FF7: Easily Defeat Emerald Weapon Without Knights of the Round

Many Final Fantasy VII (FF7) players, especially beginners, encounter a formidable wall in the form of the super-massive hidden boss lurking beneath the sea: Emerald Weapon. You're likely not alone if its overwhelming HP and absurd attack power made you want to throw your controller. While you might think, "If only I had Knights of the Round...", the long road to obtaining it can be daunting. But rest assured! There is indeed a reliable strategy to defeat Emerald Weapon even without that strongest Summon Materia. This article will provide a detailed, expert, yet easy-to-understand explanation of how to do it.

First, Understand Emerald Weapon's Threatening Attack Patterns

Emerald Weapon is called the strongest hidden boss for a reason: its exceptional stats and diverse attacks. The first thing that will surprise you upon confronting it is its astonishing 1 million HP. Furthermore, in the International version, there's a 20-minute time limit, which requires specific preparation to lift. Grasping its main attack patterns and countermeasures is the first step toward victory.

Attack Name	Effect and Characteristics	Countermeasures
Emerald Big Bang	Deals fixed damage equal to "Number of equipped Materia × 1111" to all allies. Without countermeasures, a total party wipe is unavoidable.	Limit equipped Materia to less than 9. Use "Final Attack" + "Phoenix" for automatic revival.
Emerald Shoot	Deals heavy damage to a single target and removes beneficial effects like "Barrier" and "MBarrier".	Keep HP consistently high. Have all characters in the "Sad" status to reduce damage taken.
Emerald Beam	Deals percentage-based damage to all allies and removes "Regen".	Reinforce defenses with Mighty Guard, etc., and do not neglect HP recovery.
Stomp	Deals physical damage to all allies. While not extremely powerful, it's also used as a counter-attack, so be careful.	Reduce damage with Protect and high-defense armor.

Thus, Emerald Weapon is an opponent that cannot be defeated by brute force alone; a tactical approach is essential.

The Key to Victory Lies in Materia Selection

Many players tend to opt for the "Knights of the Round" brute-force strategy, but it's entirely possible to defeat Emerald Weapon without it. The key lies in selecting Materia from the perspective of how to manage damage output, defense, and the time limit.

First, the "Underwater" Materia is absolutely essential. Equipping this removes the 20-minute time limit. You can obtain "Underwater" Materia by defeating a "Ghost Ship" (which appears near the Underwater Mako Reactor, etc.) using the "Morph" Materia to get a "Guide Book," then giving it to a person in a house in Kalm town.

Next, for attack-focused Materia, "W-Summon," "Mime," and "Slash-All (4x Cut)" are highly effective. Since you won't be relying on "Knights of the Round," how you combine these Materia to maximize damage efficiency is where your skill will shine.

Revealing Alternative Damage Sources Without Knights of the Round

So, how exactly do you chip away at 1 million HP? The answer lies in continuously using Limit Breaks via "Mime." Cloud's Level 4 Limit Break, "Omnislash," in particular, boasts an extraordinary performance of 15 consecutive attacks and will be the main pillar of this strategy.

The basic strategy is once "Omnislash" is activated, other characters continuously imitate it using "Mime." This allows you to consistently deal massive damage every turn. Furthermore, if you pair "Counter Attack" with "Mime," "Omnislash" will automatically trigger as a counter-attack every time you take damage, dramatically increasing damage efficiency.

However, succeeding with this strategy requires meticulous preparation, including character development, Materia combinations, and appropriate item usage. A single misstep can easily lead to a total party wipe. If you wish to avoid detours here, we strongly recommend reconfirming the entire flow with this strategy guide.

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Essential Equipment and Preparation List to Avoid Perishing in the Deep Sea

Here's a specific preparation list for executing the "Omnislash" Mime strategy. Let's head into the decisive battle fully prepared.

Party Composition

• Cloud: Main attacker. Essential as the wielder of "Omnislash."
• Character 2: Mime user and supporter.
• Character 3: Mime user and healer.

Example Materia Combinations

Character	Recommended Materia Setup
Cloud	"Counter Attack" + "Mime," "HP Plus," "Speed Plus," "Slash-All," "Underwater"
Member 2	"Mime," "W-Item," "Enemy Skill (Mighty Guard, White Wind)," "HP Plus"
Member 3	"Mime," "Final Attack" + "Phoenix," "HP Plus," "Restore"

※ To counter "Emerald Big Bang," it's wise to limit equipped Materia to 8 or less per character.

Essential Items

• Hero Drink: Used to boost Cloud's attack power and cap "Omnislash" damage.
• Elixir/Mega-Elixir: Fully restores HP/MP, reducing the burden on healers.
• Tranquilizer: Used to set all characters to "Sad" status before battle to reduce damage taken.

With This, You Too Are a Hero: Complete Steps to Victory

Once all preparations are complete, it's time to challenge Emerald Weapon in a decisive battle. Follow these steps and act calmly.

1. Before Battle: Set all characters to "Sad" status. Ensure Cloud's Limit Gauge is full.
2. Immediately After Battle Starts: First, use "W-Item" to give Cloud two "Hero Drinks" to maximize his attack power. Then, activate Cloud's Limit Break, "Omnislash."
3. Mid-Battle Loop: Once Cloud's "Omnislash" is executed, the other two characters should continuously select "Mime." If HP drops due to enemy attacks, have the healer restore it with "White Wind" or an Elixir.
4. Utilize Counters: If Cloud, equipped with "Counter Attack" + "Mime," takes damage, he will automatically counter-attack. This further increases damage efficiency.
5. Until the Moment of Victory: Simply repeat this loop. 1 million HP is certainly not a small amount, but by adhering to this strategy, you should be able to reliably whittle it down. Maintain your focus until the very end of the battle.

Even without "Knights of the Round," with the right strategy and preparation, you can definitely defeat FF7's strongest enemy. We hope this article helps you write your own heroic tale.