Artifact/Relic +4 Armor Speculation Thread

I figure I'd start this some what useless thread, where we speculate about +4 Artifact / Relic Armor.

Here's a quote from a previous thread that prompted my reply.


I've been thinking about this topic ever since Artifact and Relic+3 were first released. Please allow me to go into detail. We know that Artifact+3 currently has no Augment metadata but is still able to modify job abilities (like Shield Bash for PLD and Weapon Bash for DRK). Meanwhile, Relic+3 has augment metadata that modifies the performance of 2-hours and Merit Categories, right?

Based on the way that items are designed, we can only have items with no meta data, items with augments as metadata or items with usable features, like dispensable or "usable items/charges". This last one doesn't really seem plausible for +4 armor.

So, I think SE has 2 options:
1.) More Likely: Keep Artifact+4 and Relic+4 the same as +3 in this regard. Artifact+4 will likely have body-text and no augments. Relic+4 will have body text and merit/one-hour modifications as augments.
2.) Less Likely: Move all augments and job-modifying functionality into the body text for an item. This removes the item's metadata completely on the +4 armor and makes it hidden from our view. SE can decide a later date what to add augment data in a +5 (or completely renamed armor set at a future date).

Unforchy-worchy, #2 seems really unlikely because the resulting set of armor would not follow thematically or structurally to the progression of the +2, +3 and +4 armor itself. If +4 armor were a newly renamed set entirely, then this would be more likely.

Realistically, #1 seems much more likely, as it allows SE to more-or-less copy/paste the +3 armor, rename them to +4 and adjust acc/macc/stat/wsd/mab/etc. Now, I think that thematically, we will still see a few enhancements in certain categories:

1.) Some jobs will get (more) WSD in current slots that have WSD+6/10 or Ambu WSD gear. (See chart below for which pieces currently offer WSD+).
2.) Some jobs that don't have WSD+ in AF slots (like PLD and RUN) may get more WSD in a new slot).
3.) Each set has armor slots that are currently "throw-away pieces" or ...arguably offer the least utility to the job. I've outlined them as an opportunity for "Drastic Improvement" when upgraded to +4.
4.) Upgrades to stats like Phalanx, Magic Skills, Combat Skills, Enhancing Duration, Enfeebling, Magic Burst Damage, etc etc. These increases are also easy to predict.

In order to visualize this idea, I originally mapped all of the WSD pieces for all jobs, across Artifact, Relic, Ambu (and Empy gear). It always amused me how COR got Relic WSD+ in the feet slot and every other job had to resort to DM augments or Nyame, many years later to get WSD in that slot. Basically, the barrier for high DPS was reduced for COR specifically, by offering them this WSD+% piece in the foot slot. The opportunity cost being what it is, but anyway, I digress. The WSD layout for all AF/Ambu gear can be found here:



Now, this map below shows all of the Artifact armor for each job and how that slot plays a roll in modifying the jobs abilities and where I hope additional improvements are likely to occur.



Having said that, I've also highlighted the artifact pieces that don't offer anything particularly unique for the job and is an opportunity or good candidate for some interesting (drastic) job adjustments:



I can do this same analysis for Relic Armor too, but that is harder to convey due to the extra dimension of augments for merit categories AND the item text that may also provide a unique job enhancement. Anyway, I hope this helps someone.

TLDR: It's not too difficult to make an educated guesses where SE might introduce some new performance features in Artifact and Relic +4 armor. I'm assuming we are not caught offguard with crazy new paradigm shifts, sphere effects, usable charges, etc. I do expect the update to largely be a medium-effort copy/paste job with a few surprises in the red slots above. (I'm not trying to sound ungrateful, but I'm just really happy to be getting new FFXI content in 2025).