Masters of the destructive elemental arts, the Black Mage in Final Fantasy 14 retain their videeo game counterpart’s penchant for destructive spells. Acting as an upgrade to the Thaumaturge Class, the Black Mage Job is able to control dark forces of corruption in order to strike fear and ruin into very enemies that threaten Eorzea. And as Black Mages grow in power, so too should their arsenal, with Relic Weapons representing some of the strongest weapons they can acquire in Final Fantasy 14.

Beginning at Level 50, Black Mages can embark on quests to acquire specific Relic Weapons, which they can then improve into stronger counterparts. When Black Mages reach certain upgrade thresholds, their Relic Weapons can change in name, appearance, and even stat improvements, encouraging players to aspire to collect them all especially if they are in pursuit of certain styles for their destructive mage.

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10 Lilith Rod Zeta

Unlocked At Level 50, Highest Tier

Defying naming trends of rare weapons in the Final Fantasy game is the Lilith Rod Zeta, as its status as the most powerful rod in the Zodiac Relic Weapons line doesn’t match its name. After all, its predecessor Stardust Rod series contains the name usually reserved for a game’s most powerful Staff. Regardless, for a Level 50 weapon, the Lilith Rod Zeta boasts decent base stats, with customizable substats that can help Black Mages get more versatility out of their builds.

Appearances-wise, the Lilith Rod Zeta is a direct upgrade to the Stardust in terms of overall design. Whereas the Stardust boasts an overall black blade with a crescent top that has wing-like protrusions on the side, the Lilith Rod Zeta contains a central purple orb with bladed wing-like guards scattered on its sides. When activated, the top of the staff becomes enveloped in swirls of purple energy that surround it in circular patterns.

9 Rod Of The Black Khan

Unlocked At Level 60, Mid-Tier

The Black Mage in Final Fantasy is often associated with their mastery over elemental magic, which in turn demands the possession of a weapon powerful enough to fit this stature. While the Rod of the Black Khan doesn’t boast the highest stats with its middling INT and VIT base stat boosts, it sets itself apart with its regal appearance.

When acquired, the Rod of the Black Khan has a pristine black staff with gold details that extend to an ornate gold top before ending with a purple orb. Attached to the orb is a pointed red crystal, and encircling the orb are small golden rods arranged in semi-circular pattern, with pointed black shards attached at the end.

8 Kaladanda Lux

Unlocked At Level 60, Highest Tier

Leaning away from the Black Mage’s traditional motif of extravagant staves is the Kalandanda Lux, bringing into the table a more modest but stylish take on the Job’s signature weapon. Regarding the Black Mage’s Final Fantasy 14 gameplay, the weapon itself boasts customizable substats to aid in the Black Mage’s overall versatility. However, where the weapon truly shines is its appearance.

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Compared to the usual motifs of crescent plates, orbs, and wings associated with Black Mage staves, the Kaladanda Lux resembles more of a polearm than a conventional magical staff. Its base is a straightforward black pole with metallic details, ending with an ornate plate. This top base diverges into two points upwards, and blades to the left and right with smaller blades protruding near their edges pointing downwards at a right angle.

7 Vanargand Pagos +1

Unlocked At Level 70, Starting Tier

The overall enigmatic appearance of the Black Mage in the Final Fantasy MMO has made the Final Fantasy Job more akin to the scholarly wizard of franchises such as Dungeons & Dragons. However, players who want a more unique take on the Black Mage may want to grab the Vanargand Pagos +1 for a witchcraft-themed weapon more akin to a Halloween staff. Stats-wise, the additional Spell Speed boost can make the Black Mage more combat-efficient with slightly improved DPS.

In terms of appearance, the Vanargand Pagos +1 boasts a black branch-like base with red crystals that extend to a top base with a yellow crystal. This portion then swirls upwards and forms a wooden curved protrusion, where a lantern-esque orb is located that sways whenever players move.

6 Hydatos Rod

Unlocked At Level 70, Mid-Tier

Keeping in line with the Black Mage aesthetic in their Final Fantasy 14 gameplay where they possess control over destructive powers, the Hydatos Rod faithfully follows the Job’s established persona. Its INT and VIT base stat boosts already give the Black Mage much-needed buffs to basic firepower to augment their attacks. However, it’s the rod’s overall appearance that makes it worth collecting among Relic Weapons.

The weapon itself boasts a slick black staff ending on a base with scale-like protrusions. Its stop is comprised of multiple slender claws that extend outward, revealing a floating purple orb surrounded by spikes. It’s this daunting appearance that makes the Hydatos Rod quite the intimidating Black Mage weapon, even if there are stronger Relic Weapons in terms of base stats.

