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Increases how full the ATB gauge is at the start of battle.
Description
First Strike materia is a 
Complete Materia in Final Fantasy VII Remake. It causes a character to enter a battle with their ATB gauge slightly filled, depending on the materia's level.
Obtained
First Strike materia can be purchased from Chadley once unlocked after completing Battle Intel Report 3.
Stats
| Level | AP required | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | Small ATB increase |
| 2 | 250 | Medium ATB increase |
| 3 | Large ATB increase |
Use
First Strike allows a character to begin with their ATB slightly filled. Though this is broadly useful in a variety of situations, First Strike can be used strategically in specific ways when paired with characters' abilities, to gain an upper hand when starting a battle. The materia is useful to level up, as at later levels, it can allow a character to begin with a full ATB bar.
All characters who have 
Magic Materia such as time materia, barrier materia, or Binding Materia can use First Strike to start a battle from an advantageous position. Some characters can use it with their unique abilities in specific use cases. Tifa can use First Strike to instantly use Unbridled Strength, and thus begin a battle with higher chi and use Omnistrike right off the bat. If coupled with a weapon that gives her a chance to increase her chi at the start of battle, she can also start with Rise and Fall. Barret can use First Strike to cast Lifesaver at the start of a battle, allowing him to immediately tank damage. Aerith can use it to use Arcane Ward instantly, to allow her to quickly follow up by casting a spell without taking up too many ATB gauges. Though Cloud's abilities are all based on raw damage output rather than specific effects, he can use Focused Thrust to begin a battle by pressuring an enemy.
First Strike materia can be used in combination with other materia that also increases a character's ATB gauge quickly, including ATB Stagger Materia, ATB Assist Materia, Skill Master Materia, and 
ATB Boost Materia. ATB Boost materia, if paired with First Strike, can give a character two full ATB charges to start a battle immediately, while the others can boost the rate a character's ATB builds greatly, allowing them to use attacks more frequently. A mix of these can be very useful on Tifa, who relies on performing her abilities in quick succession in a combo and has the highest 
Speed, or on Aerith, who has a lot of support abilities that are very ATB-intensive.