Overview
Dancer (DNC) is a Disciple of War job introduced with the Shadowbringers (5.0) expansion and unlockable at level 60. It is a Physical Ranged DPS job and does not have a base class. This job uses Throwing Weapons to deal damage to targets from afar and performs dances to damage enemies and enhance party members.
Unlock and Guild Information
- Unlock: Prerequisite: The player must have purchased the Shadowbringers expansion and be level 60 or higher Disciple of War or Magic
- Unlock: Quest: Speak to Eager Lominsan in Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks (X:9.8 Y:12.0) to obtain the quest Shall We Dance.
Equipment
The Dancer is a disciple of war and wears armor and accessories "of Aiming." They use throwing weapons.
History & Lore
Thavnairian Origins
The art of the Dancer originates from the island nation of Thavnair, a vibrant, cosmopolitan hub in the Near East known for its spices, alchemy, and rich cultural tapestry. In Thavnairian tradition, dance is far more than mere entertainment; it is a sacred act of storytelling, prayer, and community bonding. Certain dances, passed down through generations, are believed to weave the ambient aether into tangible effects—invigorating the weary, soothing the sick, or bringing fortune to a harvest. These ritualistic performances form the foundation of the combat discipline adopted by Eorzean Dancers.
The Dancers who bring this tradition to Eorzea are often troupes of traveling performers or guardians of Thavnairian heritage. Their combat style was refined not on battlefields, but in festivals and ceremonies, learning to direct the aetheric resonance of their movements with intent. When applied to conflict, the dances that once blessed allies and celebrated life become tools to disorient foes and enhance comrades' fighting spirit. The chakram, a weapon historically used in ceremonial demonstrations of skill and dexterity, became the Dancer’s instrument of choice—its swirling, returning flight path a visual echo of the dancer’s own flowing movements.
The Eorzean Dancer
The path of the Dancer became accessible to the Warrior of Light through a chance encounter in Limsa Lominsa. A Thavnairian dancer, fleeing political intrigue and seeking to preserve her art, began teaching her techniques to trustworthy adventurers. She demonstrated how the foundational dances—the Standard Step and Technical Step—could be adapted to the rhythm of battle, generating bursts of aetheric energy to empower a single, synchronized partner or the entire party.
This lore establishes the Dancer not as a soldier or mage, but as an artist whose stage is the battlefield. Their strength lies in harmony and observation, reading the flow of combat to choose the perfect moment and the perfect partner to elevate. This philosophy makes them a unique asset to any group, valued as much for their bolstering presence as for their own damage.
Current Mechanics
- Job Gauge: Step, Fourfold Feathers and Esprit Gauge
Key Combos
- Cascade -> Fountain: > Fountain = A single target combo.
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- Reverse Cascade -> Fountainfall
- 50%|| 50% || 50% chance to grant Flourishing Symmetry after Cascade or Windmill are executed.
- || || 50% chance to grant Flourishing Flow after Fountain or Bladeshower are executed.
- Rising Windmill -> Bloodshower_(Action)
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Trivia
- The Dancer is the second job to start at level 60, alongside the Gunbreaker introduced in Shadowbringers. (Red Mage, introduced in Stormblood, starts at level 50.)
- The dance steps (Emboite, Entrechat, Jete, Pirouette) are named after real-world ballet terms.
- The Dancer’s Limit Break animation, Tillana, is a direct reference to a lively rhythmic dance in Indian classical tradition, fitting its Thavnairian roots.
- In early concept stages, the Dancer was considered for a melee DPS or even a healer role before settling into its current ranged physical DPS and support niche.
- Many of the Dancer’s ability names, such as "Saber Dance" and "Curing Waltz," continue the theme of naming skills after dance types or music.
