Mission 9-5-1: Hojo's Monsters

Struggling with Mission 9-5-1: Hojo's Monsters? Learn the best strategies, item recommendations, and how to counter Mako Ifrit's devastating Hellfire attack in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion.

Alright, let's dive into Mission 9-5-1: Hojo's Monsters! This one's a bit of a road bump, especially with the final boss, Mako Ifrit. Don't worry, we'll get you through it. First off, you need to unlock this mission. It's part of the 'Unknown Energy' category and becomes available after Chapter 4. You'll need to complete a chain of missions starting with 8-4-1: Suspicious Mail 1, then 8-5-6: Treasure Info 6, which opens up the Great Cavern of Wonders. Just keep pushing through those until you hit 9-5-1. Be warned, the Great Cavern missions are no joke, so make sure you're prepped!

How to Defeat Mako Ifrit:

The main threat here is Mako Ifrit, and specifically his Hellfire attack. Seriously, this thing can one-shot you if you're not ready, dealing upwards of 50,000 damage if your SPR stat isn't high enough. As soon as the fight starts, he'll likely rush you with a melee combo and then immediately unleash Hellfire. It's brutal!

The good news? Hellfire is fire-elemental. This means you can completely neutralize it with the right gear. Look for accessories that nullify or absorb fire damage. Options include the Flame Armlet, Blaze Armlet, Escort Guard, or the Wizard Bracelet. If you're in the Sector 7 Shop, a Wizard Bracelet costs a hefty 80,000 Gil. A more budget-friendly option is the Blaze Armlet from the Online Shop Duo for 10,000 Gil. Equipping either of these will make Hellfire and his Explosive Flame Shot attacks do nothing, leaving only his physical attacks to worry about.

Strategy:

• Gear Up: Equip a fire-absorbing accessory like the Blaze Armlet (10,000 Gil from Online Shop Duo) or Wizard Bracelet (80,000 Gil from Sector 7 Shop). This negates Hellfire and Explosive Flame Shot completely.
• Watch the Melee: Mako Ifrit's kick attack is super fast. Try to avoid staying in close combat for too long. Dodge or block these quick strikes.
• Offensive Options: Costly Punch is still one of the best offensive Materia in the game. With fire absorption, you can even heal yourself using it if you take damage. Graviga is also a solid choice for chipping away at his large HP pool.
• Elemental Weaknesses: Despite being a fire summon, Mako Ifrit doesn't have an ice weakness and actually absorbs fire. Don't bother with ice attacks.
• Survival: If you've been following along and broken your HP Limit, you should have plenty of health to survive stray hits. Phoenix Downs are always good to have, but you ideally shouldn't need them here.

Unlocking the Mission:

• Complete Mission 8-4-1: Suspicious Mail 1.
• Complete Mission 8-5-6: Treasure Info 6.
• This unlocks the Great Cavern of Wonders mission category.
• Progress through the Great Cavern of Wonders missions until you reach Mission 9-5-1.

Helpful Related Guides:

• How to Break the Damage Limit
• How to Break the HP Limit
• Best Accessories
• How to Get the Costly Punch Materia
• How to Unlock the Sector 7 - Shop/ Online Shop Duo