Shinra Combat Simulator

File:FFVIIR wiki icon.png

神羅バトルシミュレーター (Shinra Batoru Shimyurētā?, lit. Shinra Battle Simulator)

The **Shinra Combat Simulator** is a battle arena in *Final Fantasy VII Remake*. It is a simulated arena in which participants fight a number of battles in a virtual reality setting.

The player first uses the Shinra Combat Simulator in "A Helping Hand" during Chapter 16, "The Belly of the Beast". There, the simulator is located on the 63rd floor. It can later be used at the end of "A Way Out" in Chapter 17, "Deliverance from Chaos", by using taking the path right to reach it instead of taking a path ahead to the tunnel to proceed with the story.

Items cannot be used in any challenge. With the exception of "Three-Person Team vs. Mayor Is Best", all challenges last five rounds. Upon repeating challenges, a "Grab Bag" prize is awarded instead of the original prize.

A portable version of the combat simulator is used by Chadley for summon matches during Battle Intel quests.

## Normal challenges

These challenges can be faced in chapter 16, and later chapter 17 with Chapter Select, at any difficulty. Aerith vs. SOLDIER Trainees can only be done in chapter 17 with Chapter Select.

### Three-Person Team vs. Mayor Is Best

 File:Vs. Mayor is the Best from FFVII Remake.jpg
This challenge is required for the quest "A Helping Hand". It is straightforward and comprises only one round against two Cutters. Using File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Lightning Materia is best, either paired with File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Elemental Materia or used for casting spells. Destroying the left and right arm and cripplnig them is an effective way to pressure and stagger them, leaving them open to more powerful attacks. Focus one first before destroying the next.

### vs. SOLDIER Trainees

 File:Vs. SOLDIER Trainees from FFVII Remake.jpg
The vs. SOLDIER Trainees challenges are solo challenges that reward high level armor pieces. Rounds are all against single durable enemies, meaning most battles are endurance challenges. With the exception of the final round, all enemies are weak to File:Fire from FFVII Remake icon.png Fire, meaning the File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Fire Materia is best to exploit it. Defensive materia such as File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Steadfast Block Materia and File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Barrier Materia are also especially helpful for each battle, while File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Deadly Dodge Materia can be especially useful with how often characters will be dodge rolling. File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Healing Materia should be equipped, and casting File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Regen at the start of each fight can be effective, as can casting File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Haste from File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Time Materia.

The different characters will require slightly different tactics. Cloud can remain in Punisher Mode and counterattack many of the enemies. He can benefit greatly from elemental materia, and should use Infinity's End as soon as an enemy is staggered. Barret can use Steelskin at the start of every battle and fire his attacks from range, taking advantage of Overcharge often. Tifa can use abilities such as Starshower and Focused Strike to build enemies' stagger gauges while remaining invulnerable, and should take advantage of Deadly Dodge often to hit enemies as soon as they are vulnerable, as well as her ability to increase stagger bonus damage with her Unbridled Strength techniques. Aerith can remain at a distance from enemies while firing attacks to build up her ATB. She should use Arcane Ward while hurling powerful spells, as well as using Ray of Judgment, to deal heavy damage.

For the first round, a Sahagin Prince is fought. Dodging its Salientian Curse is crucial to avoid File:Toad from FFVII Remake icon.png Toad, and can be done by rolling away from the smoke appearing on the ground before its attacks land. Its Jump attack can be dodged by rolling just before it lands. Aside from this, use abilities and attacks while maintaining a fair distance from it to stagger it, and then lay into it. The second round is fought against a Phantom, which is capable of phasing in and out of battle and returning to deal physical damage. Dodge its attacks as it phases back in, focusing on building its stagger gauge. When it uses its Essence Drain attack, maintain distance and use the opportunity to fire ranged abilities and spells at it.

The third round is fought against the Grungy Bandit. This enemy has powerful attacks and can bind a character, but all of its attacks are telegraphed by running forward. As it runs forward, dodge out of the way, as this will pressure it and leave it vulnerable, then lay into it and stagger it. The fourth round against the 3-C SOLDIER Operator requires similar tactics; guard against or dodge from its attacks, and then lay into it when it is vulnerable to destroy it.

