Patch 7.5 for Final Fantasy XIV is officially live today, marking the start of the two-part conclusion to the Dawntrail story arc. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ve been waiting on the Evercold announcement at Fan Festival in Anaheim before committing to catch up on Dawntrail’s patch content. That announcement happened on Friday, so consider me logging back in.
Patch 7.5, titled Trail to the Heavens, kicks off the first half of the Dawntrail finale. The main scenario quests are split across two patches, with Part 1 landing today and Part 2 arriving as Patch 7.56 later this year. Today’s drop also brings the third and final installment of the Echoes of Vana’diel alliance raid series with Windurst: The Third Walk, the new Clyteum dungeon, the Enuo trial in both Normal and Extreme difficulties, and Shinryu’s Domain (Unreal). PvP gets a new Crystalline Conflict arena called Archeia Harmonia and the start of Series 11. The Dusk Vigil and Shisui of the Violet Tides are now supported by the Duty Support system for solo runs, and there’s an ocean fishing route to Thavnair, increased housing furnishing limits, a major bump to Armoire storage, and Companion Chocobo updates rounding out the patch.
The 7.5x patch cycle bridging the gap between Dawntrail and Evercold is filled with expected content. Patch 7.51 brings the new Auxsia planet for Cosmic Exploration crafters and gatherers, the next round of Custom Deliveries with Tiisol Ja, and a new Ultimate raid (which we now know is Dancing Mad). Patch 7.55 adds Allied Society capstone quests, an Occult Crescent zone update with new Phantom Jobs and Critical Encounters, Phantom Weapon updates, and the next round of Hildibrand. Patch 7.56 in early September wraps everything up with Part 2 of the main story and finally brings Beastmaster as the new limited job, a creature-taming class players have been requesting for years.
Newcomers also have one more reason to jump in today. The Free Trial has been expanded to include the excellent Shadowbringers expansion and all updates through Patch 5.58, putting the most acclaimed stretch of Final Fantasy XIV’s story behind a free door. Final Fantasy XIV’s Free Trial was already one of the most generous in the genre, and this update means new players can now experience hundreds of hours of content equivalent to four full Final Fantasy titles without spending a dime.
