Sage Final Fantasy Guide – When Knowledge and Experience Meet

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Murillo Zerbinatto

Murillo is a writer of Final Fantasy informer, a job that his teenage version never imagined he would have. He played - or observed - his first Final Fantasy when his brother rented Final Fantasy III for SNES (which was actually Final Fantasy VI), but since it was the Japanese version, they understood zilch and soon gave up. Sometime later - and some English RPGs in-between - they rented Final Fantasy II (Final Fantasy IV, yeah, it was a mess) and began to delve into the incredible world of Final Fantasy and never to get off it.

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Sage, known as Wise in the Japanese version, is a spell slinger Job that appears in several Final Fantasy installments.

They originated as a glass canon in Final Fantasy III, had his first (and perhaps even second) staple character in Final Fantasy IV, made several appearances as Jobs in the spinoffs, and, most recently, made his mark in the acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV.

Fun fact: my old Free Company had a pool to see who could guess the new Endwalker Jobs, and I was the only one who thought Sage. I won a heap of Gil and spent it all on minions at the Auction House. Totally worth it.

Like many Jobs from the early days, Sage was birthed as an evolution of others but gradually took on their own identity and established their lore. In this Sage Final Fantasy Guide, I will show you the various appearances of this wizard throughout the franchise and their mystical diversity.

Traits of a Sage

Sage was created to function as an improved version of both Black and White mages. Boasting both these Jobs magics, the Sage can either pack a punch or aid allies, whatever the battle demands.

However, they have one of the lowest defense attributes in the room, especially compared to its less magical-gifted cousin, the Red Mage. Another notorious disadvantage is Sage’s lack of MP, making the sling of a spell a more careful process. Of course, none of what I said applies to FFXIV since the MMO’s rules are deliberately distinct.

• Japanese Name: 賢者 Kenja, which means wise.
• Main Weapon: Rods, Staves, and weird Nouliths in FFXIV.
• Armor: Usually wears cloth armor and cover-up robes packed with layers. In Final Fantasy XIV, they wear armor and accessories with the “of Healing” suffix.
• Common Abilities: An array of White Mages spells mixed with Black Magic. Final Fantasy XIV introduced a novelty healing spell set for the Sage.
• Role: Magical DPS and Healer.
• Notable Sages: Tellah, FuSoYa, Alphinaud.

Sage in Each Final Fantasy Game

Sage first appeared in Final Fantasy III Famicon’s version as the master of all mages Jobs. They could use pretty much every school of magic available, including Summons.

It was a hidden Job found in the optional dungeon Eureka in the game’s first version. Re-releases changed the Sage to still be a magical powerhouse, but with some downsides.

In Final Fantasy XIV, the Sage was remodeled as a focused healer with a whole new spell set based on the game’s lore, mainly Sharlayan. Their weapon is called nouliths and is allegedly short staves, even if they don’t look the part.

These nouliths fly around the Sage, healing allies and firing pew-pew beams at enemies. Honestly, I have no idea what these nouliths are.

Final Fantasy III

As always, Final Fantasy III features several variations of one Job. We have the Famicom, 3DS, and the most recent Pixel Remaster super-cute versions. The Famicom Sage is the baddest and strongest presentation of the Job and is a clear evolution of White Mage, Black Mage, Evoker, Devout, Warlock, and Summoner.

It is Final Fantasy’s representation of what an AI will do with Jobs in the future. To gain the Sage Job in FFIII on the Super Famicom, you had to enter the Eureka dungeon and defeat the Scylla boss.

In the 3DS and Pixel Remaster re-releases, Sage works similarly. The Job is acquired once you find the Earth Crystal. In the 3DS version, Sage can use all Black and White spells, but only the first and second tier of Summoning magic, like the Evoker. In Pixel Remaster, Sage regains his potential to use Summons from the third tier.

The most significant difference between the Sage of these versions and the Super Famicom is their MP Growth. Compared to a Magus at max level, the Sage has basically half the total MP in the latest spells tier level.

