Carbuncle FFXIV Guide

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Emily Medlock

Emily is our resident MMORPG specialist here at Final Fantasy Insider. While she has a soft spot for the FF main titles, it is FFXIV that has truly sank its hooks into her psyche, and as a result, her free time is usually spent grinding away online. Outside of FFXIV, she loves mainstream RPGS and survival games, with Ark Survival Evolved being her main squeeze.

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A Carbuncle FFXIV guide would have been a game-changer if I had read one before I started playing Summoner. I’m not going to lie; I won a job skip right before Endwalker came out and used it on Summoner.

When I started playing it, I used it for Leveling as it was a low-risk choice. But it took me a few games to realize I had to summon Carbuncle to do much as Summoner. The entire ability set for Summoner revolves around the Carbuncle.

Carbuncle FFXIV Overview

• Types of Carbuncle – Ruby, Emerald, Topaz
• Summon Spell – Summon Carbuncle (level 2)
• Jobs with Carbuncle – Arcanist, Summoner
• Etymology – archaic word for gemstone

Carbuncle in Other Final Fantasy Games

Like Moogles and Chocobos, Carbuncle appears in most Final Fantasy games. They first appeared in Final Fantasy V and have rarely skipped a game since.

• Final Fantasy V – the Carbuncle’s first appearance and the first time it can be summoned. It looks quite different and is also an enraged boss.
• Final Fantasy VI – appears as an esper in the Magitek Research Facility. When used, it bestows Reflect.
• Final Fantasy VII Remake – The Carbuncle looks more like a pomeranian than a classic Carbuncle in this remake. It appears as a summoning materia and support summon.
• Final Fantasy VIII – Carbuncle is a Guardian Force in this game. Again, it uses Reflect and has many other uses.
• Final Fantasy IX – the Carbuncle looks strange, but not as strange as in the VII remake. It has three modes in this game: Diamond, Emerland, and Moonstone.
• Final Fantasy XI – Carbuncle is one of the Avatars in their game. It has nine Blood pact abilities.
• Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings – the Carbuncle is a Holy Esper with healing abilities in this game.
• Final Fantasy XIII – in this game, the Carbuncle feeds the Cocoon.
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 – in the XIII sequel, it’s a doll with a cute side-quest told in Lightning Returns.
• Final Fantasy XIV – Carbuncles are the Summoner’s main power, allowing them to cast larger summons.
• Final Fantasy XV – In XV, Carbuncle is a strange-looking companion that leads Notcis through the dreamscape.
• Final Fantasy Tactics – Carbuncle is an esper that looks like the original concept art for the creature, a reptile that looks like baby Cell from DBZ.
• Final Fantasy Tactics Advance – just another summon.
• Crystal Defenders – a summon that nullifies resistances.
• Final Fantasy Dimensions II – the Carbuncle is a light elemental of a low rank in Chapter 1.
• Dissidia Final Fantasy – Carbuncle appears in two forms in this game: the VIII and XI form.
• Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy – this is one of the only games in which the Carbuncle has a dialogue.
• Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia – Alphinaud summons a Moonstone Carbuncle in this game.
• Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade – Carbuncle is an esper that you may see. It has Meteorite.
• Final Fantasy Brave Exvius – Carbuncle is a boss that looks amazing in this game.
• World of Final Fantasy – a cute and unique version of the Carbuncle that helps the twins out.
• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales – the Carbuncle has six cards in this game.

The Three Carbuncles of FFXIV

The original Carbuncle is blue, which looks like Dash from Cardcaptor Sakura. But in Final Fantasy XIV, it also has three other forms. Each of these is unlocked at a different level and has different abilities.

After Endwalker, the three are more or less the same. I didn’t play Summoner before Endwalker, so I don’t know how it worked. But now, it is more straightforward, and each Carbuncle upgrades into a Primal at higher levels.

From what I’ve been told, before Endwalker, the Carbuncle you summoned stayed with you and allowed you to cast different abilities. But now (aside from the blue Carbuncle), you summon it, and it does an ability then leaves.

Summon Emerald (Summon Garuda)

• Unlock – LVL 22
• Glittering Emerald – Deals wind damage with a potency of 400
• Effect – Grants 4 stacks of Wind Attunement
• Wind Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become wind-aspected
• Duration – 30s

Summon Emerald summons a green Carbuncle which will cast Glittering Emerald. After it does, it leaves. At level 45, this upgrades to Summon Garuda then at level 90, Summon Garuda changes.

Summon Garuda Lvl 45

• Aerial Blast – Deals wind damage to the target and all enemies within 5 yalms. The ability has a potency of 600 for the first enemy and 60% less for remaining enemies in AoE.
• Effect – Grants 4 stacks of Wind Attunement
• Wind Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become wind-aspected
• Duration – 30s
• Grants – Garuda’s Favor

Summon Garuda Lvl 90

• Aerial Blast – Deals wind damage to the target and all enemies within 5 yalms. The ability has a potency of 750 for the first enemy and 60% less for remaining enemies in AoE.
• Effect – Grants 4 stacks of Wind Attunement
• Duration – 30s
• Wind Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become wind-aspected

Summon Topaz (Summon Titan)

• Unlock – LVL 15
• Glittering Topaz – Rushes target and deals earth damage with a potency of 400
• Effect – Grants 4 stacks of Earth Attunement
• Earth Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become earth-aspected
• Duration – 30s

Summon Topaz summons a yellow Carbuncle that casts Glittering Topaz which is earth damage. At level 35, it upgrades to Summon Titan, which is improved at level 90.

