Umbrella (Final Fantasy VII)

The Umbrella, also known as the Parasol, is a joke weapon for Aeris in Final Fantasy VII. It is obtained in the Speed Square in the Gold Saucer. The weapon has very high stats, with the highest Attack stat of any of her weapons, and uniquely provides a boost to Aeris's physical damage resistance and critical hit rate, but has no Materia slots. This means the weapon severely changes Aeris's playstyle. The player can also throw it.
==Obtained==
Umbrella can only be obtained in the Gold Saucer before completing Whirlwind Maze in "That Which Waits in the Northernmost Reaches", by scoring at least 5000 points in the Speed Square.
==Mechanics==
As the Umbrella has a base Attack stat bonus of 33, the base damage for physical attacks when the Umbrella is equipped is in the following formula:
:\text{Base Damage} = \text{(58 + Strength)} + \frac{\text{(58 + Strength)} + \text{Level}}{32} \times \frac{\text{(58 + Strength)} \times \text{Level}}{32}
where "Level" is Aeris's current level and "Strength" is her Strength stat. The Umbrella also has an Attack% (Accuracy) of 103%, and grants a +8 bonus to Aeris's Magic stat. Uniquely, it also provides a +20 boost to Vitality, affecting Aeris's resistance to physical damage, and a +5% boost to her critical hit rate.
==Use==
The Umbrella is notable for its strong stats, including a boost to Aeris's critical hit rate and physical damage resistance, but has no Materia slots. This limits Aeris to the Materia slots provided by her armor. Though it allows Aeris to be a competent physical damage fighter, it wastes her Magic stat, and due to a lack of a Limit for Aeris based on physical damage, it does not play to her strengths.
Because Umbrella lacks Materia slots, the player is best equipping armor for Aeris that includes an abundance of them to make up for it. This is because Aeris is built towards using magic, and is less comfortable outside of this role. Though Umbrella can provide Aeris offensive capability beyond using magic attacks, meaning any Magic Materia equipped by her armor can be purely effect or restorative magic, it also wastes her potential.
Umbrella is the best weapon for Aeris if she wishes to deal physical damage consistently. However, it has less potential than the Princess Guard, which doubles her physical damage if an ally is down. Princess Guard also does not come with limitations on Materia slots. Therefore, the player can normally forego Umbrella for Aeris in most circumstances, unless bringing her along to a fight where physical damage is ideal, such as if an enemy resists magical damage, being able to take advantage of her healing Limits while not limiting her. It can also be a good weapon for the Wutai sidequest where the player must go on without Materia for a time. Otherwise, Umbrella does not play to Aeris's strengths, and weapons such as the Aurora Rod, Prism Staff, or Fairy Tale are preferable until she has the Princess Guard.
==References==
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy VII