Samurai Weapon Skills
Weapon skills are the most important part of the Samurai job. Samurais can build TP faster than most other jobs. Two abilities are responsible for this:
- Store TP: This Job Trait shows up at level 10 and is improved again at 30, 50 and 70. It basically increases the amount of TP you earn per hit.
- Meditate: The Meditate ability is learned at level 30, and gradually charges your TP without any other activity. This is a great way to start battles with full TP (by meditating before hand), or to Skillchain with multiple people.
Some Great Katanas, AF gear and other equipment can enhance Store TP and Meditate abilities, so keep an eye out for those.
Great Katana Weapon Skills
| Weapon Skill | Great Katana Skill | Character Level Attainable |
|---|---|---|
| Tachi: Enpi | 10 | 3 |
| Tachi: Hobaku | 30 | 9 |
| Tachi: Goten | 70 | 23 |
| Tachi: Kagero | 100 | 33 |
| Tachi: Jinpu | 150 | 49 |
| Tachi: Koki | 175 | 55 |
| Tachi: Yukikaze | 200 | 60 |
| Tachi: Gekko | 225 | 65 |
| Tachi: Kasha * | 250 | 71 |
| Tachi: Kaiten * | N/A | 75 |
* Tachi: Kasha is only available after completing the quest The Potential Within. Tachi: Kaiten is only available with certain weapons. See the following sections for details on both.
Skillchains
Samurais are most commonly used in EXP parties to do massive damage with skillchains.
Samurais can skillchain with multiple people as a result of the job ability Meditate. Since Samurais can build TP so quickly, it's possible to skillchain with one party member, use Meditate, and then skillchain with another.
You shouldn't use Meditate randomly, though. A good option is to use it when a party member has their TP at 100%, and yours isn't quite ready. That way, you can use a weapon skill sooner, and keep building TP quickly to get ready for the next one. If your Weapon Skill macros wait a second or more to actually perform a Weapon Skill, start the Macro when your TP hits about 80%. That way, the weapon skill goes off as soon as Meditate brings it up to 100%, and you get more TP from Meditate to use on the next skillchain.
Samurais are also the only job that can skillchain with themselves. With a very fast (and lucky) Meditate, or with the Meikyo Shisui, a Samurai can perform one or more skillchains on their own.
See Galbadia X's Skillchain Finder to find skillchains that use your weapon skills.
The Definitive FFXI Samurai Guide
Samurai Job Quest | Great Katanas | Samurai Equipment | Samurai AF | Samurai Job Abilities | Samurai Job Traits | Samurai Subjobs | Samurai Food | Two-Hour: Meikyo Shisui | Weapon Skills | Samurai Merits
Get the most out of your Samurai!