The recent Final Fantasy 14 (FFXIV) Media Tour gave players a glimpse of the newest Mage DPS job: Pictomancer . In this guide, we will walk you through everything we know about FFXIV's Pictomancer so far, including the job's skills, abilities, combo rotation, and more.
Do note that all tooltips shown in this guide are based on play of an in-development build of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, and content in the final version is subject to change.
FFXIV Pictomancer Guide
Let's start off with the basics. Pictomancer is a Magical Ranged DPS whose magic revolves around colors, painting, and more. They share the same Casting Gear as other Mage DPS jobs.
Pictomancers wield a brush that they can use to bring paintings to life. From the trailer previously shown during the Japan 2024 Fanfest, as well as the recent Live Letter 81, Pictomancer plays a lot like Summoner, just with paintings.
Now, let's move on to the specifics, starting with Pictomancer's Job Gauge.
FFXIV Pictomancer Guide – Job Gauge
The Pictomancer Job Gauge consists of two parts, the Palette Gauge and the Canvas. The Palette Gauge itself has two parts, the Gauge itself, and the Splashes of Paint. Performing specific spells fills up the Palette Gauge, while completing specific combos or using specific skills will provide splashes of Paint.
Next is the Canvas, which consists of three parts. From left to right, they are the Creature Canvas, the Weapon Canvas, and the Landscape Canvas. We will talk about each part of the Canvas in turn.
Now, let's dive into Pictomancer ‘s Skills, as well as the rotation.
FFXIV Pictomancer Guide – Skill Combos
Tooltip images come from the Dawntrail Media Tour Job Infographics made by SlyAKAgreyfox.
There are a total of five skill combos that Pictomancers can perform during a fight. These are the Base Combo, the Subtractive Combo, the Creature Combo, the Weapon Combo, and the Landscape Combo.
It's important to note that quite a few of the Pictomancer's skills in FFXIV are Unassignable, meaning that players have to perform certain actions to turn abilities into other abilities. We will tackle whichever skill
Let's go through them in turn.
FFXIV Pictomancer – Base Combo
The Pictomancer's Base Combo encompasses both the Single Target and AoE skill combos. Whenever the player uses a skill in the Base Combo, be it Single Target or AoE, the entire combo will move forward a step.
The Base Combo starts with Fire in Red and Fire II in Red. These are the Single Target and AoE skills respectively. Upon using them, both skills will turn into Aero in Green and Aero II in Green. Upon using those skills, they will then turn again into Water in Blue and Water II in Blue.
Additionally, casting either of the Water skills will increase the Palette Gauge by 25, as well as grant 1 White Paint. Players can then use the White Paint to cast Holy in White, an instant cast AoE spell.
All of these skills are affected by Hyperphantasia, which we will discuss later.
FFXIV Pictomancer – Subtractive Combo
Once players have 50 Palette Gauge, they can cast Subtractive Palette. This allows the player to cast a full Subtractive Combo. Additionally, players will receive Monochrome Tones, which will convert one White Paint into Black Paint and allow the player to cast Comet in Black using said Black Paint.
Similar to the Base Combo, the Subtractive Combo encompasses both the Single Target and AoE skill combos. Using one or the other will move both combos to the next step. While under Subtractive Palette, players cannot use the skills from the Pictomancer base combo.
The Subtractive Combo starts with Blizzard in Cyan and Blizzard II in Cyan. These are the Single Target and AoE skills respectively. After using them, they will turn into Stone in Yellow and Stone II in Yellow. Lastly, these skills will then turn into Thunder in Magenta and Thunder II in Magenta.
After using Thunder in Magenta and Thunder II in Magenta, players will receive 1 White Paint.
FFXIV Pictomancer – Creature Combo
The Creature Combo is the longest Pictomancer skill combo in FFXIV. It involves the Creature Canvas, which we brought up earlier, as well as the skill Creature Motif. Creature Motif switches between four versions in order: Pom Motif, Wing Motif, Claw Motif, and Maw Motif.
Casting any of the Motifs is instant when out of combat, but has a cast timer when in combat. After a Motif has been cast, the skill Living Muse will convert into said Motif's linked Spell.
Casting Pom Motif turns Living Muse into Pom Muse. Pom Muse deals AoE damage, while also adding Depection of Pom to the Creature Canvas. Casting Wing Motif afterward will convert Living Muse into Winged Muse, which deals AoE damage and adds Depiction of Wings to the Creature Canvas.
