Final Fantasy XI just got a big update, yes it’s still alive

Ah, the memories of the dunes

Final Fantasy XI is an institution. It launched in 2002, a whole two years before World of Warcraft would begin its chokehold on the MMO space. This was a time when the genre wasn’t quite mainstream yet, with only a few major players like EverQuest and Ultima Online in the mix. Amazingly, it’s survived all this time, albeit with a few bumps in the road like the full shutdown of the console editions. And that survival includes patches, like this Final Fantasy XI update that happened this week!

On November 10, 2021, Final Fantasy XI got an update with a new chapter, (The Voracious Resurgence), alongside of several events, and “master levels.” It’s kind of like a “prestige” or “paragon” system in other games, where you’re advancing beyond level 99 for each job. As Square Enix puts it, it’s a “new job advancement system for those jobs for which a player has achieved job master status.” This should keep long-timers playing for a bit!

The Ambuscade activity has also cycled to something new, and several quests have been tuned. You can find the full FAQ on master levels below.

• A new system, Master Levels, has been added.
  • What are master levels?
    

    Master levels are a new job advancement system for those jobs for which a player has achieved job master status.
    Increasing one’s master level will increase both basic attributes and the maximum level of one’s support job.

  • Unlocking the Master Levels feature.
    

    Players must speak with the Nomad Moogle in Ru’Lude Gardens (H-5) after meeting the following conditions in order to receive the Master Breaker key item.

    • Be level 99 in your current job.
    • Have achieved job master status in your current job.
  • Gaining master levels.
    

    Players will earn exemplar point by defeating enemies while the following conditions are true.

    • Be in possession of the Master Breaker key item.
    • Be level 99 in your current job.
    • Have achieved job master status in your current job.
    • Defeat enemies whose strength as displayed with /check is Easy Prey or higher.
  • Increasing Your Master Level
    

    Your master level starts at 0.
    Your master level will increase when you accumulate a certain number of experience points, and you will receive the following benefits.

    • For every mastery level you earn, you and your pet’s basic attributes and combat/magic skill caps will be increased.
    • For every five mastery levels your earn, your support job level cap will be increased by 1.
  • Notes
    • Enemy strength as displayed by /check only serves as a rough guide as to whether or not you will earn exemplar points for defeating a foe. Note that enemies who /check as “Took Weak” may still yield experience and limit points.
      * The monsters to which the above applies will be marked as “Very Easy Prey” in the December 2021 version update.
    • “Style-change” abilities such as Composure remain unusable even if your support job is level 50 or higher.
    • Exemplar point gains are unaffected by rings and other equipment earned from various campaigns that confer a bonus to experience point gains.
      * Note that corsair roll effects are properly applied.
    • Players will lose a certain amount of exemplar points if they are defeated.
    • Master level can decrease when knocked out if the amount of exemplar points lost would push them below the threshold of the previous level.
    • A certain amount of lost exemplar points will be returned if a player is brought back from the brink by effects such as the white magic spells Raise and Reraise.