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Chapter 2, titled “A New Journey Begins,” is the subsequent main chapter in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, directly following the events of Chapter 1, “Fall of a Hero.” In continuation of our Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth guide, we will offer an extensive walkthrough for Chapter 2, outlining all the essential information and steps to navigate through “A New Journey Begins.”
Upon awakening the morning after his recounting of the Mt. Nibel incident, Cloud finds himself alone. Upon opening the door, he will be presented with the Queen’s Blood starter deck, which introduces a new card game. After completing the tutorial, Cloud should head downstairs to converse with Broden, who will inform him that he has the day off but should use it to ensure his equipment is prepared for the adventure ahead.
Exiting the inn, a cutscene will play in which Red XIII becomes part of your party. Kalm is now yours to discover, with the bookstore located to the east, the weapon vendor to the north, and your party members congregated near the central water tower. At the weapon shop, you will be introduced to the mechanics of upgrading your weapons and have the opportunity to purchase additional gear. The bookstore is where you’ll find Folios, essential for unlocking new character upgrades and abilities.
During your exploration, you’ll encounter Tifa and Aerith. Your interactions with them can strengthen your relationships depending on the dialogue choices you make. For Tifa, choose the line “The place I made that promise to you,” and for Aerith, select “Sure. Let’s.” If you venture towards the southwestern gate of Kalm, you’ll meet Red XIII, who appreciates the response “I knew I could count on you.” To locate Barret, go back to where Tifa is and look north to find a staircase leading down to a pub. Barret will be at the bar, and the phrase “First one’ll taste good” will resonate positively with him.
Choosing the correct dialogue with Aerith prompts you to head towards the clock tower in the north. Proceed there at your leisure and approach Aerith. Climb to the top of the clock tower with her, and as you near her, a cutscene will be triggered, showing Shinra troops invading Kalm. Make a hasty retreat down the clock tower, opting to slide down the pole for a quick escape.
As Broden instructs you to handle the situation without initiating violence, follow his lead past the soldiers to a bridge where you’ll encounter two guards. Broden will divert their attention, giving you the chance to climb overhead and bypass them unnoticed. Rejoin Broden at the end of the wooden walkway, then continue to follow him to the inn. Here, he’ll disclose a hidden exit from Kalm, presenting you with an Item Transmuter. Descend the ladder Broden unveils to regroup with your team members. Navigate through the subterranean passageway and open the double doors at the end to emerge into a new expanse: the Grasslands.
The Grasslands area is vast and expansive, surpassing any region previously seen in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. With a marker placed to the east at the Coconspirator, take the opportunity to explore the terrain thoroughly. Engage in skirmishes, collect items, and visit various points of interest. Once prepared, make your way to the orange marker indicated on your map. Upon arrival, converse with the Farmer stationed at the front, and then proceed to the next objective marker to discover a place to rest, ensuring you complete the Cache Location task en route. Retrieve the Sleek Saber from the chest and equip it to Cloud, then draw near the dock to activate another cutscene.
Tifa and Aerith will propose the idea of hiring Chocobos for transportation, pointing out a ranch located to the east. Head towards the objective marker to find the ranch and have a word with Bill. He’ll point you towards Billy, who can be found in the Chocobo stable. Billy will assign you the task of retrieving an escaped Chocobo. Before setting out on this task, make sure to speak to Chloe at the counter and collect the Timeless Rod from the chest on the right, which is a weapon for Aerith.
Upon exiting Bill’s Ranch, turn left and look for the trail of yellow feathers and footprints in the mud. These clues will lead you to the elusive Chocobo. Your objective is to capture the bird without alarming the nearby Chocobos, using the yellow flowers for cover. Approach Piko quietly, and when close enough, throw a rock to distract it before sneaking up and pressing the Triangle button to secure it. Following this, a cutscene will play showing Piko’s return to Bill’s Ranch; make your way back to the ranch as well.
Upon your return, engage in conversation with Billy, who will be busy readying Piko for travel. This gives you the opportunity to speak with Chloe in the rear of the stable and finish the Discovery event linked to Golden Plumes. These plumes can be exchanged for a Helmet, Breastplate, or Greaves to outfit Piko. After leaving the stable, Chadley, known from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, will show up in search of additional Battle Intel. He’ll point you towards a Remnawave Tower, which, when activated, uncovers new activities on your map associated with World Intel.
With the new objectives explained, your map will be updated with fresh markers, and you can return to the stable to see how Piko is doing. You’ll receive a Chocowhistle, which can be used to summon your Chocobo, followed by a tutorial on how to ride it. This is also the perfect time to tackle the Discovery for The Chocoboutique, which offers customization options for your Chocobo. Once mounted on your Chocobo, you’ll have the chance to participate in several time trials that offer valuable rewards worth pursuing.
The game now opens up, granting you the freedom to choose your next course of action. With a Chocobo at your disposal, you have the option to traverse the swamp that was previously part of your journey, continuing the main narrative. Alternatively, you can tackle your inaugural Side Quest titled “Flowers from the Hill” back at Bill’s Ranch, or you could dedicate some time to completing World Intel tasks.
Once you feel satisfied with completing the optional content, make your way back to the Abandoned Dock. Mount your Chocobo to cross the swamp. As you approach the bridge, keep an eye out for the golden crystal on your right along the shore. When you find it, break it open to unleash a beacon of light. This light will guide you up the bridge to acquire some Divine Intel, which has the effect of weakening Titan in the Combat Simulator.
After collecting the Intel, descend back into the swamp. Cloud will think he has seen Sephiroth in the distance, but it will turn out to be a mysterious, cloaked figure instead. While you can approach this figure, there will be no interaction available. Continue your journey through the swamp, and eventually, the formidable Midgardsormr will make its appearance.
This encounter is the most challenging one you’ve faced in the game to this point. Be sure to have a good supply of Potions and Phoenix Downs at the ready. Start off by using the Assess materia to determine its weakness — Ice. Your primary goal should be to build up its stagger meter, so employ the appropriate Abilities and Spells, aiming for the creature’s body rather than its head. The boss will progress through several phases, each introducing new attacks, including some that deal fire damage. It’s crucial to frequently pause the battle to strategically use your party members’ skills to rapidly increase the stagger gauge. Relying solely on reducing its HP without staggering it is a strategy that’s unlikely to succeed.
After you’ve significantly reduced Midgardsormr’s health, it will drag Cloud underwater. In a surprising twist, Sephiroth will emerge and defeat the monster. Cloud will come to on the shoreline and proceed to follow the cloaked figures. Venturing into the tunnel marks the end of Chapter 2.
Up Next: Chapter 3 – Deeper into Darkness