Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Remake

Post-Game Content

Continue your Final Fantasy VII Remake journey by mastering Hard Mode and facing new challenges. Learn to optimize Materia and combat for the toughest post-gam.

·Multi-source verified (96/96)

Post-Game Content

Congratulations, SOLDIER! Completing the main story of Final Fantasy VII Remake is just the beginning. The post-game offers a wealth of challenges, secrets, and opportunities to truly master Midgar. This section will guide you through maximizing your experience, from unlocking Hard Mode to conquering the most formidable foes.

Unlocking Hard Mode

Upon clearing Chapter 18 and viewing the credits, you'll automatically unlock Hard Mode. This isn't just a simple stat boost for enemies; it fundamentally changes the game:

  • No Item Usage: You cannot use items in battle or outside of battle. This means no Potions, Ethers, or Phoenix Downs. Materia and character abilities become paramount.
  • No MP Regeneration: MP does not regenerate naturally or through resting at benches. You must rely on abilities like Prayer, Chakra, or specific accessories/weapons that grant MP regeneration.
  • Increased Difficulty: Enemies hit harder, have more HP, and often exhibit new attack patterns or resistances. Bosses, in particular, become strategic puzzles.
  • Exclusive Rewards: Completing chapters on Hard Mode unlocks unique manuscripts for each character, granting significant SP bonuses for weapon upgrades.

Strategy for Hard Mode: Prioritize Materia setups that offer healing (Healing Materia, Prayer), MP management (MP Absorb, MP Up), and elemental coverage. Don't underestimate the power of defensive abilities like Barret's Steelskin or Aerith's Arcane Ward. Practice parrying and perfect blocking to mitigate damage.

Chapter Selection and Progression

After completing the game, you'll gain access to Chapter Selection from the main menu. This allows you to revisit any chapter at your leisure, choose your difficulty, and pursue missed collectibles or complete specific challenges.

  • Replaying Chapters for Collectibles: Use Chapter Selection to go back and find any missed Music Discs, Manuscripts, or Weapon abilities. Many side quests are also tied to specific chapters and can be replayed to earn rewards or complete the "Dressed to the Nines" trophy.
  • Hard Mode Progression: To earn all Hard Mode rewards, you'll need to complete every chapter on Hard. It's often beneficial to tackle chapters to gradually build your party's strength and SP.

The Shinra Combat Simulator

The Shinra Combat Simulator, located in the Shinra Building (Chapter 17), becomes a crucial hub for post-game challenges. Once you've completed the main story, new, significantly tougher challenges become available.

New Challenges Unlocked:

  • Three-Person Team vs. Top Secrets: This is the ultimate challenge. It pits your chosen three-person party against a gauntlet of powerful bosses, culminating in the legendary Pride and Joy Prototype.
    • Boss Order: Shiva, Fat Chocobo, Leviathan, Bahamut (with Ifrit summon), Pride and Joy Prototype.
    • Strategy: This fight demands mastery of all characters, optimal Materia setups, and precise execution. Consider equipping Magnify-Healing for group heals, Steadfast Block for damage reduction, and Revival Materia. Focus on staggering enemies and exploiting elemental weaknesses. For Bahamut, be prepared for his countdown to Megaflare; staggering him before it finishes is critical. Pride and Joy is immune to status effects and requires consistent pressure.
    • Reward: Completing this challenge awards the Gotterdammerung accessory, which starts every battle with a full Limit Break gauge. This is invaluable for subsequent Hard Mode runs and other challenges.
  • Two-Person Team vs. Dynamic Duo: Similar to Top Secrets but with only two characters. This tests your synergy and individual character mastery.
  • One-Person Team vs. SOLDIER Trainee/SOLDIER Candidate/SOLDIER First Class: These challenges pit a single character against waves of enemies, testing their solo combat prowess.

Corneo Colosseum Challenges

The Corneo Colosseum in Wall Market (Chapter 9 and Chapter 14) also receives new challenges in the post-game, particularly on Hard Mode.

  • New Hard Mode Challenges: Expect tougher versions of existing challenges and potentially new enemy combinations. These are excellent for grinding SP and AP.
  • Reward: Completing all Corneo Colosseum challenges on Hard Mode contributes to various trophies and provides valuable experience and Gil.

Weapon Upgrades and Manuscripts

Post-game is the time to fully max out your characters' weapon abilities. Each character has a unique set of weapons, and each weapon has its own upgrade tree accessed via the "Upgrade Weapons" menu.

  • Manuscripts: These key items grant SP (Skill Points) to your characters, allowing them to unlock more nodes on their weapon upgrade trees.
    • Hard Mode Chapter Rewards: Completing each chapter on Hard Mode awards a specific character's manuscript. For example, completing Chapter 1 on Hard might give Cloud a "Cloud's Manuscript Vol. 1."
    • Combat Simulator Rewards: Certain Combat Simulator challenges also award manuscripts.
  • Maximizing SP: Aim to collect all manuscripts to fully upgrade all weapons for each character. This unlocks powerful passive abilities and stat boosts crucial for Hard Mode and secret bosses.

Materia Grinding

Leveling up Materia is essential for Hard Mode. AP (Ability Points) are gained from battles, and certain Materia require a significant amount to reach their maximum level.

  • Optimal Grinding Spots:
    • Corneo Colosseum: The various challenges, especially the "Three-Person Team vs. Monsters of Legend" or "Two-Person Team vs. Dynamic Duo," offer good AP rewards.
    • Shinra Combat Simulator: The "Three-Person Team vs. Top Secrets" challenge, while difficult, offers massive AP for all Materia equipped.
    • Chapter 16 - Underground Test Site: The enemies here, particularly the Sledges, provide decent AP and are relatively easy to defeat with area-of-effect attacks.
  • AP Up Materia: Equip the AP Up Materia (found in Chapter 14, Sector 6 Slums - Wall Market, in a chest near the Honeybee Inn) to double the AP gained for the linked Materia. This is invaluable for speeding up the process.

Trophy Hunting

Many trophies are specifically designed for post-game completionists:

  • Dressed to the Nines: Requires unlocking all three dresses for Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith. This involves replaying specific chapters (3, 8, 9) and making certain choices or completing all side quests.
  • Hardened Veteran: Complete all chapters on Hard difficulty.
  • Ultimate Weapon: Defeat the Pride and Joy Prototype in the Shinra Combat Simulator.
  • Master of Sorcery/Sword/Healing/Summons: Max out all Materia of a specific type.

By following these steps, you'll not only conquer every challenge Final Fantasy VII Remake has to offer but also gain a deeper appreciation for its combat system and character customization.