~4 MIN
Intro
With the launch of the Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail expansion, we once again have the opportunity to enjoy the Pictomancer job. As a magical ranged DPS, Pictomancer boasts incredible burst damage and unique mechanics involving aether and a magical brush. In this guide, we’ll cover Pictomancer’s playstyle, mechanics, job gauges, leveling, gear, and more.
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Pictomancer Gameplay
Pictomancer is a top-tier DPS job in Patch 7.05. It stands out from other casters thanks to Motifs and Palettes, which form the foundation of its rotation.
- Motifs: Create powerful combos and generate Muses to amplify damage.
- Palettes: Manage Paint Charges and Palette Gauge to maximize burst potential.
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| ✅ Huge burst damage | ⛔️ Not easy to master |
| ✅ Essential for raids (raid buff + 90s AoE shield) | ⛔️ Long cast times require careful planning |
| ✅ Strong AoE damage for dungeons | ⛔️ Not ideal for beginners unfamiliar with fight mechanics |
How to Unlock Pictomancer
To unlock the Pictomancer job, you must:
- Own the Dawntrail expansion.
- Reach Level 80 on any Disciple of Magic or War job.
- Pick up the quest “The Joy of Pictomancy” in Old Gridania (X: 8.0, Y: 10.3) from Cheerless Hearer.
- Complete the quest to receive the Pictomancer Soulstone and starter gear.
Pictomancer Mechanics
Motifs
Pictomancer’s Motif system includes three types of mechanics:
- Creature Motifs (Summon powerful beings like Moogles and Madeens)
- Weapon Motifs (Execute high-damage hammer combos)
- Landscape Motifs (Provide buffs, including the raid-wide Starry Muse)
| Motif Type | Description |
| Creature Motif | Grants access to Pom Muse, Winged Muse, Clawed Muse, Fanged Muse |
| Weapon Motif | Provides a 3-step hammer combo with guaranteed crits |
| Landscape Motif | Casts Starry Muse, a raid buff boosting damage & spell speed |
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Pictomancer Job Gauges
Canvas & Palette Gauge
- Canvas: Displays which Motifs are active.
- Palette Gauge: Tracks White & Black Paint, allowing for powerful spell combinations.
- Subtractive Palette: Enables Blizzard in Cyan, Stone in Yellow, Thunder in Magenta.
Pictomancer Gear and Stat Priority
As a Magical Ranged DPS, Pictomancer shares gear with Black Mage, Summoner, and Red Mage.
Stat Priority
- Weapon Damage
- Intelligence / Vitality
- Critical Hit
- Determination ≥ Direct Hit
- Spell Speed
Best Consumables
- Food: Vegetable Soup (Vitality & Determination boost)
- Potion: Grade 1 Gemdraught of Intelligence (Highest caster stat boost)
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Pictomancer Leveling Guide
Single-Target Leveling Rotation
| Level | Rotation |
| Sub-30 | Fire In Red → Water In Blue → Aero In Green |
| 30-50 | Use Creature Muses for extra damage. |
| 50-60 | Use Hammer Motif and Striking Muse on cooldown. |
| 70-80 | Cast Starry Muse during opener & cooldown windows. |
| 80-90 | Use Holy in White for movement. |
| 90-92 | Use Comet In Black after Subtractive Palette. |
| 96-100 | Use Madeen inside Starry Muse for maximum damage. |
AoE Leveling Rotation
| Level | Rotation |
| Sub-30 | Fire II In Red → Aero In Green → Water II In Blue |
| 30-50 | Use Creature Muses and Moogle for AoE burst. |
| 50-54 | Use Hammer charges for guaranteed direct crits. |
| 80-90 | Use Holy in White for AoE instead of Fire/Aero/Water combos. |
| 100 | Use Star Prism after your raid buff for dungeon AoE. |
Additional Pictomancer Abilities
- Tempera Coat (Lvl 10): 20% HP shield, cooldown reduced if fully consumed.
- Tempera Grassa (Lvl 88): AoE version of Tempera Coat.
- Smudge (Lvl 20): Dash in the direction you’re facing (Lvl 84 upgrade increases movement speed for 5s).
- Star Prism (Lvl 100): 400-potency AoE heal useful in high-damage phases.
Final Thoughts
Pictomancer is a highly rewarding job that excels in both single-target and AoE combat. While it has a steep learning curve, its raid buffs and burst potential make it an essential part of Savage raid compositions.
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