FF7 Rebirth | BEST Hard Mode Guide [Tips and Tricks]

[@oxfordking]

Check out the Final Fantasy Merch in the Description Box!

[@mysticalos]

An underrated trick I like is the HP MP materia that everyone thinks is useless. If you put that on an unused party member with healing materia, they can top off your party after every battle as a healbot. People forget unused party members can cast out of battle so they don't even think about the usefulness of a non combat heal bot with over 4000 mana. You don't have cushan benches in every area, but very few areas require your entire parties cast so you can always make someone your heal bot. Just don't forget about it by accident during final battle or other places or your healbot is a deadbot :D

[@runexwalsh]

Genius

[@Chino-Kafu]

To bad it doesn't work in batle

[@Grand_Master_Bee]

I'm 2 trophy away from platinum and never thought of doing that

[@kingkazma3246]

@@mysticalos This tip came just in time! Thanks! 🤣👍

[@Chaucy]

@@mysticalos you…brilliant…bastard

[@hlyknightx]

Equip First strike, atb boost, petrify linked to mp absorb, poison and petrify linked to magnify and petrify linked to magic focus on your highest magic user. Popping ATB boost at the start and casting Quaga will clear 90% of junk mobs with one cast and refill your mp. Can swap the 3 Petrify with different elements to exploit weakness on harder mobs.

[@jarldelancey]

For my Aerith Support. Will this work? (Poison/Petrify + Magnify) (Petrify + Magic Focus) (Petrify + Synergy Materia). Basically I have 3 petrify. I want this as alternative for comet. Feel free to correct my combination. Will this Auto Quake for all enemies?

[@hlyknightx]

@@jarldelancey you can’t magnify synergy. if you are going to actually cast a specific spell it should be linked to MP absorb because unless you are on the world map you can’t get back MP easily and there are some boss fights where you really need it. Putting petrify on synergy when you are using another element as your main damage is good but outside boss fights it’s never really mattered since you can immediately kill most things with very little clean up. Personally I use Aerith as my main damage dealer when she’s available because she can absolutely melt stuff especially if you get a couple wards up. Tifa or cloud with ATK MATK materia and a strength up materia are also good options for dishing out strong magic attacks.

[@ForzaTerra89]

I’m trying to make a debuff build for Cait Sith with the enchanted Marlboro orb. I’d given ATB boost to Aerith and Tifa but this build might work well on the cat. Good to know poison and petrify work with magnify but also separate with petrify linked to MP absorb and Magic Focus I’m not quite sure what to go with but I just got to Gongaga on my hard mode playthrough so I’ll give something a try MP Aborb and Petrify, Magic Focus and petrify seem like the obvious. No warding materia?

[@GothamBeauty]

This some good tech, thanks. I had my placement of these in the wrong place but now it's perfect (for me).

[@GhostingMyEx]

auto weapon skill materia + MP absorb will gain MP for non-controlled party members

[@viniciussoares4031]

Finally, a truly helpful video with tips for the Rebirth. I'm not sure why, but KZbin lacks content regarding this game, which is much more complex than initially thought. Thanks for the incredible video bro 🎉❤

[@kyleklim1636]

4:02 If you want 7 slots armor you can farm Hades Armlet on Ch.11

[@Ziaurelijus]

Where exactly my friend??

[@kyleklim1636]

@@Ziaurelijus When you control Cait Sith and met 2 Adjudicators, the chest on the left-hand side.

[@timurkral3781]

@@kyleklim1636 please ask my third leg

[@Youngblaise2]

I have 2 8 slot armors and 2 hades armlets.

[@koolaidman4630]

A few tips of my own, (I have 200 hours in game and all manuscripts) magnify+haste and magic focus + haste makes is game changing, atb boost materia is great for starting multiple buffs. Ex(plasma-darkside- prime mode) stagger extending synergy abilities are best,

[@DingoDIDeatmybaby]

Suck at the Rufus fight? Equip Draconic Ring with Steadfast Block to win by spamming limit breaks on him. Sadly, it's how I beat him on my 1st playthrough.

