TL;DR
- Moogle Medals become valuable currency for exclusive items through side quest merchants
- Summon acquisition shifts from story gifts to Chadley’s combat challenges requiring strategic preparation
- Combat timing and materia combinations dramatically impact damage output and battle efficiency
- Weapon proficiency unlocks permanent stat boosts that carry through multiple playthroughs
- New Game Plus offers enhanced difficulty and exclusive content for completionists
Don’t overlook these critical gameplay elements in FF7 Remake that can dramatically enhance your experience!
Final Fantasy 7 Remake features intricate systems that unfold gradually, which can leave experienced RPG players with unanswered questions during early gameplay. Rather than waiting for the game to explain everything, this guide provides spoiler-free insights to optimize your playthrough from the beginning.
For additional strategic guidance, explore our comprehensive Complete Guide to mastering complex game systems, similar to the depth found in FF7 Remake.
Throughout Midgar, you’ll encounter numerous destructible containers that deserve your attention. Beyond the satisfaction of demolishing these obstacles with Cloud’s massive sword, they provide practical benefits including MP restoration, consumable items like potions and antidotes, and most importantly – Moogle Medals.
Moogle Medals begin accumulating from your initial chapters, though their purpose remains mysterious initially. Around chapter 4-6, you’ll encounter a special vendor who exchanges these medals for rare equipment and accessories unavailable elsewhere.
We’re preserving the surprise of discovering this merchant’s identity, but will confirm they appear during specific side missions. These optional quests significantly enrich character development and narrative depth, while also providing access to this exclusive shop. Prioritize completing side content to maximize your medal collection opportunities.

Summon creatures represent a cornerstone of Final Fantasy combat, appearing under various names across the series. While the original FF7 incorporated these powerful allies, the Remake introduces significantly different acquisition methods that veteran players might overlook.
Your initial summon arrives unavoidably through main story progression, gifted as plot-critical Materia. Subsequent acquisitions demand greater player awareness, particularly in Chapter 6 where a summon Materia appears visible but inaccessible near massive ventilation fans. Progress through the main objectives until you gain elevator access, then locate the ladder on the left side of the fan array to claim your prize before exiting the area.
The majority of summons become available through Chadley, a research assistant you’ll encounter regularly. Despite his unconventional name origins, he provides access to virtual combat simulations where you prove your worth to summon entities.
Chadley’s initial summon battle may overwhelm underprepared players. The strategic approach involves returning when your party reaches level 20+ with upgraded weapons and balanced Materia loadouts. Each summon victory unlocks new combat capabilities and additional simulation challenges.
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Joint Materia systems enable powerful synergistic effects that dramatically enhance combat effectiveness. Linking specific Materia types creates combination attacks, stat boosts, and special abilities unavailable through individual Materia use. For example, pairing Elemental Materia with defensive spells in armor slots provides constant resistance to that element.
Spell casting timing proves crucial beyond simple damage calculation. Properly timed spells during enemy attack animations can interrupt powerful moves, while casting during stagger phases multiplies damage output. Mastering these timing windows separates competent players from true combat experts.
Punisher Mode represents Cloud’s highest damage potential when utilized correctly. The key technique involves switching to Punisher Mode immediately before enemy attacks land, enabling automatic counterattacks that build stagger meters rapidly. Advanced players combine this with focused character switching to maintain offensive pressure.
Tempest ability functions as both crowd control and stagger building tool. Charging Tempest to maximum releases a powerful area attack that significantly damages multiple targets while building their stagger gauges simultaneously.
Weapon proficiency delivers permanent character stat enhancements that persist through New Game Plus cycles. Each weapon features unique abilities that, once mastered, become permanently available regardless of equipped gear, encouraging experimentation with all acquired weapons.


FF7 Remake’s New Game Plus equivalent, called Chapter Selection, allows replaying completed chapters while retaining all character progress, items, and abilities. This system enables completion of missed content and provides access to Hard Mode difficulty, which introduces new combat challenges and restrictions.
Hard Mode eliminates item usage during combat and reduces MP regeneration, demanding superior resource management and strategic planning. This difficulty also features unique manuscript rewards that further enhance character capabilities beyond normal progression limits.
Optimizing your approach to Hard Mode requires strategic Materia preparation and knowledge of enemy patterns. Defensive Materia combinations become significantly more valuable when healing items are unavailable during battles.



Action Checklist
- Destroy every destructible container in each area to accumulate Moogle Medals
- Complete all side quests to unlock the Moogle Medal merchant
- Return to Chadley after reaching level 20 to tackle summon battles
- Master all weapon abilities before New Game Plus to carry permanent stat boosts
- Experiment with Materia combinations to discover synergistic effects
No reproduction without permission:SeeYouSoon Game Club » 8 Essential Things FF7 Remake Doesn’t Tell You At The Start Essential FF7 Remake mechanics and hidden systems every player needs to master
