The spells a character can cast depend on the materia set to their equipment. Offensive magic, such as Fire, and curative magic, such as Cure, can easily change the tide of battle.
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Magic is a type of ability in Final Fantasy VII Remake and "Episode INTERmission" available to characters with the relevant 
Magic Materia equipped. It allows the user to cast magic with the Spells command. Magic spells can provide offensive and defensive effects, but cost MP as well as ATB bars (normally one) to cast. The only spells usable outside of battle are the curative ones.
Much like in other Final Fantasy titles, elemental magic is divided into three tiers: basic, intermediate and advanced. In Final Fantasy VII Remake, the higher the spell tier, the more damage it will deal with higher MP cost, as well increased cast time. If the caster is interrupted during the cast animation, the spell will not be used but the user may still lose the ATB and MP. Ribbon protects against interruption while spellcasting in "Episode INTERmission". Certain status effects prevent the afflicted from using magic. Tier 1 spells are cast almost instantly, but the higher-tier spells require a bit of a charging time to pull off, and thus are best cast when the caster is not being targeted by enemies' attacks.
Spells[]
Curative spells[]
| Spell | Effect | Materia | MP cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cure | Restore a small amount of HP. | Healing Materia(1)
|
4 |
| Cura | Restore a moderate amount of HP. | Healing Materia(2)
|
8 |
| Curaga | Restore a large amount of HP. | Healing Materia(4)
|
12 |
| Regen | Heal 10% of HP and apply the  Regen buff.
|
Healing Materia(3)
|
6 |
| Poisona | Cures  Poison.
|
Cleansing Materia(1)
|
3 |
| Esuna | Cures all negative debuffs. | Cleansing Materia(2)
|
12 |
| Resist | Applies the  Resist buff, preventing any negative debuffs.
|
Cleansing Materia(3)
|
8 |
| Raise | Revives a character at partial HP. | Revival Materia(1)
|
7 |
| Arise | Revives a character at full HP. | Revival Materia(2)
|
14 |
Offensive spells[]
| Spell | Effect | Materia | MP cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | Deal a small amount of  Fire damage.
|
Fire Materia(1)
|
4 |
| Fira | Deal a moderate amount of fire damage. | Fire Materia(2)
|
10 |
| Firaga | Deal a large amount of fire damage. | Fire Materia(3)
|
21 |
| Blizzard | Deal a small amount of  Ice damage.
|
Ice Materia(1)
|
4 |
| Blizzara | Deal a moderate amount of ice damage. | Ice Materia(2)
|
10 |
| Blizzaga | Deal a large amount of ice damage. | Ice Materia(3)
|
21 |
| Thunder | Deal a small amount of  Lightning damage. Guaranteed to hit.
|
Lightning Materia(1)
|
5 |
| Thundara | Deal a moderate amount of lightning damage. Guaranteed to hit. | Lightning Materia(2)
|
11 |
| Thundaga | Deal a large amount of lightning damage. Guaranteed to hit. | Lightning Materia(3)
|
22 |
| Aero | Deal a small amount of  Wind damage and pull target closer.
|
Wind Materia(1)
|
4 |
| Aerora | Deal a moderate amount of wind damage and pull target closer. | Wind Materia(2)
|
10 |
| Aeroga | Deal a large amount of wind damage and pull target closer. | Wind Materia(3)
|
21 |
| Bio | Deal a small amount of damage and inflict Poison.
|
Poison Materia(1)
|
3 |
| Biora | Deal a moderate amount of damage and inflict Poison. | Poison Materia(2)
|
8 |
| Bioga | Deal a large amount of damage and inflict Poison. | Poison Materia(3)
|
15 |
Effect spells[]
| Spell | Effect | Materia | MP cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrier | Applies the  Barrier buff, granting 50% resistance to physical damage.
|
Barrier Materia(1)
|
11 |
| Manaward | Applies the  Manaward buff, granting 50% resistance to magic damage.
|
Barrier Materia(2)
|
14 |
| Manawall | Applies both the Barrier and Manaward buffs, granting 50% resistance to all damage. | Barrier Materia(3)
|
20 |
| Sleep | Inflicts  Sleep, preventing a target from acting until awoken.
|
Binding Materia(1)
|
5 |
| Silence | Inflicts  Silence, preventing a target from casting spells.
|
Binding Materia(2)
|
4 |
| Berserk | Inflicts  Berserk, increasing the amount of damage received, but also the amount of damage dealt.
|
Binding Materia(3)
|
5 |
| Breach | Removes the Barrier, Manaward,  Shield, and  Reflect statuses from a target.
|
Subversion Materia(1)
|
10 |
| Dispel | Removes all buffs from a target. | Subversion Materia(2)
|
16 |
| Haste | Applies the  Haste buff, increasing the rate the target's ATB gauge builds.
|
Time Materia(1)
|
4 |
| Slow | Applies the  Slow debuff, slowing the rate the target's ATB gauge builds.
|
Time Materia(2)
|
3 |
| Stop | Applies the  Stop debuff, freezing the target.
|
Time Materia(3)
|
14 |
Behind the scenes[]
The developers knew from the beginning that the Remake would only cover the story parts in Midgar, and thus they would need to decide which elements to include from the original game. It was deemed that players would not be happy to be locked out of third tier spells, and so they can be unlocked with leveling up their materia, but spells like Flare (tier 4 fire spell in the original Final Fantasy VII) are saved for the sequels.[1]
Citations[]
- ↑ Team, FF7 (2020, August 28). "Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania Interview with Motomu Toriyama, English Translation". From game8. Archived from the original on 23 February, 2021.