Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood

Lore & Background

Stormblood marks a shift in the ongoing conflict with the Garlean Empire. Players lead rebellions in the imperial provinces of Ala Mhigo, an Eorzean city-state conquered twenty years ago, and Doma, a Far Eastern nation with a proud ninja tradition. These regions are administered by the emperor's son, Zenos yae Galvus, whose brutal oppression impels the player to act. Traveling these diverse lands, players join forces with the Ala Mhigan Resistance and the deposed Crown Prince of Doma. The expansion increases the level cap to 70, adds two new character classes (Samurai and Red Mage), revamps the battle system, and introduces swimming gameplay.

Reader's Guide

Stormblood was well received upon release and earned nominations for 'Expansion of the Year'. By August 2017, the title had reached a cumulative total of 10 million accounts. Major content patches were scheduled every three months; the first—'The Legend Returns'—was released on October 10, premiering a storyline written by Yasumi Matsuno featuring his Ivalice setting, as well as a special 'Ultimate' difficulty battle. The expansion introduced a new PvP mode called Rival Wings, and a new area called 'The Forbidden Land, Eureka' debuted with Patch 4.2. Service for the PlayStation 3 game client was terminated with the expansion's early access period to make necessary engine improvements, with a special upgrade campaign allowing affected players to obtain the PlayStation 4 version for free. Stormblood's legacy includes its overhaul of the battle system, addition of Ultimate raids, and expansion of the game's world into new regions.

Did You Know?

• Stormblood was released just under two years after Heavensward, the previous expansion.
• The expansion introduced two new jobs: Samurai and Red Mage, both damage-dealing classes.
• Ultimate difficulty raids can only be run at the character level and item level caps they were released at, preserving their difficulty.
• Free Trial players are barred from participating in Ultimate raids even if they meet participation requirements.