Frequently Asked Questions

Spell requirements for group content

Tank and healer builds have the least spell requirements. DPS is the most demanding role.

Minimum requirements by role:

Tanking: Mighty Guard only
Healing: Pom Cure or Stotram only
DPS: Varies widely - benefits most from additional spells

Dungeons:

The Ram's Voice and Ultravibration make it much easier
Beyond that, anything goes

Higher-tier content:

DPS should learn as many Primal spells as possible ( Feather Rain, Surpanakha, Nightbloom, etc.)

Spell-learning content:

Tank and healer builds are viable and have the least spell requirements
Angel Whisper is not required for healers
Weak DPS is the bottleneck

Spell learning mechanics

For a detailed guide, see the Learning Spells page.

Basic requirements:

The enemy casts the spell before it dies
The enemy actually dies
You are alive when the enemy dies

Things that affect learning rate:

Spell star rating (fewer stars = higher success rate)
Level syncing guarantees a 100% learn rate for dungeons/trials/raids

Things that do NOT affect learning rate:

Number of times the enemy casts the spell
Number of Blue Mages in the party
Having non-Blue Mages in the party
Party item level (minimum ilvl does nothing)
Getting hit by the spell
Silencing Echo

Unsynced learn rates: 1-star spells ~50%, 5-star spells ~5%. Running synced is almost always better if possible.

Special cases:

Quest spells ( Mind Blast, Glower) have 100% learn rate regardless of level sync
Masked Carnivale uses unsynced learn rates

Gear

For details, see the Gear Sets page.

Quick answers:

BIS: See the gear sets page
Phantasmal vs Augmented Cryptlurker’s: Both are fine
Max ilvl gear: Is good enough
SpS vs Crit: Pick whichever fits the Moon Flute Opener rotation
Is my gear the problem? No, as long as you’re using max ilvl gear

Eruption and Feather Rain
Mountain Buster and Shock Strike
Glass Dance and Veil Of The Whorl
Bristle and Whistle buffs don’t stack, but both stack with Moon Flute. No cooldown.
Off-guard and Peculiar Light (debuffs stack, but share cooldown - need 2 people)
J Kick and Quasar
Both Ends and Nightbloom
Angel's Snack, Dragon Force, and Matra Magic
Level 5 Death and Ultravibration
The Rose Of Destruction, Chelonian Gate, and Ruby Dynamics
Being Mortal and Apokalypsis The DoT from Song Of Torment, Aetherial Spark, and Nightbloom will overwrite one another and can’t be stacked.

Why didn’t I learn Cold Fog?

Fail the mechanic with three heads. At least one needs to survive - any number of survivors is fine.

FATE Farming

For strategies, see the FATE Farming guide.

Etiquette reminder: During high-population events (Yokai collab, etc.), use Mighty Guard and avoid instant-death abilities to let others get credit.

Should I use Conviction Marcato?

If it fits, sure. We prefer Sonic Boom for slidecasting/weaving. Conviction Marcato is good for extra 220 potency filler slots. The synergy with Winged Reprobation (220p every 2min) is minimal.

Mortal Flame: A DOT with special mechanics

Mortal Flame is a single-target DoT applied once per target. Only one player maintains it - others will overwrite it.

Key mechanics:

Can only be applied in combat (won’t initiate combat)
Snapshots all active buffs at application time
Persists until target dies or leaves combat

When to use Mortal Flame:

Mortal Flame becomes more potent than Sonic Boom after:

Buff Status	Time to Break Even
No buffs	18 seconds active
Full buffs*	9 seconds active

*Full buffs = Moon Flute, Bristle, Off-guard, Peculiar Light

Who should bring it?

Second-highest DPS in your group
Any DPS-role player (Mimicry)
NOT tanks - never use on tank builds

In the opener:

Apply Mortal Flame after all group buffs are active for maximum snapshot value.

Stat squish

Why is my HP/damage lower than older videos?

In Endwalker, all combat values were reduced ~60% for both players and enemies. Both sides scaled equally, so relative difficulty stayed the same.

Does this mean I’m weaker?

No. Everything was changed proportionally.

Does this mean Carnivale is harder?

No. Everything was changed proportionally.

But it really feels like I’m getting hit harder or doing less damage!

That’s a feeling, not reality. The balance is identical to before.

Apokalypsis vs Being Mortal

Apokalypsis is a theoretical gain over Being Mortal if you never move. In optimal conditions ( Moon Flute every minute), you can alternate Phantom Flurry and Apokalypsis finishers. Impractical in most content - use Being Mortal instead.

Blue Mage Log

How do I unlock the Blue Mage Log?

Do your job quests.

What are the rewards for completing entries in the Blue Mage Log?

Fame (achievements and titles)
Fortune (Tomestones of Poetics and Allied Seals)

What are the requirements for Blue Mage Log completion?

To get credit for the Blue Mage Log, your group must be:

Level synced
Full
Only Blue Mages

The “avoid Unrestricted Party” message is misleading. You don’t just avoid it - you MUST avoid it to get log credit.

What happens if someone leaves?

Requirements are checked at entry. If you meet them when entering, you get log credit even if someone leaves during.

Gavel Skip

For detailed Gavel mechanics, see the A8S guide.

Can I skip it? Yes, but it’s not recommended.

Should I skip it? No. Gavel isn’t hard compared to the complexity of skipping it.

Tips if skipping:

Don’t use macros (waste of potency)
You can use a countdown macro for synchronizing Final Sting only
Involves RNG and tight timing

Death spell accuracy

Based on testing by Rhesh’a Tayuun and Mana Invenbel:

Spell	Accuracy
Launcher	100%
Dimensional Shift	100%
Level 5 Death	90%
Missile	67%
Doom	33%
Tail Screw	15%

All death spells share resistances - if one fails, all will fail on that enemy.

What about Ultravibration?

Not technically a death spell. If an enemy can be frozen/petrified, Ultravibration works 100%.

Which death spell should I use?

Dungeons: Ultravibration for trash, Level 5 Death for bosses
Raid adds: Level 5 Death (quick kills), Missile (spam), Dimensional Shift (fallback)
Avoid: Doom and Tail Screw - too unreliable

Spells for Enfeeble Me Tenderer and Beginner Spellcasting

Effect	Spells
Addle	Role Action
Bind	White Knight’s Tour
Bleeding	Aetherial Spark, Song Of Torment
Candy	Candy Cane
Conked	Magic Hammer
Deep Freeze	The Ram's Voice
Off-guard	Off-guard /
Peculiar Light (shared CD)
Paralysis	The Dragon’s Voice, Mind Blast
Petrify	Level 5 Petrify
Sleep	Acorn Bomb, Chirp, Role Action
Slow	Black Knight’s Tour, Ice Spikes
Stun	Bomb Toss