Overview
Red Mage (RDM) is a Disciple of Magic job introduced with the Stormblood (4.0) expansion and unlockable at level 50 with sufficient progression in the Main Scenario Quests. The job starts at level 50 once unlocked. It is a non-limited Magical Ranged DPS job and does not have a base class. Red Mages specialize in both offensive magic and melee rapier weaponskills.
Unlock and Guild Information
- Unlock: Prerequisite: The player must have a Disciple of War or Magic at Level 50 or higher.
- Unlock: Quest: Speak to Distraught Lass in Ul'dah - Steps of Thal (x14.1,y11.7) to obtain the quest Taking the Red.
Equipment
The red mage is a disciple of magic and wears armor and accessories "of Casting." They use rapiers as weapons.
History and Lore
Origins in Ala Mhigo
The Red Mage tradition was born from the strife and magical upheaval of Ala Mhigo. During the age of the Sixth Astral Era, the city-state was torn by conflict between practitioners of white magic, who drew upon the elemental forces for protection and healing, and black mages, who harnessed destructive arcane energies for war. Both schools, in their extreme forms, proved perilous: white magic could drain the land of its aether, while black magic risked corrupting the user and causing catastrophic collateral damage.
A group of Ala Mhigan thaumaturges sought a middle path. They theorized that by balancing the opposing magical forces within a single practitioner, one could mitigate the dangers of each school while unlocking greater potential. This philosophy extended beyond mere spellcasting; it was a worldview advocating for moderation, harmony, and pragmatic versatility. These pioneers developed techniques to channel both types of aether through a focusing crystal, often set into the guard of a rapier—a weapon chosen for its speed, precision, and elegance, reflecting the discipline's refined nature.
A Tradition of Balance
For generations, Red Mages acted as mediators, advisors, and protectors within Ala Mhigo, valued for their adaptability and reason. Their identity was not defined by rigid allegiance to one magical school, but by the synthesis of both. This made them particularly effective against voidsent and other creatures of imbalance, as they could adapt their approach to any threat.
The tradition faced near-extinction following the Garlean Empire's annexation of Ala Mhigo. The Imperial occupation suppressed Ala Mhigan culture and its unique martial disciplines. Knowledge of the Red Mage arts was scattered, preserved only in hidden grimoires and by a few surviving masters in exile.
Revival in the Eorzean Alliance
The Red Mage style saw a dramatic resurgence during the liberation efforts of the Stormblood expansion. As the Eorzean Alliance turned its attention to freeing Ala Mhigo, adventurers discovered the lost teachings and became the new standard-bearers for this balanced art. The job crystal itself is a relic of this Ala Mhigan heritage.
The most famous modern practitioner is Alisaie Leveilleur, granddaughter of Louisoix. After the events of the Dragonsong War, Alisaie sought a combat style that matched her resolve to protect others while meeting threats head-on. She discovered the Red Mage teachings and adopted them wholly, her natural talent and fierce determination making her a formidable example of the job's potential. Her use of the rapier and balanced magic in the battles for Ala Mhigo and Doma helped re-establish the Red Mage's legendary status on the battlefield.
Current Mechanics
- Job Gauge: Balance Gauge
Key Combos
- Riposte -> Enchanted Riposte -> Zwerchhau -> Enchanted Zwerchhau -> Redoublement -> Enchanted Redoublement: (Single target) Upgrades action based on the amount of Black Mana and White Mana accumulated. Grants Mana Stacks when upgraded.
- Enchanted Moulinet -> Enchanted Moulinet Deux -> Enchanted Moulinet Trois: (AoE) Upgrades action based on the amount of Black Mana and White Mana accumulated. Grants Mana Stacks when upgraded.
- Verflare -> Verholy -> Scorch -> Resolution: Consumes 3 Mana Stacks to do strong AoE burst damage and grants a large amount of both Black and White Mana
Trivia
- The Red Mage's iconic black-and-red attire with a wide-brimmed hat is a direct homage to the job's classic appearance throughout the Final Fantasy series.
- The naming convention for most Red Mage spells—"Ver-" prefixes like Verfire, Verthunder, Verraise—is a unique linguistic trait of the job's in-world tradition.
- In PvP (Crystalline Conflict), the Red Mage's playstyle is significantly altered, featuring a faster-paced, more mobile kit with abilities like Frazzle and Southern Cross.
- The job's mantra, "Balance in all things," is reflected in everything from its lore to the strict need to manage its two mana gauges equally for optimal performance.
