Astrologian

Quick Facts

• Role: Healer
• Weapon: Star Globe
• Armor: Healing (Maiming for PvP)
• Introduced: Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward (Patch 3.0)
• Starting Level: 30
• Base Class: None (Job Crystal only)
• Primary Attribute: Mind
• Unique Mechanic: Divination Deck, Astral Stance / Umbral Stance

Overview

The Astrologian is a healer job that wields a star globe and a deck of divination cards, channeling the power of the cosmos to mend wounds and manipulate fortune. Introduced in the Heavensward expansion, it stands apart as the only healer with no base class, beginning its journey at level 30. Astrologians blend reactive healing with proactive party support through a dynamic card-drawing system, offering buffs that enhance allies' damage output. Their magic is deeply tied to celestial bodies, allowing them to shift between two healing stances: one focused on regenerative magic and the other on protective barriers. This duality, combined with a visually distinct aesthetic of constellations and starlight, makes the Astrologian a uniquely strategic and visually captivating healer.

History & Lore

Sharlayan Origins

The art of astrology originated in the island nation of Sharlayan, a society renowned for its pursuit of knowledge. Initially, Sharlayan scholars studied the stars as a purely astronomical discipline, meticulously charting celestial movements and their correlations to terrestrial phenomena. Over centuries, this study evolved beyond mere observation. The most gifted scholars discovered that the celestial bodies were not just objects in the sky but wellsprings of immense aetherial power, and their movements wove the very fabric of fate.

This revelation birthed the discipline of astromancy. Practitioners learned to draw upon stellar aether, channeling it for healing and divination. The star globe became their focus—a conduit to harness this cosmic energy. Their most iconic tool, however, became the deck of divination cards. Each card was attuned to a different celestial concept or constellation, allowing the astrologian to read the currents of fate and, with sufficient skill, gently steer them to aid their allies.

Arrival in Eorzea

While the practice was long guarded within Sharlayan's halls of learning, it spread to Eorzea primarily through Sharlayan expatriates and scholars. The city-state of Ishgard, during the Dragonsong War, became a notable stage where the Astrologian's arts were put to the test. The job's introduction to the Warrior of Light and other adventurers is facilitated by the enigmatic Jannequinard, a Sharlayan astrologian residing in Ishgard, who seeks worthy individuals to inherit this celestial tradition.

Astrologians operate on a core philosophical duality reflected in their magic: the Astral and the Umbral. This is not a simple dichotomy of light and dark, but rather a representation of the stars' contrasting aspects—active, expansive, and fostering growth versus passive, consolidating, and offering protection. A skilled astrologian must balance these forces, much like the eternal dance of the heavens.

Gameplay

Core Mechanics & Playstyle

The Astrologian's gameplay is defined by the seamless integration of two primary systems: a versatile healing toolkit and the strategic Divination Card system.

Healing Toolkit: Astrologians have access to a complete suite of healing spells, but their unique twist is the ability to switch between two stances, each modifying their core healing abilities:

• Diurnal Sect: An Astral-aligned stance that imbues single-target and area-of-effect healing spells with a potent heal-over-time effect.
• Nocturnal Sect: An Umbral-aligned stance that instead grants single-target and area-of-effect healing spells a damage-absorbing barrier.

This choice allows the Astrologian to adapt their healing profile to fit party composition or encounter needs, though once selected in combat, the stance cannot be changed until outside of battle.

The Divination Deck: The job's signature support mechanic involves a deck of six unique cards, each represented by a celestial body or constellation. By using Draw, the Astrologian pulls a random card from the deck. Each card corresponds to one of three "seals" (Solar, Lunar, Celestial) and provides a damage-increasing buff when played on an ally via Play.

• Card Effects: Originally, each card provided a different buff (e.g., increased damage for melee or ranged roles). The system was streamlined in later expansions. Now, the core goal is to collect three different seals by playing cards, which empowers the potent party-wide damage buff Divination.
• Redraw & Minor Arcana: Redraw allows the astrologian to discard a drawn card for a new one, helping to collect the necessary seals. Minor Arcana converts a drawn card into a simpler, seal-less card that can be played for either a direct damage effect (Lord of Crowns) or a healing effect (Lady of Crowns).

This creates a engaging rhythm of drawing, evaluating, and playing cards amidst managing healing duties, making the Astrologian a highly proactive and busy healer.

Key Abilities (Thematic Examples)

• Malefic: The standard damage spell, firing a bolt of stellar energy.
• Gravity: An area-of-effect damage spell that calls down a miniature star.
• Essential Dignity: A powerful, instant-heal that increases in potency the lower the target's health.
• Earthly Star: Places a giant, customizable star on the battlefield that can be detonated for either healing or damage.
• Celestial Opposition: A circular area-of-effect heal and stun, invoking the alignment of the heavens.
• Horoscope: Applies a marker to allies that can be triggered later for a burst of healing, representing a foretold fortune.
• Astrodyne: A self-buff granted upon collecting three unique seals, restoring mana and increasing damage and healing potency, representing the astrologian's harmony with the stars.

Job Gauge

The Astrologian's job gauge displays the currently drawn card and its associated seal, the seals already collected for Divination and Astrodyne, and the status of abilities like Earthly Star.

Trivia

• The Astrologian's artifact armor sets are heavily inspired by the traditional robes of scholars and stargazers, often incorporating celestial motifs, constellations, and flowing, starry fabrics.
• The six original cards in the deck were The Balance (Sun), The Bole (World Tree), The Arrow (Lightspeed), The Spear (Dragon), The Ewer (Water), and The Spire (Mountain). While their individual effects have been streamlined, their symbols remain integral to the job's identity.
• In Player-versus-Player (PvP) combat, the Astrologian uses a completely reworked, simplified card system tailored for fast-paced combat, showcasing a different aspect of celestial fortune-telling.
• The job's limit break animation, "The Pulse of Life," creates a massive, beautiful constellation on the ground that erupts with healing light, one of the most visually striking healer limit breaks in the game.

Related Articles

• Heavensward
• Sharlayan
• White Mage
• Scholar
• Sages