[@SaltyZera]

The hardest thing about Hard Mode is just relearning the boss fights and what each of them do different in Hard Mode vs Normal/Dynamic. The AI likes to mix it up a bit, but once you get that down, you shouldn't have much trouble. Hard Mode (with the exception of only two fights [Rufus & Gi Nattak]) is really easy, just due to the ability to restore MP with Cushions, but even without that, MP Absorb is SO BROKEN. Combined with Synergy or Enemy Skill is kinda busted. Add a small variety of Accessory choices, and you've got a recipe for success. I think Remake's Hard Mode was far tougher imo. I feel like the devs spent a little too much time fine tuning the enormous amount of VR Battles and that those Brutal and Legendary VR missions really are the true Hard Mode. Good luck to everyone, Platinum for Rebirth is a tough sledding, but 100% worth it.

[@PLs379]

And Galian Beast, I struggled so much with that fucker

[@emerelle3535]

Synergy-Materia carried me through Remake on hard. Glad it’s still here! :D

[@DOC_951]

Pro tip…just buy 99 cushions at the beginning of hard mode. Reset the battle if you didn’t know what you were doing and took too much damage. Assess it, retry. Next time you’ll know the weakness to focus on, especially if you just use yuffie as much as possible. Also, bring chakra and prayer on everyone. Heal up when the last enemy is staggered right before you finish it off. Should never lose against a chapter boss because of your starting hp or mp.

[@Ice_2192]

Give aerith synergy materia with a magic spell. In a battle cast doppelganger with yuffie and cast arcane ward with aerith. Have both stand on the ward and cast the spell. That's 2 from yuffie, 2 from dopplegenar and 2 from aerith which is a buy 1 get 5 free cast just by standing in the ward and it a more damaging combo if it was used with an -aga spell.

[@Royman87]

I like to equip the chocoking cape and first-strike materia to get 2 full atb at the beginning of a battle

[@SuzakuX]

Chokoking Cape, First Strike, ATB Boost, ATB Assist, Enemy Skill (+ HP Absorb). Start fight with Plasma Discharge, ATB Boost, Mind Blast. 2x Enemy Skill uses triggers ATB Assist and fills party member ATB. Mind Blast often staggers if not outright killing trash.

[@yoshighomi]

I know im 8 months late.. but thank you for this!! I appreciate the direction and the context. Happy holidays man!

[@oxfordking]

No worries and thank you for the kind words 👍

[@StillWeRide]

Great video!! Saving this for my hard mode run!

[@oxfordking]

Thank you!

[@bjornironsides6474]

"Not too shabby!" Cloud: ........... "ToO bAAd!" lol

[@oxfordking]

🤣

[@domikarus5237]

I got my platinum trophy but I didn't know you could refill the MP with cushions, bacause I thought you couldn't use any items

[@cmj0ker]

Damn didn't know about stop on stagger. The combat in this game is crazy. Also the limit with aerith limit siphon, especially if you use the limit boost accessories or weapon abilities on other members. Limit siphon with aerith, do her level 3, limit with one characater, limit siphone the other, rinse and repeat. Extra crazy if you can get the others to their level 3. I find barret and yuffie can naturally with abilities that don't disturb their flow.

[@oxfordking]

Yeah the Stop on Stagger is next level and I'm glad you reminded me of this as I'm playing the game again on PC 👍

[@garwynrosser8907]

Soothing breeze warning ⚠️. It only works after battle if the character using it being controlled. If you swap out before the end it resets.

[@raywing00]

One trick to consider: Barret, shortcut set only Maximum Fury Equip Choboco Cape Materia Quickcast+Petrify, Magnify+Petrify, MP Absorb+Auto Weapon Skill You can blast off Quaga at round start, and when MP runs low, just let Barret auto activate Maximum Fury and recharge MP instantly.

[@KillerTofuDrums]

Yooooo, i didnt know blue materia worked with skill materia. That changes some things.

[@timurkral3781]

Okay you're a dummy. Just write it.