The final round is fought against a Cutter, which requires different strategy. Crippling its left and right arm is best to leave it vulnerable to being staggered, then laying into it with spells and abilities is ideal. Its Buzzsaw Blitz attack should be avoided by dodging just before the attack lands.

### Two-Person Team vs. High Flyers

 File:Vs. Team High Flyers from FFVII Remake.jpg
Depending on the chapter, the two-person team can be any combination of two characters, though it is best to have one melee character and one ranged character. The enemies have a variety of weaknesses, though spells from lightning materia may be ideal as lightning spells are guaranteed to hit. Healing spells are also ideal.

The first round is fought against bugaboos, which can be finished off quickly using attacks that deal area-of-effect damage, such as Cloud's Blade Burst or Tifa's Divekick, as well as Deadly Dodge. For the second round, two Slug-Rays and two byobapolises are fought. The Slug-Rays are less durable, but their Luminous Blast makes them a bigger threat as it can stun characters. Destroy the Slug-Rays first with abilities and spells, and then focus on the byobapolises next with the same tactics.

For the third round, two terpsicolts and four Monodrives are fought. Monodrives can be dispatched more quickly with abilities, allowing the terpsicolts to be fought next. Against them, use attacks and abilities until they begin spinning, at which point, use spells to finish them off. The fourth round as against two elite helitroopers, against which spells are best to destroy them quickly, and aerial attacks are also helpful.

The final round is fought against a Rust Drake. This enemy absorbs spells when it is engulfed in darkness, and uses gravity-based attacks to deal significant HP damage. Aerial and ranged attacks are best to push it into stagger, at which point it is vulnerable to spells and abilities to finish it off.

### Three-Person Team vs. Team Ragbag

 File:Vs. Team Ragbag from FFVII Remake.jpg
This challenge can be completed with any combination of characters. Any team combination is viable, though a team composition should be balanced. It is important that a team have be capable of casting powerful magic spells with at least one character, using powerful physical abilities on demand, and healing or buffing the party. Many of the enemies are weak to File:Ice from FFVII Remake icon.png Ice, while others are weak to File:Lightning from FFVII Remake icon.png Lightning, meaning that equipping both ice and lightning materia is helpful.

Characters in a chosen team should play to their strengths. Cloud is suited well to dealing raw physical and magic damage for bursting down enemies, and if used, can fill either gap in a team composition, keeping in mind his mobility is fairly limited. Tifa has very high mobility and is well-positioned to build an enemy's stagger gauge with her combos, and if used should focus on building stagger bonus damage to set up powerful spells from herself or her teammates. Barret is best suited to protect the party with Lifesaver, and either use physical abilities from range with a gun equipped, or deal more considerable damage up close with a melee weapon, keeping in mind his mobility will hinder him on some rounds. Aerith can make effective use of Arcane Ward to allow the party to burst down enemies while in stagger, though her durability is low and she will need other characters to draw fire away from her.

The first round is fought against an Abzu shoat, which can be defeated quickly with physical abilities. The second round is more challenging, and is fought against two varghidpolises and one trypapolis. Avoiding the Screech attack is important, as this attack stuns a party member. Beyond this, finishing off the smaller varghidpolises first makes sense, allowing the trypapolis to then be defeated as the last one standing. This enemy is durable, but can be burst down with ice spells.

The third round is fought against a hellhound and two bloodhounds. As before, the smaller bloodhounds should be defeated first with physical abilities; these are very mobile enemies, meaning that either Tifa should be used for her own mobility, or Barret's ranged abilities can instead be relied on. With the hellhound standing, ice spells should be used to pressure it and build its stagger gauge, at which point it can be burst down with spells and abilities.

The fourth round is fought against two ringmaws and a Smogger. The ringmaws should be taken down with physical abilities, and the Smogger can be defeated with lightning spells. The Smogger's silencing attack is crucial to avoid in order to achieve this, and though its Haywire Haze unleashes strong attacks on all party members, these attacks are all telegraphed and can be avoided. During Haywire Haze, switch to a character not presently attacked to take advantage of its pressured state and stagger it, then use lightning spells to destroy it.

