Last December 2016, details regarding the Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood expansion were announced at the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival in Tokyo, with the Red Mage revealed as a new class coming to the game.
The previous expansion for Final Fantasy XIV, Heavensward, added a more than one class to the game, namely the Dark Knight, the Machinist, and the Astrologian. As such, players were hoping that the Red Mage is not the only new job coming to Final Fantasy XIV.
A recent announcement by Square Enix for Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood has granted those wishes.
New Samurai Class In 'Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood'
In the latest edition of the Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival, this time held in Germany, the Samurai class was introduced as the second new job featured in the upcoming expansion.
The announcement was made by game director Naoki Yoshida, who made the reveal more exciting by dressing up as Final Fantasy X's Auron, one of the most memorable swordsmen that the Final Fantasy franchise has ever produced.
The Samurai class is a melee DPS character that utilizes katanas, in which the player will be able to store energy that can be unleashed for special attacks, and is not associated with other classes in the game. Players who will create their own Samurai character once Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood is released will begin at level 50, with the expansion increasing the level cap to 70.
Samurai characters are able to "single-handedly deal massive damage," and will utilize Iai and other traditional swordplay techniques from the Far East. How much damage Samurai will deal will depend on getting the timing right for the job's attacks, which will need to be mastered to unlock the true potential of the Samurai. Players will also be able to master the art of Sen, along with its three forces of Setsu, Getsu, and Ka, which mean snow, moon, and flower, respectively, and will start their quest line in Eorzea, with strength-based armor similar to the gear worn by the Monk.
New 'Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood Trailer'
In addition to the announcement of the Samurai as the second new class in Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood, the full opening trailer for the expansion was also presented at the event.
The video, which showed the Red Mage and Samurai in action, showcased Othard, which is one of the three main continents of Final Fantasy XIV where the expansion is taking place. The new hub for players is a port town named Kugane, with Shirogane being a new residential area. New dungeons that are featured in the expansion include Yanaxia and The Azim Steppe.
The trailer also provided a glimpse of what appears to be a giant floating sphere that is filling up with water, which for fans of the Final Fantasy franchise brings back memories of the Blitzball stadiums of Final Fantasy X. This is significant because there have been rumors that Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood will actually have a version of Blitzball, an aquatic sport in Final Fantasy X that many players loved as a mini-game.
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood will be released on the PC and PlayStation 4 on June 20.
