Max Ray (Final Fantasy VII)

Max Ray
(マキシマムレイ, Makishimamu Rei?, lit. Maximum Ray)
Availability
Obtained	Midgar Underground (during Raid on Midgar)
Character users	Barret
Value	2 gil
Classification
Type	Gun-arm
Range	Long range
Element	Shoot
Specifications
Attack	97
Magic atk	30
Attack%	98
Materia slots	x3
Related pages
Recurring appearance	Max Ray

The Max Ray is a weapon for Barret in Final Fantasy VII. It is first available in the Midgar Underground during the Raid on Midgar. The Max Ray is Barret's second most powerful weapon below Missing Score, with very high stats and six linked Materia slots. The player can equip it to Barret, throw it, or sell it for 1 gil.

Obtained

The Max Ray is obtained in the Midgar Underground during "Mako Cannon Rampage", in the area just before the Sector 8 subway. This means it is found around the same time as the comparable Pile Banger and Barret's ultimate weapon, Missing Score. If not obtained then, it is permanently missed.

Mechanics

As the Max Ray has a base Attack stat bonus of 97, this means the base damage for physical attacks when it is equipped are in the following formula:

$\text{Base Damage} = \text{(97 + Strength)} + \frac{\text{(97 + Strength)} + \text{Level}}{32} \times \frac{\text{(97 + Strength)} \times \text{Level}}{32}$

where "Level" is Barret's current level and "Strength" is his Strength stat. The Max Ray also has an Attack% (Accuracy) of 98%, and a +30 boost to Barret's Magic stat.

Use

Promotional render.

The Max Ray is Barret's second most powerful weapon, below Missing Score. It has solid, well-rounded stats, six Materia slots, and few drawbacks. It is the best weapon for Barret that does not have Missing Score's mechanic on relying on the AP of equipped Materia to deal damage. Compared to Pile Banger, though it does not include an improved Critical Hit rate, it has greater stats, and does not come with the penalty of providing no AP growth to its Materia slots.

Max Ray's three lots of two Materia slots can benefit from Support Materia to grant various effects to Magic and Summon Materia. As it also provides a strong boost to Barret's Magic stat, it is viable to build Barret towards magical damage with it, but unlike Missing Score, is not as strongly built into him. This means the player can also build towards Command Materia or Independent Materia that use Barret for physical damage, enhancing his Limits.

Max Ray is only more consistently useful for Barret than Missing Score if the player does not have enough mastered Materia with a lot of AP to give to him. In all other situations, Barret is better off equipped with Missing Score, as it deals significantly greater damage.