Final Fantasy 14's upcoming Patch 7.16, set to launch on January 21, 2025, will introduce a significant change to the reward system of the Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid, responding directly to player feedback. This patch will allow players to exchange excess Clouddark Demimateria 1 for Clouddark Demimateria 2, though the specific exchange rate remains undisclosed. This adjustment aims to facilitate the acquisition of highly sought-after items like the A Half Times Two hairstyle and the Dais of Darkness mount, which require 49 and 75 Clouddark Demimateria 2 respectively. These items can also be traded on the market board, so expect fluctuations in their prices once the patch goes live.

The Cloud of Darkness (Chaotic) Alliance Raid, introduced on December 24 following Patch 7.15, challenges up to 24 players to defeat the final boss from A Realm Reborn's World of Darkness raid, with added mechanics from the Eden raid series in Shadowbringers. Successful clears of this raid grant players Clouddark Demimateria 1 and 2, with additional amounts of the latter awarded for first-time completions.

Square Enix has stated that the changes to the Clouddark Demimateria system are a direct result of community feedback, and they remain open to further adjustments based on ongoing player input. This patch marks the first content update for Final Fantasy 14 in 2025, highlighted by the conclusion of the Dawntrail Role Quest series.

While Patch 7.16 will not include major job balance updates, players can anticipate such changes with the arrival of Patch 7.2. As Final Fantasy 14 plans to release more raid content throughout 2025, the impact of player feedback on these future updates will be closely watched.