Patch 7.45 in Final Fantasy XIV: the Dungeon, Cards and Collectibles

What Patch 7.45 brought

Patch 7.45 for Final Fantasy XIV launched on March 3, 2026, as part of the 7.4x "Into the Mist" line. The headline PvE addition is the variant dungeon The Merchant's Tale, built for levels 90 to 100 and playable with one to four players.

The rest of the patch is smaller but useful for collectors and PvP players: combat balance changes, six new Triple Triad cards, housing items, mounts, minions and nine achievements. Below is what actually arrived and who it helps.

Data is current as of 10/18/2026. The game has moved on since 7.45, so we start with where this patch stands today.

What changed since the patch launched

The game has since received 7.5, 7.51, 7.55 and 7.56. Patch 7.51, released on June 2, 2026, added Dancing Mad Ultimate, aimed at hardcore players.

The 7.45 content has not gone anywhere: the variant dungeon, cosmetics and collectible cards are all still in the game.

Returning players do not have to fit a schedule: the dungeon and collectibles are available without waiting, and guides for newer raids are better looked up separately.

Balance numbers from the old 7.45 notes have been overtaken by later updates. If you are planning a specific build, rely on the notes for the current patch rather than the 7.45 values.

The Merchant's Tale variant dungeon

This is the main PvE addition of the patch. The dungeon unlocks through the quest A Spellbinding Read at level 90. The entrance is at The Maiden's Home, map coordinates X 6.0, Y 5.9. Your level is synced from 90 to 100, and the party can be one to four players.

If you enter unsynced at level 100 or higher, the run awards Allagan Tomestones. It lets you stock up on gear currency without a raid.

The dungeon comes in three versions. The unlock conditions of the two higher versions come from player reports.

A practical order is the basic version first to learn the mechanics, then Advanced at level 100, and criterion once your gear and rotation are settled. You can run the dungeon as a duo or trio, so a full party is not required.

How to prepare for a variant dungeon

Variant dungeons are built for small groups, so your choice of job matters more than in a regular four-player dungeon. If you go alone, pick a job you play confidently: health pool and self-healing count for more than peak damage.

Before your first run, check three things.

• Level and quest. You need A Spellbinding Read at level 90, otherwise the entrance will not appear.

• Sync. The basic version scales you into the 90-100 range, so strong gear does not cancel the mechanics.

• Party size. One to four players: go solo or bring friends and split roles.

Do not jump straight into Advanced. Clear the basic version a couple of times, learn the boss layout and the order of mechanics, then move on. It saves time and nerves, especially if you want to avoid needless wipes.

Players who need Allagan Tomestones should run the dungeon unsynced at level 100 or higher. The currency goes toward gear.

Combat changes: Reaper and PvP

Among PvE job changes, Patch 7.45 touched Reaper. Void Reaping, Cross Reaping, Grim Reaping and Sacrificium gained potency, and Melee Mastery III was improved. For Reaper players that means more damage in the everyday rotation.

Anyone who shelved Reaper has a reason to come back and rebuild the rotation, though current values are best checked in the latest patch notes.

The remaining adjustments hit PvP. Actions for Monk, Dragoon, Ninja and Samurai were changed. Check the patch notes for exact values per mode: PvP actions on these jobs work differently than before the patch.

If you play PvP on one of these jobs, recheck your usual combos and timers. Even small tweaks can change the tempo of a fight.

Triple Triad in the Gold Saucer

Six new cards joined the Manderville Gold Saucer: Darya the Sea-maid, Deadly Dandan, Genie of the Lamp, Lone Swordmaster, Pari of Plenty and Rukhkh. The rules of Triple Triad stayed the same, only the collection grew.

If you already own most of the cards, six new entries give you a small, clear goal: check your list and see exactly what is missing.

For collectors this is a reason to go back to the cards and fill the empty pages. New cards simply extend the collection, and you can build it at any pace.

It works best to play a match or two between dungeons rather than turning card hunting into a separate marathon.

Cosmetics, housing and achievements

The patch added a solid set of appearance items: 13 armor pieces, 4 accessories, 3 mounts, 4 minions and 8 facewear options. For home decoration there are 7 new items.

The patch also added nine achievements. Mounts and minions make good additions to a collection and to screenshots.

If you decorate a house, sort the new items by style: take what fits your existing room and skip the rest. The result looks more coherent that way.

Take a closer look at the mounts and minions: three mounts and four minions extend a collection many players build for years, while facewear lets you change your look quickly without touching your main gear set.

Where to start now

If you are returning to the game or have not logged in for a while, the order is simple. First confirm that your character is level 90 and has the quest A Spellbinding Read available. Then clear The Merchant's Tale with one to four players and move on to Advanced.

It helps to set small goals for each session: one dungeon run, a match or two of Triple Triad, one achievement from the new set. Progress stays visible, and the game does not turn into an endless to-do list.

Collectors can follow a different route: six Triple Triad cards, new mounts and minions, and housing items. None of it is tied to raid deadlines, so you can collect at your own pace.

If competitive play is your goal, move on to the 7.5x patches and fresh balance notes. Patch 7.45 remains a convenient entry point to level 90-100 content, and from there the choice depends on what you want: raids, collections or relaxed runs with friends.