Final Fantasy XIV continues to innovate with its ever-expanding world, introducing a fresh melee DPS class, the Viper.
Square Enix unveiled the Viper during the recent Final Fantasy Fan Festival held in London. This new class is set to debut in the highly anticipated Dawntrail expansion, which arrives next year, and it promises to offer players a dynamic and unique gaming experience.
In a departure from some of the more traditional jobs featured in earlier releases, the Viper is a brand-new concept for Final Fantasy XIV specifically. Director and producer, Naoki Yoshida, also known to fans as Yoshi-P, stepped on stage in a Viper-inspired cosplay, showcasing his commitment to the unveiling. The ever-vocal developer expressed that the Viper was conceived to cater to players yearning for another dual-wielding job option post their experience with the Ninja. These two jobs will share dexterity melee gear, and while the Ninja is rooted in Final Fantasy lore, the Viper stands as a signature “Final Fantasy XIV original”.
The core of Viper’s gameplay revolves around its ability to dual-wield swords. But what sets this incoming class apart is the transformative nature of these blades. In a rapid maneuver reminiscent of Bloodborne, the Viper can merge these two swords into a single, more formidable two-handed weapon. The gameplay trailers showcase the Viper’s agility as it unleashes swift assaults with its dual blades, keeping adversaries on their toes. When the two blades are united into a staff-like weapon, the character adopts a more deliberate stance, magnifying their damage output through a sequence of more powerful, measured strikes. Fans with a penchant for the Final Fantasy series might find parallels between this mechanism and the twin daggers and staffs used by Zidane in Final Fantasy 9.
A standout aspect of the Viper’s repertoire is the blue-hued aura, signifying a temporary boost in damage per second. The gameplay footage hinted at a multislash attack reminiscent of Cloud Strike’s iconic Omnislash limit break from Final Fantasy 7.
For players keen to embrace the Viper, there are prerequisites. The 7.0 update will usher in the new class. Therefore, it won’t be available until the launch of the Dawntrail expansion. Prospective players should own the Dawntrail expansion and have at least one job leveled up to 80. Once these conditions are met, the Viper class can be unlocked via a dedicated quest in Ul’dah.
Yoshida further whets fan appetite by teasing a forthcoming job set to be introduced in Dawntrail – a ranged magical DPS role. However, full details remain under wraps and are expected to be unveiled during the next Final Fantasy Fan Fest scheduled in Tokyo on January 7.
The Dawntrail expansion will do more than just the introduction of new jobs. It ushers in a new narrative chapter for Final Fantasy 14 following the culmination of the Hydaelyn-Zodiark arc in the preceding Endwalker expansion. Players can anticipate a slew of fresh quests, dungeons, and most notably, a comprehensive graphics overhaul that promises to rejuvenate the decade-old MMO.
Accompanying the Viper’s debut, the London Fan Festival offered glimpses of the upcoming narrative arc of Dawntrail, focusing on exploration and the onset of new beginnings. This aligns perfectly with the Viper’s aesthetics, channeling an adventurous spirit, underscored by a myriad of belts, silver shoulder plates, and an undeniable pirate flair.
Dawntrail promises to transport players to Tural, depicted as a realm replete with South American-inspired temples and verdant jungles. This setting is expected to show off the game’s new graphical enhancements. At the same time, players can look forward to engaging with the Moblins, goblin-like entities with a knack for gathering crafting materials, in the tropical region of Kozama’uka. Another intriguing locale is Shaaloani, which exudes a Wild West ambiance with its sprawling deserts, railroads, and Ceruleum deposits.
Ultimately, the new class and the forthcoming expansion showcase Square Enix’s unwavering commitment to delivering fresh, engaging content to its fervent player base.
Between Final Fantasy 14, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, as well as the upcoming PC port and DLCs for Final Fantasy 16, fans of the iconic JRPG franchise will be eating good for the next two years.
Speaking of Final Fantasy 14, the popular MMORPG’s free trial can now be solo’d entirely.
