As part of the DLC chapter exclusive to Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, INTERmission follows the journey of two Wutaian ninjas as they infiltrate Midgar. Players will assume control of Yuffie who is on a mission to discover a secret materia that Shinra is developing. To get through their mission, Yuffie and Sonon have unique weapons and abilities for players to unlock. Although Sonon accompanies Yuffie, players will not be able to control him directly but instead must use his ATB charges to issue commands. However, players do have access to a new mechanic that was not present in Final Fantasy 7 Remake called Synergize that allows Yuffie and Sonon to perform team combo moves.
It is possible to activate this technique during combat so long as both Yuffie and Sonon have at least one ATB charge, but the drawback is that ATB will regenerate at a slower rate while it is active. Alongside using Synergized versions of the Ninja Cannonball materia and Yuffie’s base abilities, players can also perform Synergized Limit Breaks. To do this, both characters must have a Limit Break ready, and Sonon will need to have his Marshalist’s Staff equipped with the perk Synergized Limit Breaks unlocked in the weapon upgrades menu.
Yuffie's Weapons in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Wielding a shuriken as her weapon of choice, Yuffie is a young but skilled ninja hailing from Wutai, a region to the far-east of Gaia. Because of Yuffie’s versatile play-style, players will be able to engage in melee and ranged combat with Yuffie, who can brawl with her shuriken, or throw it at a target where it will spin in place and deal damage over time.
The first of Yuffie’s initial abilities is Art of War, which targets a single enemy and deals multiple hits, causing any following attacks to deal increased damage. Players also have access to Windstorm, an area of effect ability that resembles Aero attacks provided by the Wind materia. Windstorm can be used as a close-quarters area of effect attack as well as a ranged attack, engulfing the target that has Yuffie’s shuriken thrown at them. Both abilities cost one ATB bar to use and can be enhanced by using Synergize, increasing the damage output.
As a materia hunter, players can also unlock Thievery for each of Yuffie’s weapons (excluding Cacstar), which provides the Mug ability. Mug works similarly to the Steal materia, but it also deals some damage if players are unsuccessful in robbing an enemy.
4-Point Shuriken
Taken directly from the original game, Yuffie's 4-Point Shuriken serves as her starting weapon in INTERmission. Beginning with two linked and one single materia slot, it is a well-rounded weapon that has the added benefit of increasing AP yield after it has been upgraded. Players should also focus on unlocking the bonuses to Yuffie’s elemental damage output as it directly links to the ability that can be learned.
Elemental Ninjutsu renders the need for an Elemental materia on Yuffie’s weapon redundant. After throwing the shuriken at an enemy, players can launch ranged magic attacks and change the elemental affinity to fire, ice, lightning or wind. It costs one ATB charge to select an element while using this technique, and proficiency is earned by exploiting enemies’ elemental weaknesses, such as lightning for machines.
Boomerang
Another of Yuffie’s weapons that has been inspired by the original game, players can obtain the Boomerang during Chapter 1 of INTERmission in a chest in the Sector 7 Slums clinic. If players miss the weapon here, it can be purchased via the vending machine in the maintenance break room following the Gigantipede fight.
Alongside the two linked and two single materia slots, the Boomerang comes with the ability Brumal Form; an evasive maneuver that players can use to dodge incoming attacks while grounded or airborne. Yuffie will burst into a puff of smoke and reappears a short distance away, leaving the image of a Moogle in her wake. Although the ability costs one ATB bar to use, if players evade an attack successfully, they will regain part of an ATB bar, allowing it to be used in quick succession and also gain proficiency.
Steel Reaper
Focusing on Yuffie’s attack power, players can find the Steel Reaper during Chapter 1 after defeating the Horned Cripshay in the Sector 7 Slums Shipping Facility. The weapon will be in a chest to the left before players can run across a wall to cross a gap to progress.
Steel Reaper begins with two linked materia slots and Yuffie will gain access to the ability Banishment, which becomes more powerful the more ATB commands the player uses during the course of a battle. Players will gain proficiency in this ability by charging it all the way to Banishment III and hitting an enemy with its powerful blast. Banishment costs one ATB bar to use, and is also directly affected by the elemental affinity players have set Yuffie’s Elemental Ninjutsu to, changing Banishment to Fiery, Icy, Thunderous and Aeolian respectively.
Cacstar
Initially exclusive to players that pre-ordered INTERmission, Cacstar can now be purchased as DLC. As the only weapon that focuses on Yuffie’s luck stat, it increases the chances and power of critical hits and Yuffie's overall HP.
Cacstar has two linked and two individual materia slots to begin with, and teaches the ability Cactuar Caper. For one ATB charge, players will throw their weapon into the battlefield where it will travel between enemies and deal damage on contact. The ability can be used while airborne and players will gain proficiency by hitting three or more enemies while it is in use.
Sonon's Weapons in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Sonon is a Wutaian ninja that learned his craft from Yuffie’s father, Godo, for whom he has a deep respect and takes his responsibilities seriously. He uses a staff to fight alongside Yuffie as they sneak into the Shinra headquarters and develops a brotherly bond with her. Players have access to the ability Twirling Lunge as soon as Sonon joins the party, which drives the enemy’s stagger gauge up.
Unlike any other character in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Sonon has a passive ability that will activate when Yuffie has been KO’d during a battle. When using Final Sacrifice, Sonon will bestow his remaining HP to Yuffie, resurrecting her at the cost of his own life. Players can benefit from this ability indefinitely as it will trigger each time Yuffie goes down as long as Sonon is not already KO’d.
Marshalist's Staff
Sonon’s default weapon is balanced between its attack and magic attack stats, and has several benefits to his HP when upgraded. Players can unlock the ability to Synergize Limit Breaks by upgrading the Marshalist’s Staff, which can only be used while this weapon is equipped.
The Marshalist’s Staff begins with two linked materia slots, and for one ATB bar, players can execute Swirling Storm; an attack that hits a target multiple times. Players will earn proficiency in this ability if they finish off an enemy with it.
Indurate Staff
During the first chapter of INTERmission, as players chase after Zhijie into the Train Graveyard, players will find the Indurate Staff for Sonon in a chest along the route to the Shipping Facility. Beginning with four individual materia slots, this weapon is geared towards Sonon’s raw attack damage, making it perfect to use in conjunction with Synergized Art of War to get the most damage out of the attack.
Players can learn Fighting Spirit after obtaining the Indurate Staff. This is an ability that will cause Sonon to focus on a single target and deal constant damage to them, and will aid in the speed at which he generates ATB. Proficiency can be earned by finishing off an enemy while Fighting Spirit is active.
Djinn Staff
Players can find the Djinn Staff during Chapter 2 after the Armored Magitrooper that descends an elevator. When it has been defeated, players must go through the doorway to the left where there will be a chest with the weapon inside. The Djinn Staff has three single materia slots when acquired and leans more into magic stats, making it a suitable weapon for players that want to use Sonon as a spellcaster and to boost Synergized Windstorm.
Similar to the Provoke materia, Sonon can use the ability Incite for one ATB bar while using the Djinn Staff. Players must draw an enemy’s attention for three attacks while it is active to gain proficiency in the ability.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is available on PlayStation 5 and PC.