The final round is fought against a Sweeper Prototype and a Blast-Ray, and lightning spells are ideal against both. The Blast-Ray can be focused down with physical attacks until it is staggered, though it will then push both party members away, and should be finished off with a spell or with ranged abilities. The Sweeper Prototype can likewise be destroyed with spells, by engaging it with one melee character, then using spells from another to destroy it.

## Hard mode challenges

For ideal equipment and materia setups, see Cloud Strife (VII Remake party member), Barret Wallace (VII Remake party member), Tifa Lockhart (VII Remake party member), or Aerith Gainsborough (VII Remake party member)
The final challenge can only be faced after completing Battle Intel, and beating all Corneo Colosseum and Shinra Combat Simulator challenges, and are only available in chapter 17.

### vs. 3-C SOLDIER Candidates

A solo battle in which manuscripts are earned for each character. All characters can use a combination of File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Elemental Materia + File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Lightning Materia materia on armor. This will cover most healing necessary by granting the ability to absorb powerful lightning attacks, and also to grant access to lightning spells which most enemies are weak to. File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png First Strike Materia is also helpful for every character to open battles favorably. File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Parry Materia is useful on Tifa, while File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Steadfast Block Materia is useful on the other characters. Time materia is also helpful, and beyond this, the usual materia setups apply. It is also best to bring File:Command Materia from FFVII Remake.png Enemy Skill Materia in order to learn Bad Breath from the malboro.

The playstyle for each character will be different. Depending on the situation, Cloud can rely on Counterstance for enemies in melee range, or cast File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Thundaga on enemies at a range; to balance attributes for both, equipping the File:Cloud broadsword from FFVII Remake icon.png Buster Sword is ideal. Barret is best off with ranged weapons due to the speed of the enemies' movement, and File:Barret gun-arm from FFVII Remake icon.png Big Bertha is optimal; he will either be using Maximum Fury on two ATB bars, or Thundaga at range. Tifa should use Starshower to deal damage while avoiding it, or True Strike against a staggered enemy; she is best equipping the File:Tifa knuckle from FFVII Remake icon.png Metal Knuckles to optimize her physical damage, but File:Tifa knuckle from FFVII Remake icon.png Feathered Gloves provides her balanced attributes should she need to cast Thundaga in some situations. Aerith can open battles with Arcane Ward defeat most enemies with Thundaga casts, so equipping her File:Aerith staff from FFVII Remake icon.png Silver Staff optimizes her ability to do that.

The first round is a battle against an Unknown Entity and an elite shock trooper. The latter is fast-paced and best hit with a spell or in-between intervals when it moves. The Unknown Entity is slower, and its strongest attack is Thundaga; with a lightning + elemental combo on armor, this will heal the player character, meaning Unknown Entity should be prioritized last.

The second round is fought against a zenene, a durable enemy. This enemy is capable of binding characters if it gets too close, meaning dodging its attacks is important (as Tifa, Parry is especially useful here, though the other three are better remaining at a distance). In-between intervals when it attacks, it can be damaged and pressured.

The third round is fought against the Sledgeworm, which moves in-between holes in the ground. As Tifa, Parry should can used to close in on it and attack it to build its stagger gauge, while the other characters rely on spells or ranged to deal damage to it. Its Torpid Strike attack inflicts File:Stop from FFVII Remake icon.png Stop in a radius around it, and this should be dodged at all costs by staying distant as it uses the ability. Though Stop can be cast against it, it will simply end Stop on itself early and move to another hole partway through, making this less useful.

An armored shock trooper is fought on the fourth round. Its most powerful attack is Skewer, which should be dodged (or countered with Counterstrike as Cloud) to avoid damage. This enemy reduces physical damage and is very durable, meaning most damage should be dealt during stagger. Casting Stop will lengthen its stagger, allowing it to be defeated more quickly.

The final round is fought against a M.O.T.H. Unit. This enemy uses blades around itself, meaning melee attacks cannot hit it for the time being. Its voltage attack is a powerful lightning attack, but lightning + elemental on armor will absorb this. Once again, most damage can be dealt to it after it is pressured following its voltage attack or while it is staggered.

