Samurai DPS Rotation, Openers, and Abilities — Dawntrail 7.1

Last updated on Nov 13, 2024 at 15:53 by boxer 14 comments

On this page, you will learn how to optimise your opener and rotation in both single-target and multi-target situations. We also cover the use of your cooldowns, to ensure you can achieve the best use of them every time as a Samurai DPS in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (Patch 7.1).

1.

Samurai Rotation Overview

Please note this page covers the Samurai rotation at level 100. For what to do at lower levels while working your way up, please check out our Leveling Guide.

The single-target Samurai rotation at level 100 at a basic level functions as a loop, with alternating odd and even minute bursts. This is made up of your opener, the "cooldown" phase where we wait for our cooldowns to come back up, and then the respective minute's odd or even burst.

There are two options for this rotation based on what GCD tier you are playing at - the 2.14 rotation and 2.08 rotation. The 2.08 rotation functions as perfect 29 GCD loop - barring any downtime your bursts and everything in between will be the same each time. Because of this it's a great starting point for new players to the job looking for something more consistent while they learn the fundamentals of the job. The 2.14 rotation however will slowly fall behind by two GCDs every two minutes. Because of this you will have less room for recovery and enter your bursts at different points of your rotation as the fight goes on.

2.

The Opener

Thanks to Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui's ability to give us buffs from combo finishers, Samurai only has one standard opener. This opener uses a pre-pull Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui in order to get our buffs up as soon as possible, and then unloads a flurry of high potency attacks under our potion and the party's raid buffs.

If you are unable to weave after Iaijutsu casts such as Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo Setsugekka and/or have difficulty double weaving, it is fine to move around some of the oGCDs such as Hissatsu: Senei Icon Hissatsu: Senei and Shoha Icon Shoha to accomodate this as long as they still land under party buffs. In some fights, this may also allow more opportunity to double weave Tengentsu Icon Tengentsu. The main buff windows for most jobs are active just before our first cast of Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo Setsugekka and should end either right before or right after the Gyofu Icon Gyofu at the end. It is also fine to flip the later uses of Kasha Icon Kasha and Gekko Icon Gekko without overcapping on Sen based on your ability to hit certain positionals. The first GCD, however, depends on the boss' phasing - if using Kasha Icon Kasha first will allow you to use an extra GCD that you would not normally get by using Gekko Icon Gekko first, it is worth swapping them around. If not, stick to using Gekko Icon Gekko first for the guaranteed damage bonus.

  1. Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui when there is 14s left on the countdown
  2. True North Icon True North when there is 5s left on the countdown
  3. Gekko Icon GekkoGrade 2 Gemdraught of Strength Icon Grade 2 Gemdraught of Strength
  4. Kasha Icon KashaIkishoten Icon Ikishoten
  5. Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  6. Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo SetsugekkaHissatsu: Senei Icon Hissatsu: Senei
  7. Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi SetsugekkaMeikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  8. Gekko Icon GekkoZanshin Icon Zanshin
  9. Higanbana Icon Higanbana
  10. Ogi Namikiri Icon Ogi NamikiriShoha Icon Shoha
  11. Kaeshi: Namikiri Icon Kaeshi: Namikiri
  12. Kasha Icon KashaHissatsu: Shinten Icon Hissatsu: Shinten
  13. Gekko Icon GekkoHissatsu: Gyoten Icon Hissatsu: Gyoten
  14. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  15. Yukikaze Icon YukikazeHissatsu: Shinten Icon Hissatsu: Shinten
  16. Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo Setsugekka
  17. Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka

Both Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui and True North Icon True North may be used closer to the pull without any real detriment - these early timers are just to maximize any potential uses during the fight. Depending on kill time or mechanics, neither may make any difference at all.

3.

Cooldown Phase

This phase of the rotation is where all of your burst is on cooldown, and you are left to just rotate through your combos until they come back up again. In a full uptime scenario, this should be about two full sets of three Sen.

Kenki and Meditation spenders are not listed, but be sure to spend gauge on Hissatsu: Shinten Icon Hissatsu: Shinten and Shoha Icon Shoha as needed to prevent yourself from overcapping on resources. These combos are also able to be swapped around relatively freely, as long as you do not overcap Sen or drop your buffs. However, it is recommended to end the second set on either a Gekko Icon Gekko or Kasha Icon Kasha combo to catch any early buffs.

