This is the first thread that actually made me voice my opinion on the FFXIV forum.

I started playing FFXIV in 2022 and I went through the MSQ and normal content just fine. I was enjoying the story and discovering new things around. Throughout the expansions there has been a gradual increase in difficulty, even if barely noticed. I've learned a lot of mechanics the game has to offer, and when I died I made a mental notice to revisit the fight at a later time and try again to resolve the mechanics so I don't get hit by AOE or whatever else is happening on the screen. I was learning new stuff and life was good.

I reached and finished Endwalker and was overjoyed. I dipped my toes in savage and extremes. Now, I'm not a regular raider. I only sometimes go in when my friends are around and we do it together. I was here when they reworked lower level dungeons and made them even easier to the point where it just became way too easy to run through the content.

Dawntrail's content is engaging, fun and what's more important - it's not a snooze fest (at least for me). I get hit by some mechanics, yeah, but however, there is NOTHING IMPOSSIBLE. Content from 1 to 90 (maybe even 100) is literally teaching you core game mechanics, and by the time you reach Dawntrail, you should know basics and general gist of things. Even if it takes a few pulls for you to kill the boss, you'll eventually learn (hopefully). Take for example dungeons. You can run them with Trusts. They literally show you safe spots for mechanics that the boss is going to do. Trials. You get a party of NPCs to do trials as well, at least in Dawntrail (excluding the last MSQ trial) and you just follow NPCs. They are in a way teaching you how to resolve mechanics (even if sometimes they can be janky). You maybe wipe but THAT'S OKAY. If you finish the trial and you don't understand the fight? Go to duty support and replay the fight with NPCd. You can do trials or dungeons with duty support without having your Trust leveled.

Raids.

Dawntrail raids difficulty is just fine. You are not expected to clear it first pull. They are fun and engaging, and besides, it's optional content. Keyword, optional. If you aren't willing to learn or try a bit more - don't do it. The more you do them, the more you'll understand the mechanics. It's supposed to be fun and engaging by this point and not just rush through till the end goal, I'm sorry.

The game should advance bit by bit when it comes to difficulty, and I find Dawntrail content very enjoyable and engaging so far. I hope future patches and expansions continue down this path. It's time for all of us to get a bit better at the game, if we are not already.