The Art of Swordplay manuscript for Cloud's weapon upgrades.
Manuscripts (スキルアップブック, Sukiru Appu Bukku?, lit. Skill Up Book) are items in Final Fantasy VII Remake and "Episode INTERmission" used to provide skill points for purchasing weapon upgrades, as well as second level limit breaks. Manuscripts are gained for completing various objectives, including Corneo Colosseum and Shinra Combat Simulator challenges, and by defeating certain enemies in hard mode.
Manuscripts are necessary to fully level up weapons after a character reaches their maximum level 50. There are 56 manuscripts in total in the base game. During an initial playthrough, only 12 can be obtained, and the remaining 44 require hard mode difficulty. There are 14 per character. The mechanic returns in INTERmission for Yuffie and Sonon.
Manuscripts differ for each character. Cloud's are known as The Art of Swordplay, Barret's are known as Sharpshooter's Companion, Tifa's are the Way of the Fist, and Aerith's are Telluric Scriptures.
Limit breaks being learned from books alludes to the original Final Fantasy VII where each party member's final Limit was learned from a manual, which often required doing a sidequest to find.
Cloud's The Art of Swordplay[]
A primer on proper sword technique. Increases Cloud's skill points.
Description
Any difficulty[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. I | Chapter 8: | Purchase from the Moogle Emporium for 5 moogle medals. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. II | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Complete "Cloud vs. Shinra Thugs" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. III | Chapter 14: | Complete "Corneo's Secret Stash". |
Hard mode only[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. IV | Chapter 2: | Defeat The Huntsman. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. V | Chapter 3: | Defeat Doomrats during "Rat Problem". |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. VI | Chapter 4: "Mad Dash" | Defeat Roche. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. VII | Chapter 8: | Defeat Reno. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. VIII | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Defeat Beck, Burke, and Butch during "The Price of Thievery". |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. IX | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Defeat Jury-Rigged Cutter during "Shears' Counterattack". |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. X | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Defeat two Bombs during "A Dynamite Body". |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. XI | Chapter 14: | Defeat the Beastmaster and Hellhound during "Tomboy Bandit". |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. XII | Chapter 16: | Defeat Specimen H0512. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. XIII | Chapter 17: "Deliverance from Chaos" | Complete the "Cloud vs. 3-C SOLDIER Candidates" challenge in the Shinra Combat Simulator. |
| The Art of Swordplay Vol. XIV | Chapter 17: "Deliverance from Chaos" | Defeat Rufus and Darkstar. |
Barret's Sharpshooter's Companion[]
A handbook dedicated to the proper use of firearms. Increases Barret's skill points.
Description
Any difficulty[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. I | Chapter 8: | Purchase from the Moogle Emporium for 5 moogle medals. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. II | Chapter 14: | Complete "Barret vs. Shinra Thugs" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. III | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Complete "The Power of Music". |
Hard mode only[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. IV | Chapter 1: "The Destruction of Mako Reactor 1" | Defeat the Scorpion Sentinel. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. V | Chapter 5: | Defeat the Crab Warden. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. VI | Chapter 7: | Defeat the Airbuster. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. VII | Chapter 12: | Defeat Reno and Rude. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. VIII | Chapter 13: | Defeat the Failed Experiment. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. IX | Chapter 14: | Defeat the Tonberry during "Malicious Goons". |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. X | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Defeat the Type-0 Behemoth during "Subterranean Menace". |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. XI | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Defeat the Rust Drake during "Chocobo Search". |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. XII | Chapter 15: "The Day Midgar Stood Still" | Defeat The Valkyrie. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. XIII | Chapter 17: | Complete the "Barret vs. 3-C SOLDIER Candidates" challenge in the Shinra Combat Simulator. |
| Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. XIV | Chapter 18: | Defeat the Whisper Harbinger. |
Tifa's Way of the Fist[]
A manuscript detailing some of martial arts' best-kept secrets. Increases Tifa's skill points.
Description
Any difficulty[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Way of the Fist Vol. I | Chapter 8: | Purchase from the Moogle Emporium for 5 moogle medals. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. II | Chapter 14: | Complete "Tifa vs. Shinra Thugs" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. III | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Complete "Wavering Heart". |
Hard mode only[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Way of the Fist Vol. IV | Chapter 3: | Defeat the Wrath Hound during "On the Prowl". |
| Way of the Fist Vol. V | Chapter 4: "Mad Dash" | Defeat the Enigmatic Spectre. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. VI | Chapter 6: "Light the Way" | Found in the ventilation fan (where the Chocobo & Moogle can previously be found). |
| Way of the Fist Vol. VII | Chapter 10: | Defeat Abzu. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. VIII | Chapter 11: "Haunted" | Defeat Eligor. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. IX | Chapter 14: | Defeat Abzu and the Abzu Shoats. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. X | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Defeat the Phantoms during "Missing Children". |
| Way of the Fist Vol. XI | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Defeat the Trypapolises during "Chocobo Search". |
| Way of the Fist Vol. XII | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Defeat the Sahagin Prince during "Corneo's Secret Stash". |
| Way of the Fist Vol. XIII | Chapter 17: | Complete the "Tifa vs. 3-C SOLDIER Candidates" challenge in the Shinra Combat Simulator. |
| Way of the Fist Vol. XIV | Chapter 17:
"Deliverance from Chaos" |
Defeat the Jenova Dreamweaver. |
Aerith's Telluric Scriptures[]
A collection of writings that discuss the mysteries of the planet. Increases Aerith's skill points.