### Two-Person Team vs. Dynamic Duos

The battle takes place against biological monsters and Shinra soldiers, and rewards a File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Refocus Materia. Any pair between Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Aerith can be used in the battle. Both File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Fire Materia and File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Ice Materia will be needed, across both characters, although lightning materia is also helpful. If File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Elemental Materia is used, it should be used on armor, paired with either, to absorb damage, as some enemies absorb certain elements. Beyond this, File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png First Strike Materia is helpful to open battles favorably, and pairing File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Time Materia with File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Magnify Materia is useful in a variety of cases.

Any combination of characters can be used, but it is crucial to have access to both damage types. Cloud can deal raw damage of either type, and should rely on Counterstrike to deal physical damage as a counterattack and cast spells in-between; the Buster Sword is best in most cases, but if paired with Tifa, File:Cloud broadsword from FFVII Remake icon.png Iron Blade is a better choice to lean towards magic, and if paired with Aerith, File:Cloud broadsword from FFVII Remake icon.png Hardedge may be better to give Cloud a solely melee-oriented role. Barret's role is normally to protect the other with Lifesaver or to deal ranged damage; either give him Big Bertha if he is paired with Aerith or Cloud and use Maximum Fury, or File:Barret gun-arm from FFVII Remake icon.png EKG Cannon with Tifa and use him to cast spells. Tifa's best role is to provide physical damage to complement the other and to increase stagger bonus damage; she should equip Metal Knuckles or Feathered Gloves, and can use Starshower and True Strike during the battle. Aerith will be best off using Arcane Ward and casting spells throughout the battle, and also is an excellent choice to amplify spells of the other party member; she should equip Silver Staff.

The first round is fought against a phantom and a ghost, both with a similar moveset: they will cast fire spells, phase in and out of battle, and can apply File:Reflect from FFVII Remake icon.png Reflect or File:Shield from FFVII Remake icon.png Shield on themselves. Depending on which they use, use physical or magic damage respectively. It is best to attack them with physical damage first to cause them to use Shield on themselves, then cast File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Firaga to defeat them quickly.

The second round is fought against an elite shock trooper and an elite helitrooper. Powerful fire spells can defeat them relatively quickly, but the elite helitrooper should be prioritized as it can interrupt a spellcaster. While one character casts spells, the other should draw their firepower.

The third round is fought against a 3-C SOLDIER operator and the Grungy Bandit. An easy strategy is to use one character to draw attention from them both away, while the other casts fire spells, killing them quickly.

The fourth round is fought against a zenene and a hellhound, both of which are fairly durable. The zenene is the weaker of the two, and can be killed first to make the hellhound more manageable. With time + magnify, File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Stop can be cast on both to allow one to be defeated first, simplifying the battle. The hellhound absorbs fire spells, and thus should be defeated with other types of spells. Its attacks should be guarded against, and with a melee attacker, it is best attacked from behind to avoid its breath attacks.

The final round is fought against a Sweeper and a queen grashtrike. The queen grashtrike is capable of inflicting File:Slow from FFVII Remake icon.png Slow on all party members, though casting File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Haste can mitigate this. It is best to defeat the queen grashtrike first with physical damage, and then unload on the Sweeper with all remaining spells to defeat it quickly.

### Three-Person Team vs. Monsters of Legend

This battle features a malboro as its final boss, and rewards another Refocus materia. Any combination of Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Aerith can be used for the battle. File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Revival Materia is crucial to have on at least one character, preferably the one with the lowest HP and a high MP pool (if used, Aerith is a great candidate). File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Elemental Materia has no benefit on weapons and many enemies reduce elemental damage, but pairing it with File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Fire Materia on armor can be helpful. Equipping File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Refocus Materia is helpful in two battles here. Beyond this, the usual setups for each character apply.

When choosing a team, it is important to balance roles to have a character with high HP who can tank either malboro or tonberry up front, a melee attacker with mobility who can attack malboro from behind, and a third role to provide support to the others. Cloud works well in any role, and if used should fill a gap in the team. Barret excels in tanking damage, and should be built either to using supportive spells or providing supplemental physical damage. Tifa excels in melee damage, and her mobility her ability to increase stagger bonus damage make her an excellent choice in a melee role. Though spellcasting is not a requirement for this battle, Aerith can provide excellent support from range, and by using lightning materia with Arcane Ward, her spell damage can still be very effective.

