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 core change allows players to exchange Clouddark Demimateria 1 for Clouddark Demimateria 2, facilitating the purchase of sought-after rewards such as the "A Half Times Two" hairstyle and the "Dais of Darkness" mount. While the exact exchange rate remains unannounced, this adjustment will improve accessibility for many players. These items are also tradable on the Market Board, potentially impacting their market value following the 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 problematic due to the disparity between the availability of Demimateria 1 and the cost of desirable rewards in Demimateria 2.
Square Enix emphasizes that this alteration is a direct response to player feedback and further adjustments may be implemented based on ongoing community input, particularly as more raid content is released throughout 2025. While Patch 7.16 will primarily focus on the Dawntrail Role Quest series finale, significant job balance updates are expected in Patch 7.2.
