How to HP and MP absorption materia works?

[Will_Liim370]

So guy I just got these two materia so I was wondering how it work? We just equip it on the materia slot or need to be linked like the elemental with any of the fire wind etc magic?

[Xengre]

Link it with an offensive materia like Fire or Ice and those spells will gain those additional effects.

Tip: You can do combo links for advanced setups.

Example:

Fire + MP Absorb in slot pair 1
Fire + Magnify in slot pair 2

This produces AoE fire magic that absorbs MP from all targets hit at the cost of having to use two slots on fire.

You can enhance it further with something like Fire + Synergy which means every ability cast (weapon skill or something like Blizzara, etc.) will cause the character with Synergy (when AI is controlling it) to automatically cast the paired magic at zero MP cost, tier 1 only (still insanely powerful if magic attack is high enough), and no ATB consumption (even if ATB is 0 it works). Great for setting up on, say, Aerith or Mithril Saber Cloud in hard mode where you can't use items and bench only recovers HP and not MP.

Suddenly you get AoE MP recovering spell nuking (even tho only tier 1, also casts faster as a lower tier spell anyways), on every skill cast by the other two party members. Even better if you do it from an Arcane Ward such as Cloud + Aerith both casting magic.

[Will_Liim370]

I see ok man thanks

[Will_Liim370]

I’m planning to make this setup
Cloud : Elemental + Fire / HP Absorb + Dead Dodge
Tifa : Elemental + Ice / HP Absorb + Dead Dodge
What ya think?

[Xengre]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Will_Liim370:

I’m planning to make this setup
Cloud : Elemental + Fire / HP Absorb + Dead Dodge
Tifa : Elemental + Ice / HP Absorb + Dead Dodge
What ya think?

It will work, but I don't personally use Deadly Dodge at all since there is better AoE and Steadfast Guard is better, anyways, for player & AI. As for HP Absorb, I do not personally use it because Chakra / Pray and Aerith's level 1 limit are more than enough, but no harm to use it if you like it. Imo, MP Absorb is the real winner.

Elemental depends on the enemy and what they're weak to or using for their dmg. The effect changes depending on if it is on a weapon slot or armor slot. Weapon slot = making attack have a dmg modifier of that element while on armor it makes you resistant to that element (at rate of -50% dmg, null, or absorb to heal you depending on materia level).

For offensive usage I'd argue elemental on a weapon slot is almost never useful because the dmg increase is so tiny and magic is vastly superior for elemental dmg and weakness exploitation. However, there is a slight exception for robotic enemies because they have some type of weird dmg defensive stat where physical dmg is nerfed unusually hard unless you make the dmg lightning type (however actual lightning magic is still superior anyways... so still mostly pointless imo).

Elemental's real value comes using it on armor because it can make fights, notably boss fights, way easier. Example, trivializing the lightning dmg from Reno, or Ifrit, etc. Odds are you will not level it even once in NG due to the insane AP requirement it has to level up, but in NG+ you gain a bonus 3x multiplier on exp, AP, and gil so it becomes way easier to level and you can use simulator to make it easier to grind, too. Then you can use it to completely ignore and actually heal from some/all of certain bosses making them trivial (ex. Elemental + Fire on armor against Bahamut in Hard mode 5 round top secrets fight when he summons Ifrit mid-way through fight lets you completely ignore Ifrit and focus Bahamut while Ifrit heals you).

Tip: Enemy AI almost exclusively targets the controlled character so Elemental mainly just needs to be on the character you intend to play, especially for boss AI. There are some slight exceptions like the huge 360 AoE fire thruster attack from Hell House tends to clip Aerith as her AI runs into it randomly even though it is trying to hit Cloud with it if you are controlling him.

Last, it never hurts to experiment so give it a go.

[Will_Liim370]

I see thanks for the valuable tips I will make sure to examine most of the setup see which one suit my playstyle more, about the MP absorb which materia pairing the best with it?

[Xengre]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Will_Liim370:

I see thanks for the valuable tips I will make sure to examine most of the setup see which one suit my playstyle more, about the MP absorb which materia pairing the best with it?

MP Absorb + The element you need to target specific enemy's weakness. If I'm going to bother with MP Absorb I'm usually going to also use Magnify.

Ex. Fire + MP Absorb & Fire + Magnify so I get AoE and get the best MP recovery per cast. Not super useful for bosses as they're usually single target and Magnify + Haste is best for bosses anyways, but for basic mobs it lets you spam magic every fight without worrying about MP and usually instantly win every fight in like 5 seconds.

If I'm fighting enemies weak to fire but I see the enemy up ahead is one I know is weak to lightning then I'll swap both fire to have lightning, instead. Etc.

[Will_Liim370]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Xengre:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Will_Liim370:

I see thanks for the valuable tips I will make sure to examine most of the setup see which one suit my playstyle more, about the MP absorb which materia pairing the best with it?

