Unlock the Abyss Within: Your Guide to Becoming a Dark Knight in FFXIV
You want something darker in your Final Fantasy XIV experience? Tired of playing Paladin? Want a job that embraces shadows? The Dark Knight is your choice. It isn’t a typical knight. It’s a knight in dark armor. And unlocking this job isn’t as hard as some may suggest.
Let’s get straight to how to trade your Paladin style for some Dark Knight grit. This is your map to unlocking the abyss… or the job of Dark Knight.
Pre-requisites for Embracing the Darkness: What You Need to Unlock Dark Knight
Before wielding a greatsword, there are some steps to take. Don’t worry; they aren’t difficult. They are standard RPG progression markers.
Level Up (But Not That Much): The Level Requirement
No need to grind to level cap. The Dark Knight is accessible. You only need Level 50 on any Disciple of War or Magic job. That’s it. Whether slaying primals as a Warrior, casting spells as a Black Mage, or healing as a White Mage, reach level 50. That’s half the battle. The other? Unlock the frosty city of Ishgard, but we’ll cover that soon.
Story Time is Essential Time: Main Scenario Quest Progression
The Main Scenario Quests (MSQ) are crucial to your FFXIV journey. To unlock the Dark Knight, you cannot skip through the story. You must put in some work. Specifically, finish all the MSQ from the A Realm Reborn storyline. This means completing the quest called “Before the Dawn.” It’s like graduating from newbie adventurer to someone ready for tougher challenges.
Expansion? More Like Access-pansion: Heavensward and Beyond
The Dark Knight debuted in the Heavensward expansion, not in A Realm Reborn. Here’s good news for newcomers: You can access Heavensward and the Dark Knight job through the free trial of Final Fantasy 14. Yes, you can explore the dark side for free (initially). More info about Dark Knight’s lore is here.
Location, Location, Location: Finding the Quest to Darkness
After meeting the level and story requirements and entering Ishgard (prepare for cold weather!), your Dark Knight journey starts. Go to The Pillars in Ishgard. Look for an “Ishgardian Citizen” NPC around (X: 13.2, Y: 8.8). This NPC will give you the quest “Our End.” Accept it to begin your journey to becoming a Dark Knight. Check this resource for a comprehensive Dark Knight guide after unlocking!
Starting Your Dark Journey: Picking Up the Greatsword
The Dark Knight is a standalone job. No need to level up Gladiator or Marauder first. After completing “Our End,” you become a Dark Knight. You won’t start from level 1 again, either. Dark Knight starts at level 30. You can jump into action quickly with that comically large greatsword.
How Long Until Darkness? Time Investment for Dark Knight
Patience, adventurer. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is your Dark Knight career. Completing the “Seventh Astral Era Quests,” part of the MSQ you need, takes around 30 hours. This is an estimate. If you explore every nook and cranny or focus on crafting, it might take longer. If you concentrate on the story, you may finish quicker. Either way, it’s worth it to wield dark magic and a giant sword.
Dark Knight: A Blast from the Tactical Past (FF Tactics Nod)
If you know Final Fantasy history, the Dark Knight job may sound familiar from Final Fantasy Tactics. Yes, there are themes in common, but FFXIV’s version is different. In FF Tactics, unlocking Dark Knight was far tougher. You had to master multiple jobs and kill 20 enemies! Compared to that, unlocking it in FFXIV is easy—like a walk in the Ishgardian park.
Heavensward: The Expansion That Brought the Chill (and the Dark Knight)
Let’s reiterate this expansion point. A Realm Reborn covers levels 1-50 and lays out the FFXIV world. Heavensward takes you from 50-60 while introducing new areas, stories, and, crucially, the Dark Knight job. Check this guide from TheGamer for excellent tips on playing Dark Knight.
If you’re on the free trial, you can experience A Realm Reborn and Heavensward entirely. This includes unlocking and leveling your Dark Knight without a subscription. It’s a sweet deal and a great way to see if the dark side suits you. Now go forth, complete quests, and embrace your darkness… or at least look cool pretending to!