The first round is fought against a bomb. Fire + elemental on armor can absorb its attacks, and ice spells can be devastating against it. In most cases, it is best to use physical abilities to focus on staggering it, and then defeat it with overwhelming force.

In the second round, a tonberry is fought. This enemy is particularly durable, and its Doom and Gloom ability can cause certain death to the highest HP character. Cast File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Arise as soon as this happens, and melee attackers should dodge its Tantrum and Chef's Knife attacks instantly. Outside of this, focus on building its stagger gauge and then unleash attacks against it.

In the third round, the Type-0 Behemoth from "Subterranean Menace" is fought. The strategy against it is the same as during the quest: do not cast spells, cripple its lower body and upper body to stagger it, and then cast Stop against it and deal damage to it. If Aerith is used in the party, destroying its horns is crucial to prevent it from countering spell attacks, allowing her to unleash Thundaga against it after this is often.

The fourth round is a combination of the bomb and tonberry. The same strategies apply, but the bomb should be defeated first as it is the less durable of the two.

The fifth round is fought against the malboro. Its Acid attacks can inflict File:Poison from FFVII Remake icon.png Poison, but its most deadly attack is Bad Breath, which will inflict a number of debuffs including Toad and File:Sleep from FFVII Remake icon.png Sleep, effectively rendering the character useless. Though File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Esuna can be cast, it is not necessary. Instead, the best strategy is to have one character fight it up front while it is casting Bad Breath, while the rest either attack it from beyond or move a distance away from it to avoid it. Other than this, use physical abilities and spells against it to defeat it.

### Three-Person Team vs. Top Secrets

This challenge is only unlocked by completing all Corneo Colosseum challenges, all Shinra Combat Simulator challenges, and all of Chadley's VR missions against summons, all in Hard Mode.

The battle is a gauntlet featuring hard versions of all the summon bosses, as well as Pride and Joy Prototype, fought at the end. Pride and Joy Prototype is weak to File:Lightning from FFVII Remake icon.png Lightning, while other summon bosses are weak to their respective element.

#### Setup

It is important to choose a balanced team for the battle that can last in all fights. For this battle, melee damage is important for all of its battles as one melee character should be able to hit the boss from behind. Spell damage can be extremely helpful in some fights, but is not necessary. More importantly, protection is required from many powerful attacks provided by some of the bosses, and it is important to guard against this with character choices as well as materia setups. Finally, the ability to increase stagger bonus damage is extremely useful, as all fights revolve around dealing most damage during stagger.

A combination of File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Fire Materia and a mastered File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Elemental Materia on armor is extremely helpful for multiple battles, causing powerful fire attacks to heal the character rather than interrupt and damage them. All characters should equip two mastered File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png HP Up Materia (though Barret will need only one) and having a File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Refocus Materia is very helpful. Depending on their role, File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Magic Up Materia and File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png MP Up Materia can also be very important, as the battles are long and drawn out. File:Command Materia from FFVII Remake.png Prayer Materia provides a great MP-efficient way to heal. For melee damage, File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Luck Up Materia increases damage output by boosting the critical hit rate. Having at least two File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Revival Materia across characters is also very useful, and File:Command Materia from FFVII Remake.png ATB Boost Materia or **Lua error in Module:Icon at line 11: Icon not found.** are extremely important for boosting the ATB gauge (the former allows this to be done on a cooldown on-demand, while the latter is built up over time).

Barret is nigh-essential in a team for this battle due to his Lifesaver and other protective abilities he provides the party. In this role, Barret can equip a ranged weapon such as File:Barret gun-arm from FFVII Remake icon.png Big Bertha (for physical damage) or File:Barret gun-arm from FFVII Remake icon.png Light Machine Gun (for Reprieve), and use the Crescent Moon Charm accessory to reduce damage taken. His materia should be protective materia; though his File:Magic attribute from FFVII Remake icon.png Magic is low, only his MP pool is relevant to his spellcasting ability. Barret can be given File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Magnify Materia + File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Barrier Materia in order to survive Bahamut's Megaflare, and other spells such as File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Healing Materia and revival materia are also useful. If used this way, Barret should equip at least two File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png MP Up Materia, though he will only need one File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png HP Up Materia. Barret can also equip File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Skill Master Materia with how often he will expend ATB, and if doing so, is a good choice to give prayer materia. Though Barret can potentially be geared to offensive spells instead, this is an inefficient use of him and he should be firmly placed in a protective role.

