Final Fantasy 14 Is Making A Change To Chaotic Raid Rewards

Responding to player feedback, Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.16 will introduce a Clouddark Demimateria exchange system. This update, launching January 21st, 2025, addresses concerns regarding the acquisition of high-demand items from the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid.

The core change allows players to exchange their surplus Clouddark Demimateria 1 for Clouddark Demimateria 2. While the exact exchange rate remains unannounced, this adjustment directly impacts the accessibility of coveted rewards like the "A Half Times Two" hairstyle and the "Dais of Darkness" mount, both requiring significant quantities of Clouddark Demimateria 2. These items are also tradable on the Market Board, potentially influencing their market value post-patch.

The Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid, introduced in Patch 7.15, presents a challenging encounter for up to 24 players. The current reward structure, yielding Clouddark Demimateria 1 and 2 (with bonus Demimateria 2 based on first-time clears), proved problematic for many players.

Square Enix emphasizes that this alteration is a direct response to community feedback, and further adjustments to the raid's reward system are possible based on ongoing player input. While Patch 7.16 will primarily focus on the Dawntrail Role Quest series finale, substantial job balance updates are anticipated in a later patch (7.2). The impact of player feedback on future raid content updates remains to be seen.