Description
Any difficulty[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. I | Chapter 8: | Purchase from the Moogle Emporium for 5 moogle medals. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. II | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Complete "Aerith vs. Shinra Thugs" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. III | Chapter 14: | Complete "Secret Medicine". |
Hard mode only[]
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. IV | Chapter 8: | Defeat Rude. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. V | Chapter 8:
"Budding Bodyguard" |
Defeat the Mark II Monodrive during "Weapons on a Rampage". |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. VI | Chapter 8:
"Budding Bodyguard" |
Defeat Hedgehog Pie King during "Kids on Patrol". |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. VII | Chapter 8:
"Budding Bodyguard" |
Defeat Chromogger during "The Angel of the Slums". |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. VIII | Chapter 8:
"Budding Bodyguard" |
Defeat Venomantises during "Paying Respects". |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. IX | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Defeat Hell House. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. X | Chapter 11: "Haunted" | Defeat the Ghoul. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. XI | Chapter 17: | Complete the "Aerith vs. 3-C SOLDIER Candidates" in the Shinra Combat Simulator. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. XII | Chapter 17:
"Deliverance from Chaos" |
Defeat the Swordipede. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. XIII | Chapter 17:
"Deliverance from Chaos" |
Defeat The Arsenal. |
| Telluric Scriptures Vol. XIV | Chapter 18: | Defeat Sephiroth. |
Yuffie's Secrets of the Ninja and Sonon's Secrets of the Staff[]
A collection of writings containing long-held mysteries of the ninja. Increases Yuffie's skill points.
Description
A manual of arms explaining the methodology for proper staff usage. Increases Sonon's skill points.
Description
Yuffie and Sonon's manuscripts are obtained at the same time, and only in hard mode. The manuscripts are gained from the Fort Condor minigame and from defeating bosses.
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. I Secrets of the Staff Vol. I |
Chapter 1: | Win against Kyrie Canaan in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. II Secrets of the Staff Vol. II |
Chapter 1: | Win against Shinra Middle Manager in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. III Secrets of the Staff Vol. III |
Chapter 1: | Win against Johnny in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. IV Secrets of the Staff Vol. IV |
Chapter 1: | Win against Jessie Rasberry in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. V Secrets of the Staff Vol. V |
Chapter 1: | Win against Roche in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. VI Secrets of the Staff Vol. VI |
Chapter 1: | Win against Wedge in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. VII Secrets of the Staff Vol. VII |
Chapter 1: | Win against Chadley in Fort Condor |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. VIII Secrets of the Staff Vol. VIII |
Chapter 1: | Defeat Horned Cripshay during "Double Back" |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. IX Secrets of the Staff Vol. IX |
Chapter 1: | Defeat Levrikon during "Main Pillar Maintenance" |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. X Secrets of the Staff Vol. X |
Chapter 1: | Defeat Gigantipede during "Save Zhijie" |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. XI Secrets of the Staff Vol. XI |
Chapter 2: | Defeat Deathwheel during "The Invitation" |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. XII Secrets of the Staff Vol. XII |
Chapter 2: | Defeat The Crimson Mare during "Fateful Confrontation" |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. XIII Secrets of the Staff Vol. XIII |
Chapter 2: | Defeat Projector during "Escape" |
| Secrets of the Ninja Vol. XIV Secrets of the Staff Vol. XIV |
Chapter 2: | Defeat Nero during "Dread" |
Legacy[]
They can be obtained at any difficulty.
| Edition | Chapter | Obtained |
|---|---|---|
| Legacy: Ascension | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Complete "Cloud vs. Wild Animals" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| An item that teaches Cloud a new limit break. | ||
| Legacy: Catastrophe | Chapter 14: | Complete "Barret vs. Wild Animals" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| An item that teaches Barret a new limit break. | ||
| Legacy: Dolphin Flurry | Chapter 14:
"In Search of Hope" |
Complete "Tifa vs. Wild Animals" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| An item that teaches Tifa a new limit break. | ||
| Legacy: Planet's Protection | Chapter 9: "The Town That Never Sleeps" | Complete "Aerith vs. Wild Animals" challenge in Corneo Colosseum. |
| An item that teaches Aerith a new limit break. | ||
Behind the scenes[]
Battle system designer Masanori Sato spent some time thinking about what SP-increasing items would look like for the game. Ultimately, manuals were chosen as they were the way that final Limit Breaks were unlocked in the original Final Fantasy VII, and because unlocking a new weapon skill equated to learning the secrets of the associated combat style.[1]
Each character's manuscripts have a unique design when viewed in the inventory. The swords crossing on Cloud's resemble somewhat the basic sword SOLDIER members are issued 
. Barret's manuscript holds bullets on the cover, while Tifa's has a stylized image that somewhat resembles the shape of a boxing ring. The shapes on the covers of Aerith's manuscripts are her weapons bar the Guard Stick (from top to bottom):
- Mythril Rod
- Bladed Staff (closer to the shape from the concept art
rather than from the game) - Arcane Scepter
- Reinforced Staff
- Silver Staff (closer to the shape from the concept art rather than from the game)
Yuffie's manuscript is green and white closed with a beaded cord, and has her shuriken alongside a swallow insignia. In Japan it is considered good luck to have a swallow nesting in one's house. Sonon's manuscript is red and black with a cherry tree branch in gold. In Japanese culture, cherry trees and blossoms often symbolize renewal and the transience of life.
Gallery[]