After the Creature Canvas receives both the Depiction of Pom and Depiction of Wings, a Moogle Portrait will also be added to the canvas. This allows the player to cast Mog of the Ages, consuming the Moogle Portrait in the process.
Following the Wing Motif is the Claw Motif, which when used converts Living Muse to Clawed Muse. This deals AoE Damage, and adds Depiction of Claw to the Creature Canvas. Next comes the Maw Motif, which turns Living Muse to Fanged Muse. This deals AoE damage and adds Depiction of Claw to the canvas.
Once the Creature Canvas has all four Depictions (Pom, Wing, Clow, Maw), a Madeen Portrait will also be added to the Creature Canvas. This lets players cast Retribution of the Madeen, which replaces Mog of the Ages on the Hud. Casting Retribution of the Madeen will consume the Madeen Portrait.
FFXIV Pictomancer – Weapon Combo
The Weapon Combo is similar to the Creature Combo, in that the player must first paint the Motif to convert the Muse into an attack. In the Weapon Combo's case, players have access to the Hammer Motif. Painting the Hammer Motif will turn Steel Muse into Striking Muse.
Using Striking Muse grants 3 stacks of Hammer Time, which players can then use to cast Hammer Stamp. After casting Hammer Stamp, it turns into Hammer Brush. After using that, it will then turn into Polishing Hammer, which is the most powerful attack in the combo and a guaranteed critical direct hit.
FFXIV Pictomancer – Landscape Combo
The last Canvas available to players is the Landscape Canvas, which is used in the Landscape Combo. Like the Weapon Combo, players only have access to one Landscape at the moment: the Starry Sky Motif. Starry Sky Motif converts Scenic Muse into Starry Muse.
Casting Starry Muse will create a magicked landscape, which will provide a damage buff to those standing inside it. Additionally, it grants Subtractive Spectrum, which gives one free cast of Subtractive Palette. Standing in the landscape also gives Inspiration, which reduces cast time and recast for basic spells.
Starry Muse also gives Starstruck, allowing one cast of Star Prism, which damages enemies and heals nearby party members. Lastly, the player will receive 5 stacks of Hyperphantasia. Each Hyperphantasia Stack is consumed whenever a basic spell or Star Prism is cast.
Once players use up all five stacks of Hyperphantasia, they will gain Rainbow Bright, allowing them to cast Raindow Drip instantly and with a shorter recast timer. Rainbow Drip can also be cast normally, but with a long cast time. It also provides 1 White Paint when used.
FFXIV Pictomancer Guide – Other Skills
Of course, the above skills aren't the only skills that the Pictomancer has access to in FFXIV. Much like the other FFXIV Mage Jobs, Pictomancer also has access to the Caster/Mage Role Actions, namely Addle, Sleep, Lucid Dreaming, Surecast, and Swiftcast.
Additionally, Pictomancer has the Smudge skill, which allows them to move forward 15 yalms, while also increasing their movement speed for 5s.
Pictomancers also have access to two defensive skills: Tempera Coat and Tempera Grassa. Tempera Coat is a self-shield with a long cooldown (120s). If the player takes damage equal to or greater than the shield amount, the cooldown will be reduced by 60s.
Alternatively, while under the effects of Tempera Coat, players can instead cast Tempera Grassa. This removes the Tempera Coat shield and applies a shield to all nearby allies. If the shields absorb enough damage to remove them, Tempera Coat's cooldown will be reduced by 30s.
FFXIV Pictomancer Skill Rotation Guide
A possible rotation for the Pictomancer in FFXIV starts with the player preparing all three Canvases, as they are instantly cast outside of combat. Once combat starts, use the Landscape Combo, casting Starry Muse to provide buffs for the team.
While the the buffs are up, especially Inspiration, players can do the Base Combo, before using the free Subtractive Palette Cast to do a Subtractive Combo. Once all five Hyperphantasia stacks are consumed, cast Rainbow Drip to deal more damage and get White Paint.
Continue doing this until the magicked landscape from Starry Muse is gone. Once it is, switch to the Creature Combo, quickly going through the 3 stacks of Living Muse (and using Mog of the Ages and Retribution of the Madeen when able). Once all three stacks are gone, swap to the Weapon Combo.
Whenever the player cannot cast any of the Motifs and Muse spells, use the Base Combo and Subtractive Combo whenever possible. Once Starry Muse is available again, repeat the rotation from the start.
That's all for our guide to the Pictomancer in FFXIV Dawntrail, from their skills to its possible rotation, and more. Dawntrail has a release date of July 2, 2024, with an Early Access date of June 28, 2024.
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