Mastering Midgar: Final Fantasy VII Remake Speedrunning Guide

So, you wanna be the very best, like no one ever was? We’re not talking Pokémon here, but the spirit’s the same! Conquering Final Fantasy VII Remake is one thing, but blitzing through it like a meteor crashing into a Shinra reactor? That’s a whole new level of awesome. Buckle up, SOLDIER, because we’re diving deep into the world of FFVII Remake speedrunning, uncovering the strategies and setups that’ll shave precious minutes (maybe even hours!) off your time. Let’s get this show on the road!

Optimizing Your Materia for Maximum Speed

Materia is your best friend in the fight against time. Forget about perfectly balanced builds for a standard playthrough; we’re going for pure, unadulterated speed. That means prioritizing damage output and survivability, but with a focus on efficiency. Think of it like choosing between a gas-guzzling muscle car and a sleek, fuel-efficient sports car – both can get you to the finish line, but one does it with style (and without constantly stopping for gas). Maximize those damage multipliers!

Essential Materia Choices for Speed

First, let’s talk about offensive power. Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Wind materia are fundamental. They provide elemental coverage and access to powerful spells that can exploit enemy weaknesses. Linking them with Magnify can be surprisingly effective, especially against groups of weaker enemies, clearing them out faster than single-target nukes. However, be mindful of the MP cost – you don’t want to be chugging ethers every five seconds!

Defensively, HP Up and Magic Up are non-negotiable. More HP means more survivability, allowing you to take a few hits without wiping. More MP is crucial for sustained offensive spellcasting. Consider First Strike to get the jump on enemies at the start of battles, enabling you to unleash a devastating combo before they even react. This is particularly useful in random encounters, helping you minimize wasted time.

Advanced Materia Synergies

Now, for the spicy stuff. Steadfast Block is a surprisingly powerful tool. It reduces damage taken while blocking and builds ATB faster, enabling more frequent attacks and spells. Combine this with Parry to turn enemy attacks into opportunities for counter-attacks. It’s a bit risky, but when mastered, it can dramatically increase your damage output and overall efficiency.

Don’t underestimate the power of ATB Stagger. Equipping this materia allows you to quickly build ATB when an enemy is staggered, fueling your offensive onslaught. Pair this with characters like Tifa who excel at building stagger quickly. Another synergy is Luck Up. While it seems minor, a higher luck stat can increase critical hit rates, leading to higher damage output and potentially faster enemy takedowns. It’s a gamble, but one that can pay off handsomely.

Character Builds and Optimal Equipment for Quick Clear Times

Choosing the right character build and equipment is like picking the right tools for a job. You wouldn’t use a hammer to screw in a bolt, and you wouldn’t equip Cloud with support materia when he’s your primary damage dealer. Understanding each character’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial for optimizing your speedrun.

Cloud

Cloud is your main DPS machine. His balanced stats and versatile skillset make him a powerhouse in almost any situation. Focus on maximizing his attack power and critical hit rate. Equip him with weapons like the Buster Sword (for early game), or the Twin Stinger (for later chapters) that offer strong attack bonuses. Armor that boosts physical attack and critical hit chance is ideal. Prioritize equipping him with high attack and critical hit rate weapons and armor.

Materia-wise, load him up with offensive magic and supporting materia like First Strike and ATB Stagger. Limit Breaks like Cross-Slash are also valuable for quickly bursting down tough enemies. Don’t be afraid to use Cloud’s Punisher Mode to counter enemy attacks, further increasing his damage output and ATB generation.

Tifa

Tifa excels at building stagger and delivering massive damage to staggered enemies. Equip her with weapons like the Metal Knuckles, and focused support materia that rapidly increase stagger. Her Unbridled Strength ability allows her to quickly increase her chi level, boosting her attack power and stagger damage. She’s an absolute beast when it comes to maximizing damage during a stagger state.

Materia-wise, focus on enhancing her offensive capabilities with magic like Wind and Lightning (depending on enemy weaknesses). Equip her with the ATB Boost materia to quickly fill her ATB gauge, allowing her to unleash her unique abilities more frequently. Her synergistic potential when facing enemies weak to her abilities is almost unmatched.

Barret

Barret provides ranged support and can act as a damage soak, especially in sections where melee combat is difficult or risky. Weapons that boost his HP and attack power are ideal, like the Big Bertha. Armor that provides physical defense and HP regeneration is also beneficial. He is quite capable with long range attacks, making him an ideal fighter during tough situations.

Materia-wise, equip him with healing materia like Cure and defensive materia like Barrier to keep him alive. He can also be equipped with offensive magic to exploit enemy weaknesses from a distance. Consider using his Lifesaver ability to redirect damage to himself, protecting your more fragile characters. He is perfect as a tank while Cloud and Tifa can deliver high amounts of damage.

Aerith

Aerith is your magical powerhouse. Equip her with weapons like the Mythril Rod that boost her magic attack. Her Sacred Ground ability creates an area that doubles spell potency and reduces MP cost, making her an incredibly efficient mage. Position her strategically to maximize the effectiveness of her magic while keeping her safe from harm.

Materia-wise, load her up with powerful offensive magic like Fire, Ice, and Lightning. The Magnify materia is especially effective on her, allowing her to hit multiple enemies with devastating spells. Aerith’s magical prowess allows her to wipe out enemies without ever needing to get close, making her an invaluable asset for any speedrun.

