Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Chocobo Racing Minigame Guide (Rewards and How to Unlock)

This article is part of a directory: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Complete Guide & Walkthrough

Table of contents

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has a little something for everyone. From its elaborate Queen’s Blood card game that will appeal to Gwent fans, to its one-versus-one 3D Brawler mini-game that evokes the retro fighting game experience, the inspiration and homage to classic video games is apparent. One such inspiration for Rebirth takes the form of a fun and frenzied Chocobo Racing minigame, which is a welcome twist on Mario Kart racing.

Although the movement controls are fairly straightforward, some of the harder Chocobo races will require players to get acquainted with some advanced load-outs. They'll also need to focus on mastering some techniques that give them an edge in the races. The guide below provides a breakdown of the rewards of each of the 20 Chocobo races, as well as the best loadouts and tips to excel in these races.

0:47

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: How to Get Condor Cedar

Where to find the Condor Cedar crafting material in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

How the Chocobo Racing Minigame Works

In Chapter 8, Cloud and his party gain access to Gold Saucer. This glamorous venue of entertaining minigames will keep players invested for a while before they can embark on their journey to confront Sephiroth. As part of the main quest, players will be introduced to various minigame, ranging from 3D Brawler to Galactic Saviors to Chocobo Racing. The latter minigame is unlocked later in the chapter as part of the main scenario. Subsequently, players can initiate races by interacting with the Chocobo Square Ticket Counter in Gold Saucer.

There are three grades of races, each with its own rewards. The lowest rank, Grade 3, is unlocked first when the Chocobo Racing Minigame is accessed during Chapter 8. The other tiers have their own unlock requirements:

Rank	Number of Races	Unlock Requirement
3	9	Reach towards the end of Chapter 8 “All That Glitters”
2	10	Reach Gold Saucer during Chapter 12 “A Golden Key”
1	1 (best of 3 legs)	Reach Chapter 12 and complete the side quest “Gold Cup or Bust”

After choosing a track and Chocobo (more on these later), the player is ready to take on fellow Chocobos in a hotly contested race. At the start, it’s always a good idea to start holding down the Speed Up button (X) when the timer is down to 2 seconds. This provides a boost of acceleration when the race begins. Once the player has gotten a head start, navigate around the racetrack, avoiding other Chocobos as well as the sides of the tracks to maintain their speed. Sharp turns may require the drift button (R2). If you hold it down long enough that red sparks appear, the Chocobo will receive a speed bonus.

Throughout the race, be on the lookout for the three types of balloons to pop. These will give the player certain power-ups to help them breeze through the competition. The yellow balloons increase the Dash gauge (initiated by R1). The blue balloons offer a passive boost by increasing the Chocobo's overall speed. Finally, the red balloons charge up the Ability gauge, which will allow Chocobo to activate their own unique skills (L1 button). These can include a nitrous speed burst, reduced damage from obstacles, or firing projectiles to disrupt opponents’ momentum.

3:08

Zack Fair from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth standing with the Emerald Weapon at the Gold Saucer arcade stage

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: 6 Easter Eggs You Might Have Missed

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has a massive world for players to explore, and hidden away in its most secret corners are these easily-missed Easter Eggs.

Chocobo Racing Minigame Rewards

In total, there are 20 races spread across the three grades of Chocobo Racing Minigame. Each grade has different tiers (i.e., difficulty levels), including maiden, bronze, silver, gold, and legend. Each of these 20 races requires a participation fee of 100 gills, but that is a very low cost incurred compared with the juicy rewards that await the winning racer. The table below covers all rewards for the 20 races, including the first-time victory rewards and the subsequent iterations of the race:

