Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is the fifth expansion for Final Fantasy XIV. It was announced in July 2023 during the first 2023 Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival, and was released July 2, 2024. The expansion takes players to Tural, the "New World", and is set to be the beginning of a new storyline after the end of of the Hydaelyn–Zodiark arc.
The Japanese name for the expansion, translates officially to "Gilded Legacy", with the expansion's theme color being gold and the theme being "a journey of discovery".
==Story==
=== Premise ===
After the events of Endwalker, the Warrior of Light, Krile Baldesion, and Alphinaud and Alisaie Leveilleur head towards the westernmost continent of Tural by request of Wuk Lamat, the daughter of Gulool Ja Ja the current ruler of Tuliyollal, to aid in a contest for leadership of the land.
==Features==
Dawntrail features the regions of Yok Tural and Xak Tural, the former containing the new main hub city in the form of the cosmopolitan Tuliyollal and the areas of Urqopacha, Kozama'uka, and Yak T'el and the latter featuring the high-tech city Solution Nine and the areas of Shaaloani and Heritage Found.
Two new jobs were introduced with the expansion: A physical melee DPS known as viper, who wields dual-blades that can be combined into a double-bladed weapon, and the magical range DPS known as pictomancer, who wields a paint brush and palette to paint magical elements, creatures, and landscapes to buff allies and attack enemies; both of which feature job quests from level 80 to 90. In addition the level cap will be increased to 100 for all non-limited jobs and classes, including disciples of the hand and land. A new limited job, beastmaster, is set to be released during 7.x patch cycle.
All core battle content returns, including FATEs (including both regular and large scale FATEs), the Hunt, treasure hunts and sidequests, alongside new dungeons and trials, including encounters with the legendary beast Valigarmanda and mechanical Eliminator. Additionally, there will be an update to Duty Support, including the debut of Krile for the system. New role quests will once again be available, unlocked at level 92, and will be divided into five questlines divided by role—tanks, healers, melee DPS, physical ranged DPS, and magical ranged DPS. The new dungeon, became available starting from patch 7.05.
Alongside these, the expansion will feature more variant and criterion dungeons, as well as new raids, including the normal raid series, the Arcadion, where battles between combatants enchanced with feral souls entertain the crowds, the new alliance raid series, Echoes of Vana'diel, which sees the player venture into the world of Vana'diel, and new ultimate raid, Futures Rewritten (Ultimate), an alternative retelling of the Eden raids. These are set to debut across the lifespan of the expansion, alongside a new update, a Gold Saucer update, and new Hildibrand sidequest series, entitled Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures. Additionally, there are plans for a new Deep Dungeon and a new Field Operation series, the latter of which takes place within the Shades' Triangle, as well as plans for new types of battle content, such as Chaotic difficulty alliance raids, the first of which is set to debut with patch 7.1.
Disciples of the land and hand role quests are set to return with the Wachumeqimeqi deliveries, divided into five questlines—one for blacksmith, armorers, and goldsmiths; one for carpenters, leatherworkers, and weavers; one for alchemists and culinarians; one for miners and botanists; and one for fishers. In addition, the expansion is set to feature expansive new lifestyle content for disciples of the land and hand, named Cosmic Exploration, planned to be implemented in the 7.x patches. With the new expansion, gatherers have access to new gathering nodes, regional folklore, and a new variety of gatherer scrip, as well as new quality of life additions, including gathering integrity being displayed in the gathering window, and the fish guide displaying the type of lure required for a catch. Crafters will similarly receive new recipes, master recipes, and a new crafters' scrip.
New allied society quests are set to debut with the expansion, available from the diminutive Pelupelu (for disciples of war and magic) and goblin-like Moblins. Other societies featured in the expansion include the giant Yok Huy and birdlike Hanuhanu.
Dawntrail will feature updates to the various PvP modes, with further updates to Crystalline Conflict, Rival Wings and Frontlines, with the last set to receive a new map.
With the expansion, the game's first graphical update was applied, with higher resolution textures and shadows, improved materials and lighting, and additional foliage resolution and density, as well as miscellaneous upgrades to visual presentation, such as more dynamic mount animations and new graphical options. An additional dye channel was added to certain gear, allowing players more options for color combinations, as well as an additional, purely cosmetic, gear slot for eyewear, which does not take space in the player's armory chest. Alongside these, furnishing limits will be increased during the 7.x patches. With these system updates, game's system requirements were changed.