Furthermore, if you teach a mixed magic pool of White, Black, and Summon magic, their MP will deplete in the blink of an eye. So I suggest including two Sages in your party, one focused on offensive magic and the other on support magic.

Final Fantasy IV

Final Fantasy IV was a key turnaround for the franchise. The game presented iconic characters that would linger to this day, such as the the franchise’s first official and staple Sage character, the forgetful Tellah. At first, the old Sage possesses numerous Black and White magics and can use random ones with the Recall command ability.

After in-game events, particularly when Cecil abandons his darkness mantle and transforms into a Paladin, all Tellah’s spells return to him, which do not necessarily include all the in-game magics. At this moment, he loses the ability to Recall the 2D versions.

Tellah can’t cast Meteor in a normal playthrough since it costs 99 MP, and his magical points are locked in 90. In the 3D re-release of Final Fantasy IV, you can allow Tellah to cast Meteor in a New Game+ with augments.

However, the old man’s physical attributes are terrible compared to other party members. In the game’s original debut, Strength and Stamina decrease as Tellah levels up, while his mental attributes, such as Intelligence and Spirit, increase.

His speed also increases, which makes me think that a skinnier and more fragile body is at least more agile.

FuSoYa can somewhat be considered a Sage, albeit his Job is classified as Lunarian in the party menu. He’s even more capable than Tellah and can weave all the White and Black magics available in the game.

FuSoYa has the unique ability Regen, which grants HP regeneration over time to the entire party while the Lunarian is prevented from taking further actions. In the Nintendo DS remake, the command is called Bless, it regenerates MP instead of HP, and FuSoYa can continue to do business as usual.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and A2

Final Fantasy Tactics not only boasts the title of being the spiritual successor of the best spinoff ever, but it also bears the honor of introducing some of the franchise’s best races, such as the Viera and Nu Mou.

In Tactics Advance and its successor, A2, Sage gains a more unique identity of their own. It is a Job exclusive to the Nu Mou race that wears mace as a weapon and learns some debuff magics. The Sage of the Tactics games has no shortage of MP but loses access to most White and Black magics.

However, in both versions, the Sage can learn the spell Gigaflare, one of the most potent magics in the game, and Ultima Blow, a strike based on the Sage’s attack power. Thus, the best course of action is to learn these magics and choose a Job that enables them to be used to their full potential.

To become a Sage, a Nu Mou must learn 3 White Mage A-Abilities and 2 Beastmaster A-Abilities. The requirements are the same for both Tactics Advance and Tactics Advance A2.

A New Sage Appears in Final Fantasy XIV

The new healer Job, Sage, was added in Final Fantasy XIV’s best expansion, Endwalker, alongside Reaper. Bursting the expectations of many, myself included, the Job is not a Magical DPS but a Healer.

Sage is derived from Sharlayan, and their magics blend the mystical with science. Manipulating the Noulith, a most unorthodox weapon, the Sage heals and protects his allies. Their addition to the game also came a new category of healers: Barrier Healers.

Like the Scholar, Sage is dedicated to preventing and mitigating damage to the party rather than quickly recovering lost HP. Moreover, in my opinion, Sage’s best skill is Kardia. Using Kardia on an ally will restore their HP after casting certain magic attacks.

The ability is so powerful in low-level synched dungeons that I rarely need to use a dedicated heal on the tank. The Sage also has sills that enhance the effect of Kardia, allowing the Job to entirely focus on DPS while maintaining consistent healing.

How to Become a Sage in Final Fantasy XIV

Becoming a Sage is relatively simple, as long as you have invested your hard-earned money. You need to have the Endwalker expansion if you wish to protect your comrades as a Sage. On the bright side, you don’t need to complete all previous expansions and reach Endwalker’s doorstep to learn how to manipulate the Nouliths.

You can become a Sage as soon as you get to level 70 with any other Job. That’s it. Level is the only requirement because the Sage starts at 70, and Square Enix doesn’t want to see you trespassing any stages of the game. Unless you spend $25 in their Online Store, that is.

