PvP Job Series: Black Mage

As we continue the Tactics PvP Job Series, we will have a look at the viability and the performance of the Black Mage job as the main role in PvP for competitive use.

PvP Performance Statcard

Based on the performance rating, Black Mage is definitely going to be a pick in most teams, especially for formats like Starter, so let’s deep dive into more of that below.

For more information on this job, visit the job link: Black Mage.

Abilities

Black Mage’s Black Magicks kit is focused on damaging magicks with a few dangerous status effects in Toad and Death. Like its restorative counter-part, White Mage, the effectiveness of their magicks are based on the casters and target’s Faith; the more they have, the greater the damage. While we won’t be going over each spell in their arsenal, we will highlight the ones you will likely come across in PvP:

Fire/Blizzard/Thunder and their -ara/-aga variants (actions) – These elemental damaging magicks are good for ranged damage though they do require higher charge time depending on the version used. Depending on the format, some enemies may be weak to certain element-types while either absorbing, halving, or negating others so it is mindful to check the target’s gear beforehand.

Magic Counter (reaction) – Though this requires some prediction picks regarding your opponent, Magic Counter is handy at being a possible check against certain incoming spells, causing the same magic casted at you to be returned back to them (normal conditions still apply, such as having enough MP and doesn’t work while silenced). This reaction can also proc off of magic guns, but does not work against Iaido or Arithmeticks.

Arcane Strength (support) – This passive increases all of your damaging attacks that are considered magical by 33%. This includes things like Iaido and Geomancy. This passive also slightly increases the chance of status effects from magicks such as Toad.

Stats

Stats as a primary job: HP: 75% | MP: 120% | Speed: 100% | PA: 60% | MA: 150% | C-EV: 5 | Move: 3 | Jump: 3

Can equip: Rods, Hats, Clothing, Robes

So why does Black Mage have an overall rating of 4? First, let’s take a look at their primary stats listed above. What gives them such a high rating is their 150% MA. This makes them a very suitable role as a magic damage dealer and having a high base MA makes things like Iaido more potent which they are exceptionally well at with its mixture of damage and support skills. Also, having a 120% MP pool is nothing to scoff at either for sustaining magick casts.

Conclusion

Black Mage is a very versatile magic user with solid options for damage in their own kit and flexibility with other job abilities that center around Magick Attack. Similar to their White Mage counterpart, they are fairly squishy even in clothes, so they best serve from the back-row attacking from ranged.