  1. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  2. Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  3. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  4. Jinpu Icon Jinpu
  5. Gekko Icon Gekko
  6. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  7. Shifu Icon Shifu
  8. Kasha Icon Kasha
  9. Midare Setsugekka Icon Midare Setsugekka
  10. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  11. Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  12. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  13. Jinpu Icon Jinpu
  14. Gekko Icon Gekko
  15. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  16. Shifu Icon Shifu
  17. Kasha Icon Kasha
3.1.

Adjusting the 2.14 Rotation

As previously mentioned, 2.14 falls behind by two GCDs every two minutes. In order to keep our burst and Higanbana Icon Higanbana reapplications on time, we have to use Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui to rush Sen and skip ahead. Below is one example of how that might look:

  • During the second half of cooldown phase...
  • Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  • Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  • Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  • Jinpu Icon Jinpu
  • Gekko Icon GekkoMeikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  • Kasha Icon Kasha
  • And then lead into your respective burst, skipping the usual Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui as you have used it early.

Roughly around the 6-minute Even Burst window, if you used Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui pre-pull you will have generated an additional charge. You will want to use this charge at the end of this burst to effectively "reset" all the GCDs you've fallen behind back to 0. Below is how that would look:

  • During your Even Minute Burst, after Kaeshi: Namikiri Icon Kaeshi: Namikiri with 0 Sen
  • Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  • Yukikaze Icon YukikazeMeikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  • Gekko Icon Gekko
  • Kasha Icon Kasha
  • Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo Setsugekka
  • Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka
  • Gekko Icon Gekko
  • And then continue on with the rest of your Cooldown Phase into your 7-minute Odd Burst window.
4.

Odd Minute Burst

During our odd minute burst, Ikishoten Icon Ikishoten is still on cooldown, which locks us out of using Ogi Namikiri Icon Ogi Namikiri. As such, this burst is shorter and does not hit as hard as our even minute burst. As with the Cooldown Phase outline, the below bursts do not list any Kenki and Meditation spenders, but be sure to keep Hissatsu: Senei Icon Hissatsu: Senei on cooldown and spend gauge on Hissatsu: Shinten Icon Hissatsu: Shinten and Shoha Icon Shoha as needed to prevent yourself from overcapping on resources. Both odd and even minutes flow directly from the end of the cooldown phase, which is why they will begin with the Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka carried from the middle of the Cooldown Phase and followed by a Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo Setsugekka.

The Odd Minute Burst is slightly different between the 2.14 and 2.08 GCD Tier rotations, both examples are listed below:

4.1.

Odd Minute Burst - 2.14 Rotation

  1. Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka
  2. Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  3. Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo SetsugekkaHissatsu: Senei Icon Hissatsu: Senei
  4. Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka
  5. Gekko Icon Gekko
  6. Higanbana Icon Higanbana
  7. Gekko Icon Gekko
  8. Kasha Icon Kasha
  9. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  10. Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  11. Midare Setsugekka Icon Midare Setsugekka
  12. Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka
4.2.

Odd Minute Burst - 2.08 Rotation

  1. Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka
  2. Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  3. Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo SetsugekkaHissatsu: Senei Icon Hissatsu: Senei
  4. Gekko Icon Gekko
  5. Higanbana Icon Higanbana
  6. Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka
  7. Gekko Icon Gekko
  8. Kasha Icon Kasha
  9. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  10. Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  11. Midare Setsugekka Icon Midare Setsugekka
  12. Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka
5.

Even Minute Burst

The even minute burst is effectively identical to our opener, minus the Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui required to set up buffs and Sen. As with the Odd burst, we want to lead with a Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka held from the Cooldown Phase. However, due to wanting to lead the burst with Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo Setsugekka and Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka. Ikishoten Icon Ikishoten is not listed here, as some players may prefer to stockpile Kenki going into this phase to unload extra Hissatsu: Shinten Icon Hissatsu: Shinten under raid buffs with a late usage, while others may not be able to perform the double weaves that playstyle requires or may not wish to manage their Kenki so closely. You may use it prior to this burst or in the middle of it as necessary as long as you do not overcap on Kenki and will be able to use Ogi Namikiri Icon Ogi Namikiri and Zanshin Icon Zanshin under raid buffs.

