Crafting Dominating Materia Setups in Final Fantasy VII Remake

Alright, let’s be real. Final Fantasy VII Remake is awesome, but figuring out the best Materia combinations can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. You’ve got purple magic, green support, yellow commands… it’s a lot! But fear not, fellow SOLDIER hopefuls, because we’re diving deep into the Materia system to create builds that will turn your characters into unstoppable forces on the battlefield. Get ready to unleash the power within!

Unleashing Elemental Fury: Best Magic Materia Combinations

Magic Materia is where the fun begins, and mastering elemental combinations is key to exploiting enemy weaknesses. Think of it like assembling your own Avengers team, but instead of superpowers, you’re wielding Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Wind. Combining these elements with Support Materia can amplify their effectiveness and create devastating attacks. Knowing when and how to use these combinations is crucial for tackling the diverse range of enemies you’ll encounter in Midgar and beyond.

Fire + Magnify

Pairing Fire with Magnify Materia is a fantastic way to deal area-of-effect damage. It allows you to target multiple enemies simultaneously, turning your Fire spells into a raging inferno that engulfs the entire battlefield. This is particularly effective against groups of weaker enemies or when you need to interrupt enemy actions. Imagine Cloud unleashing a massive fireball, instantly turning those pesky Shinra grunts into crispy critters. Not very environmentally friendly, but highly effective!

Ice + Warding

Ice Materia is not just about dealing damage; it’s also about controlling the battlefield. Combining it with Warding Materia can create a defensive barrier that protects your party members from incoming attacks. When an ally is targeted by a powerful enemy ability, the barrier can absorb a significant portion of the damage, allowing them to survive and continue fighting. It’s like having Captain America’s shield for your entire team, providing crucial protection when you need it most.

Lightning + HP Absorb

Lightning Materia coupled with HP Absorb is a truly electrifying combination. Not only will you be dealing significant electrical damage to your enemies, but you’ll also be replenishing your own health with each hit. This is a great way to maintain your survivability in longer battles, allowing you to stay in the fight without constantly relying on healing spells. It’s like turning yourself into a walking, talking, lightning-powered vampire – sucking the life force out of your enemies to keep yourself going.

Wind + Synergy

Wind Materia, when linked with Synergy, allows for a powerful follow-up attack. After casting a Wind spell, your linked party member will automatically cast a spell of their own, creating a synergistic chain reaction of damage. This is a great way to maximize your damage output and quickly take down tough enemies. It’s like setting up a perfectly timed tag-team move, where you and your partner work together to deliver a devastating combo.

Support Materia: Enhancing Your Core Abilities

Support Materia acts as the backbone of your Materia builds, enhancing your core abilities and adding additional effects to your spells and attacks. These green Materia are often overlooked, but they can significantly boost your effectiveness in combat. Understanding how to properly utilize Support Materia is crucial for maximizing your potential and creating truly dominating setups. Think of them as the secret sauce that elevates your combat skills from good to legendary.

Magnify

As mentioned earlier, Magnify Materia is incredibly useful for expanding the area of effect of your spells. This is particularly effective with elemental spells like Fire, Ice, and Lightning, allowing you to hit multiple enemies simultaneously. Not only does it increase your damage output, but it also helps to control the battlefield by disrupting enemy formations. It’s like having a built-in amplifier that makes your spells louder, bigger, and more impactful.

Elemental

Linking Elemental Materia to your weapon or armor allows you to imbue your attacks with elemental properties or gain resistance to specific elements. For example, linking Elemental Materia to your weapon with Fire Materia will cause your physical attacks to deal fire damage. Conversely, linking it to your armor with Ice Materia will grant you resistance to ice-based attacks. This is a fantastic way to exploit enemy weaknesses and protect yourself from elemental threats.

HP Absorb

HP Absorb Materia allows you to regain health whenever you deal damage with linked spells. This is particularly useful for offensive mages who want to stay in the fight without constantly relying on healing spells. It’s like having a built-in life-steal ability, allowing you to sustain yourself by draining the life force of your enemies. Combine it with powerful offensive spells to maximize its effectiveness and turn yourself into a self-sustaining powerhouse.

MP Absorb

Similar to HP Absorb, MP Absorb Materia allows you to regain MP whenever you deal damage with linked spells. This is essential for managing your MP consumption in longer battles, allowing you to cast more spells without running out of magic. It’s like having an unlimited supply of magical energy, allowing you to unleash your spells without restraint. Combine it with your favorite spells to keep your MP topped up and dominate the battlefield.

