IMPOSSIBLE Quest Made EASY! Flowers From The Hill Hard Mode Guide!

[@blakecurry3880]

I gave Red first strike and ATB boost and elemental fire. Kicked off ATB boost and used his Stardust Ray within 1 second and that just obliterates/staggers and the stagger pumped up Aerith so she could firaga all and that was all she wrote in 8-10 seconds.

[@Spardanian]

Didn't realize how infamous this mission was on hard, I got lucky and beat it first try. Cloud and aerith went down almost immediately, but my Red was pretty tanky (enhanced karmic cowl helped) and stardust ray pretty much annihilates.

[@qbiak9220]

Thanks :) Due to your suggestion it was easy peasy lemon squzeey ;)

[@mikecabral2420]

Thanks. I've hit this brickwall hard but I mixed the Red technique with a Fire synergy magnify set on Cloud and was able to win easily. I even forgot to switch Cloud's sword to a more magic heavy one and still beat it in a couple tries. I've since beaten the Midgard Serpent at the end of the chapter in about 20 minutes without too much difficulty. This really discouraged me from hard mode especially when I really enjoyed it in FF7 Remake so finding an better strategy helped and I'm excited to keep going.

[@sabrewulfdante]

Thanks so much for this. I got to this quest while staying at the hospital with my wife when she was having a brain tumor removed and I didn't have the patience for it at the time. She is doing well now, considering, but at the time watching me play this brought her peace. Couldn't really struggle with this one at the time. Again, thanks!

[@Soldier1stClass]

Wow! First things first, I'm really glad your wife came through ok, and hope for a really speedy recovery. Secondly, you're very welcome, and I'm just happy to have helped out in any way I could. Congrats on the W!

[@SSJ_Derp]

I did something pretty similar to this. I gave Cloud the Slipstream Saber for higher magic attack and loaded him up with Magnify, Swiftcast, Magic Focus, and Magic Efficiency, all linked to mastered Fire materia. Then I gave him HP Up, MP Up, Magic Up, First Strike, ATB Stagger, and the Chocoking’s Cape to start off with 2 ATB. Aerith had the other First Strike so she could immediately set up the ward, and she had Synergy + Comet. Aerith & Barret both had Magnify + Healing, Revival, Steadfast Block, HP Up, MP Up, Karmic Cowl / Enhanced Karmic Cowl, basically just making sure they didn’t immediately die and could heal up / revive if necessary. Barret also had Elemental + Ice on his weapon just for an extra damage boost but I don’t think it made much of a difference either way, Cloud basically mowed them all down with double Firaga casts.

[@Soldier1stClass]

Yeah once you hit those levels of materia, it trivializes most of the game lmao

[@Final_Sephiroth]

Instead of using Arcane Ward, use Radient Ward instead. No need for ATB boost matiera, no need to hide behind a rock. 1 character took under 100HP damage, and everyone else still had full HP. it's the best strategy I've came up with for this fight.

[@DayFul]

I ended up soloing it with Yuffie as the ai party members couldn't stay alive. A lot of dodging and windstorms help but the big thing is putting on as much ATB generating materia as possible along with the speed demon keychain.

[@KrisLee2113]

The fact that blue materia stacks like that is CRAZY. I never knew that. A game changer for hard mode for sure. Wow.

[@Soldier1stClass]

Yeah you can definitely do a lot with these builds. You can make a self sustaining tank character just by using blue materia like HP and MP absorption materia linked with a damage dealing spell. No items or cures needed. Add in Swiftcast and you can literally rapid fire self heals, and your MP won’t ever drop from maximum as long as you deal damage. You gotta watch out for fights that have enemies with that linked spells absorption though. It’ll heal them and you won’t receive any benefit from it.

[@qbiak9220]

As per below suggestion I used Red with First Strike and ATB Boost to start off the fight with Stardust Ray. Aerith had Chocoking's Cape to cast Arcane Ward immiediately on Cloud, and Cloud had Rune Blade and Genji Gloves with Fire + Magnify, Fire + Swiftcast, Fire + Magic Focus Materia (2x), ATB Boost and First Strike. You can add some ATB Stagger if clean up would be neccessary. So you ATB Boost with Cloud and cast Fire 3 on already grouped enemies by Stardust Ray. Afterwards only ashes were left ;)

[@OmegaxStarr]

I used Aerith's Lustrous Shield to hide behind an nuke, was a lil tricky but worked. Probably work even better if you also the rock and shield to make a pocket of safety.

