In response to player feedback, Final Fantasy 14's upcoming Patch 7.16, set to release on January 21, 2025, will introduce a significant change to the reward system of the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid. Players who have accumulated excess Clouddark Demimateria 1 will now have the opportunity to exchange them for Clouddark Demimateria 2. This new feature aims to make high-demand items such as the A Half Times Two hairstyle and the Dais of Darkness mount more accessible, as these require 49 and 75 Clouddark Demimateria 2, respectively.
Since its introduction on December 24, following the launch of Patch 7.15, the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid has challenged up to 24 players to battle the formidable final boss from A Realm Reborn's World of Darkness. The raid incorporates mechanics from the Eden raid series in Shadowbringers, offering a fresh twist on the classic encounter. Successful clears of this raid reward participants with Clouddark Demimateria 1 and 2, with additional amounts of the latter available based on the number of first-time clears.
The exchange rate for Clouddark Demimateria 1 to 2 has not been disclosed by Square Enix, but the introduction of this system is a direct response to community feedback. This adjustment is expected to influence the market board prices of the hairstyle and mount, both of which can be bought and sold there. Square Enix has hinted that further modifications to the system might be implemented based on ongoing player input, potentially impacting future raid content throughout 2025.
Patch 7.16 marks the first content update of 2025 for Final Fantasy 14, with the main highlight being the finale of the Dawntrail Role Quest series. While major job balance updates are not anticipated in this patch, players can look forward to such changes in the subsequent Patch 7.2. As the year progresses and more raid content is released, the community's feedback will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the game's development.
