The FFXIV 7.5 Live Letter showcased all the usual things that come with a new patch, like dungeons, more Hildebrand, and a new scenario quest. But there were some pretty big announcements buried in the stream’s latter half, including a first look at the upcoming Beastmaster limited class and some long-needed overhauls to inventory systems.
The Beastmaster will debut at level 1 alongside a batch of job classes, though you’ll need to be at least level 50 and have completed the main scenario in A Realm Reborn to unlock it. Like in other Final Fantasy games, Beastmasters weaken monsters in combat in order to capture them. If successful, they can call on up to three of their critter friends in battle for assistance and travel together. The Beastmaster’s bestiary will include 50 monsters at the start, and the initial level cap is 50. Producer Naoki Yoshida also teased a mode where you can “nurture” your beast companions in a single-player mode called Crucible of the Unbroken, but didn’t provide additional details beyond that.
The Beastmaster will be released sometime during the FFXIV 7.5 patch series. Patch 7.5 begins on April 28 and will run through September, though Square Enix didn’t specify which patch will add the new limited job. Yoshida also said that the time and resources required for adding Beastmaster to the game meant the team had to push the next Blue Mage update out to a later date, so don’t expect more Blue quests any time soon (translations for this part provided by Nova Crystalis).
Also planned for the 7.5 updates is a bit of consolidation for FFXIV‘s dye system. Rather than making every color a separate item that occupies its own inventory slot, Square Enix is grouping them into three main categories:
- Dyes introduced in A Realm Reborn, except things like metallic colors and jet black, which you can buy using real money
- Dyes obtainable by completing the Ishgardian Restoration
- Dyes obtainable by completing tasks in Cosmic Exploration
When you use a dye from one of those categories, you’ll be prompted to pick which color you want to use. You can exchange any dyes from the previous system still in your inventory for a new dye at any Calamity salvager.
Another much-needed inventory improvement is the option to store Artifact and dungeon gear in your armoire. Initially, it’ll only let you store dungeon gear acquired in Dawntrail dungeons, but Square Enix will gradually roll out updates that let you stash dungeon gear from previous expansions as well. So you’ll finally be able to use your retainers for more than just holding clothes and dye.
And for those lucky enough to have an in-game house, you’ll be able to place more indoor and outdoor items thanks to some new item cap limits. You’ll also have the option to prioritize whether the game displays your stuff or nearby players, which should help with performance.
Other additions coming in the 7.5 patch series include:
- Main scenario quests
- Clyteum, a new instanced dungeon
- More fishing routes
- The end of “Inconceivably Further Hildebrand Adventures”
- The end of the Echoes of Vana’diel Alliance Raid
- A new allied society capstone quest
- Duty support extended to Heavensward‘s Dusk Vigil dungeon and Stormblood‘s Shisui of the Violet Tied
- PvP Series 11 and a new Crystalline Conflict arena
- A new trial featuring Enuo from Final Fantasy 5
- Another Occult Crescent field operation
Square Enix will share more details on some of these updates during the upcoming FFXIV Fan Fest, which will take place in Anaheim, Calif. on April 24 and 25.
