Check this Final Fantasy 7 Remake (FF7 Remake, FF7R) guide on how to grind EXP & level up fast! Find ways to double & quadruple your EXP income, level cap, checkpoints & more!!!
Table of Contents
- New Game+ Exp Farming Method
- How To Level Up Fast
- Check Points
- Perks to Leveling Up
| Farming Guides | |
|---|---|
 How To Level Up Fast | How To Farm Gil |
| How To Farm AP | How To Get SP Fast |
Find More Beginner Tips Here!
New Game+ (Chapter Selection) EXP Farming
Farm Via The Starting Area Of Chapter 16 On Hard Mode
You can get 32,866 EXP in just 4 & a half minutes in the starting area of Chapter 16: The Belly of the Beast on Hard Mode. You can reset the run once you reach the stairs of the building.
Note that you need to finish the game first so you can loop this run using Chapter Selection on Hard.
Check Out The End Game Guide Here!
Ch. 16 EXP & AP Per Run
| Method | EXP | AP |
|---|---|---|
| Normal Mode Run | 12,354 | 279 |
| Hard Mode Run | 32,866 | 279 |
(※) Note that you have to do this on Hard Mode, as Normal Mode provides less exp. Normal Mode will provide the same amount of AP, however!!!
Use EXP Up Materia
If you equip the EXP Up Materia, you can double this to get 65,732 EXP on one character each time! You can get the EXP Up Materia by clearing the Three-Person Team vs Team Ragbag Shinra Battle Challenge in Chapter 16!
Check Out The Exp Up Materia Here!
Recommended Materia & Abilities
- Fire Materia (with unlocked Fira & Firaga)
- Magnify Materia (link to Fire Materia)
- MP Up Materia (the more the better)
- Magic Up (on your main Firaga caster)
- First Strike Materia (for faster ATB gain)
- Triple Slash (Cloud's Iron Blade's ability)
This method is significantly easier & faster if you equip a character with MP Up & Magnify Materia. Use the Magnify Materia & link it to a Fire Materia so you can use Fira/Firaga to quickly dispatch enemies.
How To Level Up Fast
Use The Training Center
The Training Center in Chapter 4 can be used to farm EXP during the early parts of the game. You can access it before you sneak into the base in S7-6 Annex, just around the corner of the item vending machine. You can also use this place to farm gil & AP.
Check Out Chapter 4's Story Walkthrough Here
Training Center EXP Table
| Method | EXP per Hr |
|---|---|
| Normal Run | 7,344 |
| With First Strike Materia & Triple Slash | 10,404 |
Better With First Strike & Triple Slash
First Strike Materia can be had after completing Battle Intel Report #3 from Chadley. It allows you to have more ATB at the start of the battle, allowing you to perform a Triple Slash to hit all targets in one go without requiring you to move to each of them.
Check Out All Battle Intel Reports Here
Use Corneo's Colosseum
You can do Battle Challenges in Corneo's Colosseum in Chapter 14. These fights are repeatable & can be done until you get to the level that you want. However, the difficulty & the speed to clear each battle is heavily affected by your level.
Check Out Chapter 14's Story Walkthrough Here
Corneo's Colosseum EXP Table
| Battle Challenges | Total EXP / Run |
|---|---|
| Two-Person Team vs. Slum Outlaws | 2,302 |
| Three-Person Team vs. Shinra Warriors | 2,267 |
▲ Numbers above are the total EXP per run. Clear time may vary depending on your party's level.
Complete Side Quests During Chapters
Best way for you to earn as much EXP during your initial run is to complete all Side Missions possible during each Chapter. Although these are not mandatory by any means, you will be rewarded with handsome amount of EXP upon completion, which will eventually add up around level 40 when you reach late-game.
Find All Side Quests Here
Equip The EXP Up Materia
Found late game in Chapter 16, the EXP Up is an extremely useful item which will double the user's EXP income.
Check Out The Exp Up Materia Here!
Get EXP Up Materia In Shinra HQ's Combat Simulator
As a part of the story, you will come across a VR Combat Simulator at Shinra HQ in Chapter 16. After completing the initial story part, access the terminal again and partake in 'Three-Person Team vs. Team Ragbag' battle. Completing this battle will reward you with EXP Up Materia.
Check Out The Shinra Combat Simulator Here!
Replay Completed Chapters For Double EXP Bonus
After finishing the entire game, you will have a chance to replay previously completed chapter in an 'New Game Plus' scenario, with all your latest equipments and levels in tact. Not only will you be able to backtrack to get all the items and side quests you missed, but your EXP income will be doubled (and AP income tripled).
Find More Details On New Game Plus Here
Double EXP Effect Stacks With EXP Up Materia
The New Game Plus double EXP effect will stack with the effects of EXP Up Materia, meaning you will be able to gain quadruple the amount of EXP from any source. This can easily top off the levels you need to reach the max level cap.