5 Paikea Physeos

Unlocked At Level 70, Highest Tier

The Eurekan Relic Weapon set following an elemental motif in both stats and appearance resonate with the Black Mage’s nature as a Final Fantasy Job, making sense for its series of staves to have a more pronounced appearance. While the highest-tier Paikea Physeos has VIT and INT base bonuses that are quite a notch downward from its Blade’s upgrade, the Relic Weapon compensates with a decent Elemental Bonus.

Appearances-wise, the Paikea Physeos adds a much-needed air of sophistication to the Black Mage. Compared to its more complicated and orb-heavy Antiquated and Elemental counterparts, the Paikea Physeos is sleeker and more minimalist. The staff itself seems to be made of dark glass that begins a swirl from the base before curving into multiple twirls on top. The weapon seems to twirl into a lower part with a small orb, a main central twirl, and an outward protrusion that takes the shape of a wing.

4 Augmented Law’s Order Rod

Unlocked At Level 80, Mid-Tier

The Black Mage is the pinnacle of spellcasters in the Final Fantasy franchise, with their mastery over elemental magic extending in their Final Fantasy 14 gameplay. And among the Relic Weapons that Black Mages can acquire, it’s perhaps the Augmented Law’s Order Rod that boasts the most visually-striking design elements for the weapon type. On top of customizable substats and decent boosts to INT and VIT base stats, it’s the appearance of the Augmented Law’s Order Rod that sets itself apart from its contemporaries.

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Like the Law’s Order Rod, the Augmented Law’s Order counterpart boasts a long black rod with golden ornamental details that end on a fairly large flat plate. A golden swirl lines the middle of the staff and extends beyond the plate, which in itself seems “wrapped” on a metallic bouquet. The base of the staff has a glowing shard, whereas the top has a metallic orb in the process of breaking its shell, revealing a glowing shard within.

3 Blade’s Fury

Unlocked At Level 80, Highest Tier

Among the Black Mage’s available Relic Weapons, the Blade’s Fury is likely one of its stylish but also straightforward Staves. Being the last upgrade stage of the Blade’s series, the Blade’s Fury possesses customizable substats and decent Magic Damage is a welcome sight for its weapon ranking. However, where it truly shines as a weapon to enhance FF14 gameplay is its uncomplicated appearance.

Compared to the more complex ornamental nature of the Resistance and Law’s Order lines, the Blade’s Fury has a simple black base with a pointed end that contains a crescent top base with a clock-like central plating. When activated, three crystals protrude from 90 degrees of the circular plate before swirling downward to the weapon’s other end via purple energy thorns.

2 Amazing Manderville Rod

Unlocked At Level 90, Mid-Tier

Sophistication is a common aesthetic trend accompanying the Black Mage in Final Fantasy, especially when it comes to their weapons of choice. Cortesy of the Amazing Manderville Rod, a Black Mage can possess one of the strongest Relic Weapons for their Job without compromising on overall appearance. Its additional Critical Hit and Spell Speed can also help Black Mages focus on larger-damage builds for added firepower.

In terms of appearance, the Amazing Manderville Rod is an enhancement of the Manderville Rod when it comes to design. Instead of a black base, the core rod of the Amazing Manderville weapon is white with red and blue strings close to the top. The staff still ends on a black-and-gold crescent-inspired top with a diamond-like edge opposite a curved protrusion, with a black sun-shaped plate on the other side. Like its Manderville counterpart, the Amazing Manderville Rod also has two accompanying orbs, this time a central red-orange orb and a purple-blue smaller orb on the sun plate.

1 Majestic Manderville Staff

Unlocked At Level 90, Highest Tier

The Black Mage’s domination over offensive Magic in Final Fantasy 14 demands a weapon that reflects this mastery. Such is the case of the Majestic Manderville Staff, an ornamental staff that serves as the final upgrade of its Manderville line of Relic Weapons. Boasting some of the highest INT and VIT among Relic Weapon base stats, the addition of customizable extra stats allow players to tailor the Relic Weapon to their ideal builds.

What makes the Majestic Manderville Staff stand out from its weapon series is its stark change in appearance. Whereas the original Manderville Staff boasts a central stylized orb crowned by a sun ornament with a smaller orb, the Majestic Manderville Staff has a more symmetrical appearance. This time, the Majestic Manderville has a darker overall staff topped with two crisscrossing pairs of horns, with a floating orb at the top.

Final Fantasy 14

Platform(s)

PC , PS3 , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released

August 27, 2013

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Genre(s)

MMORPG