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Mt. Nibel
Final Fantasy VII

Mt. Nibel

Walkthrough for Mt. Nibel in Final Fantasy VII, including the Materia Keeper boss fight, Rune Blade, Plus Barrette, and Elemental Materia.

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Walkthrough for Mt. Nibel in Final Fantasy VII, including the Materia Keeper boss fight, Rune Blade, Plus Barrette, and Elemental Materia.

Walkthrough
  1. 1
    Follow the trail through the mountains until you reach a fork. Take the northern path uphill, follow it behind a foreground element, and onto an elevated ledge. Open the chest to find the Rune Blade.
  2. 2
    Return south to the fork and head west until you reach another fork at a boulder. Head north-west and follow the road up, then back east, wrapping around the stone you’re climbing until you reach a chest containing the Plus Barrette.
  3. 3
    Return to the fork and continue west, crossing a bridge.
  4. 4
    In this area, ignore the five chutes for now. Head down some stairs, descend a ladder, then make your way down another ladder, kicking it down to reach the ground.
  5. 5
    Go down one more ladder and head north-east to find a Save Point. Save your game.
  6. 6
    Head south to investigate the critter.
  7. 7
    After defeating the Materia Keeper, pick up the Counter Attack Materia it drops.
  8. 8
    Return to the top of the level (where the chutes are).
  9. 9
    Ignore pipes #1, #3, and #5.
  10. 10
    Go down pipe #2 to find a rock formation with a chest containing the Powersoul.
  11. 11
    Go down pipe #4 to reach a platform with a chest containing All Materia.
  12. 12
    Jump back down to the lower level. Exit the screen to the south.
  13. 13
    Jump off the ledge and head into a cave entrance to the east.
  14. 14
    Make your way north along the eastern side of the area. At the northern end, turn back south and run along the edge of the path you took to reach the northern end. This will lead you between some pillars to the center of the area.
  15. 15
    Enter a cave to the north, then follow it south along the western end of the area, obscured by the foreground. You should reappear near a chest containing an Elixir.
  16. 16
    Return to the northern end of the cavern and exit the area to the north.
  17. 17
    Make your way north through the Mako fountain area. Search to the west of the fountain to find Elemental Materia.
  18. 18
    Continue north into another cavern and head east along the bottom of the area, heading north-east when necessary.
  19. 19
    When the path splits, head west and loot a chest for the Sniper CR.
  20. 20
    Backtrack east and head south down the eastern side of the cavern to reach the next area.
  21. 21
    Once outside, head north-west along a trail which will eventually lead to the Nibelheim Mako reactor. Behind it is a door leading back to the pipe room.
  22. 22
    Head past where Materia Keeper was and travel through a short screen to exit Mt. Nibel.

Boss Battle: Materia Keeper

  • HP: 8400
  • MP: 300
  • Weaknesses: N/A
  • Resistances: Fire (absorbs), Gravity (halves)
  • XP: 3000
  • AP: 200
  • Steal: N/A
  • Drop: Jem Ring
  • Gil: 2400

Materia Keeper Attacks:

  • Normal Attack: ~400 damage
  • Big Horn: ~400 damage
  • Hell Combo: ~700 damage
  • Trine (Enemy Skill): ~500 damage to all characters

Strategy:

  • Start the fight with “Big Guard”.
  • Pummel the boss.
  • When it casts “Cure2” on itself, stop attacking and wait for it to use “Trine” if it hasn’t already.
  • Learn the “Trine” Enemy Skill; this is a crucial opportunity.
  • Avoid fire attacks as the boss absorbs fire damage.
  • Once “Trine” is learned, defeat the boss by any means necessary.
Tips
  • The Rune Blade found early in Mt. Nibel is Cloud's best weapon, out-damaging the Butterfly Edge, and has four unjoined Materia sockets with Double AP Growth.
  • The Plus Barrette, found later, has four unjoined Materia Sockets with Double AP Growth.
  • The Powersoul weapon powers up when Tifa is in Near Death status and has four unjoined Materia sockets with Double AP Growth.
  • The Sniper CR has 42 Attack, two pairs of joined Materia sockets, and 255 Attack %.
  • The Materia Keeper drops the Counter Attack Materia.
  • The numbered chutes lead to various treasures: Pipe #2 yields a Powersoul, and Pipe #4 yields All Materia.
  • Elemental Materia can be found near the Mako fountain.

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