So, if you have Endwalker, a Job at level 70, and the selflessness to save the lives of your colleagues, you need to go to Limsa Lominsa Lower Decks (X:9.4 Y:12.9) and chatter with the Sharlayan Maiden to initiate Sage’s Path job quest.

You will meet Lalah Jinjahl, and she will introduce you to the art of somanoutics. She’s also the one responsible for the Sage questline. After a brief dialogue, you’ll be rewarded with the crystal Soul of the Sage and some rudimentary gear.

Sage Actions Level 1-30

Sage Actions Level 31-60

Sage Actions Level 61-90

Sage Traits

Sage’s Gauges

Like virtually all other Jobs, Sage has two Gauges. When you unlock it, both are already available. The first is the Eukrasia Gauge, which works more as an ornament than a tool. This gauge indicates when Eukrasia is in action, chtpaanging the effects of Dosis, Diagnosis, and Prognosis.

The problem is that the game itself shows this by adding an animated dotted line around the hotkeys of the spells in question, making the visual cue of this gauge obsolete.

Sage’s second gauge is called the Addersgall. This one features three points that accumulate over time. It is needed to use healing spells, such as Druochole, Kerachole, and Ixochole.

Alongside this gauge is the Addersting, a resource accumulated whenever a barrier conferred by either Eukrasian Diagnosis or the scientific-magic Eukrasian Prognosis is destroyed by any source of damage.

The maximum stack is three Addersting points, and it’s a resource necessary to cast Toxikon or its evolved form, the Toxikon II. Really creative upgrade names, dare I say.

FAQs

Question: How to Unlock Sage in FFXIV?

Answer: Sage is part of the Endwalker expansion. Unlike other expansion Jobs, you don’t need any MSQ requirement. You only need any Job at or past level 70 and then go to the city-state of Limsa Lominsa.

Teleport to the Lower Decks (X:9.4 Y:12.9) and talk to Sharlayan Maiden to initiate the “Sage’s Path” job quest. Fulfill the basics steps, and you will be rewarded the crystal dubbed Soul of the Sage alongside some basic armor and weapon.

Question: Is Sage a Good Job in FFXIV?

Answer: Although I am running the risk of becoming a broken record player by repeating the same thing several times, I stand by my word: every Job is excellent and capable of performing its function competently.

Ultimately, what counts most is your suitability and enjoyment when choosing a Job. What can happen in endgame raids is a party seeking one Barrier Healer and one Pure Healer. In these situations, if a Scholar is already in the party, they may skip the Sage since multiple barriers don’t stack. g

Question: Who are some Notable Sages in the Final Fantasy Franchise?

Answer: Sage first joined in the classic Final Fantasy III as a Job of the Onions Knights but had no one outstanding depicting the craft. In Final Fantasy IV came Tellah, a bonafide Sage in style, behavior, and moniker.

FuSoYa also has the skillset of a Sage, although he doesn’t harbor the title. Later on, Sage appeared solely as Jobs in other Final Fantasy, mainly in the Game Boy Advance tactical spinoffs. It was in stellar Final Fantasy XIV when the Job returned triumphantly.

Alphinaud Leveilleur, one of the Scions of Seventh Dawn, took over Sage’s art and raised his name into the hall of well-known characters in the franchise.

A Barrier a Day Keep the Sage Away

Final Fantasy is arguably a chameleon-like franchise. It not only innovates with each new entry but tests, adapts, risks, and rebirths itself. So it’s no wonder that some elements and characteristics of the series change over time.

Such was the case with Sage, a Job born as the ultimate mage who winds up becoming a healer with limited offensive capabilities.

Given Final Fantasy XIV’s resounding success, I wouldn’t be surprised if the depiction of a Sage ended up being a healer rather than a supreme mage from now on.

Cause I don’t know about you, but I believe that the Black Mage already does an outstanding job in their role and is iconic enough to always get a spotlight. Adding a Sage as a natural evolution of the first classic mages every time would undermine their influence, something quite uncool if you ask me.