Cloud is versatile and can play any role in a team composition. He provides a high raw damage output, with File:Cloud broadsword from FFVII Remake icon.png Hardedge optimizing his melee damage, File:Cloud broadsword from FFVII Remake icon.png Iron Blade providing magic damage with defensive capabilities, and File:Cloud broadsword from FFVII Remake icon.png Buster Sword as a mix of both. If used, Cloud is best off equipping File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Steadfast Block Materia and making use of Punisher Mode and Counterstance to reduce damage taken and respond in kind. Depending on if he is built towards physical or magic damage, Magic Up or Luck Up should be used.

Tifa's main contribution will be her ability to increase stagger bonus damage (with how many bosses rely on damage dealt during stagger), as well as her high mobility. This makes her an excellent choice to provide physical damage to a party and kite around the sower bosses fought. If used, Tifa can equip File:Tifa knuckle from FFVII Remake icon.png Metal Knuckles to optimize her physical damage, or File:Tifa knuckle from FFVII Remake icon.png Purple Pain for Reprieve. She should use Starshower to deal damage while avoiding attacks, and equip Transference Module to use her limit break more quickly. For materia, she should equip File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Deadly Dodge Materia and File:Complete Materia from FFVII Remake.png Parry Materia to improve her damage and mobility respectively. File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png HP Absorption Materia can also be paired well with either choice, and File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Time Materia is a great choice on her both to cast File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Haste to on herself or File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Stop on enemies. Pairing it with File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png Warding Materia helps in a few circumstances (namely Shiva and Bahamut), but this is a luxury choice.

Aerith serves a niche in terms of providing spellcasting damage from Arcane Ward, which is extremely potent in some battles but ineffective in others. Her damage output during certain battles will be extremely high, but in others, she will be relegated to kiting an enemy and dealing minimal damage, and has low durability. File:Aerith staff from FFVII Remake icon.png Silver Staff is ideal for long-term spellcasting, while File:Aerith staff from FFVII Remake icon.png Mythril Rod increases raw damage output. Aerith will need to equip both File:Magic Materia from FFVII Remake.png Lightning Materia and fire to optimize her role, and should pair lightning materia with File:Support Materia from FFVII Remake.png MP Absorption Materia to last long in battle, and fire materia with elemental on armor to provide her much-needed protection.

A team composition should be balanced to deal with each fight, but any composition is viable. For a protective role, Barret provides an essential service to the party in terms of protecting them, though Cloud can still be given a similar materia setup if one wishes for a higher damage output in a party with Tifa and Aerith. For a melee damage role, Cloud or Tifa can serve the role well with a roughly even damage output, though Tifa's ability to increase stagger bonus damage is extremely helpful for all fights. Beyond this, the main difference comes in their playstyle; Tifa provides much more mobility and is better at dodging attacks, while Cloud is better at withstanding them and countering with his own. It is also possible to simply use both Cloud and Tifa in melee roles with Barret providing a defensive role, giving them spellcasting capabilities on the side. Aerith serves a spellcasting niche that is extremely potent in some fights with the right materia setup, and excels at the role, but can be foregone in favor of other options.

#### Battles

Many battles revolve around staggering the enemy. If possible, the bosses should be killed in a single stagger. With Tifa in the party, using her True Strike mixed with Unbridled Strength can get its damage up to 300%, making this task much simpler if the player keeps her Unbridled Strength at max level and gives her two ATB bars before the enemy is staggered. Aerith can also boost stagger bonus damage with Ray of Judgment, but using spells from Arcane Ward can deal greater damage output overall. Though Cloud and Barret cannot raise stagger bonus damage, they can still optimize damage in stagger with Infinity's End or Maximum Fury respectively.

