From the FINAL FANTASY XI Development Team
The Mercury Keeps Rising: Level Cap to Be Increased! (01/12/2010)

The mercury is set to climb to flesh-searing heights with the further lifting of the level cap in the impending version update. Maximum character level will rise from 85 to 90, and this change will be accompanied by a host of new abilities, traits, and spells to complement the existing arsenal. Furthermore, to ensure that it won't be lonely for adventurers who reach these newfound heights, certain Wings of the Goddess areas will also undergo adjustments in monster level and distribution.

The following new job abilities will be added:

Blood Rage (WAR Lv.87 Ability Delay: 5 min. Effect Duration: 30 sec.)
Enhances critical hit rate and critical hit damage for party members within area of effect.

Impetus (MNK Lv.88 Ability Delay: 5 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.)
Enhances attack and critical hit rate with each successive melee attack you land.

Enmity Douse (BLM Lv.87 Ability Delay: 10 min.)
Reduces the target's enmity towards you.

Conspirator (THF Lv.87 Ability Delay: 5 min. Effect Duration: 1 min.)
Enhances accuracy and "Subtle Blow" effect for party members within area of effect. Does not affect the party member being targeted by the enemy.

Sepulcher (PLD Lv.87 Ability Delay: 10 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.)
Lowers accuracy, evasion, magic accuracy, magic evasion, and TP gain for undead.

Arcane Crest (DRK Lv.87 Ability Delay: 10 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.)
Lowers accuracy, evasion, magic accuracy, magic evasion, and TP gain for arcana.

Bounty Shot (RNG Lv.87 Ability Delay: 5 min.)
Increases the rate at which the target yields treasure.

Hamanoha (SAM Lv.87 Ability Delay: 10 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.)
Lowers accuracy, evasion, magic accuracy, magic evasion, and TP gain for demons.

Dragon Breaker (DRG Lv.87 Ability Delay: 10 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.)
Lowers accuracy, evasion, magic accuracy, magic evasion, and TP gain for dragons.

Smiting Breath (DRG Lv.90 Ability Delay: 1 min.)
Orders the wyvern to attack with its breath.

Restoring Breath (DRG Lv.90 Ability Delay: 1 min.)
Orders the wyvern to heal with its breath.

Mana Cede (SMN Lv.87 Ability Delay: 5 min.)
Channels your MP into TP for avatars and elementals.

Blood Pact: Ward "Fleet Wind" (SMN Lv.86 Ability Delay: 1 min. Effect Duration: 2 min.)
Increases movement speed for party members within area of effect.

Blood Pact: Ward "Inferno Howl" (SMN Lv.88 Ability Delay: 1 min. Effect Duration: 1 min.)
Grants the effect of "Enfire" to party members within area of effect.

Blood Pact: Ward "Diamond Storm" (SMN Lv.90 Ability Delay: 1 min. Effect Duration: 3 min.)
Reduces evasion for enemies within area of effect.

Triple Shot (COR Lv.87 Ability Delay: 3 min. Effect Duration: 90 sec.)
Occasionally uses three units of ammunition to deal extra damage.

Tactician's Roll (COR Lv.86)
Grants a Regain effect to party members within area of effect. Lucky Number: 5. Unlucky Number: 8.

Allies' Roll (COR Lv.89)
Enhances skillchain damage and skillchain accuracy for party members within area of effect. Lucky Number: 3. Unlucky Number: 10.

Curing Waltz V (DNC Lv.87 Ability Delay: 23 sec.)
Restores target's HP.

Striking Flourish (DNC Lv.89 Ability Delay: 2 min. Effect Duration: 1 min.)
Allows you to deliver a twofold attack. Requires at least one finishing move.

Stratagem: Perpetuance (SCH Lv.87)
Increases the enhancement effect duration of your next white magic spell.

Stratagem: Immanence (SCH Lv.87)
Makes it possible for your next elemental magic spell to be used in a skillchain, but not a magic burst.

The jobs listed below will each welcome an existing trait to their arsenal upon reaching the specified level, beyond which the degree of mastery will increase in stages.

Job Level Job Trait Effect
Black Mage Lv.50 Elemental Celerity Quickens elemental magic spellcasting.
Red Mage Lv.87 Shield Mastery Grants bonus TP when blocking an attack with a shield.
Dark Knight Lv.88 Tactical Parry Grants bonus TP when parrying an attack.

The following new spells will be added:

- White Magic
Regen IV WHM Lv.86
Boost-CHR WHM Lv.87
Boost-AGI WHM Lv.90
Gain-CHR RDM Lv.87
Gain-AGI RDM Lv.90
Adloquium SCH Lv.88

- Black Magic
Fire V BLM Lv.86
Aeroja BLM Lv.87
Blizzard V BLM Lv.89
Firaja BLM Lv.90

- Songs
Valor Minuet V BRD Lv.87
Wind Carol II BRD Lv.87
Fire Carol II BRD Lv.90

- Ninjutsu
Migawari: Ichi NIN Lv.88
*Uses the ninja tool, "mokujin."

More jobs will be able to learn the following spells:

- White Magic
Protect V PLD Lv.90
Aquaveil SCH Lv.13
Blink SCH Lv.29
Stoneskin SCH Lv.44
Shell V RDM Lv.87 / SCH Lv.90

- Black Magic
Fire IV RDM Lv.86
Blizzard IV RDM Lv.89
Fire III DRK Lv.88
Blaze Spikes SCH Lv.30
Ice Spikes SCH Lv.50
Shock Spikes SCH Lv.70
Aero V SCH Lv.87 (Addendum: Black)
Break RDM Lv.87 / SCH Lv.90 (Addendum: Black)

Several new blue magic spells will be added.



In addition to the above, performance-enhancing tweaks will be introduced for a host of existing job abilities. The exciting details will be announced in the very near future, so stay tuned!