Brace yourselves, Warriors of Light! Game director Naoki Yoshida and community producer Toshio Murouchi have just pulled back the curtain on Final Fantasy XIV’s highly anticipated Patch 7.4, and it’s packed with changes we’ve all been dreaming of. As Dawntrail’s epic conclusion settles, this new patch marks a pivotal first step towards the mysterious 8.0 expansion. The biggest news? A monumental overhaul that includes the long-awaited liberation of our glamour options! To ensure you don’t miss a beat, I’ve compiled a complete rundown of everything unveiled during Final Fantasy 14 Live Letter 89.
While we didn’t get any in-game demonstrations during this initial reveal, the team provided plenty of tantalizing images to fuel our excitement. After Dawntrail’s story arc successfully brought players back into its fold and delivered some of the best combat content to date, Patch 7.4 aims to prove that these innovative variable difficulty systems are here to stay.
Yoshi-P shared his reflections on the past decade and the valuable feedback from Pilgrim’s Traverse, assuring us that the coming years will solidify FFXIV’s standing as a premier MMORPG. The upcoming patch promises a new raid tier, updates to Occult Crescent and Cosmic Exploration, enhanced duty support, more Hildibrand antics, a brand-new Variant Dungeon, and crucial adjustments to the game’s structure and schedule – most notably, a complete transformation of the glamour system.
But wait, there’s more! Before Patch 7.4 arrives, a smaller update, FF14 Patch 7.38, is set to launch on Tuesday, November 11. This minor patch will lift weekly limits on Savage raid rewards, allow players to exchange Dawntrail alliance raid coins for Evercharged Ester to upgrade Tomestone Historia weapons, and add new furnishing items to coffers from Return to Ivalice encounters.
Mark your calendars! The official release date for FF14 Patch 7.4, aptly titled ‘Into the Mist,’ is Tuesday, December 16. Yoshi-P explained that the team wanted to allow more time around the end-of-year holidays for scheduling.
Learning from past experiences, particularly the ‘chaotic raid’ launch on Christmas Day in 2025 that caused some frustration, the Savage version of the Arcadion Heavyweight raid tier will now launch separately on Tuesday, January 6. ‘We discussed this a lot,’ Yoshida commented, acknowledging that the Western community often spends Christmas holidays with family and they wanted to avoid forcing players to choose between raiding and family time.
Naturally, a core component of this patch is the continuation of the Main Scenario Quest (MSQ), which Yoshida describes as ‘the first step of the new plot line.’ He hinted that ‘7.5 is also packed, and we hope you enjoy this new arc.’ While we’re moving beyond Dawntrail’s immediate narrative, it seems we’ll still be spending some time in Living Memory, with more classic Final Fantasy references woven into the story.
The new dungeon, ‘Mistwake,’ appears to draw inspiration from Final Fantasy IX, with its setting strongly evoking Treno, a city in Alexandria. And for the trial? Get ready for ‘Hell on Rails,’ where we’ll face off against FFVIII’s infamous Doomtrain (or its terrifying equivalent!). Yoshida playfully referred to it as ‘A dark Thomas,’ and when pressed on the fight’s mechanics, he cryptically replied, ‘It will be all over the place – I think it’s good if you pay attention to the model, there might be things growing.’
Occult Crescent is expanding its ranks with three new phantom jobs: Mystic Knight, Dancer, and Gladiator. Players can also discover ‘beneficial accessories’ from critical encounters, treasure chests, magic pots, and even from happy bunnies. These accessories include four pieces each for Disciples of War and Disciples of Magic, offering attribute boosts within the zone.
Phantom weapons will now be upgradeable to item level 775, with necessary materials found through various duties, including the Occult Crescent. Yoshida mentioned the team is reassessing future weapon upgrade systems, suggesting this might be the last iteration of the current method. For Cosmic Exploration, our next destination is Oizys – a fragmented, rocky world reminiscent of Elden Ring’s Crumbling Farum Azula. Yoshida teased a past civilization that met its end on this planet, leaving behind gravitational anomalies. Expect Cosmic Tool upgrades to item level 765, along with fresh rewards from cosmocredits and the cosmic fortune wheel, plus a new appraisal system called Ruin Exploration.
Prepare for ‘The Merchant’s Tale,’ the latest Variant Dungeon, which transports us into a magical tome to explore a dazzling fantasy world. This vibrant new zone might even outshine Shadowbringers’ Pixie playground Lyhe Mheg in terms of color! We’ll be joined by a charming Miqo’te gleaner, and just like previous Variant Dungeons, you can tackle it with one to four players. The challenge dynamically adjusts to your group size, with bonus duty actions available to fill any party gaps.
