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The ninth chapter ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, ‘The Planet Stirs,’ has the party setting its sights on the lush and vibrant Gongaga region. Best known for their world-famous mushrooms, the Gongaga region is also home to a broken-down Mako reactor. With trouble brewing at the reactor, it doesn’t hurt to unwind with a few rounds of Queen’s Blood.
Before heading to the reactor, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the region or hang out at Gongaga village. Whether it’s gathering World Intel or strengthening your bonds with your party, there is a ton to take care of in Chapter 9.
How To Get The Buggy
At the start of this chapter, Cait Sith will be driving the Buggy around Corel until the party decides to pull over due to Yuffie’s motion sickness. After viewing this cutscene,you’ll receive the keys to the Buggy, allowing you to drive the vehicle whenever you want.
The Buggy moves faster than Chocobosand can even drive through shallow waters.This is a great time to explore therest of the Corel regionand complete any World Intel objectives.
Once you’ve got that all settled,follow the waypoint down southtowards the Gongaga region.
The Gongaga Region
At the entrance of the Gongaga region, another cutscene will play. After this, you need to follow the waypoints to Gongaga Village.You won’t be able to drive the Buggy through this dense jungle, so you’ll need to make your way through on foot.
You’re alsofree to explore the Gongaga regionto your heart’s content. Though, it’s worthwaiting until you’ve obtained this region’s Chocobobefore doing so.
Gongaga Village
When you reach the village, a cutscene will introduce Cissnei, the coalition captain of Gongaga Village. After meeting Cissnei, follow her up to Monument Hill and view another cutscene.
Once everything’s wrapped up, you shouldchat with your party members around Gongagavillage, which will give you a chance toimprove your bondwith them.
Although you can chat withCait Sith, there’sno way to affect your affinity levelwith him.
At the top of Monument Hill
Near the house with the piano
In the garden across from the Community Notice Board
On the couch in Cissnei’s house
“Nice Song. Funny too.”
To advance, head to thesoutheast corner of the villageand follow Aerith into the house she enters. After leaving the house,speak with Aerith to improve your bondwith her.
When you’re given a chance to speak,choose “They didn’t seem to mind.“After this, follow the waypoint back to Cissnei’s house and get some rest before heading to the reactor.
While at Cissnei’s, be sure toopen the purple chestto obtainYuffie’s Bird of Prey weapon. This weapongrants the Doppelgänger ability, which allows Yuffie to create a clone of herself to mimic her actions.
Gongaga’s Mako Reactor
Once Cloud is rested up, follow Yuffie to meet up with the rest of the party. After the cutscene, Cloud will set off to the reactor with Barret, Red XIII, and Cait Sith. The others will stay behind in the village.
The reactor issouth of Gongagavillage.Follow the path and the lit torchesto reach the reactor quickly. Once you arrive, watch the cutscene, then chase after the Whispers.
Continue down the path until youreach a room with a few Amphidex and a Frightflower.After defeating these enemies, you may continue chasing the Whispers bysqueezing past the slightly opened doors here.
Before moving forward,head into the room blocked by a piece of rubbleto find a chest containing theCrystal Sword weapon for Cloud.
This weapongrants the Infinity’s End ability, which allows Cloud to initiate a powerful attack thatdeals extra damage to staggered enemies.
Keep moving until you reach a dead end with a locked door. Go to the left,pick up the glowing plug with L2, and connect it to the red computerto unlock the door. Move along the path until you find the Whispers again.
To continue your pursuit, you’ll need to raise the water levels. Jump into the body of water,go left, and climb up the ladder to reach the Drainage System.The console will be out of power, so you’ll need to power it up just like with the computer from before.
However, the plug will be too short to reach the computer. To connect the plug to the computer, you have tomove the nearby green cart backwards with L2and out of the plug’s way. Now you’ll have enough room to connect the plug and use the Drainage System.
Instead of exiting where you came from, move to the back of the room with the Drainage System andclimb the red crates in the back of this room to exit through the small hole.
Here, you’ll find a chestcontaining the Golden Collar weapon for Red XIII.This weapongrants the Watcher’s Respite ability, which allows Red XIII to heal alliesat the cost of his Vengeance gauge charges. After this, you’re free to continue following the Whispers.
When you reach the dead end, take some time to rest up andgrab the Subversion Materia nearby.After heading into the light, another cutscene will play out, and Scarlet will send Hojo’s latest creation after you.
Stop, Sleep
Proportional Damage, Fire, Electricity
Inflicting a lot of damage after it uses its Mako Ingestion ability. The specimen will become vulnerable once interrupted.
This enemy is powerful, but you can easily pressure it by using powerful abilities and exploiting its weaknesses.
