Thread: Revelations from Patch 5.3

Spoilers for 5.3

This patch was just so fucking good. The teases and everything were fantastic, the buildup to the Elidibus fight, etc. Let me start by going over that Elidibus was such a fantastic villain. I'm glad to have seen so much more of him because let's face it, the guy has has been an enigmatic piss off since the ARR days ever since waking sands, warring triad references, etc. The part in Dawn's respite was perfectly eerie and I loved it. But I also loved the solo duty where Elidibus admits to us that we are stronger than him once he puts us on a trip down memory lane. That solo duty was fantastic. Testing the WOL by fighting all her enemies she vanquished.... it really shows that the WoL is incredibly powerful and like Elidibus said, death itself (really interesting) I knew by the time Warrior of light was teased it was going to be the fight or something close to it. It was just so amazing and i'm blown away. Also, the reveal that Warrior of light is the seat of Azem (the 14th member of the Ascians) even though it was pretty much confirmed since the end of 5.0 was really nice to have 100% confirmed. The question remains though... what if the scions found out we are ascian? We dont know it yet. At any rate I dont think they will find out until we fight Hydaelyn herself or Zodiark. It's definitely a huge huge reveal that I hope they keep for the right time.

I also felt this patch hit me hard. The Miqote little girl in the beginning..... Crystal Exarch dying in Norvrantd forever, Lyna crying, Elidibus's last words, the exarch narrating.... it was all so typically Final Fantasy. In fact, this patch was more Final Fantasy than ever. I love the FFI reference with Elidibus, the chemist job tease from the little M'iqote, and the possible Necromancer reference. The new dungeon was also pretty good. I like how it was basically a gauntlet throughout Norvrantd. The trial fight itself was a fitting finale for Shadowbringers and that music is great. The fight references a multitude of FF references but the Emet Selch wave midway through the trial made me smile.

Later on, Y'shtola flirting gave me life.... just saying even if it happened to be with Runar... it was just such a funny moment teasing him that's he's still a boy in a man's body. She's previously rejected Magnai after all, rofl. My god Y'shtola is just such a great character.... if she ever died the game would never be the same. That being said I kinda feel like they overdid it on the goodbyes here.

I'm really glad that the scions all got their souls back untrapped and can travel to the source now but does that means only Ryne and Gaia will be joining us for the finale with Eden? It kinda felt the scions were written out of that story this patch. Eden tied into the MSQ a little after all. Anyway, the last scene with Zenos and the reveal that white robed figure is an Ascian was so obvious. But man, Zenos ignoring Fandaniel taking the form of Brutus was fantastic. Brutus was his biggest fan after all.... it was so fucking hilarious for Zenos to pretty much call him a literally who. But man we killed 2 major Ascian bosses now and Fandaniel strikes me as just a bloodthirsty Ascian. I think he is obviously the final boss of next expansion and Zenos will be there as well. But can anything even top Emet Selch and Elidibus? Maybe Fandaniel? I dont know... Fandaniel was never mentioned before. We only know his name exists because he was one of the Ascian overlords. He is significantly weaker than both Emet and Elidibus possibly even combined. I'm very interested to see what they do with him. Oh and G'raha Tia now being a Scion was very expected. I expected he would die this patch but i'm glad he lived now in the source.