Understanding Materia and Linked Slots

1. Elemental + Fire and Ice / Lightning and Wind

• Type: Support (Blue) + Magic (Green)
• Effect: Infuses a character’s weapon attacks with elemental damage (Fire/Ice or Lightning/Wind) or reduces damage taken from those elements when equipped on armor.
• Why It’s Great: This combo is a versatile powerhouse for both offense and defense. When slotted in a weapon, Elemental Materia adds elemental damage to basic attacks, exploiting enemy weaknesses (e.g., Fire for organic enemies, Lightning for mechanical foes). On armor, it reduces or even absorbs elemental damage at higher levels, making it ideal for tough battles. The dual-element Materia (Fire and Ice or Lightning and Wind) saves a slot while covering multiple weaknesses.
• Best Characters: Cloud and Tifa (for weapon-based elemental damage due to their high physical attack stats) or Barret (for defensive use on armor to enhance his tank role).
• How to Obtain:
  • Elemental Materia: Available from vendors starting in Chapter 6.
  • Fire and Ice Materia: Develop with Chadley in the Grasslands (Chapter 2, 10 Data Points).
  • Lightning and Wind Materia: Develop with Chadley in Junon (Chapter 4, 30 Data Points).
• Tips: Pair with Assess Materia to identify enemy weaknesses. For maximum effect, level Elemental to 3 stars for a 23% damage boost or elemental absorption.

2. HP Absorption + Enemy Skill

• Type: Support (Blue) + Command (Yellow)
• Effect: Heals the user for a percentage of damage dealt with Enemy Skill abilities, such as Sonic Boom (Wind damage + Bravery/Faith buffs) or Plasma Discharge (Lightning area-of-effect damage).
• Why It’s Great: Enemy Skill is one of the most versatile Materia, granting unique abilities like Sonic Boom, which deals Wind damage and boosts Attack/Magic Attack for free (0 MP cost). Pairing it with HP Absorption ensures sustainability, as every cast heals the user, making it ideal for prolonged fights or Hard Mode where item usage is restricted.
• Best Characters: Tifa (her fast ATB generation maximizes ability usage) or Yuffie (her Elemental Ninjutsu complements Enemy Skill’s versatility).
• How to Obtain:
  • HP Absorption Materia: Purchase from Chadley in the Corel Region (15 Data Points).
  • Enemy Skill Materia: Complete Chadley’s Grasslands Battle Intel: Know Thine Enemy (Chapter 2).
• Tips: Combine with Haste (from Time Materia) to spam abilities faster. This combo shines in Hard Mode for its MP-free healing.

3. Magnify + Healing / Time

• Type: Support (Blue) + Magic (Green)
• Effect: Extends Healing spells (e.g., Cura, Curaga) or Time spells (e.g., Haste, Stop) to all party members or enemies, albeit with reduced potency.
• Why It’s Great: Magnify is the spiritual successor to the “All” Materia, enabling party-wide buffs or healing. Magnify + Healing is a lifesaver for keeping the entire party alive, especially in boss fights, while Magnify + Time provides Hastega (party-wide Haste) for faster ATB generation or Stop to control crowds. Leveling Magnify reduces the potency penalty, making it more efficient.
• Best Characters: Aerith (her high Magic stat and Arcane Ward amplify spellcasting) or Barret (his fast ATB generation supports frequent casting).
• How to Obtain:
  • Magnify Materia: Found in Chapter 9 (Gongaga Region, Phenomenon Intel 4 chest) or purchased from vendors in Chapter 10 (500 gil).
  • Healing Materia: Available from the start or vendors in Chapter 2.
  • Time Materia: Available from vendors or as rewards in Chapter 2.
• Tips: Pair with Magic Efficiency Materia to reduce MP costs for Healing spells, especially in Hard Mode.

4. ATB Assist + First Strike + Steadfast Block

• Type: Support (Blue) + Complete (Purple)
• Effect: ATB Assist boosts allies’ ATB gauges when the equipped character uses consecutive abilities. First Strike starts battles with a partial ATB gauge, and Steadfast Block reduces damage taken while guarding and boosts ATB generation.
• Why It’s Great: This combo turns a character into an “ATB factory,” enabling rapid ability usage and supporting the party’s offense. Tifa can spam Unbridled Strength to build Chi levels, while Barret draws aggro and generates ATB for the team. It’s perfect for aggressive playstyles and staggering enemies quickly.
• Best Characters: Tifa (for rapid ability spam) or Barret (for tanking and ATB support).
• How to Obtain:
  • ATB Assist Materia: Available through Battle Intel or vendors in Chapter 4.
  • First Strike Materia: Purchase from vendors or obtain via side quests in Chapter 2.
  • Steadfast Block Materia: Available from vendors in Chapter 6.
• Tips: Equip on a character you control to maximize ATB generation, and pair with Haste for even faster cycles.

