Final Fantasy XI: Scholar Guide

[@TheMogHouse]

Just recently started playing sch, so this couldn't have come at a better time :-) Thanks for making these, much appreciated!

[@JayKaufman1209]

I've waited for so long. Thank you Rua!

[@MrOvergryph]

With the addition of last month's Lady Lillith fight, I've learned that scholar is the way to go, to solo easy mode reliably without using special abilities. So, this guide detailing the ins and outs of scholar couldn't have come at a better time, for all of us! :)

[@SplitFinn]

MrOvergryph I’m meaning to upload a D strategy for Lilith, using the gimmick for more drops, and SCH is central to it. Proving tough though

[@geoffreyarnold5344]

Love your videos. When I started XI back in 2002 and up through ~2011, I really only played NIN and SAM. When I came back in ~2016 I focused on BLU, so I never really played any caster job seriously in the bulk of my XI history. When I told my buddy I was sick and tired of the CDC bullshit spam and how boring melees were feeling (if performed the way meta pushes you), he told me I should consider trying out a caster. I went SCH and he showed me the ropes as he let me join him for Geas Fete solos and such. My god, SCH is such a fun and deep job. Some of the most fun I've had was trying out solos on NMs that I'd mostly grouped for. I really feel like SE nailed both the lore (btw, absolutely loved your SCH lore video) and mechanics of this job as a battle mage for how it actually performs and what it requires to truly shine. Hell, I even had a good time CPing it to master with linkshell mates in unconventional parties where I was both the healer and MBer and buffer in the party. Having to juggle all these roles at once and keep buffs up, monster regens, and still pump out big MBs is good practice. Far more enjoyable and worthwhile than sitting on a CP assembly lines. SCH was actually what got me to return to BLU with new life and figuring out how to harness its potential that most boring meta CDC spam garbage forces you to ignore/leave unexplored. Had some fun as BLU/SCH in vagary with my buddy, too, and pumping out MBs for 80-99k even if it's probably not the most beneficial sub to a caster BLU. Thanks for the great video guide again!

[@SplitFinn]

A list of Immanence Skillchains can be found here. www.ffxiah.com/forum/topic/32145/a-scholars-education-guide/76#3458375 I also noticed I omitted my Embrava set, bit of a mishap there. This set will get you just over 500 Enhancing Magic Skill with Job Point Gifts. www.ffxiah.com/item-sets/369138

[@chimerawizard5639]

25:58 Kaustra deals 1/4th of the initial damage as DoT, not identical. It deals the DoT every 3 seconds, while Helix spells deal identical damage every 9s.

[@chimerawizard5639]

also, Kaustra does not force the day/weather check, so elemental obi is basically required.

[@SplitFinn]

Chimerawizard *sigh* What he said, he’s right. Must’ve been patched years and years ago. It’s still very powerful and having proper support will help retain its lethality.

[@chimerawizard5639]

​@@SplitFinn excellent video, can probably just put a graphic over the video at that spot as correction if ya even bother. That was the only mistake I saw on the whole thing, great job!

[@flaregod48]

i've been waiting for you to make this guide and i love playing Sch over a lot of other classes so this is awesome thanks for this so much

[@holonholon1141]

This is such a great and timely video, thanks! I just picked up SCH since I thought it was such an interesting and unique class, and I wanted a healer to round out my job roster.

[@azae00Vids]

the book animation for me was just the best ... I miss this job and this game

[@conqueringlion9175]

That Jean Michel Jarre tune always makes me think of the snake in eagles shadow training montage

[@xanuui]

Caper Emissarius is also great to MpK the doosh in the party who's pushed things 1 too many times right before you kick'em.

[@SageAtoreis]

Curaga is not really the only reason why WHM is much better as "healer": 1. Curaga IV is actually like AoE Cure V, not IV. Curaga III is like AoE Cure IV. So in the end you have 3 powerful AoE cures on WHM 2. Empy legs allows to use cures very frequently and still be self sufficient with mp 3. Afflatus Solace stoneskin effect is a HUGE deal. 49% of your max cure value as stoneskin is amazing. You can apply it before big hit, you can apply it to to deny TP gain from landing hit by enemy, you can apply it to let someone cast spells without interruption. 4. Barspells from WHM are much better (+29 MDB) 5. Erase with proper equip is AoE and erases 2 statues 6. Auspice. 25 subtle blow is really nice. 7. Boosts. Also really nice 8. Arise is great on events with limited time 9. Sacrosanctity is very powerful defense against magic damage. 10. You can have capped cure potency with a lot of cure II potency, enmity -50, Empyrean legs and body all in one set. So you can cure for a long time without getting hate and stoneskin effect from cures let you cure a lot less too. You probably wont take hate in any fight if you use proper equip.