Exploiting Enemy Weaknesses for Faster Encounters

Understanding enemy weaknesses is like having a cheat code. It allows you to quickly dispatch enemies and minimize wasted time. Before each encounter, take a moment to assess your opponents and identify their elemental weaknesses. This knowledge can be the difference between a drawn-out battle and a swift victory.

Leveraging Elemental Vulnerabilities

Most enemies in Final Fantasy VII Remake have specific elemental weaknesses. Some are vulnerable to Fire, others to Ice, Lightning, or Wind. Exploiting these weaknesses deals increased damage and often builds stagger more quickly. Use the Assess materia to identify enemy weaknesses early on, and then tailor your party’s magic selection accordingly. For example, if you’re facing a group of Sahagins, which are weak to lightning, switch to Lightning materia to quickly dispatch them. It’s like bringing a squirt gun to a house fire – effective!

Staggering for Maximum Damage Output

Staggering enemies is crucial for maximizing damage output. When an enemy is staggered, they take significantly more damage, and their defenses are lowered. Use characters like Tifa who excel at building stagger to quickly bring enemies into this vulnerable state. Once staggered, unleash your most powerful attacks and Limit Breaks to deal massive damage and potentially one-shot the enemy. The stagger system adds a layer of strategic depth to the combat, rewarding players who can exploit it effectively.

Bypassing Unnecessary Encounters

Not every encounter is mandatory. Many random encounters can be avoided by carefully navigating the environment. Learn the enemy spawn patterns and find routes that minimize the number of battles you engage in. This can save you a significant amount of time over the course of the game. Think of it as taking the scenic route, but without the scenery and with the goal of reaching your destination as quickly as possible.

Mastering Movement and Navigation for Speed

Efficient movement and navigation are often overlooked, but they can significantly impact your overall time. Learn the layout of each area, identify shortcuts, and master the art of traversal. Every second counts, and even small improvements in movement can add up over the course of a speedrun.

Optimizing Character Movement

Each character has unique movement abilities. Cloud can use his Punisher Mode to quickly close the distance to enemies. Tifa’s agile movements and acrobatic skills allow her to navigate tight spaces with ease. Barret can use his ranged attacks to hit enemies from a distance, avoiding the need to get up close. Aerith can use her Ward Shift ability to quickly reposition herself during battle. Mastering these abilities will allow you to move more efficiently and avoid unnecessary delays.

Memorizing Map Layouts and Shortcuts

Memorizing the map layouts and identifying shortcuts is essential for efficient navigation. Learn the location of key items and objectives, and find the fastest routes to reach them. Use the map frequently to avoid getting lost or wasting time backtracking. Consider watching speedruns of the game to learn from experienced players and discover hidden shortcuts. Knowledge is power, and in this case, knowledge is speed.

Utilizing Cutscene Skipping and Dialogue Options

Cutscene skipping is a critical component of any speedrun. Skip all unnecessary cutscenes and dialogue to save valuable time. However, be mindful that some cutscenes are unskippable and required to progress the story. For dialogue options, choose the responses that advance the conversation most quickly. Sometimes, a simple “yes” or “no” can save you several seconds. Every little bit counts!

Advanced Techniques and Glitches (Use at Your Own Risk!)

For the truly dedicated speedrunners, there are advanced techniques and glitches that can further reduce your time. However, these techniques often require precise execution and may be patched out in future updates. Use them at your own risk!

Skipping Sections with Glitches

Certain glitches can allow you to bypass entire sections of the game, saving you a significant amount of time. However, these glitches often require precise timing and specific inputs. They may also be difficult to execute consistently. Before attempting any glitch, practice it thoroughly in a separate playthrough to ensure you can perform it reliably. Keep an eye out for new glitches discovered by the speedrunning community, but remember that they may be patched out at any time.

Manipulating Enemy AI

Some advanced speedrunners manipulate enemy AI to their advantage. By positioning themselves strategically, they can influence enemy behavior and force them to perform actions that are beneficial to the player. This can be a complex and unpredictable process, but when executed correctly, it can save valuable time. It’s like playing chess with the game itself!

Save File Optimization

Managing your save files strategically can also save time. Create multiple save files at key points in the game, allowing you to quickly reload if you make a mistake or want to try a different approach. Avoid saving too frequently, as this can also waste time. Find a balance between minimizing risk and maximizing efficiency. Think of it as creating checkpoints in your speedrun, allowing you to quickly recover from any setbacks.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best difficulty setting for a Final Fantasy VII Remake speedrun?

Typically, Normal difficulty is recommended for speedruns. Easy difficulty may reduce enemy HP, but it also reduces the amount of AP (Ability Points) you earn, hindering your materia development. Hard mode, while offering better rewards, significantly increases enemy HP and damage, making it too time-consuming. Normal provides the best balance for speed and efficiency.

Are summons viable in a speedrun, and if so, which are the best?

Summons can be situationally useful, but their long animation times often make them inefficient for general use. However, summons like Ifrit (for early fire weakness) and Leviathan (for general damage) can be effective in certain boss fights or challenging encounters. Use them strategically, and prioritize summons with shorter cast times and high damage output.

How often should I use Limit Breaks during a speedrun?

Limit Breaks can be powerful tools for quickly dispatching tough enemies, but they also have lengthy animations. Use them judiciously, primarily in situations where they can one-shot an enemy or deal significant damage to a boss. Characters like Cloud (Cross-Slash) and Tifa (Final Heaven) have Limit Breaks that are particularly effective in speedruns.