Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthhas a little something for everyone. From its elaborateQueen’s Bloodcard game that will appeal toGwentfans, to its one-versus-one 3D Brawler mini-game that evokes the retro fighting game experience, the inspiration and homage to classic video games is apparent. One such inspiration forRebirthtakes the form of a fun and frenzied Chocobo Racing minigame, which is a welcome twist onMario Kartracing.
Although the movement controls are fairly straightforward, some of the harder Chocobo races will require players to get acquainted with some advanced load-outs. They’ll also need to focus on mastering some techniques that give them an edge in the races. The guide below provides a breakdown of the rewards of each of the 20 Chocobo races, as well as the best loadouts and tips to excel in these races.
How the Chocobo Racing Minigame Works
In Chapter 8,Cloudand his party gain access toGold Saucer.This glamorous venue of entertaining minigameswill keep players invested for a while before they can embark on their journey to confront Sephiroth. As part of the main quest, players will be introduced tovarious minigame, ranging from 3D Brawler to Galactic Saviors toChocobo Racing.The latter minigame is unlocked later in the chapter as part of the main scenario. Subsequently, players can initiate races by interacting with the Chocobo Square Ticket Counter in Gold Saucer.
There are three grades of races, each with its own rewards. The lowest rank, Grade 3, is unlocked first when the Chocobo Racing Minigame is accessed during Chapter 8. The other tiers have their own unlock requirements:
3
9
Reach towards the end of Chapter 8 “All That Glitters”
2
10
1
1 (best of 3 legs)
Reach Chapter 12 and complete the side quest “Gold Cup or Bust”
After choosing a track and Chocobo (more on these later), the player is ready to take on fellow Chocobos in a hotly contested race. At the start, it’s always a good idea tostart holding down the Speed Up button (X)when the timer is down to 2 seconds. This provides a boost of acceleration when the race begins. Once the player has gotten a head start, navigate around the racetrack, avoiding other Chocobos as well as the sides of the tracks to maintain their speed. Sharp turns may require thedrift button (R2).If you hold it down long enough that red sparks appear, the Chocobo will receive a speed bonus.
Throughout the race, be on the lookout for the three types of balloons to pop. These will give the player certain power-ups to help them breeze through the competition. Theyellow balloonsincrease the Dash gauge (initiated by R1). Theblue balloonsoffer a passive boost by increasing the Chocobo’s overall speed. Finally, thered balloonscharge up the Ability gauge, which will allow Chocobo to activate their own unique skills (L1 button). These can include a nitrous speed burst, reduced damage from obstacles, or firing projectiles to disrupt opponents’ momentum.
Chocobo Racing Minigame Rewards
In total, there are 20 races spread across the three grades of Chocobo Racing Minigame. Each grade has different tiers (i.e., difficulty levels), includingmaiden, bronze, silver, gold, and legend.Each of these 20 races requires aparticipation fee of 100 gills, but that is a very low cost incurred compared with the juicy rewards that await the winning racer. The table below covers all rewards for the 20 races, including the first-time victory rewards and the subsequent iterations of the race:
Loadouts for Chocobo Racing
To get the best active and passive bonuses, players are encouraged to gather and expand their roster of Chocobos and their gear attachments. Navigating each of the six regions on the map will helpplayers unlock the regional Chocobos, either as part of the main story or via voluntary exploration. Each of these Chocobos has a unique skill that players can activate in races when enough Red Balloons are popped. Every Chocobo also comes with its own set of varying stats in six attributes:speed, acceleration, weight, cornering, strength, and intelligence.
As for the gear and equipment, there are three categories:headgear, body armor, and greaves.These also moderately alter the six attributes for each Chocobo as well as carry passive skills that offer bonuses in specific situations in races. To unlock more gear, players must trade up to12 Golden Plumes,which are gathered from repairing Chocobo Rest stops and taming Chocobos. Note that some gear pieces are only acquired as part of completing side quests or tough challenges in the game.
The best build depends on what players want to prioritize in their Chocobo racing game:
Hyperion’s Shin Guards
Speed Build
A speed-focused build will push players through most of the early to mid-game races. For this build,the Piko Chocobo (Grasslands)is the perfect choice because of its balanced stats. Its unique skill, Speed Burst, will afford players increased top speed while making them invincible for a brief period. TheShinra Avian Helmetincreases overall speed. TheScorpion Breastplategrants an additional dash charge slot, which is great for a continuous speed boost provided players pop enough yellow balloons. Finally, theMystical Ankletsincrease both speed and acceleration on straightaways, which are abundant on most racetracks.
Aggression Build
A more aggressive loadout focuses on staying in the lead. This build is based on the Chocobo’s overall strength and ability to fend off opponents, and is possible with theKyma Chocobo (Corel). Its Birdshot ability will send out three blasts that will slow down any opponents in front of Kyma. Coupling this offensive ability withRodeo HatandGi Cloakwill increase weight and lessen speed reduction on hit, making Kyma a formidable beast in the race. For the greaves,Rodeo Legwrapswill make use of Kyma’s good cornering by lengthening the drifting duration and granting a speed bonus.
End-Game Build
Finally, for late-game races, especially most Grade 2 and Grade 1 races, it’s ideal to go withMecha-Chocobo.This Chocobo outperforms its counterparts by a considerable margin in almost all attributes. Players can obtain Mecha-Chocobo by completing the side quest “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop.” Boasting very high speed, strength, and weight stats, the Mecha-Chocobo is hard to chase down, especially when the unique skill,Birdserk, is activated.
The best gear for Mecha-Chocobo is the Hyperion set acquired via the three Legend Rank races in Grade 2 of the Chocobo Racing Mini-game. TheHyperion’s Helmboosts all stats upon reaching the final lap, while theHyperion’s Armorfurther increases speed in the final lap. Lastly, theHyperion Shin Guardsgreatly increase the duration of the dash, making tough races even more manageable.
