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, arriving January 21st, 2025, addresses concerns regarding the acquisition of high-demand items from the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid.

The exchange will allow players to convert excess Clouddark Demimateria 1 into Clouddark Demimateria 2, facilitating purchases of sought-after rewards such as the "A Half Times Two" hairstyle and the "Dais of Darkness" mount. While the specific exchange rate remains undisclosed, the adjustment aims to improve accessibility to these items. Both the mount and hairstyle are also available on the Market Board, 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, awarding Clouddark Demimateria 1 and 2 (with bonus Demimateria 2 based on first-time clears), proved unbalanced. This prompted Square Enix to implement the exchange, a direct response to community feedback.

Further adjustments to the raid's reward system are possible based on ongoing player feedback, potentially impacting future raid content releases. Patch 7.16, the first content update of 2025, primarily focuses on the Dawntrail Role Quest series finale, with major job balance updates expected in Patch 7.2. The impact of player feedback on future raid content in 2025 remains to be seen.