Gunbreaker Job Guide for FFXIV — Endwalker 6.5

Gunbreaker is a high-tempo tank that builds and spends cartridges using its weaponskills and abilities. These cartridges can be spent on the Continuation combo, a flurry of attacks that make the job flow almost like a true DPS.

Gunbreakers want to build up their Cartridge Gauge and then unload onto enemies every minute under the effect of its core damaging buff No Mercy. Cartridges are spent on the Gnashing Fang combo roughly every 30 seconds and Burst Strike otherwise, with Continuation used directly afterwards. At max level, they gain the devastating attack Double Down, which requires two cartridges to use. Gunbreaker optimization is structured around maximizing these strong abilities and using as many cartridges as possible under No Mercy.

Defensively, Gunbreaker is a jack of all trades. It boasts the standard suite of tank defensives and can adapt to any situation to assist the party with mitigation and single-target healing over time.

Gunbreaker can be unlocked as long as the player has a Disciple of War or Magic above Level 60. After meeting the requirements, talk to the Gods' Quiver Bow in New Gridania (x11.5, y11.9) and complete the quest "The Makings of a Gunbreaker" to unlock the job. Gunbreaker starts at Level 60.

The Powder Gauge will indicate if the player has their tank stance Royal Guard on or off. It will additionally show how many cartridges the player has stored at the time once the Cartridge Charge trait is unlocked, up to a maximum of three at Level 90.

Cartridges can be spent on four weaponskills: Burst Strike, the Gnashing Fang combo, Fated Circle, and Double Down.

If you would prefer to watch a video that provides an overview of Gunbreaker, 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
Keen Edge Lv. 1	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200.
No Mercy Lv. 2	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Increases damage dealt by 20%. Duration: 20s
Brutal Shell Lv. 4	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 160. Combo Action: Keen Edge Combo Potency: 300 Combo Bonus: Restores own HP Cure Potency: 200 Combo Bonus: Creates a barrier which nullifies damage equaling HP restored Duration: 30s
Camouflage Lv. 6	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Increases parry rate by 50% while reducing damage taken by 10%. Duration: 20s
Demon Slice Lv. 10	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies.
Release Royal Guard Lv. 10	Instant 1.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Cancels the effect of Royal Guard.
Royal Guard Lv. 10	Instant 2.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Significantly increases enmity generation. Effect ends upon reuse.
Lightning Shot Lv. 15	Instant 2.5s	↔ 20y 0y	Delivers a ranged attack with a potency of 150. Additional Effect: Increased enmity
Danger Zone Lv. 18	Instant 30.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 250.
Solid Barrel Lv. 26	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 140. Combo Action: Brutal Shell Combo Potency: 360 Combo Bonus: Adds a Cartridge to your Powder Gauge
Burst Strike Lv. 30	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 380. Additional Effect: Grants Ready to Blast Duration: 10s Effect of Ready to Blast ends upon execution of any weaponskill. Cartridge Cost: 1
Nebula Lv. 38	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces damage taken by 30%. Duration: 15s
Demon Slaughter Lv. 40	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 100 to all nearby enemies. Combo Action: Demon Slice Combo Potency: 160 Combo Bonus: Adds a Cartridge to your Powder Gauge
Aurora Lv. 45	Instant 60.0s	↔ 30y 0y	Grants Regen to target. Cure Potency: 200 Duration: 18s Maximum Charges: 2
Superbolide Lv. 50	Instant 360.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces HP to 1 and renders you impervious to most attacks. Duration: 10s
Sonic Break Lv. 54	Instant 60.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 300. Additional Effect: Damage over time Potency: 60 Duration: 30s This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions.
Rough Divide Lv. 56	Instant 30.0s	↔ 20y 0y	Delivers a jumping attack with a potency of 150. Maximum Charges: 2 Cannot be executed while bound.
Gnashing Fang Lv. 60	Instant 30.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 380. Additional Effect: Grants Ready to Rip Duration: 10s Effect of Ready to Rip ends upon execution of any weaponskill. Cartridge Cost: 1 This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions.
Savage Claw Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 460. Combo Action: Gnashing Fang Combo Bonus: Grants Ready to Tear Duration: 10s Effect of Ready to Tear ends upon execution of any weaponskill. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Wicked Talon Lv. 60	Instant 2.5s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 540. Combo Action: Savage Claw Combo Bonus: Grants Ready to Gouge Duration: 10s Effect of Ready to Gouge ends upon execution of any weaponskill. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Bow Shock Lv. 62	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 150 to all nearby enemies. Additional Effect: Damage over time Potency: 60 Duration: 15s
Heart of Light Lv. 64	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 30y	Reduces magic damage taken by self and nearby party members by 10%. Duration: 15s
Heart of Stone Lv. 68	Instant 25.0s	↔ 30y 0y	Reduces damage taken by a party member or self by 15%. Duration: 7s Additional Effect: When targeting a party member while under the effect of Brutal Shell, that effect is also granted to the target Duration: 30s
Abdomen Tear Lv. 70	Instant 1.0s	↔ 5y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 240. Can only be executed when Ready to Tear. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Continuation Lv. 70	Instant 1.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Allows the firing of successive rounds with your gunblade. Gnashing Fang may be followed by Jugular Rip. Savage Claw may be followed by Abdomen Tear. Wicked Talon may be followed by Eye Gouge. Burst Strike may be followed by Hypervelocity.
Eye Gouge Lv. 70	Instant 1.0s	↔ 5y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 280. Can only be executed when Ready to Gouge. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Jugular Rip Lv. 70	Instant 1.0s	↔ 5y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 200. Can only be executed when Ready to Rip. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Fated Circle Lv. 72	Instant 2.5s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 300 to all nearby enemies. Cartridge Cost: 1
Bloodfest Lv. 76	Instant 120.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Draws aetheric energy from target, adding 3 Cartridges to your Powder Gauge.
Blasting Zone Lv. 80	Instant 30.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 720.
Heart of Corundum Lv. 82	Instant 25.0s	↔ 30y 0y	Reduces damage taken by target party member or self by 15%. Duration: 8s Additional Effect: When targeting a party member while under the effect of Brutal Shell, that effect is also granted to the target Duration: 30s Additional Effect: Grants Clarity of Corundum to target Clarity of Corundum Effect: Reduces damage taken by 15% Duration: 4s Additional Effect: Grants Catharsis of Corundum to target Catharsis of Corundum Effect: Restores HP when HP falls below 50% or upon effect duration expiration Cure Potency: 900 Duration: 20s
Hypervelocity Lv. 86	Instant 1.0s	↔ 5y 0y	Delivers an attack with a potency of 180. Can only be executed when Ready to Blast. ※This action cannot be assigned to a hotbar.
Double Down Lv. 90	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 5y	Delivers an attack to all nearby enemies with a potency of 1,200 for the first enemy, and 15% less for all remaining enemies. Cartridge Cost: 2 This weaponskill does not share a recast timer with any other actions.

