In addition to adding new areas, the expansion pack increased the level cap, debuted two character classes and two playable races, and introduced the ability to explore dungeons with non-playable "Trust" companions.
Shadowbringers received widespread critical and popular acclaim, particularly for its writing and focus on player accessibility. Updates expanded the main story, added new features, and premiered secondary storylines including a crossover written by Yoko Taro that features characters and elements from Nier: Automata and the Restoration of Ishgard, a long term campaign to rebuild the embattled nation in the aftermath of the Dragonsong War. Dancer, a ranged damage-dealer, wields chakrams, drawing inspiration from real-world folk dances, with an emphasis on "encouraging allies." The team added a new tank job to balance the number of main and secondary tanks, and a new ranged damage dealer as one had not been added for several years. Companions vary based on when the dungeon occurs in the story, and have unique dialogue. This system takes inspiration from the Gambit system in Final Fantasy XII, and the characters are programmed to take actions reflecting their personality. Role quests for the different combat, crafting, and gathering job teach aspects of these roles while expanding on the story and history of the First.
The Main Story of A Realm Reborn was also given a major overhaul in the 5.3 patch. Further, a New Game Plus mode was added, allowing players to replay certain Main and Side Story quests.
Renovations to the crafting and gathering jobs were applied across the patch cycle to improve accessibility to newcomers, removing redundant abilities and providing more information to players. The reconstruction provided the narrative justification for a new player housing ward, the Empyreum, added in the following expansion, Endwalker. A new alliance-scale player versus player mode called Onsal Hakair premiered with the expansion, where players participate in mock wargames preparing for the yearly Naadam, scoring points by holding locations.
Shadowbringers occurs on the First, a parallel world split long ago from the Source, the original setting. The Ascians, Zodiark's pre-sundering immortal servants, trigger Calamities on the Source to "Rejoin" the Shards.
