Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will get its first expansion this summer, but in the meantime, adventurers of Eorzea will get one last major patch that will lead them into the new land of Ishgard. Here are some of the highlights from the Patch 2.55 notes.
First and foremost, the Patch 2.55, or Before the Fall – Part II will finish the main scenario quests and its story, picking up where it left off on Patch 2.5. The story will finish leading its path to the Ishgard region, which will be the main area of interest in the upcoming Heavensward expansion.
It will also feature a new trial “The Steps of Faith,” an eight-man duty. Unlike other duties, success in the Steps of Faith is contingent upon the ability to defend certain constructs along the bridge toward Ishgard.
Furthermore, total party incapacitation will not result in failure of the duty. Players will instead be returned to the starting point of the duty, at which point they can return to battle.
Additionally, it appears that Square Enix are giving players an extra little push with help in the Second and Final Coil of Bahamut. The Second Coil of Bahamut will now get 20% Echo buffs, which increases the players’ maximum HP, damage dealt, and healing magic potency, a 5% increase from what it was previously.
As for the Final Coil of Bahamut, currently the most difficult content in the game, its weekly restriction on entering all four turns has been abolished. Players may now proceed directly to any turn, and can enter it directly via the Duty Finder with a full party.
Finally, “The Gift of the Archmagus” weekly quest that requires you to do all three Tower raids will now give Encrypted Tomestones, an item that can be turned in for i120 weapons, and was previously only available through the Final Coil of Bahamut.
The patch note also states the following: “In preparation for the upcoming expansion, the player-matching algorithms for the Duty Finder have been adjusted,” which also sounds quite mysterious, and gives us an idea that things might be a little different for Duty Finding when the expansion launches.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’s Patch 2.55 is expected to go live at 4am PST/7am EST. You can read the full patch notes, here.