[@YoannVn]

@@KillerTofuDrums same man, it changes everything. It never came through my mind before...

[@forevergogo]

There is a better ap farm after beating the game go to the chapter with tifa's cat quest and get to that queen bee, it keeps popping out 4bees which you can one shot with some magnify/mpansorb/etc firaga swiftcasts. Just keep killing them and leave her alone, and its never ending ap.

[@Phatboino1]

I've only just started hard mode....... Daaaaaaamn it's a step up 😂😂😂😂

[@bigstew808]

Should probably mention the Gotterdammerung since some players probably do Chadley's brutal sims first before the story's hard mode since you know, instant limit break lol Especially when the party splits you designate your main go to with the Enhanced Expeditionary Medal, Limit Siphon, and first strike then someone else with the Gotterdammerung And then you know the vibes, siphon immediately and round start lvl 3 limit break lmao. Best part is when there's stacks of enemies it can raise the limit again if enough explode since their stagger gauges go up instantly and whoever didn't get hit or killed. Just do it again

[@oxfordking]

I don't have nor do I care much about the Gotterdammerung but Plenty of other videos out there that mention it so no need for me to add it without blatantly stealing footage of the Accessory. But yes use that accessory to make things easier.

[@TheRiujinjakka]

I'm also trying to finish the VR missions before doing the story on hard mode. Do you think it's wrong? should I do the story first and then the vr? (I already made Genji's armor)

[@ultimagaming6035]

I have always thought that barrier and its upper tiers, to be the better bang for the buck. protect and shell I always regarded as an added layer for extending your coverage window.

[@oxfordking]

I agree - even though the former doesn't last as long. Plus the animation looks way cooler.

[@paulomartins1813]

Hey, so i was searching for some ff7 rebirth content cause im searching for ideas to do another run, and i want to take a moment to congratulate you for not including Gotterdammerung in your video. I did platinum the game, did legit everything that the game had to do, and i will say that, a lot of content creators recommend to go farm the VR missions to have Gotterdammerung to hardmode but whats the point of doing that? You running one the hardest challenge, if not the hardest in the game (which i trully believe it was designed with the intention of being the one of the last things you do in game) to get that acessory and then faceroll the hardmode with limit breaker abusing.. Anyway just wanted to say that gave me some kind of hapiness to have someone doing a video without saying "go farm Gotterdammerung"

[@oxfordking]

Thank you for acknowledging this to me - I for one do not like the Gotterdammerung at all and find it boring - I could not ever recommend that in a Hard Mode Guide. That's just not how I am. You're the only person to bring this up and to thank for not recommending this. Much respect for typing this up and letting me know.

[@paulomartins1813]

​​@@oxfordking Im not personally against the Gotter but I think it's funny that people actually recommend "go do this extremely hard challenge, way harder than all of hard mode itself, to get this broken acessorie so you can go face roll all of the hard mode" Ah also they normally recommend "there's a quick guide how to exploit outer's world with yuffie and aerith so you don't ever need to learn the fights" 🤔😅

[@JesseT63]

i just max out my materia next I will do the hard mode quest that gives sp, Then I will do the vr fights and finally I do the hard mode chapters

[@leonelgonzalez910]

That’s what I did in the previous game. Definitely made it easier but still hard af

[@markalterado88]

Some foreshadowing. Good luck on the VR missions. *wink*

[@justindza]

You're gonna want to invert vr fights and hard mode. Or do a few of the vr fights before hard mode. Will quickly see why.

[@StillWeRide]

Same plan for me. I just finished the game a week ago but immediatrly started Remake again to do a hard run for the platinum. Then I plan on mopping up Gold Saucer and maxing materia and then starting hard mode.

[@nerdorkeeg]

You may need those valuable manuscript points from hard mode to max your skills for the late vr missions

[@Youngblaise2]

The Speed material also affects ATB charge rate? I never knew. Thought it was just physical speed.