MP Absorb + The element you need to target specific enemy's weakness. If I'm going to bother with MP Absorb I'm usually going to also use Magnify.

Ex. Fire + MP Absorb & Fire + Magnify so I get AoE and get the best MP recovery per cast. Not super useful for bosses as they're usually single target and Magnify + Haste is best for bosses anyways, but for basic mobs it lets you spam magic every fight without worrying about MP and usually instantly win every fight in like 5 seconds.

If I'm fighting enemies weak to fire but I see the enemy up ahead is one I know is weak to lightning then I'll swap both fire to have lightning, instead. Etc.

Thanks again for the tips man

[Yílõng Má]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Xengre:

Link it with an offensive materia like Fire or Ice and those spells will gain those additional effects.

Tip: You can do combo links for advanced setups.

Example:

Fire + MP Absorb in slot pair 1
Fire + Magnify in slot pair 2

This produces AoE fire magic that absorbs MP from all targets hit at the cost of having to use two slots on fire.

You can enhance it further with something like Fire + Synergy which means every ability cast (weapon skill or something like Blizzara, etc.) will cause the character with Synergy (when AI is controlling it) to automatically cast the paired magic at zero MP cost, tier 1 only (still insanely powerful if magic attack is high enough), and no ATB consumption (even if ATB is 0 it works). Great for setting up on, say, Aerith or Mithril Saber Cloud in hard mode where you can't use items and bench only recovers HP and not MP.

Suddenly you get AoE MP recovering spell nuking (even tho only tier 1, also casts faster as a lower tier spell anyways), on every skill cast by the other two party members. Even better if you do it from an Arcane Ward such as Cloud + Aerith both casting magic.

Synergy doesn't work with Magnify.

[Will_Liim370]

Lastly about the hardened veteran achievement do I need to play a fresh start in hard mode or can done with Ng+ as well?

[Shock_&_Awe]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Will_Liim370:

Lastly about the hardened veteran achievement do I need to play a fresh start in hard mode or can done with Ng+ as well?

Hard mode is meant to be played in NG+ with your upgraded materia/weapons

[Xengre]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Yílõng Má:

Synergy doesn't work with Magnify.

This is incorrect. Synergy absolutely works with Magnify.

As I stated before you would use it like so:

Aerith
Fire + MP Absorb in slot pair 1
Fire + Magnify in slot pair 2
Fire + Synergy in slot pair 3

Now when Cloud, Tifa, or Barrett use a skill Aerith will activate Synergy and cast Fire (the lowest tier) and it will carry both Magnify & MP Absorb effects. Yes, it requires 6 slots to achieve but it is absolutely worth it when you're now starting a fight with Triple Slash on Cloud (due to +1/2 ATB from accessory/materia) + aoe magic on Aerith instantly winning the fight in less than 5 seconds as she still does 3-6k per enemy even with the basic tier of magic and recovers her MP so you can use stronger (or other, or just more frequently) magic for stronger enemies as necessary.

I know it works because I've thoroughly tested and used it and you can test it, yourself.

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Shock_&_Awe:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Will_Liim370:

Lastly about the hardened veteran achievement do I need to play a fresh start in hard mode or can done with Ng+ as well?

Hard mode is meant to be played in NG+ with your upgraded materia/weapons

^Yup, NG+ only. Cannot play hard in NG without a mod as enemies start off much stronger and hard expects you to have certain materia/leveled materia and able to swap equipment to adapt due to its restrictions on items/MP bench recovery,and stronger enemies.

[Will_Liim370]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Shock_&_Awe:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Will_Liim370:

Lastly about the hardened veteran achievement do I need to play a fresh start in hard mode or can done with Ng+ as well?

Hard mode is meant to be played in NG+ with your upgraded materia/weapons

I see thanks man

[Yílõng Má]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Xengre:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Yílõng Má:

Synergy doesn't work with Magnify.

This is incorrect. Synergy absolutely works with Magnify.

As I stated before you would use it like so:

Aerith
Fire + MP Absorb in slot pair 1
Fire + Magnify in slot pair 2
Fire + Synergy in slot pair 3

Now when Cloud, Tifa, or Barrett use a skill Aerith will activate Synergy and cast Fire (the lowest tier) and it will carry both Magnify & MP Absorb effects. Yes, it requires 6 slots to achieve but it is absolutely worth it when you're now starting a fight with Triple Slash on Cloud (due to +1/2 ATB from accessory/materia) + aoe magic on Aerith instantly winning the fight in less than 5 seconds as she still does 3-6k per enemy even with the basic tier of magic and recovers her MP so you can use stronger (or other, or just more frequently) magic for stronger enemies as necessary.

I know it works because I've thoroughly tested and used it and you can test it, yourself.

