Final Fantasy 14's upcoming Patch 7.16, set to launch on January 21, 2025, will introduce a significant change to the reward structure of the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid due to player feedback. Players will now have the opportunity to exchange Clouddark Demimateria 1 for Clouddark Demimateria 2, although the exact exchange rate has yet to be announced. This adjustment will facilitate easier access to coveted items like the A Half Times Two hairstyle and the Dais of Darkness mount, which require 49 and 75 Clouddark Demimateria 2, respectively. Both of these items can also be traded on the market board, so their prices are expected to fluctuate once the patch is live.
The Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid was introduced on December 24, shortly after the release of Patch 7.15. This raid challenge brings together up to 24 players to battle against the final boss from A Realm Reborn's World of Darkness, incorporating mechanics from the Eden raid series featured in Shadowbringers. Successful clears of this raid reward players with both types of Clouddark Demimateria, with additional amounts of Clouddark Demimateria 2 available for first-time clears.
Square Enix has indicated that the changes to the Clouddark Demimateria system are a direct response to community feedback, and they remain open to further adjustments based on ongoing player input. While Patch 7.16 marks the first content update of 2025 and includes the finale of the Dawntrail Role Quest series, major job balance updates are not expected until Patch 7.2. As Final Fantasy 14 plans more raid content throughout the year, it will be interesting to see how player feedback continues to shape these developments.
