Though much of the focus of last week’s Final Fantasy XIV Letter from the Producer Live was on the upcoming version 6.2 update, patch 6.18 was much closer to arriving, with a deployment date of July 5, 2022. As the game went into maintenance to apply the update early on July 4, 2022, Square Enix posted the full Final Fantasy XIV 6.18 patch notes to the Lodestone community site.
The Final Fantasy XIV 6.18 patch and maintenance period is mostly focused on backend changes, like adding new servers and enhancing existing data centers. However a number of other changes are visible to players, particularly Data Center Travel, which allows players to move to different data centers in their region (such as visiting Crystal Data Center from Primal). Other adjustments were made to various Jobs’ performance in PVP. PVP was overhauled in Patch 6.1, and a new PVP activity, Crystalline Conflict, was added. The next season of Crystalline Conflict also begins with patch 6.18, unlocking new rewards. Players can claim Season 1 rewards up to the end of Season 2. The other PVP mode, Frontline, also received mode-specific changes, such as slowing the rate at which the Limit Gauge fills. Damage modifiers for various job categories were also adjusted, with Tank and Melee DPS jobs receiving the most dramatic adjustments.
The Job changes for Final Fantasy XIV 6.18 mostly have to do with potency adjustments for various job abilities in PVP. Tank classes like the Warrior, Dark Knight, and Gunbreaker received enhancements to their damage-dealing ability, while Paladins had the damage reduction effect from their Holy Shelltron ability weakened slightly. Changes to damage-dealers focused mainly on ranged characters, mainly Machinist, Dancer, Summoner. They received potency upgrades, while Black Mages had the barrier effect from their Burst ability weakened. Ninjas had their Unsealed Seiton Tenchu effect shortened. Of the Healing jobs, only Astrologians received PVP adjustments, with the Gravity II spell having its status effects applied only to the first target affected.
Players more focused on PVE activities also have something to look forward to in Final Fantasy XIV patch 6.18, particularly those at the endgame. Endgame-level gear was made slightly easier to acquire from Raids like Pandaemonium: Asphodelos and its Savage variant. The weekly restriction on receiving the Unsung Blade of Asphodelos item was removed, while players completing Asphodelos (Savage) will now receive two treasure coffers instead of one. Finally, a vendor in Radz-at-Han will now sell Radiant Roborant, an item needed to upgrade the item level 590 “Radiant” weapons. The vendor will take Aglaia Coins, a currency awarded for completing the Aglaia alliance raid. Part of the “Myths of the Realm” raid series, Aglaia was introduced in patch 6.1.
Final Fantasy XIV is available on PC, PS4, and PS5. The next patch, 6.2, will arrive in August 2022.