Summon Titan Lvl 35

• Earthen Fury – Dashes forward, dealing earth damage to all enemies within 5 yalms with a potency of 600 for the first enemy, and 60% less for the remaining enemies
• Effect – Grants 4 stacks of Earth Attunement
• Earth Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become earth-aspected
• Duration – 30s

Summon Titan Lvl 90

• Earthen Fury Effect -Deals earth damage to all enemies within 5 yalms with a potency of 750 for the first enemy and 60% less for the remaining enemies
• Effect – Grants 4 stacks of Earth Attunement
• Duration – 30s
• Earth Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become earth-aspected

Summon Ruby (Summon Ifrit)

• Unlock – LVL 6
• Glittering Ruby – Rushes target and deals fire damage with a potency of 400
• Effect – Grants 2 stacks of Fire Attunement
• Fire Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become fire-aspected
• Duration – 30s

Summon Ruby does fire damage. It is a red Carbuncle that casts Glittering Ruby before it leaves. It is the first one you unlock and is upgraded to Summon Ifrit at level 30, then that is upgraded at level 90.

Summon Ifrit Lvl 30

• Inferno – Dashes forward and deals fire damage to all enemies in a 5 yalm cone. It does 600 damage to the first enemy and 60% less to the remaining enemies
• Effect – Grants 2 stacks of Fire Attunement
• Fire Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become fire-aspected
• Duration – 30s

Summon Ifrit Lvl 90

• Inferno – Deals fire damage to the target and all enemies within 5 yalms with a potency of 750 for the first enemy and 60% less for all remaining enemies
• Effect – Grants 2 stacks of Fire Attunement
• Duration – 30s
• Fire Attunement – Gemshine and Precious Brilliance become fire-aspected

Elemental Effects

Gemshine Lvl 6

• Fire Attunement Effect – Does fire damage to a single target
• Earth Attunement Effect – Does earth damage to a single target
• Wind Attunement Effect – Does wind damage to a single target

Precious Brillance Lvl 26

• Fire Attunement Effect – Does fire damage to a target and all enemies near it
• Earth Attunement Effect – Does earth damage to a target and all enemies near it
• Wind Attunement Effect – Does wind damage to a target and all enemies near it

Outburst Lvl 26

• Ruby Outburst (1 Fire Attunement)- Does fire damage with a potency of 160 to the target and all enemies near it
• Topaz Outburst (1 Earth Attunement) – Does earth damage with a potency of 110 to target and all enemies near it
• Emerald Outburst (1 Wind Attunement)- Does wind damage with a potency of 70 to the target and all enemies near it

Astral Flow Lvl 60

This ability changes depending on what effect you are under. You can change your trance/favor by summoning the corresponding primal.

• Dreadwyrm Trance – Deathflare – Does unaspected damage to the target and nearby enemies. It does 500 to the first enemy and 60% less to the remaining enemies.
• Firebird Trance – Rekindle – Restores target’s HP with a potency of 400 and grants Rekindle for 15 seconds. This effect heals the target for 200 potency when it falls below 75% HP.
• Ifrit’s Favor – Crimson Cyclone – Dashes forward and does 430 fire damage to the first enemy and 65% less to nearby enemies. This changes to Crimson Trike to complete the combo, ding the same ability again if cast directly after.
• Titan’s Favor – Mountain Buster – Does earth damage to the target and nearby enemies with potency of 150 for the first and 70% less to the remaining enemies.
• Garuda’s Favor – Slipstream – Does wind damage to target nearby enemies with a potency of 430 for the first enemy and 65% less for remaining enemies. Also creates a windstorm around the target, dealing damage 30 damage to any enemies who enter for 15 seconds.

Fire Exclusives

These are abilities tied to the Ruby Carbuncle as they all do fire damage. Most cost one fire attunement and most only appear on the hotbar when under fire effects, such as Ifrit’s Favor.

• Ruby Ruin (LVL 6) – Does fire damage with a potency of 340 (380 at level 30 and 410 at level 54)
• Ruby Rite (LVL 72) – Does fire damage with a potency of 510
• Ruby Disaster (LVL 74) – Does fire damage with a potency of 190 to the target and all enemies near it
• Ruby Catastrophe (LVL 82) – Does fire damage with a potency of 210 to the target and all enemies near it

Phoenix Abilities

These are fire abilities, but they can only be cast when you Summon Phoenix. This level 80 ability summons Demi-Phoenix and enters you into Firebird trance. When summoned, it casts Everlasting Flight, which restores your HP and the HP of all nearby party members. It heals 100 every tick for 21 seconds.

