Final Fantasy 14: Complete Guide To Playing Summoner

There are many fascinating, fun, and powerful jobs in Final Fantasy 14, but the pet-controlling, elemental-bending Summoner is one of the most unique. This Magical Ranged DPS class has excellent burst damage, movement speed, and a genuinely engaging and easy-to-learn kit accessible for any player, old or new.

Furthermore, your ability to resurrect fallen comrades and provide heals makes you an essential part of the team, allowing you to keep everyone afloat in hectic situations. Dealing high burst damage from a distance, healing yourself or injured allies, and bringing people back from the brink of death make this role thrilling and rewarding to fill.

Updated December 18, 2024, by Seth Parmer: Dawntrail has been out for quite a while, with Patch 7.11 bringing many changes to the table. The thing is, we haven't edited this guide since the latest expansion for Final Fantasy 14 launched, meaning this guide was out of date for some time. Nonetheless, we have now updated to include all the adjustments made to the Summoner's Actions, added a new Opener, and swapped out its gear for the best available!

Becoming A Summoner

The Summoner, like the vast majority of jobs, isn't available until after you reach Level 30 with a starting class, which can be picked during the character creation or picked up as an alternate job once you start your adventure.

The prerequisite class is the Arcanist, which will place you in the city of Limsa Lominsa if picked. However, if you don't select it as your starting class, you can obtain it by heading to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks and speaking to Murie at the Arcanist's Guild (X:4.5, Y:11.2) to pick up the quest "Way of the Arcanist."

Finishing this quest will unlock the Arcanist class for you. All you have to do now is Achieve Level 30 with your new class to transition into the Summoner job!

From Arcanist To Summoner

Upon reaching Level 30 as an Arcanist, you can finally take the steps needed to specialize into the Summoner job. Once at this step, travel to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks and talk to Thubyrgeim (X:4.7, Y:11.4) to receive the quest "Austerities of Fire." Finishing this quest will give you the soul crystal Soul of the Summoner, allowing you to equip and level the job.

The rest of the guide will primarily cover a Level 100 Summoner's responsibilities and general gameplay. If the Summoner is an alternate job, or you aren't Level 100 at the moment, we recommend checking out our leveling guide for tips on making this process less painful.

If you need more information on unlocking jobs, check this guide out for details on obtaining every class and job in the game!

Summoner Rotations

Due to the Summoner being a unique class and filling the role of Magical Range DPS, their standard rotation is vastly different than most other classes and can take some time to get used to if you're coming from a different role or job.

Rather than chaining actions together to form short combos, you will alternate between phases while choosing Single-Target or Multi-Target GCD Actions, depending on the situation.

Please note that the rotations below won't be covering any Off-GCD Actions and will focus only on the GCD Actions needed to perform basic combos.

Basic Single-Target Rotation

• Phase 1: Summon Bahamut > Astral Impulse
• Phase 2: Summon Garuda, Ifrit, and Titan > Gemshine
  • Order of Primal Summons doesn't matter. Gemshine also changes based on whichever Primal is out.

• Phase 3: Summon Phoenix > Fountain of Fire
• Phase 4: Repeat Phase 2, then back to Phase 1 and repeat.

Basic AoE Rotation

• Phase 1: Summon Bahamut > Astral Flare
• Phase 2: Summon Garuda, Ifrit, and Titan > Precious Brilliance
  • Order of Primal Summons doesn't matter. Precious Brilliance also changes based on whichever Primal is out.

• Phase 3: Summon Phoenix > Brand of Purgatory
• Phase 4: Repeat Phase 2, then back to Phase 1 and repeat.

Summoner Rotational Phases Breakdown

Since the Summoner job can be unnecessarily confusing in specific areas, we will go over what each summon does to give better context on each phase of the rotations highlighted above. You can find each Summon below, their phase, and what actions they affect when called upon.

