FFXIV 7.4 is nuking Aesthetics tomes; Math goes uncapped — do this before Dec 16

Final Fantasy XIV’s next patch, Into the Mist (7.4), isn’t just another dungeon and trial drop. It’s a wallet purge. Square Enix confirmed an Allagan tomestone rotation that deletes Aesthetics, shifts Heliometry into Mathematics or the new Mnemonics, and removes the weekly cap from Mathematics (the 2,000 inventory limit stays). Translation: if you’ve been hoarding old tomes, you’ve got homework before the December 16 maintenance – or you’re going to lose value.

Key Takeaways

• Aesthetics tomestones are being removed. Spend them or exchange them with Auriana in Revenant’s Toll before Dec 16.
• Heliometry tomes shift to Mathematics or Mnemonics. Expect duties to start paying out the new stuff.
• Mathematics goes uncapped weekly post-patch (but you can still only hold 2,000).
• Mnemonics becomes the new “current” tomestone – plan your post-patch grind around it.

Breaking Down the Announcement (Without the Marketing Fog)

This caught my attention because tomestone rotations are where even veteran Warriors of Light get tripped up. The names change, the vendor menus shift, and suddenly a stack you thought was safe evaporates. Patch 7.4 keeps the tradition alive: Aesthetics is being sunset entirely, Heliometry moves down the ladder, Mathematics becomes your uncapped catch-up currency, and Mnemonics steps in as the new top dog.

Here’s the plain-English version of what Square is doing. Aesthetics: gone. If you want to salvage value, go to Auriana in Mor Dhona (Revenant’s Toll) and convert Aesthetics into Heliometry before maintenance. Heliometry is being phased out of drops, but you’ll be able to convert it into Mathematics or spend it while you still can. Mathematics becomes the uncapped workhorse – no weekly limit after 7.4 — but don’t forget that you can only hold 2,000 at once. Mnemonics is the new weekly-capped currency for 7.4’s shiny gear, so your Expert roulette and endgame runs will pivot to that.

Why This Matters Now

Every x.4 patch is a catch-up window before the next big swing, and this rotation sets the table. Uncapping Mathematics means it becomes the go-to for gearing alt jobs, grabbing crafting mats, and filling in ilvl gaps without babysitting a weekly ceiling. The flip side: anything left in Aesthetics after maintenance is effectively dead. Square’s not trying to fleece anyone here — this is standard FF14 housekeeping — but if you don’t act, you can absolutely burn value.

I’ve seen this movie every expansion: folks log in post-patch, open their currency tab, and realize their hoard got axed. Don’t be that player. Use Aesthetics for glamours and mats you actually want, then convert leftover scraps to Heliometry at Auriana. From there, you can pivot Heliometry into Mathematics to future-proof your stash — or just spend it now if you’ve got a gear plan.

What Gamers Need to Do Before Dec 16

• Audit your currency tab. Note your totals for Aesthetics and Heliometry. If anything is flirting with 2,000, spend or convert before you start roulettes.
• Spend Aesthetics first. Glamours, old-tier gear for alt jobs, crafting materials — grab what you actually use. If time’s short, convert the rest with Auriana in Revenant’s Toll.
• Decide Heliometry’s fate. If you’re mid-progression on items that still use it, finish the purchase. Otherwise, move it into Mathematics to ride the uncapped wave post-patch.
• Make room for Mnemonics. After 7.4, your daily/weekly routine should target the content that pays Mnemonics. That’s your ticket to the new gear tier.
• Don’t overcap. Mathematics may be uncapped weekly, but the 2,000 inventory limit still eats overflow. Spend down before big grind sessions.

The Real Story Behind the Shuffle

Square Enix likes to rename tomestones and rotate caps to keep the treadmill readable. It’s less about reinventing the grind and more about clearing clutter and guiding players to current content. The upside is friendly: no more weekly choke on Mathematics so you can smash out catch-up gearing at your pace. The downside is the classic MMO trap: legacy currency removal punishes procrastination. If you’ve been sitting on Aesthetics “for later,” later ends on Dec 16.

For raiders, this means a clean slate: focus on Mnemonics for best-in-slot, use Mathematics as the side hustle for alts and utility buys. For casuals, it’s a great time to shore up multiple jobs without cap anxiety. And for glam goblins, spend those Aesthetics because some vendor lineups will shift, and you don’t want to lose pieces you meant to grab.

My Take: Smart Change, Easy to Mess Up

I like this rotation. Making Mathematics uncapped respects players’ time — binge a weekend, gear a healer alt, and you’re done. But the messaging can be murky, and the names (Aesthetics, Heliometry, Mathematics, Mnemonics) are alphabet soup if you’re not terminally online. The smart play is simple: spend or convert Aesthetics now, don’t hoard Heliometry, and aim your grind at Mnemonics the moment 7.4 goes live.

TL;DR

Aesthetics tomes die with 7.4 — spend or convert them with Auriana before Dec 16. Heliometry moves on, Mathematics loses its weekly cap (2,000 max held still applies), and Mnemonics becomes the new top-tier currency. Do the housekeeping now, and you’ll hit Into the Mist ready to gear without wasting a single tome.