Painflare (Final Fantasy XIV)

Painflare is a Summoner ability from Final Fantasy XIV. It consumes the user's Aetherflow to deal area of effect (AoE) damage.

Mechanics[]

PvE version
Base mechanics	Deals unaspected magic damage with a potency of 150 to target and nearby enemies
Traits	Innate: Maim and Mend II increases damage by 30%
Formulae	Base damage formula: ${\displaystyle Damage = \lfloor 150 * f(Intelligence_{DMG}) * f(Determination) \rfloor * f(Magic Damage) \rfloor * 1.3 \rfloor}$
PvP version
Effects	Deals unaspected magic damage to target and nearby enemies Inflicts Stun for 2 seconds, preventing use of any actions or movement When Stun effect ends, enemies gain Stun Resistance for 10 seconds, rendering them immune to further Stuns

Use[]

Painflare is a source of AoE burst damage for Summoners, instantly dealing damage to the target and all nearby enemies. It consumes the Aetherflow Gauge generated by Energy Drain or Energy Siphon, both of which grant two Aetherflow. As Painflare is an AoE ability, it pairs better with the similarly AoE Energy Siphon. Painflare is the only way to use the Gauge aside from Fester, and is the preferred option when battling 3 or more targets. Otherwise Fester continues provides the best use of Aetherflow.

Painflare is an instant cast ability that is off the global cooldown (oGCD). This allows players to weave it between global cooldowns (GCD) after using instant cast spells such as Summon Titan, and is best saved for these situations in order to maximize DPS. Its 1 second recast can even allow for two Painflares in a single GCD.

PvP[]

Painflare functions as a strong crowd control option in PvP as it now inflicts a 2s Stun. While it still provides good AoE damage, it has a significantly longer cooldown that lowers its overall damage output. Painflare must now also complete with Bane, Dreadwyrm Trance, and Firebird Trance for Aetherflow Gauge in addition to Fester. Aetherflow does come more freely, however, as Energy Drain has a much shorter recast despite only now granting one Aetherflow per cast.

Patch history[]

Version	Changes
Heavensward	Added as a level 52 ability learned from the quest A Matter of Fact Had 200 potency with a 10 second recast Could only be used under the effect of the Aetherflow status granted by the Aetherflow ability; using Painflare consumed the status Granted Aethertrail Attunement stacks needed to use Dreadwyrm Trance
Patch 3.22	PvP potency reduced to 150
Stormblood	Recast reduced to 5 seconds Aetherflow Gauge added, serving the same purpose as the Aetherflow status, though the status remains as a separate visual indicator No longer available in PvP
Patch 4.2	Potency reduced to 180
Shadowbringers	Potency reduced to 150 No longer grants Aethertrail Attunement.
Patch 5.1	Potency reduced to 130 New PvP exclusive version added; see below for its patch history
Endwalker	Required level reduced to 40; now obtained from the quest Shadowing the Summoner Potency increased to 150 Recast time reduced to 1 second

PvP version

Version	Changes
Patch 5.1	Added with a 60 second recast
Patch 5.3	Recast time reduced to 45 seconds