[@castsmeteor3]

It’s only ever done atb. Even hasted AND 10 speed up materials… your character will still move normal and run around normal

[@TalesFromTheBooth]

2:30 closest we’ll get to Quadra magic? 🤔😮

[@castsmeteor3]

They will absolutely have Quadra magic in part 3 ❤

[@raywing00]

Best AP + EXP farming method so far would be at the Colloseum, on the first 6 pax battle Settings on Easy mode Team 1 with Cloud with Magnify+Quakera and First Strike Team 2 with Aerith with Magnify+Quaga, First Strike and Chocobo Cape Those with more materia slots, Chocobo Bracelet and AP Up should go to Team 2 Set the shortcuts to Quakera and Quaga (remember to toggle them to Magnify after setting) When the battle starts, just spam Quakera and Quaga One run will net you 360 AP on Chocobo Bracelet with AP Up, and it would take only around 40-50 seconds per run including loading time and animations.

[@jay13982]

Mp + element (fire for example), hp + element(another fire), all fire spell will drain hp/mp/magnify.

[@jesusrodriguezcolon8315]

Tbh just having the gotterdamerrung before starting hard mode trivializes most of fights

[@Zanagash]

When I watch this kind of video I realize that I do not know how to play that game 😅

[@Netami923]

Great video

[@oxfordking]

Thanks 🙏

[@QuietstormRB]

For me, Yuffie has been the MVP especially for the brutal challenges.

[@oxfordking]

She's been my favorite ever since Intergrade 👍

[@ltlsWhatltIs]

Tifa enters the chat.

[@StillWeRide]

Is it possible to fully max all character folios?

[@oxfordking]

Absolutely!

[@skins4thewin]

Wait.... So what's the difference between Barrier & Protect? Sounds like they do the exact same thing but clearly that can't be the case.

[@johnmininger8480]

Yeah that’s been my question as well…

[@castsmeteor3]

I think they just included ‘all things FF’ and had nods to Protect and nods to Barrier. Both are in the series so both are here. Gilgamesh has a buster sword on his back while Cloud is looking right at it so I don’t question things anymore

[@VapourXY]

Magic Yuffie is so fun lol

[@sandmaker47]

Or use magic focus, hp absorb, mp absorb, swift cast, on 1 materia type and genji gloves. Have first strike and atb boost. And any fight that isnt a boss is pretty much dead to an aga spell. Have gear and materia that boosts magic, magic plus is a plus.

[@BryanOrion-m5i]

I never understood the difference between Barrier (barrier, manaward, manawall) and Fortification (protect, shell)......don't they do they exact same thing?

[@raven-19x]

Barrier halves damage types received by half. It's a short duration. Fortification adds about 10% to your Phys/Mag defense, but lasts longer.

[@GoeTeeks]

Barrier, Manaward, and Manawall reduce damage by 50%. Protect and Shell increase Defense and Magic Defense stats on the characters. Not the same thing, and can be stacked for further increased defense.

[@blitzkezman7202]

Protect is for physical attack while Shell is for Magic attack. Barrier i dont know haha, maybe both?

[@GoeTeeks]

@@blitzkezman7202 Protect increases physical defense of the character, shell increases magic defense of the character. Barrier reduces physical attacks by 50%, Manaward reduces magic attacks by 50%, Manawall puts up Barrier and Manawall with one cast.

[@justindza]

I think fortification has less effect but lasts longer

[@nephlem_]

If we synergy - dual materia (fire/ice or poison/petrify) will the synergy cast both spells or only use the modt effective against an enemy?

[@oxfordking]

Great Question - from my testing its random of what it chooses. I've seen Synergy cast Bio once and then the next Synergy is Petrify.

[@nephlem_]

@@oxfordking ahh I see, maybe it does go off what would work better, or if the enemy is resistant to both it could pick one at random

[@ArtyFox34]

What other Materia do you recommend for Cloud, Aerith and Yuffie?

[@oxfordking]

My Yuffie video has that answer for her but the Aerith & Cloud videos were from the Demo and I need to go back and make new videos for them.

[@blatini609]

Where the heck do you get most of this materia and acessories? I've beat the game and not gotten almost half of these.

