Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth tips and tricks for beginners

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is finally here. Square Enix’s action RPG is the second part in the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, and it’s much bigger than the previous game. As it’s designed to distract you at every opportunity, you might need some help when moving around this huge open world.

We’re here to help. Our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth tips and tricks will teach you the basics, and what you need to know to tackle the early and mid-game, so you won’t miss out on anything in the game. If you’re wondering whether you should buy it on day one, check out our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth review.

Trust the environment – FF7 Rebirth

In FF7 Rebirth, you emerge from the linear corridors of Midgar into a vast open world with plenty of secrets to discover. Square Enix

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is introducing a brand-new open world. Many thought it’d be a detriment to the game’s quality, but it’s very good. Bigger areas want you to follow environmental cues that pop up regularly. Do it, and you’ll meet Chocobo chicks leading you to Chocobo Stops, owls leading you to new Crystals, and more. When that happens, it’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth at its best.

Know your enemy – FF7 Rebirth

Casting Assess on an enemy will give you valuable intel on weaknesses and resistances. Square Enix / GLHF

The remake trilogy is no longer based on a tactical turn-based combat system, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think of a good strategy at each encounter. Rebirth isn’t a “hack ‘n’ slash” game. As soon as you face an enemy, before charging head down, press your DualSense’s touchpad to get an overview of the opponent in front of you. This way, you can attack them with the most appropriate means. You should also use Assess Materia on each new enemy, as this will help complete the Enemy Log and unlock new combat assignments from Chadley.

The right weapon for the job – FF7 Rebirth

FF7 Rebirt’s fast-paced combat requires you to pick the right character and ability on the fly. Square Enix / GLHF

Rebirth’s combat system wants you to actively switch between party members. Especially in the open world, as you’ll find yourself facing very different enemies even in the same battle. That’s why it’ll always be a case of picking the right character on the fly for the challenge ahead, applying Pressure and Stagger much earlier. So, Barret for the flying enemies, Tifa for those on the ground, and Cloud to finish them off – though each character does have a selection of new attacks that will make them more useful, even in these less-than-ideal scenarios.

Take your time – FF7 Rebirth

FF7 Rebirth offers plenty of side content, like the Queen’s Blood card game, to heighten the immersion. Square Enix / GLHF

Final Fantasy 7 Remake is extremely linear, inviting you to dash between story sequences to see how it ends. You shouldn’t do that in Rebirth though, no matter how much the story grips you. As with so many open-world RPGs, the best way to enjoy FF7R2 is to take your time and immerse yourself in the world. Take Queen’s Blood as the best example: the card game can be surprisingly deep, and it’s even linked to complex side quests. Don’t forget to buy new cards regularly if you want to keep it up with every new opponent!

Exploration is key – FF7 Rebirth

Exploring FF7 Rebirth’s open world feels rewarding. Square Enix / GLHF

Unlike Final Fantasy XVI, which featured a lot of unused spaces and scripted events, most of Rebirth’s locations give well-defined rewards for exploration. The game also features a lot of older structures with a sense of mystery, repaying those who take the time to wander around in them. While there are plenty of standard open-world activities, such as towers, there is no shortage of mini-games and side stories you’ll only find out about this way, so it’s highly recommended.

(Not so) side quests – FF7 Rebirth

Side quests in Rebirth carry more weight now, as they affect your relationships with party members and can have story implications. Square Enix / GLHF

Remake’s side quests were often confusing and frustrating, and in this respect, improvements are obvious in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. In addition, an interesting layer has been added to the quests themselves. For each of them, you’ll be paired with a specific party member. Completing the quests will improve your relationship with these allies, and that’s going to have story implications, eventually. It’s something we’ve already seen in the original FF7, but here it has been made explicit so you instantly know which character you’re steering towards.

Save MP – FF7 Rebirth

You can unlock magic attack skills that don’t expend MP from the Folios screen. Square Enix / GLHF

At the Folios menu, you can unlock skills that allow you to use offensive magic without spending MP. For example, Cloud’s Wind Current skill allows him to inflict wind magic damage without wasting magic points on Aero. This option is especially helpful when you want to trigger an enemy’s elemental weakness but are short on MP, and almost every character has access to almost every elemental type. It doesn’t do as much damage as a Spell, but if you need to conserve MP, this is the way to play.

If you feel the need to adjust the challenge, you can check out our breakdown of FF7 Rebirth difficulty options. Our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Performance vs Graphics mode guide explains what to expect from each of the game’s two visual settings.