Summon Bahamut (Phase 1)

• A Demi-Bahamut gets Summoned for fifteen seconds
• Ruin III becomes Astral Impulse (Single-Target)
• Tri-disaster becomes Astral Flare (AoE)
• Astral Flow becomes Deathflare
• Enables Enkindled Bahamut
• Readies Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum
  • Ruby = Ifrit
  • Topaz = Titan
  • Emerald = Garuda

Summon Garuda (Phase 2 and 4)

• A Garuda-Egi gets Summoned and casts an Aerial Blast
• Gemshine becomes Emerald Rite (Single-Target)
• Precious Brilliance becomes Emerald Catastrophe (AoE)
• Astral Flow becomes Slipstream
• Gain four stacks of Wind Attunement

Summon Ifrit (Phase 2 and 4)

• An Ifrit-Egi gets Summoned and casts Inferno
• Gemshine becomes Ruby Rite (Single-Target)
• Precious Brilliance becomes Ruby Catastrophe (AoE)
• Astral Flow becomes Crimson Cyclone, which combos into Crimson Strike

Summon Titan (Phase 2 and 4)

• A Titan-Egi gets Summoned and casts Earthen Fury
• Gemshine becomes Topaz Rite (Single-Target)
• Precious Brilliance becomes Topaz Catastrophe (AoE)
• Astral Flow becomes Mountain Buster
• Gain four stacks of Earth Attunement

Summon Phoenix (Phase 3)

• A Demi-Phoenix gets Summoned for fifteen seconds
• Ruin III becomes Fountain of Fire (Single-Target)
• Tri-Disaster becomes Brand of Purgatory (AoE)
• Astral Flow becomes Rekindle
• Readies Ruby Arcanum, Topaz Arcanum, and Emerald Arcanum
  • Ruby = Ifrit
  • Topaz = Titan
  • Emerald = Garuda

Summoner Off-GCD Actions

With the more convoluted aspect of the Summoner covered, it's time to highlight some of the key Off-GCD Actions available to you. While there are many more actions available, the ones laid out below will be the ones you use excessively and during your Openers. Head to the next section for a complete Opener of a Level 90 Summoner!

Action	Recast Time	Information
Searing Light	120s	Increases the damage of your and nearby party member's attacks by five percent for 20s.
Energy Drain	60s	Attack with a potency of 200.
Akh Morn	N/A	Attack with a potency of 1,300 to the first target and 60 percent less to surrounding enemies.
Fester	1s	Attack with a potency of 300.
Swift Cast	60s	You cast your next spell immediately.
Necrotize	1s	Attack with a potency of 420 at the cost of one charge of your Aetherflow Gauge.
Searing Flash	1s	Attack with a wide AoE action with a potency of 600 to the initial target and all nearby enemies.
Sunflare	20s	Execute a wide AoE action with a potency of 800 to the initial target but 60 percent less for all remaining enemies in the area.
Enkindle Solar Bahamut	20s	Command Solar Bahamut to execute Exodus, attacking with a potency of 1,400 to the primary target and 60 percent less for all other enemies in the area.
Exodus	N/A	Attack with a potency of 1,400 to the primary target and 60 percent less for all other enemies in the area.

Support Actions

Action	Recast Time	MP Cost	Information
Radiant Aegis	60s	N/A	Send your Carbuncle to perform Radiant Aegis. Radiant Aegis generates a barrier around yourself that can receive incoming damage up to 20 percent of your maximum health for 30 seconds.
Physick	2.5s	400 MP	Restore your target's health with a cure potency of 400.
Resurrection	2.5s	2,400 MP	Revives a downed target to a weakened state.
Lux Solaris	60s	N/A	Replenishes your own HP, as well as all nearby part members' HP, with a Cure Potency of 500.

Best Summoner Opener In FFXIV Dawntrail

Keeping what you've learned about the Summoner's phase system above, along with the highlighted Off-GCD Actions, we can now focus on combining the strengths of each ability to create a coherent combo string that deals significant damage while optimizing your cooldown timers, actions, and buffs.

The actions presented in bolded parentheses are Off-GCD Actions that you will Weave throughout your Opener to maximize your job's potential.

