Microlaser (Final Fantasy VII)

Microlaser
(マイクロレーザー, Maikurorēzā?)
Availability
Obtained	Icicle Inn
Character users	Barret
Value	12,000 gil
Classification
Type	Gun-arm
Range	Long range
Element	Shoot
Specifications
Attack	63
Magic atk	13
Attack%	101
Materia slots	x2 x2

The Microlaser is a weapon for Barret in Final Fantasy VII. It can be purchased at Icicle Inn, and has stats on-par with other weapons there. It is a long range with six Materia slots, four of which are linked in pairs. It can be equipped to Barret or thrown.

Obtained

The Microlaser can be purchased from the Icicle Inn for 12,000 gil.

Mechanics

As the Microlaser has a base Attack stat bonus of 63, the base damage for physical attacks when the Microlaser is equipped is in the following formula:

$\text{Base Damage} = \text{(63 + Strength)} + \frac{\text{(63 + Strength)} + \text{Level}}{32} \times \frac{\text{(63 + Strength)} \times \text{Level}}{32}$

where "Level" is Barret's current level and "Strength" is his Strength stat. The Microlaser also has an Attack% (Accuracy) of 101%, and grants a +13 bonus to Barret's Magic stat.

Use

Promotional render.

The Microlaser is a long range weapon with stronger stats than weapons available before it. It has four linked Materia slots, and one unlinked slot. Although the weapon is melee, meaning Barret cannot hit ranged targets or deal full damage from the back row, it is otherwise more powerful than all weapons available before it.

The Microlaser has two sets of two linked Materia slots, allowing Barret to link Magic Materia or Summon Materia with Support Materia. At this stage, Barret is a competent magic user as he has a good Magic stat, which is boosted by Microlaser, and has plenty of HP to make equipping more Magic Materia on him less detrimental than on other characters. The unlinked slots can use Independent Materia to further boost his ability to cast spells. Alternatively, Barret can be given Independent and Command Materia that support his abilities to deal physical damage.

Microlaser is Barret's strongest weapon until the A∙M Cannon, which has stronger stats all around, and the same amount of Materia slots except all are linked. It also outclasses the Solid Bazooka in stats, but the Solid Bazooka has eight Materia slots, all linked, to Microlaser's six. This means that which weapon the player uses depends on how much they value Barret as a mage, or his ability to be versatile.

Etymology

[view · edit · purge]A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. A laser differs from other sources of light because it emits light coherently allowing to be focused to a tight spot and to stay narrow over long distances.