The first battle is fought against Shiva, which is a more challenging version of the fight from a normal playthrough, as she will use Frost Familiars immediately after being hit by a spell. However, fire spells should still be used to stagger her and deal considerable damage as before, but should be used relentlessly to stagger her before she can get up and use Frost Familiars. When Shiva summons Frost Familiars, she will avoid spell damage until all familiars are destroyed; use low-level spells to get rid of them before casting spells again. Shiva will inflict File:Slow from FFVII Remake icon.png Slow often, so cast Haste to counteract it if possible. Try to stagger Shiva, and defeat her in a single stagger.

The second round is fought against Fat Chocobo, who is capable of summoning tonberries (which are low HP and can be defeated quickly). Strategies are similar to a normal playthrough: Fat Chocobo will be very durable until staggered, but can be pressured. Pressuring it with abilities such as Cloud's Triple Slash or Tifa's Starshower can be effective to permanently pressure it until it is staggered, and the smaller enemies it spawns should be destroyed. as they appear.

Leviathan is fought in the third round. Though it similarly relies on damage dealt during stagger, its attacks, particularly Tidal Wave, can be devastating and easily wipe the party. Therefore, it is important to stay at high HP at all times. Leviathan's attacks can be avoided by staying close to it (easily dodging its Briny Bellow attack), even on Barret and Aerith, so if spells are cast (it is weak to lightning), Arcane Ward is not reliable. Use attacks such as Cloud's Focused Thrust, Barret's Focused Shot, or Tifa's Starshower to build up its stagger gauge; occasionally doing so can also pressure it, providing more opportunities to do so. Before it uses Tidal Wave, cast File:Spell from FFVII Remake icon.png Manaward on the party and heal to full to survive the attack. Finally, while it is flying in the final phases, use spells to defeat it, and when it is on low ground, focus once again on staggering it.

The fourth round is fought against Bahamut, though its attacks hit harder, many cannot be blocked, and it will summon Ifrit after losing 50% HP. It is also essential to keep the File:Manaward from FFVII Remake icon.png Manaward buff on the entire party before Bahamut counts down to Megaflare, as well as remain at high HP, or the attack will kill the party. Switch between characters often to get in abilities, forcing Bahamut to switch targets in the process. The battle against Bahamut is one of endurance, as applying damage in the form of character abilities throughout will chip away at the boss' health over time. It is also possible to use multiple powerful abilities in succession, such as high-level spells under Arcane Ward or strong character abilities, to interrupt attacks such as Umbral Aura (Aerith's Arcane Ward can help if she is in the party). Ifrit when summoned can be dealt with using powerful spells, and with a fire + elemental combo on armor, many of Ifrit's attacks can be absorbed.

The final round is fought against the Pride and Joy Prototype, which is capable of powerful beam attacks, grappling the party, and using bursts of fire damage in melee range. To battle it, it is important to switch between characters often, having one character (Cloud with Counterstance, or Barret) take the heat, then switch to another character to attack it from behind (Tifa, or Cloud depending on party composition and its current target), taking advantage of its slow movement speed. With fire + elemental on melee attackers hitting it this way, they will be healed in the process. If Aerith is in the party, she can use Arcane Ward from a safe distance and cast Thundaga to deal considerable damage. This fight is simpler than Bahamut, but is once again a battle of endurance; prioritize having high HP over dealing damage to it, and unleash all attacks in stagger.

## Grab Bag

After completing a challenge, repeating it will offer a "Grab Bag" as a reward. This gives a random set of rewards dependent on the challenge.

 Rank 4
 Rank 5Rank 6Rank 7

## Behind the scenes

The Shinra Combat Simulator was included as a tribute to *Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-*, in which virtual battles were used for SOLDIER training opportunities.

Because the Shinra Building is not visited until later in the game, a portable version was given to Chadley to allow the player to fight summons earlier. This portable VR headset was inspired by PlayStation VR.

## Gallery

Shinra Combat Simulator Portable Version from FFVII Remake.jpgPortable version by Chadley.Shinra Combat Simulator Area from FFVII Remake.jpgShinra Combat Simulator menu from FFVII Remake.jpgChadley outside the Shinra Combat Simulator from FFVII Remake.jpg
## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Naoki Hamaguchi (June 22, 2020). *How Square Enix created the Summons in Final Fantasy VII Remake*. PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020.