Black Mage Job Guide — Endwalker 6.4

Black Mage is a caster DPS job with high damage, focused around steady-state output with long, hard-hitting spells.

Black Mage is classified as a selfish DPS, providing no raid buffs or unique utility to the party other than strong personal damage. The rotation follows a cyclical flow of burning through MP during Astral Fire phase for bonus damage on potent fire-aspected spells like Fire IV and Despair, then entering Umbral Ice for increased MP refresh to get back to full, keeping the Thunder III DoT up throughout. At higher levels, Black Mage must also keep track of another resource, Polyglot, gained by maintaining Astral Fire/Umbral Ice.

The base rotation for Black Mage is fairly simple and easy to pick up, with some built-in flexibility. However, translating it to an actual fight may be intimidating or difficult for some newer players. Learning how to utilize movement options like Triplecast, Xenoglossy, procs, and other options is integral in order to maintain uptime as well as Astral Fire/Umbral Ice timers. While it may take some experience to get used to the job, Black Mage is very satisfying to get good at, with a lot of optimization and skill expression at the top end of gameplay.

In order to unlock Black Mage, you must first complete the level 30 Thaumaturge class quest, "Facing Your Demons," as well as the level 20 main scenario quest "Sylph-Management." Following this, the quest "Taking the Black" will be available from Yayake in Ul'dah - Steps of Nald (x7.3, y12.4). Completing this will grant you the Black Mage job stone, which you can equip to continue on in your adventures as a Black Mage.

The Black Mage Elemental Gauge displays information on quantity and timers of various resources, detailed below.

The number of stacks of Astral Fire/Umbral Ice are designated by the tick markers at the top of the gauge, with the duration remaining on the timer displayed at the top. Astral Fire (displayed on the gauge in orange) is granted/refreshed by Fire, Fire II, Fire III, Despair, High Fire II, Flare, and Paradox while in Astral Fire. Umbral Ice (displayed on the gauge in blue) is granted/refreshed by Blizzard, Blizzard II, Blizzard III, High Blizzard II, and Paradox while in Umbral Ice.

Umbral Hearts, available at level 58+, are designated by the tick markers on the bottom left. These are granted in single-target using Blizzard IV, during AoE via Freeze, and built up during downtime via Umbral Soul.

At level 70, Polyglot is added to the Black Mage Elemental Gauge. On the bottom right of the gauge, a meter will build up while Astral Fire or Umbral Ice are active. Every 30 seconds, this bar will fill and add a Polyglot to the gauge, designated by the bottom crystal, which can be used on Foul. At level 80, a second Polyglot charge can be held, and a new Polyglot spender, Xenoglossy, is added.

Paradox is added to the gauge at level 90, designated by the crystal on the left side of the Elemental Gauge. This resource is obtained from being in Umbral Ice III with three Umbral Hearts and swapping to Astral Fire, as well as being in Astral Fire III and swapping to Umbral Ice.

If you would prefer to watch a video that provides an overview of Black Mage, feel free to give the video below a watch. The video was provided by Julia Care, a member of the community on The Balance Discord server.

