Aurora Rod (Final Fantasy VII)

The Aurora Rod is a weapon for Aeris in Final Fantasy VII. It can be purchased from Wutai, and has stats on-par with other weapons there. The weapon has five Materia slots, four of which are linked. Aurora Rod can be thrown.
==Obtained==
The Aurora Rod can be purchased from Wutai for 5,800 gil after completing the "Homecoming of a Miserable Daughter" sidequest there. How useful it is depends on how soon the player visits Wutai; if they travel to Wutai early, it is Aeris's best weapon, otherwise it is outclassed by the Princess Guard in the Temple of the Ancients.
==Mechanics==
As the Aurora Rod has a base Attack stat bonus of 51, the base damage for physical attacks when it is equipped is in the following formula:
:\text{Base Damage} = \text{(51 + Strength)} + \frac{\text{(51 + Strength)} + \text{Level}}{32} \times \frac{\text{(51 + Strength)} \times \text{Level}}{32}
where "Level" is Aeris's current level and "Strength" is her Strength stat. The Aurora Rod also has an Attack% (Accuracy) of 110%, and grants a +14 bonus to Aeris's Magic stat.
==Use==
The Aurora Rod is a well-rounded weapon for Aeris with good stats and five Materia slots, four of which are linked. Though the Aurora Rod does not have the unique properties of other weapons, it is a solid weapon for Aeris all around, and remains her best well-rounded weapon until the Princess Guard.
The Aurora Rod has two pairs of linked Materia slots and one unlinked slot. This means that two Materia can benefit from Support Materia. Due to Aeris's high Magic stat, she is a great candidate to pair All with Magic Materia. Pairing it with offensive Magic Materia allows her to defeat waves of enemies quickly, while pairing it with curative Materia, such as Restore, to heal all allies. The former can make up for Aeris's lackluster offensive damage, while the latter can be helpful in dire situations. The second pair of slots should also be given to Magic Materia; either the second pair of Materia can be paired with another Support Materia, or she can given an additional Magic or Summon Materia to further improve her utility. The unlinked slot for Aeris is best given to a Summon Materia, as these benefit less from Support Materia, while benefiting from Aeris's Magic stat. Aeris is also a good candidate for the Enemy Skill Materia, as it benefits greatly from her Magic stat.
Aurora Rod is Aeris's best well-rounded weapon before the Temple of the Ancients, when she can acquire Princess Guard. Though other weapons, such as Fairy Tale or Umbrella, have unique properties that excel in specific areas, Aurora Rod is the only well-rounded weapon for Aeris with multiple linked Materia slots.
==Etymology==
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy VII