Grade	Rank	Race	First Win	Rewards
3	Maiden	The Carbuncle Classic	Potion x3 Gold Saucer Point x50	Gold Saucer Point x20 Gold Saucer Point x15 Gold Saucer Point x10
3	Maiden	The Moogle Oaks	Potion x5 Gold Saucer Point x50	Gold Saucer Point x25 Gold Saucer Point x20 Gold Saucer Point x15
3	Maiden	The Cactuar Derby	Hi-Potion x3 Gold Saucer Point 60	Gold Saucer Point x30 Gold Saucer Point x25 Gold Saucer Point x20
3	Bronze	The Bomb Blowout	Hi-Potion x3 Gold Saucer Point x60	Gold Saucer Point x35 Gold Saucer Point x30 Gold Saucer Point x25
3	Bronze	The Malboro Memorial	Mega-Potion x3 Gold Saucer Point x70	Gold Saucer Point x40 Gold Saucer Point x35 Gold Saucer Point x30
3	Bronze	The Tonberry Derby	Mega-Potion x3 Gold Saucer Point x80	Gold Saucer Point x45 Gold Saucer Point x40 Gold Saucer Point x35
3	Bronze	The Coeurl Champions	Debonair Hat x1 Gold Saucer Point x90	Gold Saucer Point x50 Gold Saucer Point x45 Gold Saucer Point x40
3	Silver	The Behemoth Grand Prix	Debonair Waistcoat x1 Gold Saucer Point x120	Gold Saucer Point x55 Gold Saucer Point x50 Gold Saucer Point x45
3	Silver	The Ultima Stakes	Debonair Anklets x1 Gold Saucer Point x130	Gold Saucer Point x60 Gold Saucer Point x55 Gold Saucer Point x50
2	Silver	The Ifrit Blaze	Ether x1 Gold Saucer Point x130	Gold Saucer Point x20 Gold Saucer Point x15 Gold Saucer Point x10
2	Silver	The Shiva Icefields	Hi-Ether x1 Gold Saucer Point x150	Gold Saucer Point x75 Gold Saucer Point x60 Gold Saucer Point x45
2	Gold	The Leviathan Riptide	Dry Ether x1 Gold Saucer Point x190	Gold Saucer Point x95 Gold Saucer Point x75 Gold Saucer Point x55
2	Gold	The Ramuh Bolt	Turbo Ether x1 Gold Saucer Point x200	Gold Saucer Point x100 Gold Saucer Point x80 Gold Saucer Point x60
2	Gold	The Titan Slam	Hermes Shoes x1 Gold Saucer Point x210	Gold Saucer Point x105 Gold Saucer Point x85 Gold Saucer Point x65
2	Gold	The Kujata Stampede	Dark Matter x3 Gold Saucer Point x220	Gold Saucer Point x110 Gold Saucer Point x90 Gold Saucer Point x70
2	Legend	The Odin Straights	Hyperion's Helm x1 Gold Saucer Point x260	Gold Saucer Point x130 Gold Saucer Point x105 Gold Saucer Point x80
2	Legend	The Alexander Siege	Hyperion's Armor x1 Gold Saucer Point x270	Gold Saucer Point x135 Gold Saucer Point x110 Gold Saucer Point x85
2	Legend	The Phoenix Trial	Hyperion's Shin Guards x1 Gold Saucer Point x280	Gold Saucer Point x140 Gold Saucer Point x115 Gold Saucer Point x90
2	Legend	The Bahamut Skirmish	Time Materia Earrings x1 Gold Saucer Point x300	Gold Saucer Point x150 Gold Saucer Point x125 Gold Saucer Point x100
1	Legend	The Gold Cup	Chocoking's Cape x1	Gold Saucer Point x200 Gold Saucer Point x150 Gold Saucer Point x125

Loadouts for Chocobo Racing

To get the best active and passive bonuses, players are encouraged to gather and expand their roster of Chocobos and their gear attachments. Navigating each of the six regions on the map will help players unlock the regional Chocobos, either as part of the main story or via voluntary exploration. Each of these Chocobos has a unique skill that players can activate in races when enough Red Balloons are popped. Every Chocobo also comes with its own set of varying stats in six attributes: speed, acceleration, weight, cornering, strength, and intelligence.

As for the gear and equipment, there are three categories: headgear, body armor, and greaves. These also moderately alter the six attributes for each Chocobo as well as carry passive skills that offer bonuses in specific situations in races. To unlock more gear, players must trade up to 12 Golden Plumes, which are gathered from repairing Chocobo Rest stops and taming Chocobos. Note that some gear pieces are only acquired as part of completing side quests or tough challenges in the game.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Each Party Member's Origin Explained

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth adds a few more friendly faces to Cloud's party, all of whom have some interesting origins alongside the rest of the team.

The best build depends on what players want to prioritize in their Chocobo racing game:

Build	Chocobo	Headgear	Body Armor	Greaves
Speed	Piko	Shinra Avian Helmet	Scorpion Breastplate	Mystical Anklets
Aggression	Kyma	Rodeo Hat	Gi Cloak	Rodeo Legwraps
End-game	Mecha-Chocobo	Hyperion's Helm	Hyperion's Armor	Hyperion's Shin Guards

Speed Build

A speed-focused build will push players through most of the early to mid-game races. For this build, the Piko Chocobo (Grasslands) is the perfect choice because of its balanced stats. Its unique skill, Speed Burst, will afford players increased top speed while making them invincible for a brief period. The Shinra Avian Helmet increases overall speed. The Scorpion Breastplate grants an additional dash charge slot, which is great for a continuous speed boost provided players pop enough yellow balloons. Finally, the Mystical Anklets increase both speed and acceleration on straightaways, which are abundant on most racetracks.

Aggression Build

A more aggressive loadout focuses on staying in the lead. This build is based on the Chocobo's overall strength and ability to fend off opponents, and is possible with the Kyma Chocobo (Corel). Its Birdshot ability will send out three blasts that will slow down any opponents in front of Kyma. Coupling this offensive ability with Rodeo Hat and Gi Cloak will increase weight and lessen speed reduction on hit, making Kyma a formidable beast in the race. For the greaves, Rodeo Legwraps will make use of Kyma's good cornering by lengthening the drifting duration and granting a speed bonus.

End-Game Build

Finally, for late-game races, especially most Grade 2 and Grade 1 races, it's ideal to go with Mecha-Chocobo. This Chocobo outperforms its counterparts by a considerable margin in almost all attributes. Players can obtain Mecha-Chocobo by completing the side quest “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.” Boasting very high speed, strength, and weight stats, the Mecha-Chocobo is hard to chase down, especially when the unique skill, Birdserk, is activated.

The best gear for Mecha-Chocobo is the Hyperion set acquired via the three Legend Rank races in Grade 2 of the Chocobo Racing Mini-game. The Hyperion's Helm boosts all stats upon reaching the final lap, while the Hyperion's Armor further increases speed in the final lap. Lastly, the Hyperion Shin Guards greatly increase the duration of the dash, making tough races even more manageable.