Upon reaching the game’s first, albeit short, hub area of Kalm, you’ll gain access to various new mechanics. Here, you’ll learn how to use and upgrade Folios, along with how to upgrade weapons in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. But it’s somewhat unintuitive, so here’s a guide to help you!
How to Upgrade Your Weapons in FF7R
As you use specific weapons in combat encounters, you will inevitably gain proficiency with said weapon, and, in time, you can upgrade your weapons in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. The first stop is the weapons shop in Kalm, where you’ll receive a short tutorial on upgrading your Buster Sword as Cloud.
But after that, you can find the ‘Upgrade Weapons’ option from the Main Menu anytime during your playthrough. Access this menu, then select the character’s weapon you want to upgrade.
Once you choose a weapon, hit ‘Triangle’ on the controller to access Weapon Skills, where you can pick the upgrade. But you’ll only gain one Weapon Skill slot per weapon level, so use that character and weapon frequently to gain SP.
Some of these upgrades increase weapon damage, alter abilities and spells, and even occasionally provide you with new spells and movesets for use against monsters. It’s a fun way to grow in strength and power!
In this same menu, if you hit the menu select button on your controller, you can also set weapon upgrades to auto-upgrade as you increase your skill with the weapon. Here, depending on your playstyle, you can change how the auto-upgrade works, whether you want it to focus on Balanced, Prioritize Attack, or Prioritize Defense. It’s an acceptable hands-off approach to handling weapon upgrades!
Related: How to Defeat Materia Guardian in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Which Weapons to Upgrade First in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Personally, as I intend to use Cloud frequently, as many will when playing Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, I recommend focusing on upgrades for the Buster Sword, first and foremost. After that, focus on party members you typically keep with you for combat encounters. For me, that’s Barret and Tifa, though I know Red XIII is a fan favorite and will likely round out many players’ parties.
Keep in mind, however, that as you progress through the story and visit merchants in the hub areas, you will likely find better weaponry.
For more Final Fantasy guides from Insider Gaming, explore All Materia in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth!