Be sure tobring along Ice Materia or the Snow Flurry abilityfrom the Folios.
Considerequipping Cloud’s newly acquired Crystal Sword, which provides a boost in magical attack and grants the powerful Infinity’s End ability.
For your party setup,bring along Barret and Red XIII.
Party Role
Barret
Barret canprotect your allies from Specimen H1024’s attacks with his Lifesaver ability, then use powerful attacks to pressure the enemy when it uses Mako Ingestion.
Red XIII
Red XIII canbuff and heal the party with his Supernal Fervor and Watcher’s Respite abilities.
When he’s not supporting the party,use the Chilling Roar ability to exploit the enemy’s weaknesswhile building the Vengeance gauge.
If you fail to pressure Specimen H1024 after it uses Mako Ingestion,it will use Memento Mori, a devastating attackthat can easily wipe out your entire party.Keep Red XIII’s Watcher’s Respite ability on standbyto recover quickly.
Once Specimen H1024’s health gets extremely low,it will use Mako Overdose.This ability castsFaith, Manaward and instills itself with Berserk. During this phase,focus on using physical abilitiesto defeat the beast before it tears through your party.
Obtaining The Gongaga Chocobo
After the boss is defeated, you’ll switch over to Tifa back in Gongaga Village. Noticing the trouble brewing at the reactor, Tifa’s party will head out.
On the way out,Cissnei will give you access to this region’s Chocoboand some grappling guns.The Gongaga Chocobo allows you to jump on the giant mushroomsspread around the region.Use the mushrooms to cover long distancesand reach the reactor even faster.
At the reactor, be prepared to deal with plenty of Shinra troopers. After taking care of the crowd,use the grappling hook on the red rope hanging from the front gate.
All grapple locations aredesignated by red ropes and the blue grapple iconthat appears on-screen.
From here,continue on the path you took while controlling Cloud’s partythrough the reactor.
Once you reach a room that’s heavily flooded,swim over to the platform at the end of the roomwith the Shinra crates. From here, use the grappling hooks to exit the room.
In this upper area, turn around andgrapple along the area here to reach the purple chest in the back.This chest contains theTiger Fangs weapon for Tifa, which grants her the Chi Trap ability.
This abilitycreates an orb of chi that deals damage to enemieswithin range.
Then, grapple back towards the beginning area where the Chimera Mimics are. From here,take the grapple directly above you, then take the one to the leftand follow the path down.
Continue moving forward and grappling whenever you can. When youreach a room with two Gagighandi and a Grandhorn, you’ll need to connect another plug to a computer.
You’ll need to grapple to the top of the room andmove the cart that the plug is attached to, so it can reach the computer.
After firing up the computer, it’s a straight shot to the heart of the reactor. Before you can reunite with Cloud’s party,be sure to rest up at the rest area and prepare for the upcoming battle.
Electricity
Stop
Proportional Damage, Berserk, Deprotect, Deshell, Debrave, Slow, Poison, Silence, Sleep, Petrify, Stone, Morphable Items
Destroying the weapons on the left and right arms will expose Scarlet. Attacking Scarlet will pressure the mech.
To weaken this enemy, you’ll need todestroy the weapons on its left and right arms.
Be sure to equipLightning Materia for Tifa and Aerith; Yuffiecan rely on her Lightning Ninjutsu.
Make sureYuffie has her Bird of Prey weapon equipped, the Doppelgänger ability is great for dishing out extra electric damage.
The Crimson Mare’s Spinning Thrust and X-ecution abilities are quick and hit hard, sostick to playing as agile characters like Tifa or Yuffie to dodge these attacks.
As for Aerith,use her to heal your party or strike with Lightning magiconce Scarlet is exposed and pressured.
Make sureAerith’s Radiant Ward and Arcane Wardare set upto maximize her damage output.
At a little less than half health,Scarlet will switch out her sabers for heavy gauntlets.The plan stays the same:take out the weapons first, then go for Scarlet.
The main difference here is thatthe Crimson Mare’s attacks are now slow and heavy, making them easier to block and dodge.
The Crimson Mare’s gauntlets can also fly off of their body and charge into your party members. During this phase, it’s easiest toblock when they use the Rocket Arms ability.There’s avery strict window for dodging this attackthat isn’t worth the risk.
Leaving Gongaga
Several cutscenes will play out after defeating Scarlet’s mech. When you’re given control of a character, you just need tofollow the waypoints until you’re back in Gongaga village.
Back in Gongaga, you’ll view another cutscene whereCloud’s party is directed south of Gongagato carry on with their journey.Follow the waypoints to reach the Gongaga airstrip and complete chapter nine.
