Summons in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
What are Summons?
Summons are creatures that players can call to aid them in combat. They are immensely powerful beings which unleash devastating attacks on all enemies on the battlefield.
To use summons, players require summon materia. These can be obtained either during the main story or by completing optional quests. The summon materia must then be slotted into equipment to invoke summons. Summoning consumes a certain amount of MP, just like casting spells.
How do Summons Work in the Remake?
Based on released footage, some of the mechanics from the original game will be retained in the remake. Players must equip summon materia in order to use them. Summons will still be able to use their signature attacks, though not immediately when they appear.
It was implied on the equipment and materia menu that each character in the party will only be able to equip one summon materia at a time. In the image above, the summon materia is the red-colored materia to the right of the equipment slot. Since the player can have up to three active characters in the party, players will likely only be able to use up to three summons in a single battle.
As seen in the Tokyo Game Show 2019 demo, a summon gauge on the right side of the screen charges up over time.
When the gauge is full, a summon can used. The party member who will perform the summon must have a charged ATB gauge. Interestingly, MP was not expended when the summon was made in the video.
Unlike in the first game, summons behave much like members of the party. They will act independently but can be ordered to use specific attacks and abilities. The summon will fight alongside the player for a limited period, as indicated by the summon gauge. It was not revealed if the player will be able to directly control the summon in the same way that allies can be controlled.
When a summon’s active gauge has been depleted, it will perform its signature move and disappear. Time will stop during the animation of the attack as if it were a cutscene.
Currently Revealed Summons
Ifrit
The demonic Ifrit was featured in the TGS 2019 demo to explain many of the redesigned summon system’s mechanics. It appeared during the Abzu boss battle.
Footage of Ifrit revealed some of its attacks. It was shown shooting fireballs, breathing fire, and summoning a massive flame pillar to damage its foe. When its summon gauge was depleted, Ifrit unleashed its signature Hellfire to engulf the Abzu in a devastating inferno.
Shiva
Shiva, the icy goddess, was shown only briefly in the TGS 2019 trailer. She appeared during the party’s encounter with the Eligor, a rare monster found in the train graveyard.
Though not confirmed, the attack that Shiva used in the video is likely Diamond Dust, her signature move.
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