Tips for Hard mode

[XtReMz98]

Howdy!

Nearing completion of Chapter 16 on my first playthrough. I'm planning to grind to lvl 50 and grind my materia before I jump on hard mode for a full playthrough. This post came after I looked up guide for hard mode and some suggest 2 HP UP, 2 MP UP, with healing and revival. Considering that at best (armor dependant), you'll have 9 or 10 materia slots, that setup would take 6/10 slots. Is it still required to make it through hard as a minimum setup (leaving the 4 remaining slots to play around boss weaknesses)?

So far, I rarely use the healing materia except in dire emergencies. I simply love Prayer; AOE heal (for roughly 2000 hp at the moment) and no MP cost. Only downside is 2 ATB bars required. I also love steadfast, first strike, ATB assist on Tifa, elemental+materia on weapons and ATB stagger. Are any of these worth sacrificing a MP UP, a revival or a healing? Is prayer still better than healing (no MP cost + heals everyone)? I also never used barrier nor time materia as I destroy everything in Normal at the moment. Same goes for chakra, magic up and enemy skills.

I read that enemy skill frost aura + hp absorption is a fun combo (like a passive regen). Any pointers would be appreciate so I can enter hard with a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.

Cheers!

[StormEye]

2 HP materia is common setup to boost HP past 8K.
You don't need 2 MP materia unless you really want to spend your ATB on casting spells. MP materia is mostly to boost MP gain on boxes or Aerith's ability to steal MP. Reduce that to 1 or just don't use it for characters not relying on casting spells.
Revival is only an insurance. If you don't mind starting fight again when anyone falls, then just get rid of it.
If you are good at mitigating damage (whether thats dodging or blocking, or abusing whatever ability) then you only really need 1 healer in the group. If you are not at that skill level yet, then Chakra/Prayer is good.

ATB Assist and Parry are the reason why Tifa exists, and you need to learn to abuse the mechanics. You also need to learn how to abuse backflip so that you can cast it back to back to dodge attack, build burst and distribute ATB.

Elemental would be used according to the situation presented, so you need to keep swapping it from weapon to armor, and different elements depending on fight.

Enemy skill is just not too useful. I would rather just use Evasion attack combined with HP absorb for quick small HP regain. Most of my healing, if necessary, come from Regen cast by my healer on all party members. If Barret is in the party, then I resort to using Prayer instead as its very easy to build up 2 ATB with him. (Tifa is too busy with ATB assist)

[XtReMz98]

Originally posted by StormEye:

2 HP materia is common setup to boost HP past 8K.
You don't need 2 MP materia unless you really want to spend your ATB on casting spells. MP materia is mostly to boost MP gain on boxes or Aerith's ability to steal MP. Reduce that to 1 or just don't use it for characters not relying on casting spells.
Revival is only an insurance. If you don't mind starting fight again when anyone falls, then just get rid of it.
If you are good at mitigating damage (whether thats dodging or blocking, or abusing whatever ability) then you only really need 1 healer in the group. If you are not at that skill level yet, then Chakra/Prayer is good.

ATB Assist and Parry are the reason why Tifa exists, and you need to learn to abuse the mechanics. You also need to learn how to abuse backflip so that you can cast it back to back to dodge attack, build burst and distribute ATB.

Elemental would be used according to the situation presented, so you need to keep swapping it from weapon to armor, and different elements depending on fight.

Enemy skill is just not too useful. I would rather just use Evasion attack combined with HP absorb for quick small HP regain. Most of my healing, if necessary, come from Regen cast by my healer on all party members. If Barret is in the party, then I resort to using Prayer instead as its very easy to build up 2 ATB with him. (Tifa is too busy with ATB assist)

Thanks for the answer! For clarification, the backflip is Focused Strike (evade back then attack to build stagger), correct? And evasion+hp asborb is Deadly Dodge with HP absorb?

Since I got Maximum Fury, I play most boss battles as Barret. Unlike Cloud and Tifa, he doesn't care if the boss teleport/jump across the room and he builds atb like a madman, chaining prayers and maximum fury like there's no tomorrow.

You also didn't cover Barrier and Time. Found any use for these two?

[chaoticWolf17]

This guy has a lot of great info on his channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJMaZxOcU4M

[StormEye]

Originally posted by XtReMz98:

Thanks for the answer! For clarification, the backflip is Focused Strike (evade back then attack to build stagger), correct? And evasion+hp asborb is Deadly Dodge with HP absorb?

Since I got Maximum Fury, I play most boss battles as Barret. Unlike Cloud and Tifa, he doesn't care if the boss teleport/jump across the room and he builds atb like a madman, chaining prayers and maximum fury like there's no tomorrow.

You also didn't cover Barrier and Time. Found any use for these two?

I do not play the game in English so can't really help with names. Have experience playing OG in English so terms are a little mixed up.

Focused Strike does feel sound like backflip and Deadly Dodge probably is right (its the materia allowing you to attack immediately after dodging for AOE damage).

I tend to not main Barret except for using his unique skill when it fills up, he is mainly the tank/healer and doesn't need unnecessary aggro from enemies.