5. Magic Efficiency + Healing

• Type: Support (Blue) + Magic (Green)
• Effect: Reduces the MP cost of linked Healing spells (e.g., 50% reduction for Curaga at 3-star Magic Efficiency).
• Why It’s Great: Healing spells are MP-heavy, especially in Hard Mode where MP recovery is limited. This combo ensures your healer (typically Aerith) can sustain the party without running dry. It’s a must for challenging battles and long dungeons.
• Best Characters: Aerith (her high Magic stat maximizes healing output) or Barret (for support tank builds).
• How to Obtain:
  • Magic Efficiency Materia: Available from Chadley in the Junon Region (Chapter 4, 20 Data Points).
  • Healing Materia: Starting inventory or vendors in Chapter 2.
• Tips: Combine with Magnify for party-wide healing at reduced MP cost. Use on Aerith with her Arcane Ward for double casts.

6. Auto-Cast + Healing / Cleansing

• Type: Support (Blue) + Magic (Green)
• Effect: Allows AI-controlled party members to automatically cast Healing or Cleansing spells when needed (e.g., Cure when HP is low, Esuna for status ailments).
• Why It’s Great: This combo enhances party AI, ensuring non-controlled characters contribute effectively. Auto-Cast + Healing keeps the party topped off, while Auto-Cast + Cleansing counters debuffs like Poison or Silence without player intervention. It’s ideal for players who focus on controlling one character.
• Best Characters: Aerith (for healing) or Yuffie (for Cleansing, as her agility complements utility roles).
• How to Obtain:
  • Auto-Cast Materia: Develop with Chadley in the Grasslands (Chapter 2).
  • Healing Materia: Starting inventory or vendors.
  • Cleansing Materia: Available from vendors in Chapter 2.
• Tips: Equip on a secondary character to free up your controlled character for offense. Pair with Magic Efficiency to reduce MP costs.

7. AP Up + Any Slow-Leveling Materia

• Type: Support (Blue) + Any
• Effect: Doubles the AP earned by the linked Materia, speeding up its leveling process.
• Why It’s Great: Materia like HP Up, Fire and Ice, or Enemy Skill require thousands of AP to max out. AP Up accelerates this grind, making it easier to unlock powerful abilities like Curaga or Thundaga early. It’s especially useful in the early-to-mid game when slots are limited.
• Best Characters: Any active party member, as AP is earned in battle (reserve characters also gain AP).
• How to Obtain:
  • AP Up Materia: Found in the Mythril Mine (Chapter 3) or purchased from Chadley later.
  • Slow-Leveling Materia: HP Up (starting inventory), Fire and Ice (Chadley, Grasslands), or Enemy Skill (Chadley, Grasslands).
• Tips: Prioritize linking AP Up with Materia you plan to use long-term, like HP Up (capped at 30% HP boost) or dual-element Materia. Swap it out once the linked Materia is maxed.

Character-Specific Recommendations

• Cloud: Focus on offense with Elemental + Fire and Ice (weapon) and ATB Assist + First Strike for rapid ability usage. His Sleek Saber or Igneous Saber maximizes ATB generation.
• Tifa: Pair HP Absorption + Enemy Skill for survivability and damage, or ATB Assist + First Strike to spam Unbridled Strength. Her Sylph Gloves add Wind damage to complement elemental builds.
• Aerith: Use Magnify + Healing or Magic Efficiency + Healing for party-wide support. Her Arcane Ward doubles spell casts, making her ideal for Magnify + Time.
• Barret: Build as a support tank with Auto-Cast + Healing and Provoke + Vitality Up to draw aggro and sustain the party.
• Yuffie: Leverage her Elemental Ninjutsu with HP Absorption + Enemy Skill or Auto-Cast + Cleansing for utility and survivability.
• Red XIII: Combine Elemental + Fire and Ice (weapon) for elemental claw attacks or Precision Defense Focus + Steadfast Block for a defensive build that boosts Vengeance Mode.
• Cait Sith: Equip Haste (Time Materia) and Auto-Cast + Healing to support the party while building ATB for his unique abilities.

Early-Game vs. Endgame Considerations

• Early-Game (Chapters 2–4): Focus on Fire and Ice + Elemental, HP Up, and Auto-Cast + Healing to cover elemental weaknesses and survivability. These Materia are accessible early via Chadley or vendors.
• Mid-Game (Chapters 5–9): Introduce HP Absorption + Enemy Skill and Magnify + Healing for tougher battles. AP Up is crucial to level Materia faster.
• Endgame (Chapters 10–13, Hard Mode): Prioritize MP-efficient combos like Magic Efficiency + Healing and HP Absorption + Enemy Skill to sustain without items. Maxed-out Materia like Magnify and Elemental shine here.

Final Tips

• Assess Enemies: Always equip Assess Materia to reveal enemy weaknesses, ensuring you slot the right elemental Materia.
• Synergy Abilities: Combine Materia builds with Synergy Abilities (e.g., Aerith’s Arcane Ward or Red XIII’s Supernal Fervor) to amplify effects.
• Experiment: With over 50 Materia types and seven playable characters, FF7 Rebirth encourages creativity. Test combos based on your playstyle and enemy encounters.
• Chadley’s Intel: Complete Battle Intel and World Intel to unlock powerful Materia like Enemy Skill and dual-element orbs from Chadley.