Best Cloud Materia In FF7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is poised to continue the epic journey embarked upon in Final Fantasy VII Remake, bringing with it a slew of enhancements, reimagined stories, and, crucially, an expanded Materia system. As players guide Cloud Strife and his allies through the challenges that lie ahead, selecting the best Materia for Cloud becomes a pivotal strategy for success. In this deep dive, we explore the optimal Cloud Materia setups to maximize his effectiveness in various combat scenarios.
The Essence of Materia
Materia, the magical orbs that grant the user spells, abilities, and stat boosts, are central to mastering combat in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Each piece can be inserted into weapons and armor, allowing for a wide range of strategic customizations. Cloud, with his balanced stats and adaptability, can make use of a broad array of Materia, but optimizing his loadout is key to leveraging his full potential.
Core Materia for Cloud
- First Strike Materia: A quintessential choice for Cloud, enabling him to start battles with an ATB gauge partially filled. This early advantage allows Cloud to either deal significant damage or buff himself before the enemy can act, setting the tone for the remainder of the fight.
- Elemental Materia: Paired with a magic Materia (Fire, Ice, Lightning, or Wind) slotted in linked equipment slots, Elemental Materia allows Cloud's sword attacks to inflict additional elemental damage. This not only increases his overall damage output but also exploits enemy weaknesses, a vital strategy against tougher foes.
- Healing Materia: It’s crucial to have at least one character capable of healing the party, and Cloud is often a reliable choice due to his consistent presence in the storyline. Equipping Healing Materia ensures that he can keep the team's HP at healthy levels during prolonged encounters.
- Magnify Materia: When linked with Healing or offensive Magic Materia, Magnify expands the effect to multiple targets. Pairing this with Healing Materia allows Cloud to restore the entire party's health simultaneously, providing substantial support.
- ATB Stagger Materia: Enhancing Cloud’s ability to increase his ATB gauge when attacking staggered enemies is incredibly beneficial. Given his role as a primary damage dealer, being able to unleash powerful abilities or spells in quick succession when an enemy is most vulnerable can turn the tide of battle.
Situational Materia Choices
- Assess Materia: Critical for gathering intel on enemies. Knowing weaknesses and resistances is invaluable for strategizing attack patterns and choosing the appropriate Materia for each battle.
- HP Up and MP Up Materia: Boosting Cloud’s base HP and MP ensures he can sustain more damage and use magic more freely. These become increasingly important in later stages of the game where encounters can be grueling.
- Counterstance Materia: Perfect for a defensive yet aggressive playstyle, allowing Cloud to counterattack after blocking an enemy strike. This ability showcases Cloud’s prowess as a skilled swordsman, turning defensive maneuvers into opportunities for retaliation.
- Time Materia: Spells like Haste significantly increase Cloud’s ATB accumulation rate, giving him and his allies more actions within the same timeframe. Conversely, Slow or Stop can cripple adversaries, providing a strategic advantage.
Maximizing Materia Growth
Understanding how to effectively grow and upgrade your Materia is critical. Engaging in battles frequently, especially those within Shinra's VR missions or against special enemies that provide boosted AP (Ability Points), can expedite Materia development. Additionally, equipping the AP Up Materia linked with a key growth Materia can further enhance this process.
Balancing Your Loadout
The best Materia setup for Cloud is one that balances offense and defense while allowing for flexibility based on the combat scenario at hand. It’s essential to adapt Materia choices based on specific bosses or dungeons, as sticking to a single configuration might not serve well against all types of enemies. Experimentation and adaptation are key—don't hesitate to adjust your strategy as you learn more about your adversaries.
Final Thoughts
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth promises an adventure filled with depth and complexity, not least due to its intricate Materia system. For Cloud, mastering the use of Materia is not just about amplifying his abilities but about strategizing the best ways to support his allies and overcome formidable foes. The recommendations provided here offer a foundation upon which players can build and refine their strategies, ensuring Cloud is a versatile and formidable force on their journey through Gaia.