[@CharlesC520]

There are a lot of minigames and challenges you have to do alongside completing the game. There are very good materia you can develop with Chadley by collecting world intel and completing certain combat simulator trials.

[@GoeTeeks]

Have you been doing the World Intel missions and developing materia with Chadley? That's where most of it comes from.

[@shutters3406]

A lot of these are unlocked via Chadley's "Develop Materia" option, while the accessories must be crafted using the Item Transmuter

[@brandoncunningham263]

VR challenges unlocked from doing Chadley's expeditions

[@Urlastnerve]

My last trophies are beat hard mode and Chadley’s bull$#!+ vr missions. Hopefully I don’t lose my sanity by the end of it 🤪

[@nickgrammens7107]

Good luck to you man, have to admit the legendary challenges are quiet easy except for the last 2 ofc and half of the brutal ones are kinda easy aswell with the right strategy!

[@ltlsWhatltIs]

​@@nickgrammens7107 I thought the last 2 were easier then underworlds. Once you get gotter its GGs.

[@yusukeurameshi3768]

All i have left is zack and sephiroth vr challenges and then i can go to hard mode 😎

[@oxfordking]

Nice 👍

[@SweatyReady46]

Sir, for that Lord of the Rings reference I immediate paused my game to like and subscribe

[@oxfordking]

Finally someone noticed :)

[@tiagoj8020]

I thought weapon proficiency increased its abilities and opened materia slots. It's the folios that do this?

[@castsmeteor3]

Every weapon has a skill. You use that skill you get ‘weapon proficiency’ towards that skill only. Switch weapons? New skill. Unless you master them ofc. Then any weapon can use any mastered skill

[@greggmcfarlane4267]

The biggest question for me, do I have it in me to do all this 🙈 thank you for the vid though x

[@oxfordking]

☕☕☕

[@httrtaylor21]

LOTR Comment made me a subscriber... Literally what I do hahah

[@oxfordking]

I do this all the time as well lol - I had to toss that in the guide! Thanks for the Support 🙏

[@Serperior-Deoxys]

Though I have never been a FF fan, watching your vids is always a welcome escape. Update: Week 3 of sinus infection. Sucks. Also just completed, about 5 minutes ago, Dead Space Remake Impossible run. Still hacked off they didn't get more attention for this phenomenal game.

[@oxfordking]

Thanks Serp 👍 Sorry to hear the sinus crud. I'm still in my same predicament over here. I stream on twitch for now but it's random and I don't have my Cam on. It's more relaxing and chill. Not sure how I'll be handling streaming yet. Making videos is what's priority.

[@Serperior-Deoxys]

@@oxfordking Sorry to hear that. I don't really have any connections in the tech field. My brother might though. I could ask him if his friend knows of any good positions open. I'll see if I can catch a stream here and there. Thanks to the sinus infection, job hunt has been on hold.

[@joshfdesigns]

Me 75% into Hard mode: Wait, your non-battle members still get AP?

[@oxfordking]

🤯

[@schools6555]

Hard Mode really wasn't too bad, a few annoying boss fights aside. The Seventh Seal Combat Simulation is on a whole other level of frustrating. I had it in the bag almost had the Diabolical Variant defeated when the game decided it wanted to crash and since I haven't been able to get past the two Giant Cactuars or whatever they're called! They always hit me with the Needle Rain or shower killing my entire party no matter how much health they have. Why I cannot get past them now I'm sure I do not know. After that game crash I just can't do it and I'm fully ready to quit my Platinum run and I am two trophies away, one Curio item which is for Finishing the combat simulator.

[@QuietstormRB]

I finally finished this challenge yesterday. Yuffie (Party leader), Tifa (Secondary), and Aerith (Healer/Buffer). I avoided the needle attacks while controlling Yuffie and used Magnify + Barrier to lessen the damage since AI controlled Tifa & Aerith only block. Hope this helps, don’t give up.

[@Madmike772]

This one’s for you!

[@oxfordking]

Haha 👍 Yeah I always left those in my editing

[@brandoncunningham263]

Cushions restore MP?!

