Final Fantasy VII Remake is due to be released in a few months and there are a lot of players who will want to replay the original game one last time before the remake is launched, especially as it’s going to be one of several Final Fantasy games that are coming to Game Pass in 2020. Final Fantasy VII was a product of the strategy guide era, where secrets in video games were made purposely obtuse to encourage people to buy official strategy guides, which kept the best items out of the hands of all but the most diligent players.

The ultimate weapons in Final Fantasy VII grant the best bonuses to physical damage and often grant unique benefits for each character, but all except for Aerith’s Princess Guard prevent any Materia growth. The ultimate weapons should be saved for the final segments of the game or for the important battles where the player needs more of an offensive buff than to strengthen their Materia after the fight.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is using a weapon upgrade system, so it will hopefully be easier to find the best weapons in that game than in Final Fantasy VII. The most powerful weapons in Final Fantasy VII can be tricky to find, so we have created a guide to help the returning players acquire the best arms for the AVALANCHE crew.

Aerith - The Princess Guard

Aerith’s ultimate weapon is the easiest to acquire, but it’s also the one the player has for the shortest period of time, as Aerith leaves the party for good after it’s found.

Aerith’s best weapon is the Princess Guard, which increases Aerith’s attack power for each party member that is knocked out. In order to find the Princess Guard, the player must reach the clock room in the Temple of the Ancients and set the hour/minute hand in such a way that they can use it as a bridge to reach room IIII. A chest containing the Princess Guard can be found in this room.

Cloud - Ultima Weapon

Cloud’s Ultima Weapon is one of the strongest weapons in Final Fantasy VII and it cannot be acquired until he returns to the party after the events in Mideel have concluded. The player needs to pursue the boss known as Ultimate Weapon across the world, in a manner reminiscent of the Deathgaze chase from Final Fantasy VI. 

Once the player gains access to the Highwind and has defeated Diamond Weapons, they can follow Ultimate Weapon across the skies. The player needs to keep crashing the Highwind into Ultimate Weapon, which will cause it to flee to different locations on the world map. Each fight with the Ultimate Weapon ends after a few rounds, as it will run away from the battle, but it retains the damage from each encounter. Once the player has dealt enough damage to Ultimate Weapon, it will fly to Cosmo Canyon for one last battle. If the player defeats Ultimate Weapon, it will drop the Ultima Weapon as loot.

Barret - Missing Score

Barret’s best weapon is the Missing Score and it’s one of two missable items that can be acquired during the Raid on Midgar, the other being Cait Sith’s HP Shout.

The player needs to have Barret in their party near the end of the Raid on Midgar section of the game. Once the player defeats the Proud Clod, they will run up a set of stairs leading up to the Sister Ray. If the player has Barret in the party, then a green chest will appear on the stairs containing the Missing Score.

Tifa - Premium Heart

Tifa’s best weapon can be found as soon as Cloud returns to the party after the events in Mideel. The player needs to use the Highwind to visit Bone Village and go treasure hunting. The player needs to select “Start Diggin” and “Good Treasure”, then search near the ruined plane. The residents of Bone Village will dig up the ‘Key to Sector 5’ Key Item, which can be used to return to Midgar.

The player can use the key to return to Wall Market. If they visit the shop that has “ITEM” written in large letters outside, then they will receive the Premium Heart weapon from the malfunctioning machine inside the store.

Red XIII - Limited Moon

Red XIII’s best weapon is the Limited Moon. Once the player has completed the Raid on Midgar mission, they should return to Cosmo Canyon with Red XIII in the party. If the player visits Bugenhagen, then he will give Red XIII the Limited Moon before passing away.

Cait Sith - HP Shout

Cait Sith’s best weapon is the HP Shout and it’s easy for the player to miss it if they aren’t careful, as it can only be acquired during a narrow timeframe. During the Raid of Midgar, the player needs to return to the Shinra Headquarters and revisit the 64th floor. If the player searches the lockers in the Gym, then they will find the HP Shout.

Cid - Venus Gospel

Cid’s best weapon is the Venus Gospel, which can be found after completing the Huge Materia quest involving the rocket ship. If the player returns to Rocket Town after the space mission, they can talk to the old man who used to spend all day staring at the rocket. If they talk to him three times, then he will give the party the Venus Gospel.

Yuffie - Conformer

Yuffie’s best weapon is the Conformer, which can be found after the player has acquired the submarine. The player needs to search the ocean floor for a downed plane, which can be entered and searched like a dungeon. The plane can be found underwater on the east coast of the western continent. The Conformer can be found in the top left corner of the Research Room, which is the same room that contains the Double Cut Materia and the Escort Guard armor.

Vincent - Death Penalty

Vincent’s best weapon is the Death Penalty and it can be found as part of the hidden Lucrecia’s Cave sidequest in Final Fantasy VII. In order to reach Lucrecia’s Cave, the player needs either the submarine or a blue Chocobo to reach the hidden waterfall in the middle of the western continent. The player needs to visit the cave with Vincent in the party, which will trigger a cutscene with Lucrecia that explains more about his backstory. The player then needs to leave the cave and fight ten different random battles. When they return to the cave, they will find the Death Penalty and Vincent’s Chaos Limit Break resting on the altar.

Next: Final Fantasy 7 Remake Was Informed By Games Like Spider-Man

Final Fantasy VII is available on PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch.