In Yoshi-P’s Letter from the Producer at the beginning of this month, we finally learned the release date of the long-awaited Patch 5.3. If history is any indication, we can expect this to be a big one in terms of story, since it should usher in the finale of the main plot of Shadowbringers—and if this expansion’s opening salvo is any indication, it’s going to be one hell of a ride. As I often do, I’ve been pondering what glamour to use for the climax of the story, and I’ve actually got a few different ones in mind. I began Shadowbringers in a palette-swap of my favorite Stormblood glamour (which is one I still miss regularly), and I’ve come to heavily associate black and gold with my Warrior of Darkness.

In that vein, I’ve already got a really strong contender for a Main Scenario glamour: the final version of the Neo-Ishgardian look I put together in the earlier part of Patch 5.2. It’s got everything I love, really—black, gold, thighboots, and more of a light-armored feel (with some elegance to boot). But I spent quite a lot of time with that one, and even if it’s a great fit for Dark Knight, it doesn’t work nearly as well for Gunbreaker (which I’ve been playing off and on for a break from Dark Knight). Before committing to using that look again, I wanted to see what I could do to come up with something different.

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Glamour Components (Requirements: DRK/GNB/PLD/WAR 64, Female)
Weapon: Cronus (Replica)
Head: Reading Glasses (Ul Brown)
Body: Tigerskin Coat of Fending (Gunmetal Black)
Hands: Doman Iron Gauntlets of Fending (Gunmetal Black)
Legs: No.2 Type B Leggings (Jet Black)
Feet: Ishgardian Thighboots (Gunmetal Black)

My love for the Tigerskin Coat’s model goes all the way back to when Heavensward introduced Dark Knight and the Orthodox Coat of Fending made such a strong impression on me as I leveled the new tank to 60. Stormblood‘s addition of the dyeable version of the model spent quite some time as a glamour staple for Paladin, and when I first started planning glamours with which to start Shadowbringers, it was pretty high up on my list. That idea never took off though, because if the Tigerskin Coat has one problem, it’s that it looks rather dull in both Soot and Jet Black. The addition of Gunmetal Black in Shadowbringers finally gave the coat what it was missing though.

Of course, building around the coat is a familiar affair by now, since I’ve used it in so many different glamours over the years since the original version. It’s rare that any gloves or gauntlets feel better alongside it than the part from the same set, though I did experiment with the Alliance Armguards of Fending for a little while. I couldn’t resist using the Ishgardian Thighboots, either, which have surprisingly overtaken the No.2 Type B Boots in my heart since their heavier nature tends to look better with my glamours than boots fit for a YorHA android. I did, however, decide to use the Type B Leggings, which make the look feel a little less bare in the thigh area (and let’s be real, those stockings are hard to top).

With this one set, I’ve actually got it and my other two black and gold tank glamours on separate glamour plates. I’ve been switching between the three of them as the mood strikes, trying to settle on which one I’ll use for the conclusion of Shadowbringers. So far I’ve not been able to pick one, though I’ve been somewhat leaning toward the Neo-Ishgardian look, which still feels like quite a fitting look for Alahra. Chances are I’ll keep iterating, too, since we’ve still got a solid month before the patch drops, so I’d not be surprised if I take at least one more stab at this before the big day.