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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail added two jobs in Patch 7.0: Viper, a melee DPS, and Pictomancer, a magical ranged DPS. Both begin at level 80, have no corresponding base classes, and unlock through quests available once you have a level-80 Disciple of War or Magic. The main difference is how they fight: Viper chains close-range blade combos, while Pictomancer paints motifs that power magical attacks.
Which jobs did Dawntrail add?
Dawntrail introduced exactly two new jobs: Viper and Pictomancer. Square Enix classifies Viper as Melee DPS and Pictomancer as Magical Ranged DPS. Neither has a corresponding class, and each starts at level 80. Patch 7.0 also raised the level cap for Disciples of War and Magic to 100. See the official Dawntrail jobs page and Patch 7.0 Notes.
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What is Viper?
Viper is a melee damage job inspired by Tural’s hunters and a deadly predator. It fights with two blades that can combine into one weapon. The official job guide describes its PvE combat around three-step combos, with its main combinations starting from Steel Fangs or Reaving Fangs. That gives a useful high-level picture without implying that the job’s full rotation is limited to those openers.
How to unlock Viper
- Have a Disciple of War or Magic at level 80 or higher.
- In Ul’dah – Steps of Nald, speak to the Worried Weaver at X:9.3, Y:9.2 and accept “Enter the Viper.”
- Follow the quest to unlock Viper. It starts at level 80.
Square Enix lists the requirement and quest location in the Patch 7.0 Notes.
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What is Pictomancer?
Pictomancer is a magical ranged DPS that turns aether-infused imagination into attacks. It uses a brush and three kinds of canvases—Creature, Weapon, and Landscape—to prepare motifs and bring them to life. Its official introduction distinguishes those preparations from instant-cast abilities that use the job’s palette. In broad terms, it suits players drawn to ranged spellcasting and an artistic, motif-based theme; this description is not a claim that it is easier or stronger than Viper.
How to unlock Pictomancer
- Have a Disciple of War or Magic at level 80 or higher.
- In Old Gridania, speak to the Cheerless Hearer at X:8.0, Y:10.3 and accept “The Joy of Pictomancy.”
- Follow the quest to unlock Pictomancer. It starts at level 80.
The prerequisite and quest location are listed in the Patch 7.0 Notes.
Viper vs. Pictomancer: what’s the difference?
| Job | Role | Combat identity | A natural fit if you prefer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viper | Melee DPS | Dual blades, a weapon that can combine into one, and three-step combos | Close-range action and blade combinations |
| Pictomancer | Magical Ranged DPS | Brush, Creature/Weapon/Landscape canvases, prepared motifs, and palette attacks | Ranged spellcasting and an imaginative, paint-based theme |
These distinctions can help narrow your choice by role and style, but the official descriptions do not establish which job is more powerful, more popular, or easier to play. Choose based on whether you want to fight in melee with blades or deal magical damage at range.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to know about current job details
The jobs launched in Patch 7.0, but their action descriptions can change with updates. The current Viper Job Guide and Pictomancer Job Guide describe actions using level-100 attributes and direct readers to Patch 7.5 notes for action changes. Treat the combo and motif descriptions here as broad introductions, not complete, patch-proof rotations.
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