The Tool Desk
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How to choose materia for a fight
Materia equipped in weapons and armor grants magic, abilities, and summons; linking materia can change its effect. For example, link Elemental with an elemental spell to apply that element to a weapon or provide a corresponding resistance when equipped in armor. The effect depends on having the required linked slot, so check your current equipment before planning around a pairing. Square Enix’s materia and combat overview explains these systems.
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Use Assess to learn an enemy’s characteristics, weaknesses, and resistances before choosing an element. A weapon imbued with an enemy’s weakness can help, while the same element can be a poor choice against an enemy resistant to it. Elemental materia is also a party resource: if one character needs the linked slot or spell for a particular encounter, move the pair rather than treating one character’s setup as permanent.
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Best materia setup for each party member
Cloud: close-range offense and flexible utility
Cloud’s sword makes him a natural close-range attacker. Deadly Dodge is a useful option for an area physical attack after dodging, and a linked Elemental setup on his weapon can add an element suited to the current enemy. GameSpot recommends this kind of flexible approach, but cautions that Cloud should not keep an element equipped when the target matches it; Barret can carry the pairing instead. GameSpot’s materia guide discusses these loadout ideas.
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- The award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE* retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar, with breathtaking visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and additional story elements. This RPG delivers unforgettable characters, a powerful narrative, and a hybrid battle system that blends real-time action with strategic, command-based combat. It also includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a side story starring Yuffie Kisaragi that offers a fresh perspective running in parallel to Cloud’s journey.
- STUNNING VISUALS - Explore Midgar like never before with stunning visuals and richly detailed environments that bring the city’s layered, industrial districts to life, all while staying true to the spirit of the original game.
- DYNAMIC COMBAT WITH STRATEGIC DEPTH -The innovative battle system combines strategic command-based gameplay with fast-paced action. Seamlessly switch between characters, harness the power of materia, summon iconic creatures, and unleash devastating limit breaks.
- ICONIC CHARACTERS, UNFORGETTABLE STORY - Follow Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, as he joins Avalanche to take on the Shinra Electric Power Company. Cloud and his allies Barret, Tifa, and Aerith are pulled into a battle that will decide the fate of the planet.
- EXPANDED CONTENT - FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE offers quests, mini-games, and missions set in expanded areas of Midgar. Encounter new characters and experience exciting content that adds even more depth to the story.
- Core focus: close-range physical damage.
- Situational choice: Deadly Dodge for an area attack, or Elemental linked to the spell that exploits the encounter’s weakness.
- Adjust when: the enemy resists the chosen element or another character needs the linked materia.
Tifa: physical pressure and stagger support
Build Tifa around frequent physical attacks that help pressure enemies and contribute to stagger. The precise materia choices should follow the fight rather than a fixed universal recipe. One Leviathan challenge configuration in a GameFAQs endgame guide gives Tifa First Strike, ATB Assist, and Lightning. That is an encounter-specific example, not a general requirement for her.
Barret: ranged damage or party support
Barret’s long-range attacks let him contribute while keeping distance from a target. He can also carry support materia when the party needs it. In the cited Leviathan strategy, Barret uses Magnify linked with Time to cast Haste across the party. Treat that as a solution for that challenge; move the linked pair to another character if the encounter or available slots make that more useful.
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- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: "Graphics Mode" prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; "Performance Mode" prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Play the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie and experience new combat and gameplay additions
Aerith: magic, healing, and multi-target spells
Aerith excels at magic, making her a practical home for healing and offensive spells. GameSpot recommends Magnify linked with Healing to heal multiple characters, or with an offensive spell to hit multiple enemies. With an offensive spell, the selected primary target takes the bulk of the damage and surrounding targets take less, so do not expect identical damage across the group.
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- Magnify: Consider it for party-wide healing or multi-target offense. Choose the linked spell for the situation and remember that offensive damage is not distributed equally among targets.
- Barrier: GameSpot recommends leveling it for physical defense and its later Manaward effect against magic. Equip it when the fight makes that defensive coverage useful.
- Time: Haste linked with Magnify is one documented party-support approach, but it is not tied permanently to Barret or required in every battle.
- Summons: Equip a suitable summon when one is available, and choose with the encounter in mind. GameSpot notes that a summon can help take pressure off the party while a character heals.
Build around your equipment and the encounter
Materia slots and linked slots vary with the weapon and armor you have equipped. Before committing to a setup, check that the intended pair can actually be linked and that the same materia is not needed elsewhere in the party. A useful comparison is not which character has the most materia, but whether the team covers the fight’s main needs:
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- Those who pre-order any version of the game will receive the Chocobo Chick Summon Materia DLC at launch.
- Along with unforgettable characters and a powerful story, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE features a hybrid battle system that merges real-time action with strategic, command-based combat
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- Enemy weakness or resistance: use Assess and enemy information before assigning an elemental weapon effect.
- Party roles: balance physical pressure, ranged damage, magic, healing, and support instead of duplicating one role without a reason.
- Defense: consider Barrier when physical or magical protection matters.
- Fight type: a normal story encounter and a boss or combat-simulator challenge may call for different materia placements.
- Available sockets: confirm that the equipment has the linked slots required for Elemental or Magnify combinations.
The Leviathan configuration is an example of a challenge-specific allocation, not proof of a best setup across every chapter, difficulty, and party arrangement. These recommendations cover the original four-character party in Final Fantasy VII Remake: Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Aerith.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: o "Graphics Mode" prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics o "Performance Mode" prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
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