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Blizzard Lv. 1	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 400.0 Deals ice damage with a potency of 180. Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice or removes Astral Fire Duration: 15s
Fire Lv. 2	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals fire damage with a potency of 180. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire or removes Umbral Ice Duration: 15s Additional Effect: 40% chance next Fire III will cost no MP and have no cast time Duration: 30s
Transpose Lv. 4	Instant 5.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Swaps Astral Fire with a single Umbral Ice, or Umbral Ice with a single Astral Fire.
Thunder Lv. 6	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 200.0 Deals lightning damage with a potency of 30. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 35 Duration: 21s Additional Effect: 10% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 40s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.
Blizzard II Lv. 12	3.0s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals ice damage with a potency of 100 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice III and removes Astral Fire Duration: 15s
Scathe Lv. 15	Instant 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 100. Additional Effect: 20% chance potency will double
Fire II Lv. 18	3.0s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 1500.0 Deals fire damage with a potency of 100 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III and removes Umbral Ice Duration: 15s Astral Fire Bonus: Grants Enhanced Flare Effect is canceled if Astral Fire ends.
Thunder II Lv. 26	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 400.0 Deals lightning damage with a potency of 50 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 15 Duration: 18s Additional Effect: 3% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 40s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.
Manafont Lv. 30	Instant 180.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Restores 30% of maximum MP.
Manaward Lv. 30	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Creates a barrier that nullifies damage totaling up to 30% of maximum HP. Duration: 20s
Blizzard III Lv. 35	3.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals ice damage with a potency of 260. Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice III and removes Astral Fire Duration: 15s
Fire III Lv. 35	3.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 2000.0 Deals fire damage with a potency of 260. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III and removes Umbral Ice Duration: 15s
Freeze Lv. 40	2.8s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 1000.0 Deals ice damage with a potency of 120 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Grants 3 Umbral Hearts Umbral Heart Bonus: Nullifies Astral Fire's MP cost increase for Fire spells and reduces MP cost for Flare by one-third Can only be executed while under the effect of Umbral Ice.
Thunder III Lv. 45	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 400.0 Deals lightning damage with a potency of 50. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 35 Duration: 30s Additional Effect: 10% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 40s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.
Aetherial Manipulation Lv. 50	Instant 10.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Rush to a target party member's side. Unable to cast if bound.
Flare Lv. 50	4.0s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 10000 Deals fire damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 220 for the first enemy, and 40% less for all remaining enemies. Enhanced Flare Potency: 280 Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III Duration: 15s Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire.
Ley Lines Lv. 52	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 3y	Connects naturally occurring ley lines to create a circle of power which, while standing within it, reduces spell cast time and recast time, and auto-attack delay by 15%. Duration: 30s
Sharpcast Lv. 54	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Ensures the next Scathe, Fire, Paradox, or Thunder spell cast will, for the first hit, trigger Scathe's additional effect, Firestarter, or Thundercloud. Duration: 30s Maximum Charges: 2
Blizzard IV Lv. 58	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals ice damage with a potency of 310. Additional Effect: Grants 3 Umbral Hearts Umbral Heart Bonus: Nullifies Astral Fire's MP cost increase for Fire spells and reduces MP cost for Flare by one-third Can only be executed while under the effect of Umbral Ice.
Fire IV Lv. 60	2.8s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals fire damage with a potency of 310. Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire.
Between the Lines Lv. 62	Instant 3.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Move instantly to Ley Lines drawn by you. Cannot be executed while bound.
Thunder IV Lv. 64	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 400.0 Deals lightning damage with a potency of 50 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Lightning damage over time Potency: 20 Duration: 18s Additional Effect: 3% chance after each tick that the next Thunder spell of any grade will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP Duration: 40s Only one Thunder spell-induced damage over time effect per caster can be inflicted upon a single target.
Triplecast Lv. 66	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	The next three spells will require no cast time. Duration: 15s Maximum Charges: 2
Foul Lv. 70	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	Deals unaspected damage to target and all enemies nearby it with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 60% less for all remaining enemies. Polyglot Cost: 1
Despair Lv. 72	3.0s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	MP Cost: 10000 Deals fire damage with a potency of 340. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III Duration: 15s Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire.
Umbral Soul Lv. 76	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants Umbral Ice and 1 Umbral Heart. Umbral Heart Bonus: Nullifies Astral Fire's MP cost increase for Fire spells and reduces MP cost for Flare by one-third Can only be executed while under the effect of Umbral Ice.
Xenoglossy Lv. 80	Instant 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 880. Polyglot Cost: 1
High Blizzard II Lv. 82	3.0s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 800.0 Deals ice damage with a potency of 140 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Grants Umbral Ice III and removes Astral Fire Duration: 15s
High Fire II Lv. 82	3.0s 2.5s	↔ 25y 5y	MP Cost: 1500.0 Deals fire damage with a potency of 140 to target and all enemies nearby it. Additional Effect: Grants Astral Fire III and removes Umbral Ice Duration: 15s Astral Fire Bonus: Grants Enhanced Flare Effect is canceled if Astral Fire ends.
Amplifier Lv. 86	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Grants Polyglot. Can only be executed while under the effect of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice.
Paradox Lv. 90	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 25y 0y	Deals unaspected damage with a potency of 500. Astral Fire Bonus: Refreshes the duration of Astral Fire and 40% chance to grant Firestarter Duration: 15s Firestarter Effect: Next Fire III will require no time to cast and cost no MP Duration: 30s Umbral Ice Bonus: Spell is cast immediately, requires no MP to cast, and refreshes the duration of Umbral Ice Duration: 15s Can only be executed while under the effect of Paradox. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Addle Lv. 8	Instant 90.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Lowers target's physical damage dealt by 5% and magic damage dealt by 10%. Duration: 10s
Sleep Lv. 10	2.5s 2.5s	↔ 30y 5y	MP Cost: 800.0 Puts target and all nearby enemies to sleep. Duration: 30s Cancels auto-attack upon execution.
Lucid Dreaming Lv. 14	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Gradually restores own MP. Potency: 55 Duration: 21s
Swiftcast Lv. 18	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Next spell is cast immediately. Duration: 10s
Surecast Lv. 44	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Spells can be cast without interruption. Additional Effect: Nullifies most knockback and draw-in effects Duration: 6s

