Raid Prep - Foods of FF

Jan 16, 2017
4 min read

Hi All,

With Patch 3.5 around the corner, we can always expect Square Enix to develop more and more difficult content for us to conquer. Whether you're new to raiding or just trying to boost your stats, below is a quick guide on what foods are, how you can use them to make yourself stronger, and Daedrik's suggestions on food for raiding.

How to read this info:

Item Name | Main stat increase(max stat increase), 2nd stat increase(max stat inc), etc...

Be aware that (max stat increase) corresponds to the maximum amount of stat boost that this food will do for your character. As such, considering the Stuffed Cabbage above will only increase accuracy at a maximum of 17, there may be better food out there that will increase less percentage, that is <4% accuracy, but have a higher maximum stat increase, that is, greater than 17.

Normal Quality vs. High Quality

This guide lists stats in Normal quality only. The difference between normal vs. high quality is substantial. For example, a normal seafood stew will increase CP+12% and control +4%, while an HQ version of the food will instead increase CP+15% and control +5%. When you have the funds, get HQ where applicable.

Why Eat?

If you don't know already, you'll soon come to realize: Food is expensive. However, eating while raiding is important, as it can significantly increase your stats to give that extra DPS where needed. As most raids and extreme primals have dps checks, that extra 5% crit on each member of the raid can have a huge impact on success or failure.

Combat Foods, Organized by Stat

Accuracy

What the Stat does: Stops the player from "missing" attacks. Attacks that miss are huge loss of DPS, especially if move wasted was a proc.

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should Use: Off healers who plan to DPS, DPS who do not hit current raid accuracy cap.

1st place: HQ Urchin Loaf

2nd place: HQ Grilled Sweetfish

Spell Speed

What the Stat does: Spell speed decreases cast time for casting classes. Spell speed needed for noticeable change is extremely high.

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should Use: Summoners, Black Mages, Healers

Because spell speed requires a substantial amount of points before it begins to noticeably diminish cast time, I don't recommend using spell speed food unless your melded build is working to maximize this stat, or you are maxed on accuracy for the fight and you're not all about the critical hits.

1st Place: HQ Apple Strudel

2nd Place: HQ Marron Glace

Skill Speed

What the Stat does: Skill speed decreases the global cooldown for non-caster classes. Just like spell speed, the points needed for noticeable increase is very high.

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should use: Any Non-Caster DPS, any Tank.

Because skill speed requires a substantial amount of points before it begins to noticeably diminish non-caster global cooldown, I don't recommend using skill speed food unless you are maxed on both accuracy and crit rate.

1st Place: HQ Loaghtan Steak

2nd Place: HQ Deep-Fried Okeanis

Critical Hit Rate

What the Stat does: Critical hit rate increases both chance of critical hit occurring as well as the actual amount the crit will increase if proc'ed.

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should Use: Any DPS, Tank, or healer

1st Place: HQ Steamed Staff

2nd Place: HQ Baked Pipira Pira

Determination

What the Stat does: Determination gives a boost to your main stat. A large number is needed before noticeable changes occur.

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should Use: Any class. No one is going to yell at you for eating determination food. BUT, Acc/Crit/Skill&Spell speed are going to give you far more bang for your buck. This might benefit tanks most, as Tanks don't have a specific need to highlight huge dps, and overall det will increase vitality.

1st Place: HQ Boscaiola

2nd Place: HQ Morel Salad

Parry

What the Stat does: Parry increases your chance to parry attacks. Parrying an attack will decrease damage received from it by 20%.

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should Use: Nobody. Ever.

Never. Eat. Parry Food. Never. Slot. Parry Materia. The short version: The algorithm of Parrying in FF presents completely unreliable mitigation no matter what your stat. Parrying defends against physical damage only, while 50% of enemies within FF (especially raid bosses) constantly slam you with magic attacks. Parry food/materia is absolutely worthless if you are OT when you could potentially increase DPS. Just don't do it. If you're a tank, eat some Acc/Crit/Det food with vitality increase and call it a day.

Piety

What the Stat does: Increases your MP pool

Daedrik's recommendation:

Who Should Use: Healers

1st Place: HQ Spiced Cider

2nd Place: HQ Hot Chocolate

In theory, healers should be the only ones eating Piety food. You could start the argument that black mages or summoners benefit from this stat, but ultimately crit and/or spell speed materia are going to increase DPS more. Black mages can reach max mp with one ice spell, and summoners should be mastering their use of Aetherflow.

I hope this will post will benefit you! If you have any questions for Daedrik on the above guide, feel free to message him via discord or email NanakisFlame@gmail.com. Please be on the lookout for another post soon for Raid Prep - Melding Materia!

Thanks for reading!

~Daedrik