Final Fantasy XIV's Dawntrail expansion is getting its first round of Savage raid encounters, and with it comes the inevitable flurry of job balance tweaks. As statics prepare for the race to world first, Patch 7.05 introduces a raft of changes, most notably impacting the new Pictomancer and the previously controversial Viper.
While the new treasure map dungeon is certainly exciting, it's the job changes that are garnering the most attention. Square Enix has opted for a "buff first, nerf later" approach, which has left some players scratching their heads. The most significant change sees the Pictomancer, the game's newest caster, left untouched, despite expectations of nerfs. The Job Guide explains that its high DPS, while initially unexpected, has prompted a potency boost for Black Mage, the traditional high-damage caster. This was further extended to other ranged DPS jobs, ensuring a less drastic disparity between them.
This approach, however, has been met with some mixed reactions. While the Pictomancer's long cast times and lack of revival ability warrant consideration, its party utility in the form of Starry Muse, a damage buff, sets it apart from the Black Mage. The Black Mage, meanwhile, struggles with movement-heavy encounters due to its restrictive cast times, leading some players to question the "comparable DPS" goal for the two classes.