The Even Minute Burst is the same for both 2.14 and 2.08 rotations.

  1. Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka
  2. Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  3. Tendo Setsugekka Icon Tendo SetsugekkaHissatsu: Senei Icon Hissatsu: Senei
  4. Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka
  5. Gekko Icon Gekko
  6. Higanbana Icon Higanbana
  7. Ogi Namikiri Icon Ogi Namikiri
  8. Kaeshi: Namikiri Icon Kaeshi: Namikiri
  9. Gekko Icon Gekko
  10. Kasha Icon Kasha
  11. Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  12. Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  13. Midare Setsugekka Icon Midare Setsugekka
  14. Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka

At the end of all of this, you should result in a rotation that looks like this:

  • Opener
  • Cooldown
  • Odd Burst
  • Cooldown
  • Even Burst
  • Cooldown
  • Odd Burst
  • etc...

At 2.14, the first minute has two extra GCDs due to the second charge of Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui providing a second use of Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka Icon Tendo Kaeshi Setsugekka and the one usage of Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka. This will cause you to drift two GCDs, however it has been shown to not be a loss compared to fixing it according to tests run using rotation tools. It is still worth mentioning as you will see your Higanbana Icon Higanbana fall off early for the first reapplication.

6.

Repairing the 2.08 Loop

Over the course of the fight, you may lose one or more GCDs as you are forced to disconnect from the boss to resolve a mechanic. One optimization would be to use the same thing that makes the 2.14 rotation possible - using Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui early at the end of the cooldown phase in order to hit 3 Sen in time for your burst. Doing this will push you ahead by two GCDs per usage of Gekko Icon Gekko or Kasha Icon Kasha, providing room for as many as four missed GCDs. This does come at the cost of a weaker burst, however, as you will be forced to manually build combos after expending your three Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui charges. An example of this is below:

  • During the second half of cooldown phase...
  • Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  • Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze
  • Gyofu Icon Gyofu
  • Jinpu Icon Jinpu
  • Gekko Icon GekkoMeikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui
  • Kasha Icon Kasha
  • And then lead into your respective burst, skipping the usual Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui as you have used it early.
7.

Samurai Multi-Target Priority

7.1.

Two-Target Priority

At two targets, Samurai uses a slight mix of AoE skills into the single target rotation.

  1. For combos, build to 3 Sen with single target combos for Yukikaze Icon Yukikaze, Gekko Icon Gekko, and Kasha Icon Kasha.
  2. Spend Sen on Midare Setsugekka Icon Midare Setsugekka and remember to use the followup Kaeshi: Setsugekka Icon Kaeshi: Setsugekka.
  3. Spend Kenki on Hissatsu: Guren Icon Hissatsu: Guren and Hissatsu: Shinten Icon Hissatsu: Shinten.
  4. When using Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui, spend charges on Gekko Icon Gekko and Kasha Icon Kasha.
7.2.

Three (or more) Target Priority

At three or more targets, Samurai goes full into the AoE toolkit.

  1. For combos, alternate between your Mangetsu Icon Mangetsu and Oka Icon Oka combos to keep buffs up.
  2. Spend Sen on Tenka Goken Icon Tenka Goken, and remember to use the followup Kaeshi: Goken Icon Kaeshi: Goken.
  3. Spend Kenki on Hissatsu: Guren Icon Hissatsu: Guren and Hissatsu: Kyuten Icon Hissatsu: Kyuten.
  4. When using Meikyo Shisui Icon Meikyo Shisui, spend charges on Mangetsu Icon Mangetsu and Oka Icon Oka.
8.

Changelog

  • 13 Nov. 2024: Updated for Patch 7.1.
  • 01 Aug. 2024: Updated for Patch 7.05.
  • 16 Jul. 2024: Updated for Patch 7.01.
  • 30 Jun. 2024: Updated for Patch 7.0.
  • 16 Jan. 2024: Updated for Patch 6.55.
  • 15 Oct. 2023: Updated for Patch 6.5.
  • 24 May 2023: Updated for Patch 6.4.
  • 10 Jan. 2023: Updated for Patch 6.3.
  • 23 Aug. 2022: Updated for Patch 6.2.
  • 20 Apr. 2022: Updated for Patch 6.1.
  • 28 Feb. 2022: Guide added.
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