Draconian Fury while under the effect of Draconian Fire. |
 Enhanced Winged Glide |
Lv. 84 |
Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Winged Glide. Maximum Charges: 2 |
 Lance Mastery II |
Lv. 86 |
Upgrades Full Thrust to Heavens' Thrust and Chaos Thrust to Chaotic Spring. Also increases the potency of Drakesbane to 400. |
 Enhanced Life Surge |
Lv. 88 |
Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Life Surge. Maximum Charges: 2 |
 Lance Mastery III |
Lv. 90 |
Increases the potency of Geirskogul to 280 and Nastrond to 720. Allows for the sharpening of the Firstminds' Focus upon successfully landing Raiden Thrust or Draconian Fury, up to a maximum of 2 units. |
 Enhanced Dragonfire Dive |
Lv. 92 |
Grants Dragon's Flight upon executing Dragonfire Dive. Duration: 30s |
 Melee Mastery |
Lv. 94 |
Increases the potency of Fang and Claw to 140, Wheeling Thrust to 140, Drakesbane to 440, Raiden Thrust to 320, Stardiver to 820, Heavens' Thrust to 140, Chaotic Spring to 140, and Wyrmwind Thrust to 440. |
 Enhanced Second Wind |
Lv. 94 |
Increases the healing potency of Second Wind to 800. |
 Lance Mastery IV |
Lv. 96 |
Upgrades Vorpal Thrust to Lance Barrage and Disembowel to Spiral Blow. |
 Enhanced Feint |
Lv. 98 |
Extends the duration of Feint to 15 seconds. |
 Enhanced Stardiver |
Lv. 100 |
Grants Starcross Ready upon executing Stardiver. Duration: 20s Effect ends when Life of the Dragon expires. |
Dragoon Lore
Of all the things that are symbolic of the nation of Ishgard, few are more recognized than the dragoon. Born amidst the timeless conflict between men and dragons, these lance-wielding knights have developed an aerial style of combat, that they might better pierce the scaled hides of their mortal foes.
Taking to the firmament as though it were an extension of the land, they descend upon the enemy with every onze of their bodies behind the blow. It is this penetrative power that characterizes the dragoon.
Changelog
- 18 Nov. 2024 (rotation page): Updated for patch 7.1.
- 18 Nov. 2024 (gear page): Updated for 7.1.
- 18 Nov. 2024 (job changes): Updated with 7.1 changes.
- 18 Nov. 2024 (melding page): Updated for patch 7.1.
- 18 Nov. 2024 (this page): Updated for patch 7.1.
- 11 Nov. 2024 (Leveling page): Updated for patch 7.1.
- 01 Aug. 2024 (gear page): Updated for 7.05.
- 17 Jul. 2024 (melding page): Updated for Dawntrail.
- 07 Jul. 2024 (rotation page): Updated for Dawntrail, patch 7.0.
- 07 Jul. 2024 (Leveling page): Updated all actions to match 7.0 levels and usage.
- 07 Jul. 2024 (job changes): Updated action hooks to show tooltips, removed Rotation info.
- 07 Jul. 2024 (this page): Updated for Dawntrail, patch 7.0.
- 06 Jul. 2024 (gear page): Updated for Dawntrail patch 7.0.
- 07 Jun. 2024 (job changes): Added rotation info and opener for Dawntrail with Media Tour info.
- 17 May 2024 (job changes): Updated with full Endwalker details and PLL 81 info.
- 01 May 2024 (keybindings page): Guide added.
- 20 Mar. 2024 (Leveling page): Added Mirage Dive to the openers.
- 18 Jan. 2024 (rotation page): Updated for patch 6.55.
- 18 Jan. 2024 (Leveling page): Updated for patch 6.55.
- 18 Jan. 2024 (gear page): Updated for patch 6.55.
- 18 Jan. 2024 (melding page): Updated for patch 6.55.
- 18 Jan. 2024 (this page): Updated for patch 6.55.
- 09 Nov. 2023 (rotation page): Added opener image.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 15 Oct. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.5.
- 21 Jul. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.45.
- 27 May 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 27 May 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 27 May 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 27 May 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 27 May 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.4.
- 11 Jan. 2023 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 11 Jan. 2023 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 11 Jan. 2023 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 11 Jan. 2023 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 11 Jan. 2023 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.3.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (Leveling page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Sep. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.2.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (rotation page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (gear page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (melding page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 20 Apr. 2022 (this page): Updated for Patch 6.1.
- 17 Mar. 2022 (Leveling page): Guide added.
- 10 Feb. 2022 (rotation page): Guide added.
- 10 Feb. 2022 (gear page): Guide added.
- 10 Feb. 2022 (melding page): Guide added.
- 10 Feb. 2022 (this page): Guide added.
- 19 Dec. 2021 (job changes): Page added.
Guides from Other Classes
Eve Malqir is a Dragoon theorycrafter and has been playing FFXIV since the Realm Reborn re-launch in 2013. He started the game way back then on Lancer, and has called Dragoon his main spec ever since. Eve cleared every raid tier of the Binding Coil of Bahamut in A Realm Reborn, every Alexander raid in Heavensward, and the Omega raids in Stormblood. He has been a Dragoon Mentor and guide writer for The Balance since early Heavensward, and greatly enjoys helping others improve at the game. He can be contacted directly via DMs over Discord (Evie#1153) or through the Dragoon channels in The Balance Discord.
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