Energy Drain (Final Fantasy XIV)

Energy Drain is an , and ability from Final Fantasy XIV that deals damage and replenishes the user's resources. The Arcanist/Summoner and Scholar versions of the spell were for many years aesthetically and statistically identical, but have evolved into distinct abilities.
==Mechanics==
Arcanist/Summoner version 	Arcanist/Summoner version
Base mechanics 	
*Deals unaspected magic damage with a potency of 200 to a single target
*Grants 2 Aetherflow Gauge units, represented on the job gauge and by the status
*Shares recast timer with
Traits 	
*Level 20: increases damage by 10%
*Level 40: increases damage by 30%
*Level 62: causes Energy Drain to grant for 60 seconds, allowing the use of
Formulae 	Base damage formula:Damage = \lfloor 200 * f(Intelligence_{DMG}) * f(Determination) \rfloor * f(Magic Damage) \rfloor * Trait \rfloorWhere Trait can be 1 initially, 1.1 with Maim and Mend, or 1.3 with Maim and Mend II.
Scholar version 	Scholar version
Base mechanics 	
*Deals unaspected magic damage with a potency of 100 to a single target
*Heals user for an amount equal to one third the damage dealt
*Grants 10 Faerie Gauge units
Traits 	
*Level 40: increases damage by 30%
Formulae 	Base damage formula:Damage = \lfloor 100 * f(Mind_{DMG}) * f(Determination) \rfloor * f(Magic Damage) \rfloor * 1.3 \rfloor
PvP version (Summoner only)	PvP version (Summoner only)
Base mechanics 	
*Deals unaspected magic damage with a potency of 800 to a single target
*Grants 1 Aetherflow Gauge unit, represented on the job gauge and by the status
*Activates the global cooldown (GCD)
==Use==
===Arcanist/Summoner version===
Energy Drain is the main source of Aetherflow Gauge for Arcanists and Summoners. It is preferred over against one target, whereas Energy Siphon performs better against three or more, with Drain and Siphon sharing their recast timer. However, neither spell is a significant source of DPS due to their middling potencies and lengthy 60 second cooldown. Energy Drain's main contribution is instead the Aetherflow it generates. A single Energy Drain or Siphon will grant the maximum of 2 Aetherflow, which is used to cast the more powerful and . As a single-target ability, Energy Drain generally pairs better with Fester.
Energy Drain is an instant cast ability that is off the global cooldown (oGCD). This allows players to weave it between global cooldowns after using instant cast spells such as , and is best saved for these situations in order to maximize DPS.
===Scholar version===
Energy Drain consumes the Aetherflow Gauge to deal single-target damage, while also restoring HP equal to roughly a third of the damage it deals. As with all Aetherflow Gauge abilities it will also fill the Scholar's Faerie Gauge by 10. Energy Drain has a low potency, and its HP restoration effect is underwhelming. It should not be relied upon for self-healing as other Gauge abilities such as provide far superior healing. It is generally recommended to prioritize the use of other Gauge abilities over Energy Drain.
Energy Drain is an instant cast ability that is off the global cooldown (oGCD). This allows players to weave it between global cooldowns after using instant cast spells such as , and with only a 1 second recast it can potentially be used twice in a single GCD. It is also both the Scholar's only damaging oGCD and only damaging Aetherflow Gauge ability, so if healing isn't a concern it can provide a valuable DPS boost despite its low potency. It is also recommended to use any unused Aetherflow Gauge on Energy Drain before using the Aetherflow ability, as they will go to waste otherwise.
===PvP===
Energy Drain is only available to Summoners in PvP. Here it is an instant cast spell, placing it on the GCD but allowing the weaving of oGCD abilities between casts. Energy Drain's cast and recast times, and lack of MP cost, make it highly spammable in the movement-heavy PvP environment, but it provides little in the way of damage.
Energy Drain continues to be the main source of Aetherflow Gauge, as there is no PvP Energy Siphon and the only other source, , has a long recast time. It now provides only a single Aetherflow Gauge, but has a normal cooldown allowing for an overall faster accumulation of Aetherflow. Aetherflow is in turn used more frequently, as , , and all now require it in addition to and .
== Patch history ==
Version 	Changes
A Realm Reborn	
*Added as a level 8 ability with 150 potency and a 3 second recast, and would absorb 50% of the damage dealt as HP while restoring 5% base MP
*Could only be used under the effect of the status granted by the ability; using Energy Drain consumed the status
*Was available to s, s, and s
*Level 36 trait doubled MP restored
Heavensward 	
*Granted stacks to Summoners, needed to use
Stormblood 	
*Aetherflow Gauge added, serving the same purpose as the Aetherflow status, though the status remains as a separate visual indicator
*HP absorbed reduced to roughly one third of damage dealt
*Now increased Faerie Gauge by 10 for Scholars
*Required level reduced to 6
*Energy Siphon trait removed
*No longer available in PvP; new PvP exclusive version added; see below for its patch history
Shadowbringers	
*Potency reduced to 100
*Recast time increased to 30 seconds
*No longer restores HP or MP
*No longer grants Aethertrail Attunement
*Now grants 
*No longer requires Aetherflow to cast
*Required level increased to 18
*No longer available to Scholars
Patch 5.05 	
*New Scholar exclusive version added; see below for its patch history
Endwalker 	
*Potency increased to 200
*Recast time increased to 60 seconds
*Required level reduced to 10
*Level 62 trait Enhanced Energy Siphon added, causing Energy Drain to grant Further Ruin for 60 seconds
Version 	Changes
Patch 5.05	
*Added with 150 potency and a 3 second recast
*Had the additional effects of absorbing roughly one third of damage dealt as HP, restoring 500 MP, and increasing the Faerie Gauge by 10
*Was in effect identical to how the pre-Shadowbringers Arcanist version worked for Scholars, aside from now requiring level 45
Patch 5.4 	
*Potency reduced to 100
Endwalker 	
*No longer restores MP
*Recast time reduced to 1 second
Version 	Changes
Stormblood 	
*Added with 1000 potency, 1 second recast, 100% damage absorbed as HP, and 1000 MP restored
*Granted Aethertrail Attunement
*Required 1 Aetherflow to use
*Only available to Summoners
Patch 4.1 	
*Recast increased to 3s
Patch 4.25 	
*Potency reduced to 750
Shadowbringers	
*Potency increased to 800
*Recast reduced to 2.4 seconds
*No longer restores HP or MP
*No longer grants Aethertrail Attunement
*Grants Aetherflow
*No longer requires Aetherflow to cast
Patch 5.1 	
*Potency reduced to 600
Patch 5.2 	
*Potency increased to 800
Category:Arcanist actions in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Summoner actions in Final Fantasy XIV
Category:Scholar actions in Final Fantasy XIV