Basic Opener

• Pre-Pull: Ruin III
• Summon Solar Bahamut (Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Light) > Umbral Impulse > Umbral Impulse (Energy Drain) > Umbral Impulse (Enkindle Solar Bahamut Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Sunflare Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Flash) > Summon Titan II > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Summon Garuda II

Exodus/Swiftcast Opener

• Pre-Pull: Ruin III
• Summon Solar Bahamut (Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Light) > Umbral Impulse > Umbral Impulse (Energy Drain) > Umbral Impulse (Exodus Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Sunflare Necrotize) > Umbral Impulse (Searing Flash) > Summon Titan II > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Topaz Rite (Mountain Buster) > Summon Garuda II (Swiftcast) > Slipstream

Best Gear For Summoner In FFXIV Dawntrail

One of many underutilized systems in Final Fantasy 14 is the ability to meld Materia to your equipment to focus stats and craft builds for specific jobs and playstyles. Overall, there are tons of different combinations you can experiment with to give you better odds in an encounter.

The build below focuses on maintaining a low GCD cooldown without using Quicktongue Materia (Spell Speed). While the build below is excellent for most cases, you could easily mix and match all kinds of Materia and make it work if you wanted to prioritize other stats. So long as it's beneficial to the job, role, and situation.

	Equipment	Materia	Stats	How To Obtain
Weapon	Dark Horse Champion's Index	Quicktongue Materia XII Quicktongue Materia XII	DMG 146 INT 628 VIT 600 CRT 393 DET 275	Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M4 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x8 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition IV.
Head	Augmented Quetzalli Hood Casting	Heavens' Eye Matter XII Savage Might Matter XII	INT 371 VIT 352 CRT 236 DET	Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Twine and the corresponding Quetzalli Armor to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6).
Body	Dark Horse Champion's Coat of Casting	Savage Might Matter XII Savage Might Matter XII	INT 588 VIT 559 DH 262 CRT 374	AAC Light-Heavyweight M3 (Savage) is available for purchase from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x4 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition II.
Hands	Augmented Quetzalli Casting Gloves	Savage Aim Matter XII Savage Aim Matter XII	INT 371 VIT 352 DH 165 DET	Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Twine and the corresponding Quetzalli Armor to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6).
Legs	Augmented Quetzalli Casting Hose	Savage Aim Matter XII Savage Aim Matter XII	INT 588 VIT 559 DH 374 CRT 262	Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Twine and the corresponding Quetzalli Armor to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6).
Feet	Dark Horse Champion's Shoes of Casting	Heavens' Eye Materia XII Savage Might Materia XII	INT 371 VIT 352 CRT 236 DET 165	Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M3 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x4 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition II.
Earrings	Dark Horse Champion's Earring of Casting	Heavens' Eye Materia XII Savage Aim Materia XII	INT 292 VIT 277 CRT 130 DET 186	Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M1 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x3 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition I.
Necklace	Augmented Quetzalli Necklace of Casting	Savage Might Materia XII Savage Might Materia XII	INT 292 VIT 277 DH 130 CRT 186	Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Glaze and the corresponding Quetzalli Accessory to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6).
Bracelets	Dark Horse Champion's Bangle of Casting	Savage Aim Materia XII Savage Might Materia XII	INT 292 VIT 277 DH 186 CRT 130	Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M1 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x3 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition I.
Left Ring	Augmented Quetzalli Ring of Casting	Heavens' Eye Materia XII Heavens' Eye Materia XII	INT 292 VIT 277 CRT 186 DET 130	Upgraded by giving x1 Surgelight Glaze and the corresponding Quetzalli Accessory to Theone in Solution Nine (X:8.5, Y:13.6).
Right Ring	Dark Horse Champion's Ring of Casting	Savage Aim Materia XII Savage Might Materia XII	INT 292 VIT 277 DH 186 CRT 130	Can drop during AAC Light-heavyweight M1 (Savage) or purchased from Hhihwi in Solution Nine (X:8.7, Y:13.7) for x3 AAC Illustrated: LHW Edition I.

Equipping the "Best In Slot" gear and finely tuning your Materia will significantly boost your overall damage output and performance. However, as showcased above, using the Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence early in your Opener will give you an even more tremendous boost to your stats.

Furthermore, consuming meals like the Roast Chicken before queueing up for activities will also be incredibly beneficial to you, allowing you to squeeze the most out of your Summoner with hardly any effort.

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