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FFXI Puppetmaster

Starting Info for The Puppet Master

Summary: Summoner AF1
Realm: Windurst
Type: Artifact
Starting Zone: Windurst Walls
There Is No Fame Requirement For This Quest.
Minimum Character Level: 40
Required Job(s): SMN

In the Final Fantasy XI, the Puppetmaster (PUP) is a versatile and powerful job released in the Treasures of Aht Urghan expansion. Unlocked by the quest “No Strings Attached,” a Puppetmaster fights by using automatons under your direct control, and these automatons can take several different forms.

And also the Puppetmaster is a very complicated job, and the process of understanding the behavior of magic automatons can be a lengthy read. Certain spells are only cast under certain HP or MP conditions under specific Maneuvers, which are job abilities based on every element, and incur special stat and ability boosts on your automaton, and encourages your mechanical friend to use certain spells and weapon skills. Not only this, but certain frame and head combinations from different sets can make the automaton act is quirky ways. For instance, a Stormwaker body with a Valoredge head will do nothing by melee attack and cast healing magic.

Of course, there are some downsides to this job, mainly the fact that due to the heavy emphasis placed on the automaton instead of the master; you yourself won’t necessarily do that much damage on your own. In fact, without you’re automaton you’re practically a weak version of the Monk job, which also uses hand to hand weapons. Since the Puppetmaster isn’t really a heavy powered role, SquareEnix has assigned only cloth armor to Puppetmasters, providing some challenges in seeking out and obtaining decent equipment. Unfortunately, some PUPs are forced to wear mage equipment because of no low-cost alternatives.

Using hand to hand weapons, and wearing cloth armor, the job provides some challenges, and unlike other pet jobs where your pet serves a secondary role merely assisting you do the damage, Puppetmasters rely on their automatons for their strength and do everything to assist it and keep it alive.

The first step to play Puppetmaster is naturally unlocking it. After speaking Shamarhaan you‘ll need to head directly to Iruki-Waraki at (K-9) in Aht Urghan Whitegate and then Ghatsad at (I-7) in Whitegate as well. This is where things get time consuming and sometimes tedious. From this point you’ll need to retrieve an “Antique Automaton” from the Arrapago Reef, however, to get there, you’ll need to dodge Imps which can see through invisible and hear through sneak. Take the ferry to Nashmau to get entry to Caedarva Mire.

For a while head Northeast and then Northwest, to reach the (I-6) entrance into Arrapago Reef. Assuming you reach this point by not attracting the attention of a by standing Imp, there is a group of Lamia and undead outside the cave entrance at (I-6). Assuming you get through unscathed, head towards the first boat at (I-10) and you should find the location of Antique Automaton. After avoiding the Lamia on the boat and acquiring the Antique Automaton, return to Ghatsad. He will send you to Iruki-Waraki and follow the instructions from there to become a Puppetmaster!

Which leads to another difficulty, this job can get expensive. Most attachments that you will want buy from the vender, Yoyroon, in Nashmau at could end up costing you around 100,000 gil just starting out, and this doesn’t even include the far greater number of attachments you’ll be forced to buy from the Auction House.