The expansion also introduced a new playable race, female Hrothgar. Players with Shadowbringers registered to their accounts will be able to create female Hrothgar characters.
A new, collaborative tool, called the Strategy Board, is set to be introduced in Dawntrail during the 7.x patches, allowing players to collaboratively modify and share visual strategies for raids and other encounters.
Introduced with the expansion are a variety of quality of life features: there will be an option hide nearby players when close to an quest NPC or objective marker and players will be able to select emotes and recipes related to quests directly from the duty list. Phials of fantasia will now allow a 60 minute in-game period to see the characters in in-game conditions before the changes lock-in.
==Music==
The main theme of the expansion, "Dawntrail" was composed by Masayoshi Soken, with guest vocal performance by Amanda Achen, lyrics by Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Kathryn Cwynar, and lyric concept and translation by Natsuko Ishikawa. Initially revealed alongside the expansion with the teaser trailer, the full theme was revealed with the full trailer during the Tokyo Fan Festival 2024 and released June 2024 with the 7-inch vinyl single Dawntrail, which also includes "Open Sky - The Theme from Dawntrail", a variation of the track performed by The Primals.
==Development==
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail was first referred to with the implementation of male Viera, with female Hrothgar announced for release in 7.0. It was later teased 1 January 2023 in a Lodestone post, with thoughts on the keynote speech of the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festivals of the year and a poem:
During the keynote speech at the Las Vegas 2023 Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival, the first teaser CG trailer was shown. The keynote proceeded to showcase the title and various details regarding the expansion. More information about the expansion was revealed during the London 2023 Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival, where an extended teaser was shown.
The expansion was later teased again in a 2024 new year's greetings alongside another poem:
==Major updates==
Note that the below version updates also add features and adjustments to A Realm Reborn (2.x), Heavensward (3.x), Stormblood (4.x), Shadowbringers (5.x), or Endwalker (6.x) content.
=== Crossroads (Patch 7.1) ===
Set to release mid-November 2024, Patch 7.1 was originally announced in the 83rd Letter from the Producer Live as a planned update for Final Fantasy XIV. Over the course of the patch life the following features are set to be added:
*Continuation of the main scenario quests.
*A new dungeon: .
*A new Extreme trial: .
*A new Unreal trial: .
*A new Ultimate raid: .
*A new alliance raid, the first part of the Echoes of Vana'diel alliance raid series: .
*The introduction of s with , a new type of high-end battle content for 24 people.
*New allied society quests for disciples of war and magic with the Pelupelu.
*New Custom Deliveries with Nitowike.
*Capstone quests for both role quests and Wachumeqimeqi delivieries.
*Introduction quests for Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures.
*New Game Plus support for main scenario, job, and role quests introduced in 7.0
*Duty Support update for non main scenario dungeons, starting with .
* update, explaining common mechanics such as stack markers, spreads, tank busters, etc.
*PvE job changes.
*Extensive PvP changes:
**Action changes for all jobs except pictomancer and viper.
**Changes to action execution and hit detection in order to allow shielding and healing to feel more natural.
**Arena improvements for and .
**Balance changes to Frontline and Rival Wings.
*Housing update, allowing players to change the base interiors of houses.
==Behind the scenes==
As with the announcements of the previous expansions, producer and director Naoki Yoshida wore a shirt at the Fan Festival 2023 in Las Vegas in July to tease upcoming jobs. He took off his overshirt to reveal a shirt after announcing that there are two new jobs, hinting at the pictomancer job, as the four turtles are named after artists.
Many of the English voice actors in Dawntrail are Latino and Latina actors based in California, such as Sena Bryer who plays Wuk Lamat and Luis Bermudez who plays Koana, as befitting the Americas-based setting of Tural. This is the first time that American voice actors have been featured in Final Fantasy XIV since the move to a London-based studio in Heavensward.