Players will once again navigate branching paths, with each choice leading to a unique final outcome. Previous Variant Dungeons have hidden deep lore relevant to later main story content, so prepare to delve into every corner for potential hints at future narratives. A welcome addition this time is the ability to level jobs from 90 within the dungeon.
Square Enix is further refining its adaptable difficulty system with a new ‘Variant Dungeon (Advanced)’ mode, serving as an intermediary challenge before the Criterion Dungeon. This advanced mode allows you to confront all three bosses from the base version in any order. You’ll earn personal rewards specific to each enemy you defeat, and you can even stop after a single fight if you choose. However, defeating all three in one go grants a bonus payout.
This advanced mode requires a minimum of two players, scaling up to four, as the team determined it unsuitable for solo play. ‘We’ve made a lot of content and of course Savage is high-end, but we’ve always had the request to be allowed to practice individual phases,’ Yoshida explained. ‘We thought for this advanced Variant Dungeon, since we already have the three bosses anyway, we might add this feature.’
For the ultimate challenge, the Criterion Dungeon awaits. Here, exploration is removed, and you must defeat all three bosses in a specific order, facing increased strength and more punishing mechanics. There are no trash mobs, revival methods are limited, and you’ll need the traditional one tank, one healer, two DPS composition unless you enter with a pre-formed party.
These new additions sound like excellent responses to feedback from Endwalker’s Variant Dungeons, and we’re hoping the rewards will match the challenge to keep players engaged. The glimpse of new glamour options, including a stylish flying carpet mount, is already an instant win, though Yoshida promised more details later.
Beyond the big-ticket items, Patch 7.4 delivers a wealth of other content. It introduces the new Arcadion Heavyweight tier, concluding the eight-player raid series with a Gladiator-style ‘death match’ against an imposing Elezen. Yoshida playfully dubbed him ‘evil Urianger,’ noting, ‘he definitely gives off champion vibes.’ The fourth of five planned acts for the Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures continues, and the next Unreal Trial will be Tsukuyomi, modernizing another classic Stormblood encounter. Duty support is also being expanded to two notoriously difficult optional A Realm Reborn dungeons: Dzemael Darkhold and Aurum Vale.
Addressing a common pain point – as Yoshida recalled, ‘What am I supposed to do as a healer in Aurum Vale?’ – a welcome new feature is coming to duty support: protection stacks. Each time your character falls against a boss, you’ll gain a stack that protects you from a single fatal blow, similar to the mechanics in eight-player trials with NPC companions. These stacks reset upon defeating the boss.
The update also brings two new UI color schemes (green and white) and the much-requested ‘Strategy Board,’ an official in-game raid planning tool. For those tired of cluttered hotbars, the new ‘Command Panel’ offers a four-page setup with 25 slots per page, allowing you to assign anything normally found on a hotbar. Each page can be hidden behind a single button, drastically reducing HUD clutter. Gold Saucer enthusiasts will rejoice with a new Air Force One track, where you’ll race against the Kraken, a familiar foe from dungeons like Hullbreaker Isle. For PvP, Series Ten kicks off alongside various balance changes, and a new Frontline map with a fresh rule set is on the way.
And now, for the grand finale: Yoshida saved the most groundbreaking announcement for last. Following his recent post about the modding community and his desire for ‘everyone to enjoy the game,’ the team has made a monumental change. Glamour restrictions have been lifted! You can now use any gear for glamour, ‘irrespective of class, job, or level restrictions.’ Imagine a Dark Knight in White Mage robes, or a Dragoon sporting gatherer gear – the possibilities are truly, wonderfully endless.
While housing updates will arrive in Patch 7.5, the removal of glamour restrictions is undoubtedly a massive victory for players. Yoshida concluded by expressing the team’s eagerness to introduce more open-world field content, which would be another fantastic addition. All in all, Live Letter 89 clearly demonstrates that Square Enix is actively listening to player feedback, setting an exciting course for Final Fantasy XIV’s future.
Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.4, ‘Into the Mist,’ arrives on Tuesday, December 16, promising a bustling holiday season for adventurers. For those tackling the Heavyweight Savage tier, consider investing in a top-tier gaming headset to catch every critical callout. And as always, keep an eye on the FFXIV server status for maintenance updates. Are you excited about the direction FFXIV is heading towards the 8.0 expansion? Join our community Discord and share your thoughts!