Best and Worst FF14 Jobs for the Savage Raid Tier List

Savage raid progression in Final Fantasy XIV is all about efficiency—tight DPS checks, clean mechanics, and job synergy. As many raiders prepare their comps, one thing is clear: not all jobs are created equal for Savage, especially when the final turn demands raw damage.

If you’re planning your Savage push and want to stay competitive without unnecessary frustration, gearing up efficiently matters. Many players choose to save time by preparing resources early, whether that’s crafted gear, consumables, or gil—options like SSEGOLD FFXIV Gil and Item Store can help you stay raid-ready without burning out before progression even begins.

DPS Balance: Who Shines and Who Struggles

Top DPS Picks for Savage

• Ninja – Exceptionally strong burst windows and raid utility make Ninja one of the safest melee picks.

• Viper – One of the strongest melee DPS overall, especially in single-target encounters.

• Samurai – Excellent personal DPS, though slightly weaker in multi-target fights.

• Black Mage – Dominates damage charts when played correctly; high reward, high skill.

• Pictomancer – Shines in encounters with downtime and excels in high-end play.

These jobs thrive because Savage favors damage consistency and burst, especially once mechanics are mastered.

DPS Jobs That May Hold You Back

Risky or Weak Picks

• Summoner – Fine in early turns for extra raises, but falls off hard when DPS checks tighten.

• Reaper – Underperforms compared to other melee options in current Savage tuning.

• Astrologian (Healer DPS contribution) – High effort for low reward compared to White Mage.

Once Savage becomes about damage over survivability, jobs with lower output or excessive utility quickly lose value.

Physical Ranged: Misunderstood but Valuable

• Machinist – Strong personal DPS and often underrated; suffers mostly from gear priority issues.

• Dancer – Remains valuable thanks to party buffs, but effectiveness depends on team DPS.

• Bard – Solid support option, though less explosive than Machinist in raw damage.

Machinist, in particular, gets far more criticism than it deserves—its damage is competitive, especially in optimized groups.

Healer Balance: White Mage Dominates

• White Mage – Currently the strongest healer in both damage and simplicity.

• Sage – Strong mitigation and DPS contribution.

• Scholar & Astrologian – Functional, but noticeably behind in performance and effort efficiency.

Savage progression heavily favors healers that contribute damage without excessive micromanagement, which is why White Mage stands out.

Tank Balance: The Best It’s Ever Been

Tanks are in an excellent spot overall:

• Gunbreaker – Still top-tier damage even after nerfs.

• Paladin – Excellent two-target performance.

• Warrior & Dark Knight – Extremely close in performance, making player comfort the deciding factor.

Tank choice rarely blocks clears—player skill matters more than job selection here.

Final Verdict: What Really Matters in Savage

• Early Savage turns allow flexibility.

• Final turns punish low DPS jobs hard.

• Casters and melee choices matter far more than tanks.

• If balance is off, job selection becomes critical—just like past tiers such as Abyssos.

For players aiming to clear Savage smoothly, choosing a strong job early—and preparing properly—can save weeks of frustration. Whether you’re min-maxing your DPS job or gearing an alt for flexibility, having enough gil for crafted gear, food, and potions is key. Many raiders rely on SSEGOLD FFXIV Gil and Item Store to streamline preparation and focus entirely on learning mechanics and pushing clears.