Final Fantasy XIV Patch 4.2 Preliminary Patch Notes Highlights

I don't think many people expected it today, but it's here: Final Fantasy XIV's Preliminary Patch Notes for their upcoming patch, Patch 4.2 - Rise of a New Sun - are here. This patch includes the long-awaited balance changes to classes, as well as other important updates.

• New Main Scenario quests - a chain of eight quests, with names omitted
• Players can no longer skip any cutscenes in Castrum Meridianum and Praetorium
  • This is to ensure new players can properly enjoy the dungeons and the cutscenes they offer. Rewards from Main Scenario Roulette have also been increased
• More Chronicles of a New Era quests have been added
  • This includes the new "Four Lords" story, as well as Interdimensional Rift - Omega.
  • Hildibrand quests will come in Patch 4.25, as well as Eureka Anemos
• The Glamour Dresser and glamour plates have been added
• Ananta Beast Tribe quests have been added

• Rewards from Gaganaskin and Gazelleskin treasure maps have been adjusted
• The acquisition rate for Timeworn Thief's Map in the Lost Canals of Uznair has been increased.
• The rewards in the Aquapolis, the Lost Canals of Uznair and the Hidden Canals of Uznair have been adjusted.
• The Level Sync for the Lost Canals of Uznair, and the Hidden Canals of Uznair, has been increased to i370
• Players can now enter Dzemael Dark Hold, Pharos Sirius, and Copperbell Mines (Hard) with their Squadrons
• Subaquatic voyages have been added
  • Like Free Company airship voyages, but underwater!
• Housing Wards 13 through 18 have been added, and will open one week after the release. Players will not be able to purchase them until a later date - only Free Companies can.
• Players can now teleport to their friend's free company estates, private estates, and apartments.
• Exterior and interior fixtures will no longer be lost when remodeling an estate.
  • Does not apply to wallpapers used on blank partitions
• New Allagan, Ananta, and NPC permits for Estate NPCs
• Vendor NPCs allowed in an estate has been increased
  • 2->4 for Private Chambers and Apartments
  • 3->6 for Cottages
  • 4->8 for Houses
  • 5->10 for Mansions
• Furnishings from the FFXIV Furnishing Design Contest have been added.
• Fashion Report comes to the Gold Saucer
• Payers who have defeated Triple Triad NPCs, but have not received their card, will have a special marker over their heads.
  • The NPCs, not the players.
• Wondrous Tails now offers more, unique prizes, available for Certificates of Commendation - available as rewards for completing Wondrous Tails
• New Emotes & Hairstyles

Battle Changes

• Paladin
  • Shield Swipe reduced to 100, from 150 Potency
  • Holy Spirit reduced to 380, from 400 Potency
• Warrior
  • Mostly buffed, Inner Release and Berserk are now one skill.
  • Storm's Eye nerfed to 10% buff from 20%
  • All other Combo Potencies increased
  • Redditor and avid Warrior player /u/bokchoykn has gone over the Warrior changes in full, which players and avid warriors can read here.
• Dark Knight
  • Delirium recast time reduced to 80 seconds from 120 seconds
  • The Blackest Knight's effect duration increased to 7 seconds, from 5 seconds.
• Monk
  • Mantra recast time reduced to 90 seconds, from 120
  • Perfect Balance recast time reduced to 60 seconds, from 180
  • Wind Tackle's Riddle of Wind effect increased from 5, to 10 seconds
  • Riddle of Wind will now grant the effect of Greased Lightning, with a duration of 16 seconds
  • Brotherhood's now applies to the user
• Machinist
  • Rook and Bishop's autoturret hypercharge effect decreased from 6%, to 5%, for the "Target's Damage Taken" effect
• Black Mage
  • Transport recast time reduced to 8 seconds, from 12
  • Thundercloud effect duration has been increased to 18 seconds, from 12
  • Firestarter's effect duration has been increased to 18 seconds, from 12
  • Aetherial Manipulation's recast time is now 10 seconds, down from 30
  • Fire IV's potency has been increased to 280, from 260.
• Summoner
  • Tri-bind's potency, while under the effect of Dreadwyrm Trance, has been reduced from 100, to 70 potency
  • Painflare has been reduced from 200, to 180
  • Ruin III has been reduced from 130, to 120
  • Wyrmwave has been reduced from 160, to 150
• White Mage
  • Divine Benison no longer requires lilies
• Scholar
  • Excogitation now heals if the effect expires
• Astrologian
  • The Spear's duration is now 30 seconds, up from 20
  • Earthly Star's cursor indicator now matches the AoE's size
• Role Actions
  • Tank's interject now silences more quickly
  • Diversion has been improved, and now lasts for 30 seconds
  • Head Graze now silences more quickly

Other notable changes

• The Unending Coil of Bahamut (Ultimate) will see an item level sync of 345, to preserve the difficulty of the raid, as well as the rarity of the achievement
• Duty Roulette: Level 70 Dungeons has been added
  • Offers 100 Tomestones of Creation, 15 Tomestons of Mendacity
• The Royal City of Rabanastre is now in the Alliance Raid Roulette
• Hells' Lid, The Fractal Continuum (Hard), The Jade Stoa, and Sigmascape v1.0 -> v4.0 are now in Duty Roulette: Mentor
• The required average item level to register for Duty Roulette: Mentor has been increased from 305 to 325.

For the full list of patch notes, players can read them here. Patch 4.2 arrives on January 30th, at 2:00 AM (PST) / 5:00 AM (EST)