Action Name	Acquired	Effect
Aspect Mastery	Lv. 1	Casting of certain fire and ice spells will grant a stack of Astral Fire and Umbral Ice respectively. Maximum Stacks: 1 Duration: 15s While under the effect of either Astral Fire or Umbral Ice, casting a spell of the opposite element will consume no MP. Effect does not apply to Flare.
Maim and Mend	Lv. 20	Increases base action damage and HP restoration by 10%.
Aspect Mastery II	Lv. 20	Allows the stacking of a second Astral Fire and Umbral Ice.
Thundercloud	Lv. 28	Grants a 10% chance that after each damage over time tick inflicted by Thunder or Thunder III (3% for Thunder II or Thunder IV), the next Thunder, Thunder II, Thunder III, or Thunder IV will add its full damage over time amount to its initial damage, have no cast time, and cost no MP. Duration: 40s
Aspect Mastery III	Lv. 35	Allows the stacking of a third Astral Fire and Umbral Ice. Casting Fire II or Blizzard II grants maximum stacks of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice respectively. When maintaining three stacks of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice, the cast time of spells of the opposite element is halved.
Maim and Mend II	Lv. 40	Increases base action damage and HP restoration by 30%.
Firestarter	Lv. 42	Grants a 40% chance that after casting Fire, your next Fire III will require no MP and have no cast time. Duration: 30s
Thunder Mastery	Lv. 45	Upgrades Thunder to Thunder III.
Enochian	Lv. 56	Increases damage dealt by 5% while under the effect of Astral Fire or Umbral Ice. Upon successfully landing Fire II while under the effect of Astral Fire, grants Enhanced Flare. Enhanced Flare effect ends if Astral Fire is lost.
Enhanced Freeze	Lv. 58	Grants 3 Umbral Hearts upon casting Freeze.
Thunder Mastery II	Lv. 64	Upgrades Thunder II to Thunder IV.
Enhanced Enochian	Lv. 70	Grants the effect of Polyglot upon maintaining Enochian for 30 seconds. Also improves Enochian's magic damage increase to 10%.
Enhanced Sharpcast	Lv. 74	Reduces Sharpcast recast timer to 30 seconds.
Enhanced Enochian II	Lv. 78	Improves Enochian's magic damage increase to 15%.
Enhanced Polyglot	Lv. 80	Allows the stacking of a second Polyglot.
Enhanced Foul	Lv. 80	Allows for the immediate casting of Foul.
Aspect Mastery IV	Lv. 82	Upgrades Fire II and Blizzard II to High Fire II and High Blizzard II.
Enhanced Manafont	Lv. 84	Reduces Manafont recast time to 120 seconds.
Enhanced Enochian III	Lv. 86	Improves Enochian's magic damage increase to 23%.
Enhanced Sharpcast II	Lv. 88	Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Sharpcast. Maximum Charges: 2
Aspect Mastery V	Lv. 90	Adds a Paradox marker to your Elemental Gauge. The marker is made active after reaching Astral Fire III then swapping to the opposite element. Conversely, the marker can also be made active after reaching Umbral Ice III and gaining 3 Umbral Hearts then swapping to the opposite element. Blizzard and Fire become Paradox when the Paradox marker is made active.

In days long past, there existed an occult and arcane art known as black magic—a potent magic of pure destructive force born forth by a sorceress of unparalleled power. Those who learned to wield this instrument of ruin came to be called black mages, out of both fear and respect for their gift. Yet great power served to corrupt the judgment of mortal man, and so he unknowingly set out upon the path of ruin. Adventurers who take the black will become agents of devastation, capable of annihilating those who oppose them through little more than the force of their will.