FFXIV Patch 7.4 Job Balance Changes! Which Won?

The much-anticipated Final Fantasy XIV Patch 7.4 just dropped, and it's made some pretty significant changes to several fan-favorite jobs. If you're wondering how this latest update has shaken up the balance of power in FFXIV, you're in the right place. Whether you're a tank, DPS, or healer, Patch 7.4 has something for everyone, including a major rework for Gunbreaker, buffs for White Mage, and a few quality-of-life improvements for Red Mage.

Before diving into the details, if you're looking to get a jump on your in-game economy and want to buy FFXIV gil to save time on crafting or gearing up, consider checking out PVPBank. They offer a reliable and fast way to get the gil you need to stay ahead in this ever-changing game.

So, what’s changed in Patch 7.4? Let’s break it down job by job and see which ones came out on top after this latest wave of changes.

What’s New in FFXIV Patch 7.4?

FFXIV Patch 7.4, titled "Into the Mist," went live on December 16, 2025, after a brief maintenance window. The update introduced new main story content, the finale of the Arcadion Raid, and a massive overhaul to the glamour system. But the real attention is on the job changes, which have left the community buzzing. Whether you're a hardcore raider or a casual player, these balance adjustments will affect your gameplay in a variety of ways.

Besides the job changes, Patch 7.4 also brought a host of other new features, such as cosmetics based on old The Feast rewards, a revamped strategy board for raiding parties, and a command panel for placing uncommon actions, emotes, or macros. But let's focus on what we care about most — the jobs!

Gunbreaker Rework – A Tank with Bite

One of the most significant changes in Patch 7.4 is the Gunbreaker overhaul. Introduced during Shadowbringers, the Gunbreaker has always been a unique tank due to its offensive nature, blending both defense and damage. This rework, however, takes it a step further by improving its burst window, making it even more satisfying for players who love managing their cartridges and rotation during combat.

Bloodfest Gets a Major Buff

One of the standout changes for Gunbreaker in this update is the Bloodfest ability. The cooldown for Bloodfest has been reduced from 2 minutes to just 1 minute, which is a huge boost for players who rely on this ability to store cartridges in the Powder Gauge. With this change, Gunbreakers can now charge up to six cartridges, significantly increasing the frequency with which they can unleash their best abilities during burst phases.

Gnashing Fang Buffed

Another important change is to Gnashing Fang, a key combo in the Gunbreaker's rotation. The recast time for Gnashing Fang has been shortened, meaning players will be able to use it more often. This change allows Gunbreakers to get more out of their burst windows, which is critical for maximizing DPS during the fight.

Trade-offs and Balancing

To balance out the Gunbreaker's increased frequency of cartridge use, the potency of its cartridge-dependent weaponskills has been slightly reduced. This trade-off ensures that Gunbreakers don't become too powerful with their constant cartridge management while still retaining the role of an offensive tank. Ultimately, these changes make the Gunbreaker more versatile and dynamic, allowing for more exciting and frequent rotations.

Red Mage – Manafication Gets Tweaked

The Red Mage has always been a fan-favorite, thanks to its unique mix of melee and magic abilities. However, Red Mage players have faced challenges when dealing with burst windows, especially when they had to distance themselves from their target. Patch 7.4 addresses these issues by making Manafication more flexible.

Manafication’s Cooldown Change

In Patch 7.4, Manafication’s cooldown has been reworked, allowing the Red Mage to use Enchanted Riposte, Enchanted Zwerchhau, and Enchanted Redoublement from melee range. This change enables Red Mages to execute combos even while distanced from their target, giving them a stronger burst window and more versatility in battle. Red Mage players will now have a smoother experience during high-intensity fights, without the need to close the gap to melee range.

Other Adjustments

In addition to the Manafication changes, Red Mage has also seen some improvements to its potency. The developers have increased the Vice of Thorns potency and made the Embolden effect more effective, ensuring that Red Mages remain a strong DPS option, even in long fights.

White Mage – Lilies in Full at the Start

For White Mages, Patch 7.4 brings a major quality-of-life improvement. Lilies and Blood Lilies will now be fully available when entering an instance or resetting a boss fight. This change ensures that White Mages start strong, with all their abilities ready to go from the get-go. This is especially useful in high-level raids, where healing efficiency can make or break a fight.

Full Lily Gauge from the Start

With the Lily Gauge being fully stocked at the beginning of duties, White Mages no longer have to wait to build up their Lilies before using important abilities like Plenary Indulgence. This makes it much easier to maximize healing output and take control of the battle right from the start. In addition to this, a damage reduction effect has been added to Plenary Indulgence, giving White Mages a much-needed edge in defensive capabilities.

Physical Ranged DPS – Buffs Across the Board

In Patch 7.4, the developers also took a closer look at Physical Ranged DPS jobs, which had previously been underperforming compared to Magical Ranged DPS. As a result, several Physical Ranged DPS jobs received potency buffs to increase their effectiveness in both raid settings and PvP.

Overall Potency Increase

The potency increase for Physical Ranged DPS is aimed at closing the gap between them and their magical counterparts. Since Physical Ranged DPS can attack while moving, and they have damage reduction abilities, they’re generally considered more flexible. However, they’ve often lagged behind in terms of raw damage output. With this adjustment, Physical Ranged DPS should feel more competitive in both PvE and PvP content.

Other Jobs – Small But Significant Changes

Several other jobs also received minor adjustments aimed at improving their overall balance. Here’s a quick rundown of some other notable changes:

• Dark Knight – The Living Shadow duration has been increased to avoid issues with its location-based action limits. Additionally, Salted Earth saw a reduction in damage and HP restoration.

• Ninja – Ninja received a boost to its Hyosho Ranryu and Goka Mekkyaku potencies, making their Three Mudra attacks even more dangerous.

• Dragoon – Geirskogul and Nastrond have had their potencies increased for more efficient burst damage.

• Samurai – Ogi Namikiri and Kaeshi: Namikiri now absorb more barrier to make Samurai more reliable on the front lines.

Conclusion – Which Jobs Came Out on Top?

Overall, FFXIV Patch 7.4 has made some exciting changes across the board. If you're a Gunbreaker, you're in for a treat with the increased frequency of cartridge usage and the faster Bloodfest cooldown. Red Mage players will appreciate the newfound flexibility with Manafication, while White Mage players will love starting every fight with a full Lily Gauge.

For those playing Physical Ranged DPS, Patch 7.4 brings much-needed potency buffs that bring them more in line with their magical counterparts, making them stronger contenders in both PvE and PvP.

In the end, Patch 7.4 has brought significant changes that will improve job balance and enhance the overall experience of playing FFXIV. Whether you’re a tank, DPS, or healer, these adjustments will impact your gameplay in a positive way. Be sure to check out the full patch notes for a more detailed breakdown, and let us know how these changes are affecting your playstyle!