Pictures of the new DoH/DoL gear coming in 3.3

[Alahra]

Has it been stated that this new shared set will without a doubt be a step up from the properly melded 170 gear we currently have? Or is there a chance that this new set is more for the crafters who don't want to spend the time and money to make and meld a 170 set for each job?

The development team doesn't tend to be very clear about these things; however, an "increase of item level cap" for the DoH/DoL classes usually means that at the least they intend for the new gear to be the next "tier" for us. They haven't always gotten the balancing right with DoH/DoL gear, but they've also said that the new gear is crafted stuff (Yoshi said we'll need the current gear to make it). That suggests that the gear will be able to be melded, and if it's higher item level than the i170 gear, with melds, it should be better, and will likely be necessary for 4-star recipes in 3.4.

[EnkiduDziki]

they've also said that the new gear is crafted stuff (Yoshi said we'll need the current gear to make it). That suggests that the gear will be able to be melded, and if it's higher item level than the i170 gear, with melds, it should be better, and will likely be necessary for 4-star recipes in 3.4.

That makes sense. Thanks. I am currently a 3* LTW and on the way to 3* WVR. Just trying to weigh my options and see if it is worth the materia cost at the moment. Then again it probably would be beneficial to be able to craft this new set myself, even if it would make the current gear I'm crafting short-lived.

[Rath]

but they've also said that the new gear is crafted stuff (Yoshi said we'll need the current gear to make it)

May just need to make a foil for turn in like the 180 items. But, I hope you are correct.

[Alahra]

May just need to make a foil for turn in like the 180 items. But, I hope you are correct.

That's doubtful. In the Live Letter Digest, there's a specific mention of making the gear:

Naturally, in order to make the shared Disciples of the Hand equipment in Patch 3.3, the gear you're using now will come in handy, so it won't go to waste.

That doesn't mean there also won't be a token-based version of the set (like the i180 gear), of course. But I'd be willing to bet if there is such a set, it won't be meldable, like the crafted version (mirroring the current differences between the i170 and i180 gear).