Action Name	Cast Recast	Range Radius	Effect
Rampart Lv. 8	Instant 90.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Reduces damage taken by 20%. Duration: 20s
Low Blow Lv. 12	Instant 25.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Stuns target. Duration: 5s
Provoke Lv. 15	Instant 30.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Gesture threateningly, placing yourself at the top of a target's enmity list while gaining additional enmity.
Interject Lv. 18	Instant 30.0s	↔ 3y 0y	Interrupts the use of a target's action.
Reprisal Lv. 22	Instant 60.0s	↔ 0y 5y	Reduces damage dealt by nearby enemies by 10%. Duration: 10s
Arm's Length Lv. 32	Instant 120.0s	↔ 0y 0y	Creates a barrier nullifying most knockback and draw-in effects. Duration: 6s Additional Effect: Slow +20% when barrier is struck Duration: 15s
Shirk Lv. 48	Instant 120.0s	↔ 25y 0y	Diverts 25% of enmity to target party member.

Action Name	Acquired	Effect
Tank Mastery	Lv. 1	Reduces damage taken by 20%. Furthermore, grants a bonus to maximum HP based on your vitality attribute, and a bonus to damage dealt based on your strength attribute.
Cartridge Charge	Lv. 30	Stores a Cartridge in your Powder Gauge after successfully completing a combo with Solid Barrel. Maximum Cartridges: 2
Enhanced Brutal Shell	Lv. 52	Grants the effect of Brutal Shell after successfully completing a combo with Brutal Shell. Duration: 30s
Danger Zone Mastery	Lv. 80	Upgrades Danger Zone to Blasting Zone.
Heart of Stone Mastery	Lv. 82	Upgrades Heart of Stone to Heart of Corundum.
Enhanced Aurora	Lv. 84	Allows the accumulation of charges for consecutive uses of Aurora. Maximum Charges: 2
Melee Mastery	Lv. 84	Increases the potency of Keen Edge to 200, Brutal Shell to 160, and Solid Barrel to 140.
Enhanced Continuation	Lv. 86	Become Ready to Blast after executing Burst Strike. Duration: 10s
Cartridge Charge II	Lv. 88	Increases Powder Gauge capacity to 3 Cartridges. Executing Bloodfest stores 3 Cartridges.

The Hrothgar of northern Ilsabard have passed the art of the gunblade from one generation to the next. The weapon itself combines a sword with a firing mechanism, emitting a range of magical effects by utilizing aetherially imbued cartridges. Originally employed by Queen Gunnhildr's personal guard, they were once known as "Gunnhildr's Blades" and differ greatly from the similarly named weapons used in the Garlean Empire.