AIGameGuides.com v4/27/2025

Here's a comprehensive guide to defeating the Materia Guardian in "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth," including requirements, a detailed walkthrough, strategies, and additional tips:

Requirements:

•Location: The fight takes place in the Appraisal Drilling Site in Mount Nibel.

•Party Composition: You'll control both Cloud and Sephiroth during this fight, as it occurs early in the game, specifically in Chapter 1: "Fall of a Hero."

•Materia: Ensure Cloud has Fire Materia equipped since the Materia Guardian is weak to Fire. Sephiroth comes with his own Fire Materia, which you cannot change for this fight.

•Items: While not strictly required, having healing items can be beneficial, though the fight is designed to introduce you to combat mechanics more than challenge your inventory management.

Detailed Walkthrough:

Phase 1:

1.Start of Battle: The fight begins with a tutorial on basic combat mechanics. Use this time to familiarize yourself with commands for both Cloud and Sephiroth.

2.Attacks: Materia Guardian uses a variety of physical attacks including Dual Tail Lash, which can hit both characters if they're close together. Evade by staying behind or to the side of the boss.

Phase 2:

3.Ceiling Cling: The Materia Guardian will climb to the ceiling, becoming temporarily invulnerable.

4.Strategy: Use Fire spells on one of its legs to force it down. When it falls, it's open for attacks.

Phase 3:

5.Mako Energy Build-up: The boss will start to gather Mako energy, signaling a new phase.

6.Action: Use the Synergy Ability "Double Helix" to knock it down. After knocking it down, deal as much damage as possible while it's stunned.

Final Phase:

7.Limit Breaks: When the boss is low on health, use both Cloud's and Sephiroth's Limit Breaks. Sephiroth's Octaslash can be followed by Octaslash Prime (press ? after Octaslash) for extra damage, potentially finishing off the boss.

Strategies:

•Exploit Weaknesses: The Materia Guardian is weak to Fire, so use Fire spells frequently.

•Positioning: Stay behind or at the sides to avoid most of the boss's frontal attacks.

•Synergy Abilities: Utilize Double Helix when available, as it not only deals damage but also provides buffs to Cloud and Sephiroth.

•Pressure and Stagger: Evading Seizing Claws or freeing captured allies will pressure it. Destroying its legs while it's on the ceiling also pressures and staggers it, giving you a window for heavy damage.

Tips:

•Switch Characters: Use the character switch mechanic to avoid getting hit when one character is vulnerable. This can help manage the fight better, especially if one character is captured by Seizing Claws.

•Healing: Since this is an introductory fight, healing items or spells might not be necessary, but be prepared to heal if either Cloud or Sephiroth takes significant damage.

•Materia Utilization: Make sure to use Cloud's Fire Materia effectively. Sephiroth's Fire spells can deal significant damage due to his higher stats.

•Learn from the Fight: This battle serves as a tutorial, so pay attention to combat tips and mechanics introduced here; they will be crucial for later fights.