[@SplitFinn]

True, WHM is the game's best healer. SCH can be competitive but it's not dethroning WHM save for some situations (it's the best healer for the Lilith BC on N-VD if you're going for the gimmick for example). I can't argue with any of your points 1~9 and not even so much with 10. I will say that SCH has a very similar optimal Cure set to a WHM minus JSE. Coupled with Regen V and Embrava, a SCH can more than keep up.

[@SageAtoreis]

@@SplitFinn why its best for Lilith? Because you can embrava + regen before tank go in to hold her and never put yourself on hate list? Couldnt you hold her with white mage instead of tank tho? She only does magic damage so whm with his native mdb and Inyanga +2 set should be very tanky against her and can cure, -na himself for a very long time.

[@tomt1588]

@BartekSWT you should make a guide for whm..

[@SageAtoreis]

@@tomt1588 Lol I play WHM for 2 weeks top and only on alt :D I just make big research when I build new job and I'm a long time player, so I know a lot about this game in general :P

[@tomt1588]

You wrote that much about whm at a sch guide, might as well make a video about it..

[@lynchmob72]

I just got my SCH to 99 last week. It's no where near geared, but this guide will help me as i learn about all the abilities. Thanks!

[@raoinshishiza152]

lol, through me for a loop when i heard that song from oxegen around 23 minutes. Now thats something i havent heard in a long time.

[@SplitFinn]

raoin shishiza I’m really fond of Jarre, it shows up in my RDM guide too

[@Prich319]

Scholar: the fighting Red Mage's best friend.

[@azae00Vids]

imo the way the sch was implemented here was vastly better than ffxiv.. it would be nice if the sch could have been done the same in both games :(

[@cd-jk4rh]

not at all! 14 blah

[@timothycalkins6105]

Do you have a guide or a link on how to set up macro books and what not? like the whole deal

[@holonholon1141]

I copied your sets across to the BG Wiki community guide. If anyone has any suggestions, drop a comment (or make an account!) and I'll make the necessary changes. Time to bring SCH to the modern era!

[@aetheriumwinds3439]

Hi Rua do you have a list of Macros and any .Lua for Gearswap for SCH?

[@Jasp3rism]

How do you have inventory space for the gear for all these jobs?

[@darkwarrior20001]

Mules probably, ypu can move almost everything between them

[@metalgear-]

Just used my 2016 not yet Mastered SCH in Odyssey farming C and was curious as to what I needed to upgrade, in particular for RegenV + Phalanx, since I last played the Job at a high level but absolutely nothing updated for that job on FFXIAH. Disappointing tbh.

[@SplitFinn]

Regen V you need augmented Telchine with Su4/5 Staff, Empy +1 Head/Hands. Get a good Cure build and /WHM when you get Mlv.10, Curaga III is really useful in seg runs.

[@metalgear-]

@@SplitFinn • thx for the heads up. Noticed the +25 Musa which didn’t exist last time I played SCH. Btw almost forgot how amazing & fun SCH was to play. Too heavily focused on bringing my NIN and RDM back up to date. I need to keep SCH up there too on my list.

[@metalgear-]

@@SplitFinn • I need to examine +3 Artifact / Relic just via checking my Gear Sets via macros as well. RDM is so simple in comparison. I just need BiS for Macc + Enhancing + Cure% but SCH is way more complicated in an extremely enjoyable sort of way to the point where you didn’t even mention SCH Stun whatsoever yet that’s another thing SCH excels at. Enjoyed the vid. Especially more so when FFXIAH is not up to date. Thx again.

[@zoldlen883]

I haven't played this game in years, and I was very young when I did. Is this something I could get into this late into the games life?

[@soldiersaint6753]

Hey just give it a go. If its to much you can always put it down.

[@LuckySevenSamson]

FINALLY. Now I get to learn this job f'real.

[@johnjamesreyes]

Are you recommendations for merits still current? BG wiki community guide recommends stormsurge...

[@SplitFinn]

Yep still are.