Check Out The Exp Up Materia Here!
Use Check Points For Early Game XP Farming
Check Points Allow You To Return While Retaining EXP
There are certain location in the game that will update your latest check point as you progress through the story. If you select to restart the game from the latest check point (ex. via the system menu), this will allow you to restart a section of that chapter while retaining the EXPs earned. This is a great way to farm EXP on your initial gameplay
Difference Between Auto Save
- Retains EXP earned up until that point
- Weapon proficiency, Materia AP, Gil, Items gained will be reset
- Checkpoint occasions are limited compared to Auto Save
- Cannot be used when using Chapter Select
Check Points Per Chapter
| Ch. | Checkpoint Location |
|---|---|
| 1 | Before the boss fight |
| 2 | Upon starting the chapterPrior to meeting Aerith |
| 3 | Upon starting the chapterAfter being asked to clear enemies at Scrap BoulevardAfter rescuing Johnny and returning to Seventh Heaven |
| 4 | Before entering S7-6 AnnexAfter selecting to rest at your room |
| 5 | After moving to the next train car After having your 2nd meeting with Barett |
| 6 | Upon starting the chapter After rebooting the main lift |
| 7 | After disengaging the emergency lock |
| 8 | After heading to the main road from the roofsAfter reaching central area of Sector 5 SlumAfter Aerith talking with the boy in the slum After defeating Rude and returning to Aerith's house |
| 9 | Before entering Collapsed ExpresswayAfter hearing about Tifa from SamAfter receiving a ticket to Colosseum from Madame MAfter attempting to return to Aerith when she's changing |
| 10 | After defeating Abzu and returning on road After the bridge collapsing in Sector 6-7 |
| 11 | Upon starting chapterAfter reaching storage exit |
| 12 | Upon Cloud attempting to climb the pillar |
| 13 | Upon starting the chapterHeading underground from Evergreen Park |
| 14 | After departing from Aerith's houseAfter entering sewer with LesleyAfter Lesley losing her bag |
| 15 | Upon starting chapterAfter reaching Central Tower 1F |
| 16 | Upon starting chapter After receiving card key in Shinra bldg. 66F |
| 17 | After pushing the elevator switch on Shinra bldg. 66FAfter Red XIII being ambushedAfter attempting to head to Shinra bldg. 69F |
All Story Walkthrough Guides
Perks to Leveling Up
Leveling Up Character Boosts Stats
Leveling up your character will boost their overall stats and combat prowess. These boosted stats can be topped off with powerful weapons, equipments, and Materias to further emphasize their performance.
Max Level Cap is 50 For Now
FF7 Remake's level cap is currently set to 50 for now. It is most likely that the players will be able to take off from their current progression when the Part 2 of the FF7 Remake arrives.
Find The Latest On The Part 2 Sequel Here
Gain SP (Skill Points) To Upgrade Weapons
SP (Skill Points) are also gained when a Character levels up. This can be allocated to the weapon of your choice to use weapon Skills.
Learn How To Farm SP Here
Weapon Itself Will Have Levels
Aside from SP management, each weapon themselves have their own levels, which can be leveled up with use. Doing so will unlock new 'sub-cores' allowing access to new variation of weapon skills to allocate your SPs.
Check Out All Weapons Here
Max Out Weapon Proficiency To Unbound Special Attacks
The more you use that specific weapon, more Proficiency will grow onto it. Once reaching 100% proficiency on that specific weapon, the weapon-unique Special Attack will be 'unbound', meaning it can be used on any other weapons for that character.
Gain AP (Ability Points) To Power Up Materias
Equipping Materias on your weapon and equipments while fighting will allocate AP (Ability Points) to them. With enough APs, these equipped Materias will level up, and will have improved effects.
Learn More On All Materias Here
Only Equipped Materias Gain AP
Note that only equipped Materias will gain AP throughout their usage. The Materias you keep in your inventory may be missing out on APs if left there for the occasion!
Check Out How To Farm AP Here
Final Fantasy 7 Remake - Related Articles
Return To Top Page
| Beginner Tips | |
|---|---|
| How To Level Up Fast | How To Farm Gil Fast |
| How To Farm AP Fast | How Farm SP Fast |
| Points Of No Return | |
| All Battle Intel List | Shinra Simulator |
| Combat Tips | |
|---|---|
| Battle Tips | Weapon Upgrade Guide |
| Best Weapons Guide | Best Materia Guide |
| Limit Break Guide | Staggering Enemies |
| Manuscripts | Getting Weapon Lvl 6 |
| Useful Information | |
|---|---|
| All Dress Choices | Aerith Dresses |
| Tifa Dresses | Cloud Dresses |
| Date Mechanics | Will There Be Part 2? |
