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Top Secrets Hard Mode Guide
Final Fantasy VII Remake

Top Secrets Hard Mode Guide

Conquer Final Fantasy VII Remake's Hard Mode with our comprehensive guide. Learn MP management, Materia strategies, and essential tips for the ultimate challenge.

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Conquer Final Fantasy VII Remake's Hard Mode with our comprehensive guide. Learn MP management, Materia strategies, and essential tips for the ultimate challenge.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Access the Shinra Combat Simulator in Chapter 17 via Chapter Select. This simulator offers new challenges exclusive to Hard difficulty and allows completion of Aerith's previous challenges.
  2. 2
    Completing these challenges before starting Hard Mode ensures you reach Level 50 due to double EXP gains (except on Hard Mode itself) when playing on Chapter Select.
  3. 3
    These challenges also provide triple AP, accelerating the mastery of high AP Materia like Elemental, Warding, and Stat Up Materias.
  4. 4
    Some challenges are only available on Hard difficulty, offering significantly more EXP than normal.
Tips
  • MP Management: Use MP Absorption Materia linked with Magic Materia to recover MP when dealing damage. Aerith's Soul Drain absorbs MP from enemies, especially when staggered. Breakable boxes can drop Mako Shards, regenerating 10% of max MP.
  • Healing: Prayer Materia heals the entire party but requires 2 ATB bars. Avoid Chakra Materia as it only heals a percentage of damage taken and is generally ineffective.
  • Materia Importance: Equip two mastered MP Up Materias on at least two characters to double their maximum MP. Two mastered Magic Up Materias on a single character increase Magic by 50%, making Aerith a powerful caster. Equip two mastered Luck Up Materias on Tifa to maximize her critical hit rate, leveraging her high DPS and natural Luck.
  • Aerith vs. SOLDIER Trainees Setup: Mythril Rod, Chain Bangle, Fury Ring. Materia: Fire, Lightning, Subversion, ATB Boost, MP Up (x2), Magic Up (x2), First Strike. Abilities: L1+Square (Breach), L1+Triangle (Arcane Ward), L1+Circle (Firaga), L1+X (Thundara).

Mastering Hard Mode unlocks the full potential of your characters and provides a significant challenge, with the Combat Simulator offering substantial EXP and AP gains to aid in preparation.

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