Time materia is optional, but Barrier probably is mandatory depending on the fight or your skill level. If you can't burst summons in VR missions, then you need to setup wall on all characters to avoid wipe. You can either dedicate All materia either on healing or barrier. I usually choose to have it on Restore for overall Regen on characters.

[Elazul]

Level to 50 before you even try to tackle hard mode.

Make sure all your materia are maxed out.

Give everyone Steadfast Block even if you don't block. The AI does and it reduces incoming damage and increases ATB generation.

Make sure everyone either has a Chakra or Pray materia on them and they're maxed out. You'll want to heal with these materia instead of using MP.

Use the Silver Staff on Aerith as you can get infinite MP easier. Always give her a First Strike materia and immediately cast an Arcane Ward. Also useful is having her use the Magnify materia along with the materia to match the weakness of what you're fighting. Once you got the ward down you can then cast a massive double nuke at all the enemies or weak points simultaniously.

On that note MP Absorb materia is very nice if you use is properly. Put an element of the same type on both MP Absorb and Magnify. Double nuking using Aerith's Arcane Ward is going to result in a net gain of MP most likely.

Don't wait for a cast to go off. Switch characters.

Tifa has some insane damage and stagger capabilities. There is a bit of a learning curve, but she can absolutely destroy things with her combo attacks. Definitely practice using just her to get the hang of it.

Give everyone the Revive materia since items don't work.

[XtReMz98]

Thanks for all the answers!

Chain Bangle aside, should I opt for a 3 materia bangle with defense or magic defense or go for Geometric Bracelet (+8 to both defense, 4 materia slots)? Unsure if 1 extra materia outperforms a +60-ish to either defense on hard mode.

[Muscarine]

Elemental materia on weapons is a waste

The damage increase is negligible, it's not worth the weapon perks and slots investment

For the same amount of slots and 0 perks you can absorb an element instead, and turn many challenging fights into a cake walk

There's also no reason to use HP Absorb on Deadly Dodge, the healing is also subpar, you have Chakra and better things to do than spamming dodge attacks

Originally posted by Elazul:

Give everyone the Revive materia since items don't work.

Also a massive waste
One revive is enough, put it on your tankiest character

[Gvaedyn]

Prepare to have a difficult time, because the dodge mechanic is broken, and enemies like to stun lock you.

[Edifier]

I think it'd be easier to spam counter attacks.

You know when Cloud raise his sword above him and deal more damage normally you can hold R1 I believe and if an enemy attacks you, it gives you a free counter.

Does not work on all attacks.

[Elazul]

Originally posted by Muscarine:

Originally posted by Elazul:

Give everyone the Revive materia since items don't work.

Also a massive waste
One revive is enough, put it on your tankiest character

Only having one is a terrible idea. If that person dies you’re ♥♥♥♥♥♥. You can’t raise them and makes the rest of the fight at a massive disadvantage. Not to mention if any subsequent people die. It's like tipping over a domino. The whole thing collapses if you lose them.

[Rhapsody]

Originally posted by Elazul:

Level to 50 before you even try to tackle hard mode.

Make sure all your materia are maxed out.

This is not absolutely necessary. I started Hard mode on late 30s and never truly farmed AP for materia. I've finished all combat-related achievements in both main story and Intermission without ever leveling HP Up beyond rank 3. Having done so would help of course, but it's not essential.

Acquiring all weapons and their abilities and second level Limits etc. is much more important IMO. Even if you prefer gunning down enemies as Barret, you don't want to miss out on Smackdown (Charging Uppercut is less useful) or Planet Protector. If you're missing out on something like that, you probably want to replay the according chapter on Normal mode first.

[XtReMz98]

Stupid question guys, but chain bangle is really good (4 materia and good def/mgdef. Can you use chapter select to fight your way to that chest in chapter 17, open said chest and then restart the chapter to get 4 copies?

[Rhapsody]

Originally posted by XtReMz98:

Stupid question guys, but chain bangle is really good (4 materia and good def/mgdef. Can you use chapter select to fight your way to that chest in chapter 17, open said chest and then restart the chapter to get 4 copies?

It's a unique item AFAIK.

[XtReMz98]

Originally posted by Rhapsody:

Originally posted by XtReMz98:

Stupid question guys, but chain bangle is really good (4 materia and good def/mgdef. Can you use chapter select to fight your way to that chest in chapter 17, open said chest and then restart the chapter to get 4 copies?

It's a unique item AFAIK.

RIP. Thanks!

[Muscarine]

Originally posted by Elazul:

Only having one is a terrible idea. If that person dies you’re ♥♥♥♥♥♥. You can’t raise them and makes the rest of the fight at a massive disadvantage. Not to mention if any subsequent people die. It's like tipping over a domino. The whole thing collapses if you lose them.

Then don't lose the character who's using it

i.e. Your tankiest character
A properly built Barret for example just doesn't die

As it stands you sacrifice two more slots for maybes, and you're dropping in efficacy, meaning you increase the odds you're gonna need a revive

And if you ♥♥♥♥♥♥ up that much that you think you might have needed more revives, i mean, it happens, then just play the fight again but better this time

The game puts a heavy emphasis on dedicated roles, it doesn't really matter on normal but it does on hard, each misplaced materia is an exponential drop in effectiveness