Exploring With the Highwind

Discover new opportunities and collect valuable items in Final Fantasy VII after acquiring the Highwind airship. Learn about Chocobo breeding, new Materia, and optional shops.

After some initial dialogue, you gain access to the Highwind, your mobile base of operations. Inside, you can find a crewman in the "Operation" room who will later allow you to save and rest. Another crewman outside discusses their defection from Shinra. East of the operations room is a small Chocobo stable, though Chocobo breeding is not yet a priority.

Make your way east across a bridge south of the "Operation" room to find Barret. After Cait Sith prompts you, proceed to the bridge to speak with Cid. Return to the "Operations" room to select your party, then go back to the bridge and speak with the pilot to initiate flight.

Chocobo Sage's Hut

With the Highwind and world map accessible, fly to the northern continent. Head east from the Icicle Inn or north-west from Bone Village to find a hut in the mountains. The Highwind can land on the patch of grass nearby.

Inside the "Mystery House," the Ancient will explain Chocobo breeding. He will repeat this information, remembering more each time after you fight four battles. The Chocobo Sage also sells expensive Greens and Nuts. Speak to the Green Chocobo to receive the final Enemy Skill Materia.

Chocobo Sage’s Shop

Optional Exploration With the Highwind

• Tour the world and learn Enemy Skills like “Beta,” “White Wind,” “Big Guard,” and “Magic Hammer” on your new Enemy Skill Materia.
• Return to the Chocobo Ranch and obtain another Chocobo Lure Materia in the south-eastern corner. You can also rent stables for 10,000 Gil each and purchase Mimett Greens.
• Visit Fort Condor for the final optional battle. The Materia store there sells new Materia.

Fort Condor’s Updated Shop

• Return to Junon; most shops have new stock, including older weapons you may have missed.
• Purchase the villa in Costa del Sol for 300,000 Gil.
• The shady merchant in the Costa del Sol bar sells eight-socket weapons with Attack scores between 58 and 68.

Shady Seller’s Updated Shop

• In Cosmo Canyon’s item shop, head behind the counter to find an Elixir, a Magic Source, and Full Cure Materia.
• In Nibelheim, play the piano with the following inputs:

Playstation controller

X, [Square], [Triangle], R1 + [Triangle], R1 + [Square], X, [Square], [Triangle], R1 + X, [Circle], X, [Square], X

PC controls

[CANCEL], [SELECT], [MENU], [PAGE UP] + [MENU}, [PAGE UP] + [SELECT], [CANCEL], [SELECT], [MENU], [PAGE UP} + [CANCEL], [OK]

If you previously played Tifa’s piano, you can play it again to receive Elemental Materia.