• Fountain of Fire (LVL 80) – Does fire damage with a potency of 540.
• Brand of Purgatory (LVL 80)- Does fire damage with a potency of 240 to target and all enemies near it.
• Scarlet Flame (LVL 80) – Does fire damage of 150. Casts automatically when the phoenix is summoned.
• Endkindle Phoenix (LVL 80) – Does fire damage to the target and nearby with a potency of 1,300 to first and 60% less for remaining

Earth Exclusives

These are abilities tied to the Topaz Carbuncle as they all do earth damage. Most cost one earth attunement and most only appear on the hotbar when under earth effects, such as Titan’s Favor.

• Topaz Ruin (LVL 15) – Does earth damage with a potency of 240 (270 at LVL 30 and 300 at LVL 54)
• Topaz Rite (LVL 72) – Does earth damage with a potency of 330
• Topaz Disaster (LVL 74) – Does earth damage with a potency of 130 to target and all near it
• Topaz Catastrophe (LVL 82) – Does earth damage with a potency of 140 to target and nearby enemies

Wind Exclusives

These are abilities tied to the Emerald Carbuncle as they all do wind damage. Most cost one wind attunement and most only appear on the hotbar when under wind effects, such as Garuda’s Favor.

• Emerald Ruin (LVL 22) – Does win damage with a potency of 160 (170 at lvl 30 and 180 at lvl 54)
• Emerald Rite (LVL 72) – Does wind damage with a potency of 230
• Emerald Disaster (LVL 74) – Does wind damage with a potency of 90 to target and nearby enemies
• Emerald Catastrophe (LVL 82) – Does wind damage with a potency of 100 to target and nearby enemies

Dreadwyrm Trance

Dreadwyrm doesn’t do elemental damage. It is tied to Bahamut, who you can summon with Dreadwyrm Trance which you unlock at level 58.

• Astral Impulse (LVL 58)- Does unaspected damage with a potency of 440
• Astral Flare (LVL 58)- Does unaspected damage with a potency of 180 to target and all nearby enemies
• Summon Bahamut (LVL 70) – Also enters Dreadwyrm Trance and summons Demi-Bahamut. Casts Wyrmwave automatically, which does unaspected damage with a potency of 150.
• Akh Morn (LVL 70)- Does unaspected damage to the target and all nearby enemies with a potency of 1,300 for the first enemy and 60% less for the remaining enemies

Carbuncle Commands

The Carbuncle has commands that you can use. Plot twist: I never use them as I leave it on Guard. But if I played Summoner in high-end duties, I would utilize these commands.

• Away – tells pet to flee
• Heel – tells pet to follow you
• Place – tells pet to go to a specific place
• Stay – tells pet to stay
• Guard – tells pet not to attack unless you are attacking or being attacked
• Steady – tells pet to not attack until you tell it to attack

In-Game Carbuncle Items

These in-game items are self-explanatory. All of them are available on the marketboard, FC workshop, or in the crafting log. My retainers also love to bring me back this stuff, so yours probably will too.

• Carbuncle Bathtub
• Carbuncle Chandelier
• Stuffed Carbuncle
• Carbuncle bed
• Topiary Carbuncle
• Carbuncle Round Table
• Carbuncle Armchair
• Carbuncle Desk
• Carbuncle Chair
• Carbuncle Rug
• Carbuncle Wardrobe
• Carbuncle Chronometer
• Carbuncle Lantern
• Carbuncle Garden Table
• Carbuncle Garden Bench
• Carbuncle Cottage Walls
• Carbuncle House Walls
• Carbuncle Mansion Walls
• Extra-stuffed Carbuncle
• Carbuncle House Slippers

Official Carbuncle Gear

There have been a handful of Carbuncle gear on the official Square Enix website. You have to check to see if you can get them on the Square Enix site, as the inventory is always going in and out of stock, with some items being limited edition.

Carbuncle Slippers

The Carbuncle Slippers were available at a Fan Festival in 2018 in Las Vegas. Last I checked, you can only get them on eBay and similar sites. They are identical to the Emerald Carbuncle Slippers from the MogStation.

Carbuncle Plush

The Emerald Carbuncle Plush was available some time ago (2015, I believe.) It originally came with the Peridot Carbuncle minion in-game code. Again, I have seen these on Poshmark, so keep an eye out.

Carbuncle Hood

The Carbuncle hooded scarf was available in 2017. It is quite common to find on auction sites. It comes in Emerald and Topaz, but I have never seen a Ruby version.

Carbuncle Hankerchief

This is the newest Carbuncle item. At the time of writing, it is officially available on the Square Enix site. While it may not be a plush or hood, it is a tenugui towel with more uses than a terrycloth towel.

FAQs

Carbuncle’s Place in This World

The Carbuncle is one of the iconic creatures on FFXIV. While it is the center of a Summoner’s power, every job can enjoy how cute and sweet the Carbuncle is, accepting the joy it spreads.

At one point, my small house in Lavender Beds was covered in Carbuncle gear. Now, I’m ready for that next step. I’m ready to raid auction sites in search of a real Carbuncle plush.