Choosing White Mage Food In FFXIV Patch 7.4

Final Fantasy XIV's Patch 7.4 was only released three days ago, but already I've crafted the Courtly Lover's healing set and melded all the open slots except those on the weapon. Next up is how to use the over 10,000 orange crafting scrips I collected before the latest patch dropped. Yes, I'm including the 45 collectable tacos I can't turn in yet to that title. As much as I would like to turn the tacos into Nachos, I need to make a food I find useful for a white mage. I think the developers tried to give me a clue based on which food would taste best in real life.

The first two foods are Prune Ponzecake and Prune-packed Fruitcake. Besides being high in fiber, prunes apparently are high in piety. Piety increases a healer’s magic point regeneration while in combat, so for white mages the stat reduces the chance of running out of MP but provides no direct healing or damage power. Beyond the amount needed for comfortable MP sustain, extra Piety is effectively wasted and is usually traded away for damage stats. Which means if someone needs more MP regeneration, a player is likely to look at food for the stat.

All high quality food introduced in patch 7.4 provided up to 297 Vitality, so when choosing a food the other two stats offered are really evaluated. Prune Ponzecake provides up to 151 Piety and 91 Determination while Prune-packed Fruitcake provides 151 Spell Speed and 91 Piety. So the choice is based on playstyle. 

Spell Speed shortens cast times and the global cool down (GCD) and raises HoT/DoT tick potency (so you cast more heals per minute but burn more MP), while Determination raises the baseline potency of every heal and damage instance (a steady, multiplicative increase). The Fruitcake is designed pretty well, with the increase in MP usage from the increased spell speed offset by the increased MP regeneration. But with the food made up of prunes, I get the feeling the developers aren't really sold on needing Piety.

Next up on the taste scale is Popoto Potage. A thick, creamy soup made with fresh rroneek milk and plenty of potatoes, I get the feeling I'd like the potato soup more than prunes. Because instead of piety, Popoto Potage contains a healthy amount of Critical Hit (up to 151 points).

Critical Hit makes White Mages heals hit harder and more often in big bursts, increasing average healing output and clutch save potential; it’s the go‑to stat for min‑maxing White Mage, balanced against MP needs and personal comfort. And the increased spell speed helps hit a little harder as well.

But the food I think most people will want is Caramel Popcorn and not just because most people have a sweet tooth and like to munch on popcorn when drama pops up.  In addition to adding up to 91 points to Critical Hit, the popcorn adds up to 151 points to Determination. 

Determinaton raises a White Mage’s healing potency and damage consistently, increases the amount healed by spells and the damage of attacks. But unlike Critical Hit that provides big spikes in healing and damage, Determination is a steady, multiplicative stat that is generally less impactful than Crit for peak throughput. But when the two are combined, the floor is raised so the spikes get spikier.

I think by now, the reader has guessed I've started making the Caramel Popcorn. I didn't get to make much last night but I should only have to make two or three more in order to have enough to go straight through the patch 7.4 MSQ. Armed with bowls of popcorn I'm ready to face the start of the next expansion's story.