Apocalypse (Final Fantasy VII)

The Apocalypse is a weapon for Cloud in Final Fantasy VII. It is acquired late in the game, and provides triple AP growth to its three Materia slots. It is one of only two pieces of equipment, along with the Scimitar for Cid, that provide triple AP to Materia. It can be equipped to Cloud or thrown, or sold for 1 gil.
==Obtained==
Apocalypse is found in the final room of the optional dungeon Ancient Forest, which is unlocked either with a green/black/gold Chocobo or by defeating the Ultimate Weapon. This makes it a rare weapon that can be acquired later in the game.
==Mechanics==
As the Apocalypse has a base Attack stat bonus of 88, the base damage for physical attacks when it is equipped is the following formula:
:\text{Base Damage} = \text{(88 + Strength)} + \frac{\text{(88 + Strength)} + \text{Level}}{32} \times \frac{\text{(88 + Strength)} \times \text{Level}}{32}
where "Level" is Cloud's current level and "Strength" is his Strength stat. The x3 also has an Attack% (Accuracy) of 110%, and grants a +43 bonus to Cloud's Magic stat when casting spells. Apocalypse also grants +16 to Cloud's Spirit stat, boosting resistance to magic damage.
==Use==
Apocalypse has very strong stats, with a high Attack stat, and one of the highest Magic stats of a weapon for Cloud, tied with Ragnarok and outclassed only by Ultima Weapon. However, by far is main draw is the triple AP bonus to its three equipped Materia, which hastens grinding. It is one of two weapons in the game, along with Cid's Scimitar, that provide triple AP.
Apocalypse's Materia slots are all unlinked, meaning none of them can benefit from Support Materia, such as All. To make grinding easier, the player may wish to equip Cloud with Slash-All or the Independent Materia Mega All, which allow his attacks to hit all targets. Though a drawback of using these Materia is that they could take a slot from another Materia to be leveled instead, there are benefits to mastering these Materia to give them to other characters.
Apocalypse can be used as the optimal way to grind Materia in the Northern Cave. In the Water Crossing and Water Path, Movers and Magic Pots give a significant amount of AP upon defeat. If bringing Cloud with Apocalypse, Cid with Scimitar, another character with a double AP weapon, and all characters equipped with Rune Armlet armor (which provide double AP to four Materia slots), the player can rapidly master Materia.
As a pure weapon, Apocalypse is outclassed by Heaven's Cloud, Ragnarok, and Ultima Weapon. Due to its triple AP bonus, however, it should be kept and used specifically for farming Materia.
==Etymology==
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy VII