[@PerceptionsofFate]

SpongeBob SquarePants : It's not just a boulder, IT'S A ROCK!

[@Soldier1stClass]

LMFAO

[@tjroberts22831]

😂

[@Phoenix_DRG]

I was surprised how challenging this Ch 2 quest was on hard. Felt great when I got it done, though

[@Soldier1stClass]

Yeah it’s a real bastard if you just try to go in guns blazing

[@SSJ_Derp]

“If you try to go in guns blazing” who would do something like that, definitely not me, me am too smart for that 😐

[@brunosimao211]

Red XIII and the ability where he creates a energy sphere... It works as a magnetic cage capturing all the mandrakes. Very effective.

[@Soldier1stClass]

If you can get it down. Problem is those projectiles are nasty and stunlock you to death.

[@KingNazaru]

The ability you’re referring to is Stardust Ray.

[@Johnnybox81]

Chapter 13>get quest>Yuffie windstorm.

[@Narvre]

Sorry ddoes windstorm work better than this strat in the vid?

[@Soldier1stClass]

It can. There’s a lot of viable strategies. Mine just picks on the weakness to fire factor, where as windstorm would group them all for it. Technically you could actually combine the two strategies if you wanted.

[@ectogamut]

This is the only method that worked for my boomer reaction time

[@Combaticon]

My tactic was to equip Aerith with Enhanced Expeditionary Medal and Limit Siphon, with someone else equipped with Gotterdammerung. With First Strike equipped, Siphon the Limit from that someone and then Planet's Protection to stop most damage.

[@Soldier1stClass]

Yeah but to have Gotterdammerung you had to have finished the battle simulator and I don’t think the average person will have that available. Especially for a side quest in chapter 2 lmao

[@djdonmecca3460]

Worked like a charm on the 3rd try. They barely scathed me. Thanks!!

[@Soldier1stClass]

You’re welcome! Glad it helped!

[@chrismoore5197]

Ty dude, was about to lose my sanity, was major rng but when it worked, it reaallly worked!

[@Soldier1stClass]

You’re welcome! Glad you got it!

[@ConnorJG76]

Going through and doing all hard mode quests, this quest was insane to beat. I just went back to the ATB Boost Brumal Form combo with Yuffie and had Aerith spam Firaga with Genji Gloves and Magnify.

[@Soldier1stClass]

Swiftcast is a game changer

[@ConnorJG76]

@@Soldier1stClass yep and double Magic focus, you get like 30-40k per hit

[@larsliljeberg3970]

Thanks for making this video🎉. Worked perfectly.🥳👍

[@emmdubb]

I used Yuffie and Red at level 53 and pulled it off. Before that i died several times with cloud tifa an aerith before deciding to optimize my loadouts. i was still in "level mode". Windstorm + red spam spin attack until stardust ray repeat was cool to watch and i took absolutely minimal damage.

[@steveb3320]

Dude, thank you so much. You saved me SO much needless aggravation lol

[@Soldier1stClass]

You’re very welcome!!

[@rawstmv]

heat wave and cold snap work great

[@nickstockwell9148]

Damn dude. This nuked them in seconds for me. My setup also had it so cloud lost no MP with Stagger Recovery on the Slipstream Blade.

[@seanowens1073]

Magnify and fire that simple with genji gloves

[@Soldier1stClass]

Don’t even need genji gloves with Firaga. Especially magnify and Swiftcast

[@seanowens1073]

@Soldier1stClass it helps with magic up when everyone gets killed and aerith is the only one standing well atleast she was the only one left tifa and cloud were taking a dirt nap lol

[@emotionalsupport]

Set up your magic user to start the battle with 2 atb and Swift cast Firaga then immediately Limit Break that should take out all or almost all in the first 10 seconds

[@liamtaylor5741]

This was pain in my ass initially but the method that did it for me ended up being very simple. First Strike on Barret and spammed Smack down. Honestly ended up super easy then 😂 just guard until they stop firing then go at it

[@bryancarlos2532]

Do you get anything from redoing the side quests on hard?

