The PvP in Final Fantasy XIV is currently more popular than it has been in years. However, the developers need to address the emerging issues before it’s too late.
If there is something that is met with a lot of disdain in large parts of the FFXIV community, it is PvP. Hardly any type of content is as unpopular among the players of the MMORPG as the competitive modes where they can bash each other’s heads in.
Or at least that used to be the case. Because on April 12th, the new patch 6.1 was released, bringing massive overhauls to PvP. And suddenly… it was fun.
The new PvP mode Crystaline Conflict, extensive changes to all classes, and really cool new rewards have drawn tons of players into FFXIV’s PvP.
PvP hub fuller than it has been in years
When the overhauls and the new mode were announced in November 2021, they immediately sparked my interest. I am a self-professed PvP quibbler and my experiences with PvP in FFXIV had been more than modest until now.
But the new systems sounded great at least on paper, and so I teleported to the Wolf’s Den Pier, the PvP hub of the game, out of curiosity a few days after the update’s launch.
And I was pleasantly surprised. The area, which had been almost completely empty for years, was now packed with people.
I was speechless. FFXIV players were engaging with the new PvP mode. And they seemed to be having fun. People were lining up at training dummies, trying out their new skills, and switching jobs to see what suited them best. Such activity hasn’t been seen in the hub for years.
Also on social media and in the forums, there is a lot of positive talk about the new system. Players shared their experiences and potential meta strategies or showcased their epic kill highlights:
- “I hated PvP. Now I’m addicted.” – Sayo Tharonel on Twitter.
- “Ok, one [Match] more… 5 hours later.” – Stark Lance@tonberry on Twitter.
- “I’ve never seen so much interest in PvP content from the community here, it’s wonderful.” – Augustby on reddit.
- “FEAST was terrible. But here I have a lot of fun.” – Raige in official forums.
These are completely new tones. Although there has always been a very dedicated PvP community in FFXIV that organized events for the MOBA mode Rival Wings, it was by no means a mass phenomenon. At least not until now.
Good first attempt that urgently needs balance
The revisions to PvP are fundamentally simple. Primarily, the old competitive 4v4 mode FEAST has been completely removed from the game. In its place is a new fast mode called Crystalline Conflict that operates similarly to the payload from Overwatch.
- In a 5v5 arena, players must push a large crystal into the enemy base. This is done by standing alone (without enemies) in the crystal’s hitbox.
- While doing this, they not only have to bash each other, but must also pay attention to their surroundings. On some maps, there are explosions and whirlwinds that make fighting difficult.
- The matches last 5 minutes, with possible extensions in case of a tie.
It’s a fast-paced mode that can be played wonderfully “in between”.
Moreover, the PvP abilities of all jobs have been reworked. Their number has been reduced, and at the same time, everyone received new skills that increase survival chances in a match, such as a strong heal and shield.
Not only are you no longer as dependent on healers in PvP as before. The FFXIV team has also modified the skills in such a way that the identities of the jobs have been preserved. They feel fresh and fun.
- Dragoons now have a “real” jump like in earlier FF games, making them temporarily invulnerable
- Samurai can slice opponents like the primal Odin with a single strike
- Machinists get a really cool sniper rifle
There are now really epic PvP moments again that people can share with their friends in the FC or on social media.
In addition, the rewards in PvP have been adjusted and expanded. The GARO event with its cool mounts and glamour outfits is back, and the new currency crystal trophies can be exchanged for a lot of cosmetic items. There is simply something for everyone.
The teething problems of the new PvP
But it’s certainly not all roses and sunshine. Right after a week, the first issues have already emerged. Firstly, the balance between the individual jobs leaves much to be desired in some cases.
Calls for nerfs for Samurai and White Mage have already started. The two jobs are too strong compared to the rest, and especially in the upper ranks of Crystalline Conflict, you’re at a disadvantage without them. Meanwhile, physical ranged classes like Machinist or Bard could use more love.
The calls for nerfs to crowd control effects are also becoming louder. In FEAST, players would build up a resistance to CC over time. That is no longer the case, and with a bit of bad luck, you can be stuck in a permanent stun for a good 10 seconds if you even survive that long. It’s incredibly frustrating.
The registration for the new mode is also exclusively solo. Players who would like to play Crystalline Conflict with their friends are out of luck.
While I don’t think duo or trio registrations for ranked play will come in the future, as that would completely disrupt randomly formed groups, a grouping option for ranking should definitely be introduced. There was one in FEAST after all.
On top of that, there are various bugs and exploits that players are widely taking advantage of, such as the Cure-2 bug of the White Mage or unintended duo and trio registrations that shouldn’t be possible.
There are many more complaints, and I generally agree with many major criticisms that are currently circulating. But they are not what worries me about the future of PvP.
Hey, FFXIV team, take care of the cheaters
The world would be a much nicer place if people could get by without cheating. Unfortunately, that is not the case, which is why cheaters are a problem that nearly every PvP game and mode has to grapple with.
It’s the same in FFXIV. The former competitive mode called FEAST was infamous for cheating and win-trading. In the official forums, on reddit, and on YouTube, there have been ongoing major discussions over the years about the apparent lack of actions against cheaters.
And that seems to be seeping into Crystalline Conflict as well. Less than a week after the launch of 6.1, the first videos began appearing on Twitter:
In my opinion, this is the main issue. Balance problems, poor meta, exploits, these are all things that can be fixed with enough time and patches. The fight against cheating, on the other hand, is a marathon that never ends.
This race was disastrously lost by SE with FEAST, which makes me very concerned for Crystalline Conflict. There’s hardly anything more frustrating than having no chance in a match, not because the opponent is better, but because they are immune to all CC effects or can sprint continuously.
Therefore, this is the point at which the devs should start as early as possible before things get completely out of hand.
The issue has also been addressed on reddit, where the mood seems to be rather pessimistic. The reactions say a lot about SE’s ban policies over the years. What is urgently needed here is a signal to the PvP fans that the developers take the issue seriously and will address it.
I personally am not really affected. I am terrible at PvP and do not play at a high competitive level. But it is really a shame for those who enjoy bashing each other’s heads in and aim for the top ranks.
After many years of neglect, they deserve a cheat-free competitive PvP. Or at least a PvP where it’s clear that the FFXIV devs are actively trying to protect it and carry out ban waves.
Therefore, I really hope that Crystalline Conflict does not suffer the same fate as FEAST.
