With Patch 7.5, Final Fantasy XIV introduces a wide range of job balance adjustments. While none of these changes are dramatic on their own, they collectively aim to refine the current meta ahead of the upcoming Kefka-themed Ultimate raid, “Dancing Mad.”
More importantly, this patch marks the beginning of the end for the current “Reborn” job system. With Patch 8.0 on the horizon, bringing Evolved Jobs—the biggest combat overhaul in nearly a decade—Square Enix is focusing on small numerical tweaks rather than large mechanical changes. The content is from Rinon’s YouTube channel. Let’s dive in.
Tank Adjustments – Warrior Gets a Small Edge
Warrior is the only tank receiving changes in Patch 7.5, which is notable given that it was already in a solid position.
- Inner Chaos: +40 potency
- Primal Rend: +20 potency
- Primal Ruination: +20 potency
These buffs specifically target burst damage, resulting in roughly a 1% overall DPS increase. According to Square Enix, Warrior was slightly underperforming during burst windows compared to other tanks.
Tank Meta Overview
The tank balance remains exceptionally tight:
- Dark Knight continues to dominate burst windows
- Paladin offers strong utility and progression value
- Gunbreaker and Warrior both remain viable
With these buffs, Warrior may slightly outperform Gunbreaker in buff-heavy compositions, potentially becoming the second-strongest tank in damage. However, the differences remain extremely small—there is still no “bad” tank choice.
Samurai – Minor Buffs, Limited Impact
Samurai received two potency increases:
- Midare Setsugekka: +40 potency
- Kaeshi: Setsugekka: +40 potency
These changes bring just under a 1% DPS increase. While Samurai still scales well with party buffs and remains a strong target for abilities like Dance Partner or Astro cards, its position has shifted over time. Once considered a top-tier damage dealer, it is no longer best-in-class. These buffs are welcome but unlikely to significantly affect its pick rate.
Reaper – A Potential Ultimate Contender
Reaper receives multiple buffs focused on its burst during Enshroud:
- Gluttony: 520 → 560 potency
- Void Reaping / Cross Reaping: +20 potency each
- Enhanced versions: +20 potency each
These changes increase burst damage during Enshroud windows. Square Enix noted that Reaper’s performance can vary widely depending on execution, leading to lower usage in high-end content. Instead of reworking the job before Ultimate, they opted for simple potency increases.
Why Reaper Matters
Reaper has unique strengths that are especially valuable in Ultimate content:
- Gauge pooling for the final phase burst
- Strong on-demand damage recovery after deaths
- Excellent cleave potential in multi-target scenarios
These traits make it a strong candidate for progression groups. As a result, compositions like Reaper + Ninja or Reaper + Monk may become more common.
With the “Dancing Mad” Ultimate set to release soon, many players are already planning their progression strategies. For those who may be short on time or looking for a smoother experience, MmoGah will be introducing FFXIV Ultimate Boost services once the raid becomes available, offering flexible options for different playstyles.
Viper – Small Recovery after Previous Nerfs
Viper saw numerous changes, but they can be summarized simply:
- Reduced AoE damage falloff in the Reawaken combo
- Vicewinder: +40 potency
- Hunter’s Coil / Swiftskin’s Coil: +60 potency
These adjustments partially roll back earlier AoE nerfs and provide about a 1% DPS increase overall. Despite being the flagship job of Dawntrail, Viper is currently not leading the melee category. It remains a solid pick, but not a standout choice for Ultimate.
Summoner – The Most Significant Buffs
Summoner arguably needed the most help—and received it:
- Painflare: +70 potency
- Necrotize: +40 potency
- Crimson Cyclone / Strike / Ruby Rite: +40 potency each
These buffs result in approximately a 1.5% DPS increase, the largest among all jobs this patch. Previously considered one of the weakest jobs in high-end content (outside of utility like resurrection and ease of play), Summoner now feels much more viable. While still behind Pictomancer, Black Mage, Red Mage…the gap has noticeably narrowed.
Sage – Damage Buffs to Compete with Scholar
Sage received the following buffs:
- Phlegma & Psyche: +90 potency
- DoT: +5 potency per tick
While the DoT increase seems small, it adds up significantly over time. These changes are aimed at addressing the gap between Sage and Scholar, particularly due to Scholar’s powerful raid utility like Chain Stratagem. Increasing Sage’s personal damage is a clear attempt to balance the two barrier healers.
Final Thoughts – Stability before the Storm
Across all roles, most jobs received ~1% DPS increases, with Summoner slightly higher. These are intentionally conservative changes. Reading between the lines, Square Enix clearly wants to avoid major reworks before Patch 8.0, maintain balance for the upcoming Ultimate raid, and prepare for the transition to Evolved Jobs. Until then, Patch 7.5 serves as a stabilization patch, ensuring that all jobs remain viable while the game prepares for its next major evolution in January 2027.
