Final Fantasy XIV Beastmaster: The Weird Missing Beasts

Final Fantasy XIV's new Beastmaster job is here, but the initial tameable beast lineup has some strange omissions. Here's what's missing and why it matters.

So you finally get to be a Beastmaster in Final Fantasy XIV. But wait - where are all the beasts?

The latest FFXIV patch has arrived, and it finally lets you play as Beastmaster. For anyone who's ever wanted official confirmation that they're allowed to master beasts, this is your moment. You might have thought you were already good at mastering beasts, but this new job is here to make it official.

Here's the thing, though: the initial lineup of beasts you can tame has some pretty strange omissions. And once you start looking at the list, you can't unsee it. For a job all about bonding with the wild things of Eorzea, the starting roster feels like it's missing some obvious candidates.

Now, to be fair, this is just the initial lineup. New jobs in FFXIV always grow over time, and Beastmaster is no exception. But first impressions matter, and the beasts available at launch set the tone for what the job is actually about. If the opening roster doesn't include the creatures you'd expect, it raises questions about what the developers consider "beast enough" to tame.

The omissions are strange because they're not about obscure or forgotten creatures. They're the kind of beasts that immediately come to mind when you think about taming in a Final Fantasy game. You'd assume they'd be first in line. Instead, they're nowhere to be found - at least for now.

That said, there's plenty to be excited about. Playing as Beastmaster is a genuine novelty, and the job gives you a whole new way to interact with FFXIV's world. If you've been waiting for a reason to jump back in, this patch is a solid one. Just don't go in expecting every beast you've ever dreamed of taming to be waiting for you at the stable.

Will the missing beasts show up in future updates? That's the big question. FFXIV has a long history of expanding job features over time, so it's entirely possible these strange omissions will get patched in later. For now, though, the initial lineup is what it is - and it's worth knowing what you're actually getting before you dive in.

What do you think about the Beastmaster lineup? Are you happy with the beasts you can tame, or are you already making a wishlist for future patches? Let us know!