I learned Arcanist the hard way and I’ll tell you what actually matters. Arcanist is the base job that leads to Summoner (DPS) and Scholar (healer). In my experience, getting comfortable with DoTs and your carbuncle pet early saves you time later—trust me, you’ll thank me on the job stone at level 30 (the switch still happens at level 30).
Shadowbringers changed a few things back on July 2, 2019, and as of 2025 the base Arcanist loop remains the core teaching tool for both advanced jobs. You’ll share EXP between Summoner and Scholar once you unlock them. That shared leveling is convenient, but the job quests and specific tools are learned separately, so don’t skip them.
🎯 Quick start — where to begin
Start in Limsa Lominsa. Apply your DoTs early; that’s the skill you’ll use the most. Why? Because DoTs scale well over time and force you to plan your movement and timing. I’ve noticed players who spam Ruin forget the timing windows—don’t be that player.
Do this every five levels: finish the job quest. It teaches you new abilities and often gives gear. We found those quests solve more problems than a dozen random dungeons (and they’re free). By the way, carbuncle isn’t passive fluff; learn its kit.
📚 Core mechanics made simple
Bio and Miasma are your DoTs. Keep them ticking. They hit every few seconds, so don’t let them fall off. Ruin is your filler. Energy Drain gives you MP back and deals damage—use it smartly.
Start fights by applying DoTs, then cast Ruin while watching DoT timers. That’s the baseline. It’s like tending a small garden: plant the seeds (DoTs), then water regularly (Ruin, Energy Drain). Oddly enough, doing this well is less flashy but more reliable than chasing big burst numbers.
// Basic opener (levels 1–30)
Apply Bio
Apply Miasma
Ruin
Ruin
Energy Drain
Ruin
// refresh Bio and Miasma when near expiration
Yes, it looks repetitive. It is. It works.
⚔️ When fights change
Single-target? Hold your DoTs. Multi-target? Spread them. Large pulls? Use AoE and Bane spreading (when you have it). Bosses? Time your DoT refreshes around untargetable phases. Sounds obvious, but poor timing costs more DPS than a single miscast.
Movement-heavy fights force you to use Ruin II or other instant-cast options. Learn to weave instant casts between global cooldowns; it raises your output noticeably. This isn’t just busywork—knowing when to weave and when not to can decide a wipe.
| Situation | Action | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single target | Maintain DoTs, Ruin spam | Consistent damage over time |
| 2–4 mobs | Apply DoTs to each | Better overall damage than focusing one |
| Mass pull | AoE + pet AOE | MP usage rises; manage Energy Drain |
| Boss phases | Time refreshes | Pre-position and plan DoT windows |
🔮 Advanced habits before level 30
Spell weaving is worth practicing. Learn GCD vs. animation lock. Pet positioning matters; place your carbuncle where it survives and keeps hitting. (Sometimes it’s smarter to let it take a hit than to recall it mid-fight.)
MP economy changes as you gain skills like Aetherflow and more drains. Predict your MP needs in long fights and plan Energy Drain uses. This doesn’t always work perfectly—depends on your dungeon and your healer—but the prediction helps prevent awkward pauses.
“Practice the basics until they’re boring. Then add nuance.” — practical advice I still follow.
💎 Gear and stats that move the needle
Prioritize Intelligence first. Weapon upgrades give the biggest single jump. After that, focus on stats that fit your end goal: Summoner players often value different secondaries than Scholar players, so choose with intent.
Spell Speed shortens casts and slightly changes rhythm; Critical and Determination raise your damage peaks and consistency. To be blunt, item level beats a weird stat on low-level gear most of the time—pick higher item level if forced to choose.
| Slot | Priority | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Weapon | Weapon Damage + Int | Biggest impact |
| Armor | Intelligence | Item level matters |
| Accessories | Int + useful secondaries | Don’t skip these |
Practical tips, fast
- Do job quests every 5 levels — they teach and equip.
- Use Energy Drain on cooldown when MP is low.
- Place the pet intentionally; it dies less and contributes more.
- Avoid bursting DoT refreshes right before untargetable phases.
Want the opener compacted? Here’s a one-line cheat: Bio → Miasma → weave Ruin and Energy Drain while watching timers. Simple, effective. Why? Because the game rewards uptime over flashiness. Surprising, right?
Controversial bit: I think Scholar gets overrated praise in some raid groups—too much focus on shields means some healers don’t learn raw throughput. You might disagree. Also, between us, Summoner’s complexity is sometimes used as an excuse for sloppy play. Harsh, but true for some players!
One counterintuitive insight: practicing Arcanist timing will make you a better rotation player on any caster job later. The discipline of DoT maintenance improves your overall rhythm—like learning scales before soloing.
There are exceptions and edge cases. Level 1–30 Arcanist won’t mirror endgame Summoner tricks perfectly. You’ll hit new mechanics after level 30 that change priorities slightly. To be fair, that’s the fun part.
Final, honest note: this job rewards patience more than panic. Slow down, watch your timers, and you’ll climb faster than players who spam everything. Oh—don’t forget to enjoy the story while you level. It matters!
— a player who’s raided, healed, and tanked parts of Eorzea (I’m a woman; I still rage at bad mechanics sometimes).