Command Materia: Versatile Abilities for Every Situation

Command Materia provides you with a variety of versatile abilities that can be used in a variety of situations. From stealing items to assessing enemy weaknesses, these Materia are essential for rounding out your character builds and providing additional utility. Think of them as the Swiss Army knife of Materia – always there to help you out in a pinch. They might not be as flashy as the magic spells, but they’re just as important for your overall success.

Steal

The Steal Materia allows you to steal items from enemies. This is particularly useful for acquiring rare items, weapons, and armor that you wouldn’t be able to obtain otherwise. While it may not always work, it’s worth trying on bosses and challenging enemies to see what valuable loot you can acquire. It’s like being a master thief, slipping your hand into the pockets of your enemies and walking away with their most prized possessions.

Assess

The Assess Materia allows you to scan enemies and reveal their weaknesses, resistances, and other useful information. This is crucial for planning your attacks and exploiting enemy vulnerabilities. Knowing which elements they are weak to allows you to deal maximum damage and quickly take them down. It’s like having X-ray vision, allowing you to see beneath the surface and identify the weak spots of your opponents.

First Strike

The First Strike Materia grants you a boost to your ATB gauge at the start of battle. This allows you to perform actions sooner than your opponents, giving you a significant advantage. It’s particularly useful for setting up buffs, debuffs, or unleashing powerful attacks before the enemy can react. It’s like having a head start in a race, allowing you to get ahead of the competition and maintain your lead.

Provoke

The Provoke Materia allows you to draw enemy aggression to a specific character. This is useful for protecting weaker party members or for setting up strategic maneuvers. By drawing the attention of powerful enemies, you can allow your other party members to attack from safety or focus on healing and support. It’s like being a decoy, drawing the enemy’s fire so that your allies can strike from the shadows.

Building Character-Specific Loadouts

While general Materia combinations are useful, optimizing your builds for each character is crucial. Each character has unique strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to tailor their Materia loadout to complement their abilities. Cloud, for example, excels at physical attacks, while Aerith is a powerful mage. Understanding these differences will allow you to create specialized builds that maximize their potential.

Cloud

Cloud is a versatile character who can excel in both physical and magical combat. For him, consider pairing him with Elemental Materia on his weapon to exploit enemy weaknesses. HP Absorb and MP Absorb can provide sustain in battle. Additionally, Command Materia like First Strike and Provoke can further enhance his combat capabilities, making him a formidable force on the battlefield. Give him a good balance of offense and defense to make him a true all-rounder.

Aerith

Aerith is a powerful mage who specializes in healing and support magic. Focus on maximizing her magic attack power by equipping her with Magic Up and Magic Materia. Link Magnify Materia to her healing spells to heal the entire party. MP Absorb will help her maintain her MP levels in longer battles. The Synergy Materia is also great for Aerith, allowing for a follow-up offensive spell from her linked partner. Make her your ultimate support character.

Tifa

Tifa is a fast and agile character who excels at dealing physical damage. Equip her with Materia that enhances her attack power, such as Attack Up and Strength Up. First Strike can help her get a head start in battle, while Provoke can allow her to draw enemy aggression. Also, consider equipping her with Time Materia and linking it with Synergy, that way you can get a quick Haste buff for her and a partner.

Barret

Barret is a tanky character who excels at dealing damage from a distance. Equip him with HP Up and Vitality Up to increase his health and defense. Elemental Materia on his weapon can help him exploit enemy weaknesses. Provoke can help him draw enemy aggression, protecting weaker party members. Give him abilities that allow him to soak up damage and support the team from afar.

FAQ

What is the best way to level up Materia quickly?

The best way to level up Materia quickly is to equip it on characters who are actively participating in battles. The more battles they fight, the more AP (Ability Points) the Materia will earn. Certain areas of the game, such as the Shinra Combat Simulator and certain side quests, offer increased AP rewards, making them ideal for leveling up Materia quickly. Don’t forget to utilize AP Up Materia which grants an exponential amount of AP earned. It’s like planting seeds in fertile soil – the more you nurture them, the faster they’ll grow!

Can I sell Materia that I no longer need?

Yes, you can sell Materia that you no longer need to vendors throughout the game. However, it’s generally not recommended to sell Materia unless you absolutely need the Gil, as you may find a use for it later on. Some Materia combinations become more powerful as you progress through the game, so it’s best to hold onto them if possible. Think of it like collecting trading cards – you never know when a seemingly useless card might become valuable!

How do I unlock more Materia slots on my weapons and armor?

You can unlock more Materia slots on your weapons and armor by upgrading them at Weapon Shops or through the weapon upgrade system. Each weapon and armor piece has a unique upgrade path that allows you to unlock additional Materia slots, as well as other stat bonuses. Invest in upgrading your gear to maximize your Materia slots and create powerful builds. It’s like upgrading your car – the more you invest in it, the faster and more powerful it becomes!