==Production credits==
===Voice cast===
;Patch 7.0 Credits
Character 	Japanese 	English
Wuk Lamat 	Ayaka Shimoyamada 	Sena Bryer
Krile 	Yoshino Nanjo 	Gemma Lawrence
G'raha Tia 	Yuma Uchida 	Jonathan Bailey
Erenville 	Rikuya Yasuda 	Ari Oskarsson
Cahciua 	Sayuri Yahagi 	Michelle Asante
Sphene 	Lynn 	Sarah Ovens
Alphinaud 	Shinnosuke Tachibana	Colin Ryan
Estinien 	Kenji Hamada 	Robert Vernon
Alisaie 	Rie Murakawa 	Bethan Walker
Y'shtola 	Ai Kayano 	Robyn Addison
Thancred 	Yuichi Nakamura 	Peter Bramhill
Urianger 	KENN 	Timothy Watson
Bakool Ja Ja 	Shunsuke Takeuchi 	Javier Prusky
Sareel Ja 	Nobuo Tobita 	Paul Cartwright
Otis 	Hiroshi Tsuchida 	James Day
Robor 	Yuki Tamai 	Nigel Pilkington
Alayla 	Sayaka Ohara 	Jaye Jacobs
Gulool Ja 	Hitomi Sekine 	Julissa Aguirre
Shale 	Natsumi Fujiwara 	Olivia Morgan
Namikka 	Yoko Imaizumi 	April Ortiz
Zekowa 	Kohei Amasaki 	Spencer Ortega
Wawlika 	Yasuhiro Mamiya 	Erik Braa
Shenza 	Daiki Yamashita 	Kevin Andrew Rivera
Zawpya 	Go Inoue 	Paul Cartwright
Ketenramm 	Tessyo Genda 	Alec Newman
Vorporlor 	Itaru Yamamoto 	Cesar Romero
Gurfurlur 	Jiro Saito 	Luis Bermudez
Hunmu Rruk 	Kentaro Tone 	Luis Bermudez
Miilal Ja 	Saeko Akiho 	Erica Mendez
Wuk Evu 	Jiro Saito 	Joe Hernandez
Mablu 	Emiri Iwai 	Erica Mendez
Koana 	Kaito Ishikawa 	Luis Bermudez
Zoraal Ja 	Daisuke Ono 	Spencer Ortega
Gulool Ja Ja 	Kenichirou Matsuda 	Ulises Cuadra
Br'uk Evu 	Hiroshi Tsuchida 	Joe Hernandez
Zanuhali 	Saeko Akiho 	Melissa Medina
Linuhanu 	Go Inoue 	Ben Balmaceda
Bol Noq' 	Yasutaka Tomioka 	Paul Cartwright
Tobli 	Kentaro Tone 	Barnardo de Paula
Zurmurwur 	Yuki Tamai 	Mike Ciporkin
Zereel Ja 	Kenji Hamada 	Luis Bermudez
Wihuwte 	Yuki Tamai 	Jay Preston
Kemakka 	Itaru Yamamoto 	Mike Ciporkin
Galuf 	Kentaro Tone 	James Goode
Nitowikwe 	Natsumi Fujiwara 	Melissa Medina
Pepoane 	Nobuo Tobita 	Erik Braa
Geode 	Futo Hamagami 	Alec Newman
Frantic Man 	Ryosuke Tomita 	Alec Newman
Genolt 	Go Inoue 	James Goode
Naahe 	Kohei Amasaki 	Xavier Alcantara
Ecaate 	Shoko Haraguchi 	Lori Snyder
Nostalgia 	Emiri Iwai 	Anairis Quiñones
Wayakkwe 	Emiri Iwai 	Anairis Quiñones
Meso Terminal	Momo Higuchi 	Merryl Ansah
Eliminator 	Sayaka Ohara 	Olivia Morgan
Valigarmanda 	Kenichirou Matsuda 	Kenichirou Matsuda
:Additional Voices (Japanese): Hiromi Hirata, Risae Matsuda, Aria Seki, Masakazu Nishida, Tadaaki Doi, Narufumi Machimoto, DJ.Knike
:Additional Voices (English): Emma Ballantine, Jaimi Barbakoff, Sheena Bhattessa, Cassie Layton, Ciaran Owens
==Gallery==
;Artwork
FFXIV Dawntrail Amano art.png|Key artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.
FFXIV Dawntrail keyart.png|Key artwork.
Viper artwork from FFXIV.png|Viper job artwork
Pictomancer artwork from FFXIV.png|Pictomancer job artwork.
