With the recent updates in Final Fantasy XI, the Beastmaster has gained a new spotlight. It is not just another job role anymore. Now, Beastmasters have got brand new abilities like summoning pets and skills like Killer Instinct.
They can also clear the endgame content like Odyssey and Dynamis.
In this guide, we will equip you with all the information needed to use Beastmasters to your party’s advantage. So, let’s get started!
Understanding Ecosystems
Before diving into how the Beastmaster’s skills work, we need to understand FFXI’s environment. If you are a veteran player, you must know that this game uses a predator-prey chain that is the most powerful mechanic.
The chain goes as follows:
- Vermin beat Plantoids
- Plantoids beat Beasts
- Beasts beat Lizards
- Lizards beat Vermin
When you use a pet from a family that preys on your target, you get a damage bonus, a reduction in damage taken, and the Intimidation Effect. This effect can cause the enemy to miss turns.
Killer Instinct Mechanism
The reason Beastmaster is often a mandatory spot in the party is because of the skill called Killer Instinct. This ability mimics your pet’s Killer trait effect and applies it to your entire party. For example, if your pet is a Bird Killer or an Arcana Killer, the effect is shared with all nearby party members.
It also gives you damage bonuses. This is not just a simple Attack buff but more like a damage multiplier.
If you are using the correct ecosystem, you can gain up to 15% final damage increase. It also applies a Circle Protection effect which grants up to 15% reduction in damage taken. Both these effects last for 3 minutes.
How To Use?
You can use this mechanism multiple times. Summon a pet with the correct killer trait and activate Killer Instinct. Then switch to a better debuff pet and use the Killer Instinct again. Now, the party has both effects simultaneously.
Which Pets Should You Summon
FFXI gives you a huge library of Jug Pets. To acquire these pets, you can go to Upper Jeunoand use FFXI Gils for the purchase.
Some of them stand out as their skill utility is much higher than that of the others. Here are the top two pets you can summon:
1. Generous Arthur: He is arguably the best of all the available Jug Pets. His Corrosive Ooze is a guaranteed -33% Attack and Defense down. Also, his Purulent Oozeinflicts a 10% Max HP reduction. So if a boss has 20 million HP, there is an instant 2 million damage.
2. Fatso Fargann: Technically, he is a low-level pet. But his TP Drainkiss is very useful. This skill completely drains the enemy’s Tactical Points. Also under the Unleash SP ability, Fargann can keep a boss completely TP Locked, preventing them from ever using a special move.
3. Vivacious Vickie: She has high HP, high Subtle Blow, and her Zealous Snort provides Haste and Magic Defense to both the pet and the master. Her Sweeping Gauge deals a twofold attack to enemies and reduces the enemy’s defense by 25% for 60 seconds.
4. Sultry Patrice: When you’re farming multiple mobs, Patrice is incredibly useful with her big physical damage numbers. Also, her Fluid Spread has a massive AoE that comes in useful when there is an enemy mob present.
The Ready Charge System
The primary interaction with your pet is the Ready command. This unlocks at level 25 and you start with three charges. The base recharge is 30 seconds but can be reduced to 10 seconds per charge by the following:
- Sic Recast Merit Points: 2 seconds per point, for a total of 10 seconds.
- 100 Job Points Gift: 5 seconds.
- Charmer’s Merlin: 5 seconds.
- Desultor Tassets: 5 seconds with appropriate augment.
If you can hit the 10-second cap, applying debuffs and damage bonuses can be super flexible.
Tactical Points Control
One of the most exciting skills for a modern Beastmaster is the TP Suppression Build. By utilizing the Tandem Blow trait, a Beastmaster can give +15 Subtle Blow II when you and your pet attack the same target.
With this trait, you generate almost zero TP for the enemy while dealing continuous damage. This way, you can beat even tough bosses that have wipe-inducing TP moves at low health.
Weapon Skills
Beastmaster primarily uses One-Handed Axes. Key skills include:
- Raging Axe: This is obtained early in the game and is good for beginner Beastmasters.
- Rampage: This is obtained at level 60. It is a popular 5-hit weapon skill dealing high damage per hit.
- Decimation: It is a 3-hit weapon skill that works best with multi-attack gear and the Dolichenus axe.
- Cloudsplitter: This weapon skill adds the thunder element. If you have a magic-heavy party, this can deal surprising damage, especially if you have Zhivago pet with its Magic Defense Down support.
- Mistral Axe: This is your big single-hit weapon skill. It scales incredibly well with TP and is your go-to for boss fights.
For leveling up, you can use FFXI Gils. If you are running low, you can also buy FFXI Gils.
Important Gear
The Nukumi Gausape is the best-in-slot for Beastmaster. This piece of gear converts your Killer traits into actual damage dealt and damage reduction. The initial 15% bonus for both these buffs reaches up to 30% with Nukumi Gausape.
This is why it is the best gear so far, especially for clearing the end-game content. Alternatively, you can also look into the Founder’s Breastplate.
Beastmaster Beginner’s Checklist
If you are starting today, here is where you can begin your Beastmaster journey:
1. Go to Upper Jeuno and buy your basic jug pet like Generous Arthur. This is your starter kit.
2. Use the Mana Burn Camps via the Venture system and get to level 75 as soon as possible to unlock all the traits and skills.
3. Max out Ready Recast and Call Beast Recast. Then, put 5/5 into Killer Instinct.
Conclusion
Beastmaster is the best job in FFXI right now. If you are fighting a boss and your party has a Beastmaster, you are technically invincible with the amount of versatile skills you can use.
From summoning the jug pets to stun the boss to using weapon skills to unleash nukes, the boss never gets a chance to use its ultimate move.
If you can master the ecosystems and the Ready charge system, you will be the MVP of FFXI.