[@Soldier1stClass]

Manuscripts that give you skill points

[@NorGlace]

are there any benefit of doing them in hard ? when I did the hard mode run i didt do any side quests I just plowed thru everything until i got to boss then did that on each chapter not even caring about these since I already did them on dynamic :D

[@Soldier1stClass]

You get manuscripts for skill points for doing them on hard

[@NorGlace]

@@Soldier1stClass really .. and they are for completing the skill board? is it all the ones that where Green" in the quest list ?

[@HoomaanHedayat]

Question: after staring hard mode do I have to go to progress the game for cait sith and yuffie to join again or do they remain in the party?

[@Soldier1stClass]

It’s the same as the base difficulty. They’re technically still there, but you don’t have access to them in chapters they weren’t available in.

[@HoomaanHedayat]

@@Soldier1stClass so for example I cant use yuffie till chapter 7 until she joins again?

[@Soldier1stClass]

@HoomaanHedayat as far as I know, yes.

[@Nix_Abyss]

So you have to redo all the side quests that have the manuscript icons you completed already not on hard mode on hard mode? And that’ll give you another script?

[@Soldier1stClass]

That’s correct.

[@Nix_Abyss]

@@Soldier1stClass damn I didn’t even know of or think of that well I guess I’ll have to go back and do those after the msq.

[@omegaslash777]

Although I've done this quest myself, imagine that feeling of being excited and prepared for hard mode that you wanted to do the sidequests first before going on the main story, doing this quest first and getting obliterated in seconds, while you pause and go outside and question yourself... Couldn't be me hahahaha....... eh........ 🙃

[@Soldier1stClass]

Yeah I feel ya. I’m trying to do the Brutal Challenges and Rulers of Outer World is beating my ass. I’ve looked up every video on the internet and nothings helping.

[@omegaslash777]

​​@@Soldier1stClassNo kidding, the brutal challenges and bonds of friendship are absolutely brutal. Even after beating those challenges, they got me exhausted haha. At least to be a hero is forgiving (Sephiroth is no joke)

[@seanowens1073]

That's all I used and aerith was my magnify fire first strke

[@dreambiscuits]

Magnify + Spells + MP Absorption + HP Absorption + Magic Focus trivializes the game.

[@Soldier1stClass]

Until you reach the brutal challenges unfortunately

[@dreambiscuits]

@@Soldier1stClass I meant the story but yeah you're right! I tried it and it was not a good time 😂

[@akosifrylle]

I used Red 13 for this via stardust ray

[@egalego8809]

Quakega + Magnify for the win

[@CorpralWasian]

All you need is yuffie and wind storm. Seriously you can melt these little bastards with yuffie. She's hands down one of the best characters in the game and insanely good for crowd control.

[@Chris-rm3wf]

I’ll be honest I just used firaga with magnify materia and arcane ward on cloud so I just toasted them instantly

[@Chris-rm3wf]

I also used yuffie for windstorm to stun them and keep them together so that made it easier

[@sharvbitgaming]

Soldier, wasn’t too difficult for me. Cleared it in first encounter.

[@Ahrilovergamer]

Is it a must to repeat the side quests in hard mode?

[@Soldier1stClass]

If you want the manuscript, yes

[@Ahrilovergamer]

You mean to fill the folios

[@SSJ_Derp]

Yeah, the manuscripts you get from completing some of the side quests on hard mode are what give you the extra points you need to fill out the folios, but you don’t need to repeat all of them. Go to the chapter select menu, reset all the quests for that chapter, and select hard mode. Then when you unlock a side quest, if you bring up the map and use L1 or L2 or whatever it is, and go over to the side quests tab, it’ll show an icon on the right side for the quests that give you a manuscript.

[@Soldier1stClass]

Some of them are parts of quest chains though unfortunately. Even ones that don’t reward you with manuscripts

[@Ahrilovergamer]

@@Soldier1stClass good to know thanks for your effort

[@scotthaupt1266]

people need to learn how to fucking use aerith's lustrous shield and this fight is a great example of it i chumped this fight in seconds with it

[@zediahtimmons9704]

Get behind the rock and firaga magnify

[@tserrofz9]

This quest sucked ass. I did Arcane Ward + set up for Firas on Aerith and then that gave limit break. Enhanced medal allows for planet protection and then you just have to stay out of the poison and you can fira/firaga at will