Valigarmanda artwork from FFXIVDT.png|Valigarmanda artwork.
Eliminator artwork from FFXIVDT.png|Eliminator artwork.
Echoes of Vana'diel announcement.png|Echoes of Vana'diel announcement.
Echoes of Vana'diel keyart from FFXIVDT.png|Echoes of Vana'diel key artwork, featuring the Shadow Lord.
The Arcadion keyart from FFXIVDT.png|The Arcadion key artwork.
Cosmic Exploration keyart from FFXIVDT.png|Cosmic Exploration key artwork.
Female hrothgar artwork.png|Female Hrothgar race artwork.
Pictomancer promotional artwork for FFXIVDT.jpg|Promotional artwork featuring a pictomancer, a painted moogle and Madeen, by Masayoshi Inoeu
Solution Nine promotional artwork for FFXIVDT.jpg|Promotional artwork featuring player characters in , by Rokuma Saito.
;Renders
FFXIV Dawntrail keyart render.png|Warrior of Light render.
Viper render from FFXIV DT 01.png|Viper job render.
Viper render from FFXIV DT 02.png|Viper job render.
Pictomancer render from FFXIV DT.png|Pictomancer job render.
Female hrothgar render 01.png|Female Hrothgar race render.
Female hrothgar render 02.png|Female Hrothgar race render.
Eliminator render from FFXIV DT.png|Eliminator enemy render.
Barreltender render from FFXIVDT.png|Barreltender enemy render.
;Location art
Tuliyollal artwork from FFXIVDT 01.png|Tuliyollal city artwork.
Tuliyollal artwork from FFXIVDT 02.png|Tuliyollal city artwork.
Solution Nine artwork from FFXIVDT.png| city artwork.
Urqopacha artwork from FFXIVDT.png|Urqopacha zone artwork.
Yak Tel artwork from FFXIVDT.png|Yak Tel zone artwork.
Heritage Found artwork from FFXIVDT.png|Heritage Found zone artwork.
Kozama'uka artwork from FFXIVDT.jpg|Kozama'uka zone artwork.
Shaaloani artwork from FFXIVDT.jpg|Shaaloani zone artwork.
FFXIV Dawntrail dungeon artwork 01.png|Dungeon artwork.
FFXIV Dawntrail dungeon artwork 02.png|Dungeon artwork.
;Countdown art
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 21.jpg|A Miqo'te pictomancer painting a moogle.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 20.jpg|A Roegadyn machinist, by Nobuyoshi Mihara.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 19.jpg|An Elezen dragoon, by Tetsu Tsukamoto.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 18.jpg|A Hrothgar ninja, by Kyung Jin Woo.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 17.jpg|A Lalafell paladin, by Hiroyuki Nagamine.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 16.jpg|A Hyur scholar and Eos, by Rokuma Saito.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 15.jpg|A Viera dancer, by Wang Yueren.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 14.jpg|An Au Ra astrologian, by Seiji Yamate.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 13.jpg|An Elezen red mage, by Yoshimi Urabe.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 12.jpg|A Lalafell reaper and their avatar, by Marina Otani.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 11.jpg|A Roegadyn monk, by Takeshi Yoshida.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 10.jpg|An Au Ra dark knight, by Eui Kyun Oh.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 9.jpg|A Viera black mage and their chocobo, by Erika Murabayashi.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 8.jpg|An Elezen summoner and their Carbuncle, by Yusuke Mogi.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 7.jpg|Hyur, Hrothgar, and Elezen sages, by Eiichi Hama.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 6.jpg|A Miqote samurai, by Mariko Higashi.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 5.jpg|An Au Ra bard, by Ayumi Namae.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 4.jpg|A Hyur warrior and their chocobo, by Keishi Shimada.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 3.jpg|A Lalafell white mage, by Kenta Tanaka.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 2.jpg|A Miqo'te gunbreaker, by Kentarou Miura.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown art 1.jpg|A Hrothgar viper, by Masayoshi Inoue.
FFXIV Dawntrail countdown end.jpg|The Scions of the Seventh Dawn, Wuk Lamat, and Erenville, by Ayumi Namae.
==Citations==
==External links==
*Official site (Japanese)
*Official site (English)
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