Overview
Samurai (SAM) is a Disciple of War job introduced in Stormblood (4.0) expansion and unlockable at level 50. It is a Melee DPS jobs and does not have a base class.
Unlock and Guild Information
- Unlock: Prerequisite: The player must have reached level 50 as a Disciple of War or Disciple of Magic.
- Unlock: Quest: Speak to Ul'dahn Citizen in Ul'dah - Steps of Nald (x9.2,y9.1) to obtain the quest The Way of the Samurai.
Equipment
The samurai is a disciple of war and wears armor "of Striking" (shared with Monk) while using accessories "of Slaying" (shared with Dragoon, Reaper, and Monk). They use katana as weapons.
History & Lore
The Way of the Sword in the Far East
The martial and philosophical traditions of the Samurai originate not in Eorzea, but in the isolated island nation of Hingashi and the broader Far Eastern continent of Othard. There, the way of the sword—kenjutsu—is a discipline that transcends mere combat. It is a path of spiritual refinement, demanding unwavering discipline, mental clarity, and a commitment to a personal code of honor. For centuries, samurai served as the noble warrior class, protectors of lords and enforcers of order, their lives governed by the tenets of bushido.
The Samurai in Eorzea
Following the reopening of Hingashi's ports and increased contact with Eorzea after the events of the Dragonsong War, elements of Far Eastern culture began to filter westward. Among these were the teachings of the sword. The Samurai job represents an Eorzean adventurer's mastery of this imported martial art. While not bound by the feudal structures of Hingashi, the Eorzean Samurai adopts the discipline's core principles: the pursuit of perfection in form, the harmonious balance of mind and body, and the decisive, singular focus required to make one's blade an extension of the self.
The job's questline follows the Warrior of Light as they learn from a wandering Samurai master, Musosai, and later his successors. This narrative emphasizes the philosophical weight behind the techniques, exploring themes of legacy, the true meaning of strength, and the responsibility that comes with wielding such power. The Samurai is not a mere mercenary with a katana; they are an artist of the blade, and every battle is a canvas.
Current Mechanics
- Job Gauge: Sen & Kenki Gauge
- Job Gauge: Meditation Gauge
Key Combos
- Gyofu (PvE action) -> Jinpu -> Gekko: Increases damage dealt while also granting Getsu and increasing the Kenki Gauge.
- Gyofu (PvE action) -> Shifu -> Kasha: Reduces weaponskill cast time and recast time while also granting Ka and increasing the Kenki Gauge.
- Gyofu (PvE action) -> Yukikaze: Significantly increases the Kenki Gauge and grants Setsu.
- Fuko -> Mangetsu: Hits multiple enemies and increases damage dealt while also granting Getsu and increasing the Kenki Gauge.
- Fuko -> Oka: Hits multiple enemies and reduces weaponskill cast and recast time while also granting Ka and increasing the Kenki Gauge.
Trivia
- The Samurai was the second job introduced without a base class, alongside the Red Mage in Stormblood.
- The three Sen symbols—Snow, Moon, and Flower—are a classic poetic motif in Far Eastern art and literature, often representing beauty and the ephemeral nature of life, contrasting with the lethal purpose they serve in gameplay.
- Many Samurai ability names are derived from historical Japanese sword techniques or poetic concepts. For example, "Midare Setsugekka" loosely translates to "Chaos of the Snow Moon Flower."
- The job's Striking armor shares its design model with Monk gear, though it is typically recolored and features aesthetics more in line with traditional samurai attire, such as hakama pants and jinbaori vests.