[@johnjamesreyes]

@@SplitFinn Thank you :)

[@tomt1588]

Thx for the guide

[@qtscorpkid]

I wish you could play this in a ttrpg

[@umbraequinox1838]

can u make a smn guide please if u have time

[@JayKaufman1209]

I highly doubt we will get a smn video from Rua. If I recall correctly Rua does jobs he has mastered and I think he also stated in a video that he didnt plan on doing one at all. I'd love to see one as it's my main job. Rua, if you ever plan on making one, hit me up. I feel like I have a very good understanding of the job since I've basically been playing smn since release.

[@JayKaufman1209]

@Joshua oh man yeah I attempted them a few times but ended up having linkshell friends help run through the normal fights. Those solo fights though were a true test of your smn. My most memorable time on smn was soloing in Ifrit's Cauldron. I was so tired of being the gimped whm in parties that I just gave up on parties around level 30ish and just soloed all the way up to 75. Many many many death/delevels in those days.

[@JayKaufman1209]

@@clint8-inches-softstevens389 if he does that would be amazing. Smn is better than just burn. I'm sure he'll hit on a majority of the strengths as he always does. Very well thought out guides. I jumped back to FFXIV because my boss started playing but I'll always support Rua!

[@Kisuzume]

Dude i love you

[@Soichiro69]

I should resub just to /wave at you in game

[@nerfnut2661]

Nice

[@Dbars19]

Rdm and Sch make my brain hurt. think ill just stick with mnk lol and whm.

[@daitsmeda1234]

Sweet now I can stop being a bot on sch

[@goldcoast8659]

yeah Kem , just make Comptonn do it instead

[@xxHB311xx]

Monk update !!!

[@SplitFinn]

Give me a few hours, it'll be made!

[@sagepirotess6312]

Well you are a sch teacher, but gramdmaster, not. 1 Rapture: you cam super buff banishga spells. Add light weather and gear and use a good staff to put out insane dmh. 2. Manifestation: is godsend. Aoe drain, aspir, absorb tp. Absorb int is nice as well. 3. Imminence: luminhelix, stone, equal distortion. Ws, stattersoul, darkness. Mb ice, impact, kastra, drain. 4. Empy staff 119. 50% fast cast All MAGIC. can go higher with gear. Hence stun, absorb tp, keep mob from acting 5. Weapon skill cacalism staff skill is great if double weather and gear. 6. Keep a regein or store tp set on occasion. If you dont swap staves, i don't recommend melee, but ws when 100 to. 7. The atomic staff is insane for skill chain or shattersoul.

[@SplitFinn]

This guide is aimed at players new to mages or to the game in general. I purposefully did not go into every single trick there is because some of them are well beyond the basics. I am not a 'grandmaster' myself and have never declared myself to be one. Still, let's knock them down shall we? 1. That is extremely niche and if you're after strong Light damage you can just use Luminohelix II with the Daybreak. 2. I've never seen a situation that calls for SCH subbing DRK. Absorb-TP is meaningless outside MNK/NIN/DNC setups as the NM will be getting far too much TP to keep up. 3. Impact takes far too long to cast outside Alacrity and even then I seriously doubt you're landing anything else due to universal cool down. 4. Stunning on SCH is niche, in fact the only fight I see it used for still is Zerde. My point with #2 re: Absorb-TP still stands. 5. You need to sub WHM to get Cataclysm on SCH, which is sub-optimal considering what you lose in exchange. It is an option though. 6. If you're not swapping Staves for Regen/Cure/Nuking/Idle then you're not doing SCH right at all. 7. I assume you mean Aeonic staff, which is indeed neat for Occult Acumen but still... you have Immanence and can extend Distortion to Darkness with one use of Retribution/Shattersoul anyway.

[@sagepirotess6312]

@@SplitFinn i do swap staves for regen and such, but i am nuking i keep one primary. 50% fast cast standard makes empy staff insane. Even more so with gear. Mot or a few nuke staves. But anyway good reply.

[@Fermion.]

@@SplitFinn Why bother swapping staves for cure and idle (assuming you mean pdt) when you can easily cap both without the weapon slot? And the slight regen improvement doesn't outweigh the benefits of Myrkr (instant full mp and removes 3 debuffs). Gotta disagree there. Switching staves is the old school playstyle, man. Sometimes I'll throw out a couple tier 3 nukes in an occult set and seidr Coterhardie in light arts to have 1k tp ready to instantly remove debuffs (think nasty para or something else horrible) and completely refill my mp if needed. That playstyle is not possible if you change staves.

[@sagepirotess6312]

Someone stated AoE drain doesn't work. Yes it does, it won't raise your hp beyond cap, and you must use one JA, but even after your cap is maxed all mobs still lose hp. And you can do an insane dark, drain build.