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Shock_&_Awe:

Hard mode is meant to be played in NG+ with your upgraded materia/weapons

^Yup, NG+ only. Cannot play hard in NG without a mod as enemies start off much stronger and hard expects you to have certain materia/leveled materia and able to swap equipment to adapt due to its restrictions on items/MP bench recovery,and stronger enemies.

No, it doesn't. Stop giving misinformation. Who is the one that have platinum? Your or me?

Joking lol. Platinum aside, I made sure for it one more time a few minutes ago. Did the VR, put Synergy - Lightning, MP Absorb - Lightning, and Magnify - Lightning on Aerith, Lightning only came for 1 enemy.

Once again, stop giving misinformation.

[Xengre]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Yílõng Má:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Xengre:

This is incorrect. Synergy absolutely works with Magnify.

As I stated before you would use it like so:

Aerith
Fire + MP Absorb in slot pair 1
Fire + Magnify in slot pair 2
Fire + Synergy in slot pair 3

Now when Cloud, Tifa, or Barrett use a skill Aerith will activate Synergy and cast Fire (the lowest tier) and it will carry both Magnify & MP Absorb effects. Yes, it requires 6 slots to achieve but it is absolutely worth it when you're now starting a fight with Triple Slash on Cloud (due to +1/2 ATB from accessory/materia) + aoe magic on Aerith instantly winning the fight in less than 5 seconds as she still does 3-6k per enemy even with the basic tier of magic and recovers her MP so you can use stronger (or other, or just more frequently) magic for stronger enemies as necessary.

I know it works because I've thoroughly tested and used it and you can test it, yourself.



^Yup, NG+ only. Cannot play hard in NG without a mod as enemies start off much stronger and hard expects you to have certain materia/leveled materia and able to swap equipment to adapt due to its restrictions on items/MP bench recovery,and stronger enemies.

No, it doesn't. Stop giving misinformation. Who is the one that have platinum? Your or me?

Joking lol. Platinum aside, I made sure for it one more time a few minutes ago. Did the VR, put Synergy - Lightning, MP Absorb - Lightning, and Magnify - Lightning on Aerith, Lightning only came for 1 enemy.

Once again, stop giving misinformation.

Both of us, apparently. lol

You're actually correct. I just tested and admit I remembered incorrectly.

Magnify + MP Absorb + HP Absorb and such combos carry together. Synergy can carry MP + HP absorb.

However, Synergy + Magnify cannot pair together. I may have mixed up why I did that combo or just confused it with Arcane Ward slightly (been a good while since I played).

In the prior example if Cloud used a skill like Triple Slash Aerith would Synergy cast Fire with MP Absorb at no MP/ATB cost. Benefit of it is that it is free and also recovers MP. Now, if I want to do an AoE nuke I must manually consume some MP + 1 ATB from Aerith and directly cast Fire/Fira/Firaga for the Magnify + MP Absorb effect (it wont be free MP & ATB cost, but I still compensate with MP absorb and can use higher tier versions of Fire like Firaga).

Arcane ward makes no changes and just doubles the casts but the second cast while super fast and low cost has reduced dmg.

OP, the above is correction of how this works thanks to Yilong's prodding to make me test it and remember correctly. My bad on part of that info being off.

Thanks Yilong.

[Will_Liim370]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Xengre:

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Yílõng Má:

No, it doesn't. Stop giving misinformation. Who is the one that have platinum? Your or me?

Joking lol. Platinum aside, I made sure for it one more time a few minutes ago. Did the VR, put Synergy - Lightning, MP Absorb - Lightning, and Magnify - Lightning on Aerith, Lightning only came for 1 enemy.

Once again, stop giving misinformation.

Both of us, apparently. lol

You're actually correct. I just tested and admit I remembered incorrectly.

Magnify + MP Absorb + HP Absorb and such combos carry together. Synergy can carry MP + HP absorb.

However, Synergy + Magnify cannot pair together. I may have mixed up why I did that combo or just confused it with Arcane Ward slightly (been a good while since I played).

In the prior example if Cloud used a skill like Triple Slash Aerith would Synergy cast Fire with MP Absorb at no MP/ATB cost. Benefit of it is that it is free and also recovers MP. Now, if I want to do an AoE nuke I must manually consume some MP + 1 ATB from Aerith and directly cast Fire/Fira/Firaga for the Magnify + MP Absorb effect (it wont be free MP & ATB cost, but I still compensate with MP absorb and can use higher tier versions of Fire like Firaga).

Arcane ward makes no changes and just doubles the casts but the second cast while super fast and low cost has reduced dmg.

OP, the above is correction of how this works thanks to Yilong's prodding to make me test it and remember correctly. My bad on part of that info being off.

Thanks Yilong.

Regardless I’m appreciated both of your opinions thanks a lot guys 🙏