[@ltlsWhatltIs]

Yeah, it made hard mode wayyyy easier unfortunately

[@TheRiujinjakka]

You didn't mention the stuff that lets you steal limits from others. I gave Cloud the item that allows you to unlock level 3 limit and Tifa the converter that transforms ATB into limit and then I steal with Cloud

[@oxfordking]

7:23

[@TheRiujinjakka]

@@oxfordking Thank you! It took me two hours yesterday to do two difficult VR missions, the Cloud one was very frustrating with that thing that can kill you with one shot. But do I have to play the game on hard or the missions first?

[@ezequielvazquez3877]

Lol, I never use items and rarely use magic. 😂 so benches are enough for me

[@DanTheGreat]

Brumal form Yuffie + ATB Ward from Aerith = cheese

[@jfranks1295]

Cloud is looking pretty rough on the cover art; like he was gone with a biker gang for five or so years.

[@mgs771]

Remake was a bit of work to get the platinum. But rebirth has gone to far people don't have 150 hours to put in a game

[@oxfordking]

It took me 150 hours on my first playthrough and I was way too burned out to even make videos for the channel after I was done. It's a miracle I even have the current videos now doing this all solo. Wish I had the time & energy to make more videos but the game was huge.

[@LeonKennedy-fk7sg]

Honestly… i agree 100%. I dont see the purpose to make things so difficult that you spend 150 hours or more completing it. Ive actually lost interest by playing it so much and im so close to 100%.

[@nosleepforme2242]

When it comes to video games I’d rather have ten pounds too much than an ounce not enough. Basically, I’d rather have a huge game I can sink 100s of hours into versus something I can complete in 20 or so. If I had a complaint I’d say there’s a lot of mini games that can eat your time up but it usually only takes a few tries before you can get the highest score.

[@basschoenmakers5982]

Yes they do. And you don't have to do it all in once. Just play another game after finishing it the first time and do another run when you feel like it or have more time

[@Oggre]

​@@LeonKennedy-fk7sgsame. I have 4 trophies left before platinum but damn these chadley brutal and legendary are no joke

[@melionosdeos]

With the exception of Rufus and Red Dragon, hardmode is pretty easy. I did them without using any guides or Materia optimalization. I would imagine using a guide makes it even easier.

[@castsmeteor3]

Same! I’m actually here all these months later on a replay for PS5 pro looking up these tips, I didn’t know so much of this stuff 😂Thank god I already have the hard-clear trophy ❤

[@Mako7eyes]

You are just lovel Paste a star beside your name

[@jeddvillaspin3379]

Cloud is mid in hard mode so bench him. Barret with healing bonus, max chakra and lifeline is the key. Barret, Tifa and Aerith with synergy materia will be your main squad.

[@takundakadungure]

You not using Cloud properly. He is an animal of extreme distraction. Watch videos on "Legendary Bout - Cloud vs The Warriors" to different ways Cloud just wrecks enemies especially with Enemy Skill Materia.

[@sharkulashairstylist5505]

I have the plat from Remake but after playing rebirth I am not interested in the 3rd game let alone a hard mode run.... This game sucked from chapter 2-12 it is all minigame filler, not real gameplay I will never do again... Sorry square enix there is a reason you LOOSE MONEY! Minigames are babygames.

[@oxfordking]

Yeah I was afraid they were going to fill the game with Queen's Blood & Mini Games.

[@Monty2289]

Ngl. who is this for. No offense. Square just bugs me for the 2nd time they made a game you must play once to unlock hard mode which is somehow more unbalanced than in Remake but even when you ignore that everything here is quite frankly capt' obvious levels of tIPs aND tRiCks. I can't think of any normie going straight to hard mode and then contending with challenges vs. the greater amount of players who took on Brutal and Legendary challenges first which if you did none of this matters. And even if you didn't your goal if you are max level and lord have mercy why aren't you is to speedrun the game. I mean I guess if you want to play the entire standard 60 hour experience but I honestly only want to boss run and when I finish a chapter go to Chap 12 reset and finish the specific side quests tied to manuscripts. That's it.