Final Fantasy XIV fans have a veritable avalanche of new content to look forward to with 5.3. FFXIV’s most recent Letter From the Producer livestream elaborated on much of the content players were told would be coming with the new update, including previews of cosmetic items, upcoming changes, and more.
First things first: your dreams of dressing like a vacationing retiree have come true. One of the glamour pieces from the next installment of the NieR Automata raids looks exactly like something you might find at a beachside resort: a Hawaiian shirt and khakis with the clunkiest black leather belt you’ve ever seen. While the other glamour set looks more in line with NieR’s established aesthetic, players are highly anticipating grinding for the Hawaiian shirt just for the sheer novelty value.
Group Pose will be receiving a major update. Sticker Mode, photo layers, and more will be added to group pose once 5.3 launches. The patch will also add a Fashion Accessories menu option, which will include parasols and stuffed animals. Director Naoki Yoshida also teased a new glamour, emote, and what appears to be a watermelon minion during the livestream.
Furthermore, players tired of rushing between Revenant’s Toll, Rhalgr’s Reach, and the First may also be pleased to learn that tomestone exchange will be coming to the major cities. A new custom delivery client will be added, and crafters will be able to reverse search recipes based on ingredients in their inventory. Crafters will also gain access to Trial Synthesis.
Certain jobs will also see reworks in the 5.3 patch. Astrologans will see MP cost and recast changes; additionally, their MP regeneration will be given to another action. Bards will receive a damage buff, and Summoners will have a Tri-Disaster nerf, but otherwise will not see any changes to their rotation. Monks are getting a revamp similar to what Ninjas received back in the day, mostly centering around their Greased Lightning system. The Monk revamp will not be entirely implemented in 5.3, but should be finished by 5.4.
Unreal Trials will also launch with 5.3, with the goal of challenging players to fight previous early-game primals that have been scaled up to match endgame gear and item levels. The first trial will be Shiva, and fights are expected to rotate with each patch. Players can also expect a new magitek and Construct 7 flying mount to be added in 5.3. Additionally, party of players will be able to join another party through party finder once the update hits.
Subsequent patches will implement larger-scale content; patch 5.31 will add a new section of The Ishgardian Restoration and accompanying activities, as well as bring back the ranking system that was previously seen when the New Nest restoration was active. Patch 5.35 will allow players to update their Resistance Weapons, as well as introduce a new large-scale instance similar to Eureka called The Bozjan Southern Front.
The Bozjan Southern Front pits up to 72 players against the IVth Imperial Legion. Players will be working with the Bozjan Resistance to drive the Legion back; as players’ Mettle will increase as they fight, and sufficient Mettle will increase players’ Resistance rank. Higher Resistance rank will push the front line forward, allowing players to storm Castrum Lacus Litore.
There are two special encounters players can engage in to raise their Mettle: Skirmishes and Critical Engagements. Skirmishes are like FATEs, and award experience, Mettle, and lockboxes, which can be appraised for rewards. Critical Engagements are limited time battles that will only accept between 24-48 participants. Naturally, Engagements will offer greater Mettle and rewards but are also more difficult, on par with dungeons or raid bosses.
Players near Critical Engagements will have a brief opportunity to request deployment to those Engagements; if too many players want to participate, they will be chosen randomly, although players can use certain items to boost their priority and increase their likelihood of being chosen.
