Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a fairly linear JRPG with few opportunities for grinding. However, there are ways to reach the level cap using the Shinra Combat Simulator. The recently released DLC, the PS5 exclusive INTERmission, is similarly linear and offers even fewer grinding spots. There is still a relatively easy way to reach the level cap, though.
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While not immediately evident, reaching level 50 in INTERmission only takes between an hour or two once the player figures out how. The combat in the game is so engaging and visually stunning, battling over and over again never feels like a chore.
First thing's first, the player must first beat the DLC once. Save for a couple of bouts, the first playthrough is relatively easy for anyone who is familiar with the game's combat. Ultimately, no one should even touch the DLC until they've beaten the main game first for this reason; it will be too hard and the story will make no sense for absolute newcomers.
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After beating the game, a chapter select becomes available and this is where it becomes possible to grind to level 50. Yuffie and Sonon should already be at level 38 or so. Before diving into Hard Mode it is essential to reach level 50. While the challenge is not insurmountable while under the level cap, it does make the second playthrough more manageable. Additionally the Materia will level up plenty while grinding.
The Shinra Combat Simulator is where Yuffie and Sonon will reach level 50 the fastest. After beating the game, use chapter select to enter Chapter 2. Right at the start in a hallway there is a door to the left. Through here is the Shinra Combat Simulator. There are three fights available. The first two are perfectly manageable, while the third is one of the most challenging battles of the DLC.
Fortunately, Yuffie and Sonon can reach level 50 without any issue just from re-doing the first level called Yuffie & Sonnon vs. Shinra's Dark Secrets and the rounds are as follows
- Round 1: 3 Security Officers, 3 Riot Troopers, and An Elite Grandier. Use the first spell and most of them can be taken out almost immediately. Stragglers can be taken out with physical attacks
- Round 2: 2 Deepground SOLDIERS and a Helitrooper. Focus on the Helitrooper first with a flame spell or two. The other soldiers sometimes disappear. Either use fire magic again or Synergized Art of War to take them out quickly one at a time.
- Round 3: 3 3-C SOLDIER Operators. These are the toughest of the bunch. Either use a Synergized Art of War on them one at a time or keep your distance and use fire magic. The Vacuum Wave move is powerful and unblockable so run away when one of them readies this move.
Most of the enemies are human Shinra soldiers, so be sure to have plenty of fire-based attacks at the ready. Pairing Elemental Materia with Fire to make every attack do fire damage is a solid strategy. The first couple of times it might take a few minutes to blast through these enemies, but after leveling up a couple of times they pose no challenge at all.
There are three fights in this stage of the Shinra Combat Simulator and generally Yuffie or Sonon level up every two battles. Depending on the discrepancy between their experience points, at least one of them will level up with every match. If Yuffie earned the EXP Up Materia from the box-destroying minigame in Chapter 2, then the leveling up will go by even faster.
Even without it, the player should probably only have to do the fights between 20 and thirty times and it should take no longer than 90 minutes to reach level 50. Once at the level cap and with stronger Materia, Hard Mode should be a breeze.