Editing Final Fantasy VII/Gold Saucer

{{Header Nav|game=Final Fantasy VII}}
==Overview==
The gold saucer features a special currency known as GP you can win at the wonder square or the Chocobo Races. You can also exchange GP for Gil (the regular FF7 currency) from a man who stays outside the entrance tram. Regular tickets to the gold saucer cost 3000 Gil, and a lifetime pass costs 30,000 Gil. A lifetime pass can also be obtained for 300 GP at the Wonder Square.

You can get easy GP at the entrance to the Gold Saucer.
Just take the cable-car as usual from Corel, when you get off look past the save point and you will see a small house with 3 lit windows. Sometimes there will be a man standing to the left of this house who will sell you GP at a rate of 1GP = 100 Gil, but you can only buy the GP in sets of 10 (at a cost of 1000 Gil), and you are limited to buying a maximum of 100GP (at a cost of 10,000 Gil) each time he appears. If you do not see him just keep entering the station and exiting to the entrance again until he appears.

==The Date==
You will be able to date one of your party members, and numerous choices from the start of the game affect this.

The stats for each dateable character start like this:
{| {{prettytable}}
!Character||Starting points
|-
|Aerith||50
|-
|Tifa||30
|-
|Yuffie||10
|-
|Barrett||0
|}

===Choices===
====Midgar====
=====Mako Reactor no. 1=====
When you first meet Aerith:
*"You'd better get out of here"" (Nothing happens)
*"Nothing...hey, listen..." (You are given the option to purchase flowers from her, do so)

When you're talking to Jessie on the train:
*"Thanks anyway" (No change)
*"Looking forward to it" (-3 Tifa)

==Ghost Square==
There's a hotel here, a shop, and a Turtle's Paradise poster for you to read. Your party stays here automatically during one part of the game, but you can stay whenever you like.

==Round Square==
You take a ride during the date sequence. Useless otherwise, but pretty.

==Speed Square==
Allows you to play a basic shoot-em up minigame where you shoot targets for points. You are placed in a roller coaster and must shoot all the enemies you see as you progress along the tracks. you're eligible for prizes if you score over 3000. And if you score over 5000 on disc one you will get Aerith's most damaging weapon, The parasol. And if you do the same on disc 2 you will get Cid's best weapon, The flayer.

In the Playstation Classic, the player can use the save state cheat feature to pause the game and then shoot for more points, this save state trick can be used to amass over 5000 score points as this is a difficult shooter game.

==Event Square==
This place is deserted, except during the date when you have the chance to participate in a little play.

It's a mini-play, complete with kings, dragons, and princesses - oh my!

==Wonder Square==
Play tons of fabulous minigames for prizes, including the [[Final Fantasy VII/Motorcycle chase|Motorcycle chase]], [[Final Fantasy VII/Snowboarding|Snowboarding]] and [[Final Fantasy VII/Submarine hunt|Submarine Hunt]] minigames. Other games include a basketball shooting game based around timing, a fortune game that gives you clues, a crane game playable for small prizes, and a rock-paper-scissors game that is unfair and impossible to beat. If you play the Mog House minigame, the first time you win it, the guy standing nearby will give you 30 GP. When Mog makes a sound and jumps after feeding him five Kupo nuts, it means he has enough of the Kupo nuts and he will be able to fly. The second time, feed him three Kupo nuts. You can also exchange some GP for prizes here, including two rare Materia.

In the Playstation Classic, the player can use the save state cheat feature to easily win GPs, in the SuperDunk mini game, the player can use the save state feature should the player miss and try again, the player can win up to a total of 300 GP. In the 3D Battler the player can also use the save state feature should they lose and try again, the player can win up to a total of 300 GP.

{|{{Prettytable|text center=1|notwide=1}}
|+'''Wonder Square Prize List'''
|-
| 1 GP || Potion
|-
| 20 GP || Ether
|-
| 80 GP || X-Potion
|-
| 100 GP || Turbo-Ether
|-
| 300 GP || Gold Ticket (lifetime pass to the Gold Saucer)
|-
| 500 GP || Carob Nut (useful for mating blue/green/black Chocobos)
|-
| 1000 GP || Gil Plus (increases Gil party earns in battle)
|-
| 2000 GP || Exp Plus (increases EXP equipped character earns in battle)
|}

==Chocobo Square==
You can either bet for your favorite chocobo jockeys here, or, if you have chocobos of your own, participate in the races.

For now, see [[Final Fantasy VII/Chocobos|Chocobo guide]] which covers the racing aspect to some extent. Betting is different.

After you win five races on the '''''S''''' class you'll receive the following items as a bonus from Ester: Sprint Shoes, Precious Watch, Cat's Bell, Chocobracelet, Counter Attack.

In the Playstation Classic, the player can use the save state cheat feature to predict the bets they'll win and the prizes they'll likely get. The player can use the save state to in order to win prizes or win GPs.

{|{{prettytable|notwide=1|sortable=1|text center=1}}
!colspan=3| Chocobo Racing prize list (incomplete)
|-
! Prize !! Equivalent GP !! Category
|-
| Potion || 5 GP || Item
|-
| Tranquilizer || 10 GP || Item
|-
| Hyper || 10 GP || Item
|-
| Phoenix Down || 10 GP || Item 
|-
| Hi-Potion || 15 GP || Item 
|-
| Hero Drink || 15 GP || Item
|-
| Fire Fang || 20 GP || Item
|-
| Antarctic Wind || 20 GP || Item
|-
| Bolt Plume || 20 GP || Item
|-
| Ether || 30 GP || Item 
|-
| Fire Veil || 50 GP || Item
|-
| Ice Crystal || 50 GP || Item
|-
| Swift Bolt || 50 GP || Item
|-
| Turbo Ether || 150 GP || Item 
|-
| Elixir ||200 GP || Item 
|-
| Megalixir || 300 GP || Item 
|-
| Counter Attack || 300 GP || Materia
|-
| Enemy Away || 300 GP || Materia
|-
| Sneak Attack || 300 GP || Materia
|-
| Precious Watch || 300 GP || Armor
|-
| Chocobracelet || 400 GP || Armor
|-
| Magic Counter || 500 GP || Materia
|-
| Sprint Shoes || 500 GP || Accessory
|-
| Cat's Bell || 500 GP || Accessory
|}

==Battle Square==
The '''Battle Square''' in the Golden Saucer is probably the most rewarding mini-games in FF7. After paying a 10GP registration fee (you can earn GP at Wonder Square and the Chocobo Races) you pick a single character and head of into the arena. There, you fight a gauntlet of up to 8 enemies with increasing difficulty levels. On top of this after each round, if you choose to carry on fighting, you are given a handicap (see handicaps chart) which can make what would normally be an easy battle into an impossible task. After you have completed 8 battles or if you choose to quit between rounds you will receive BP which can be exchanged for prizes, the more severe the handicaps you suffered then the more BP you earn. You will also gain a consolation prize, a "tissue". If, however, you die you will receive none of the BP you earned. Any changes to your HP, MP, Limit Meter, Status, etc. will not carry outside the battle arena, so even if you die you will appear outside with the exact same stats as you came in with. Similarly, you can gain no EXP, AP or Gil in the battle arena.

===Prizes===
To get prizes, you must exchange BP. The list of possible prizes (and cost) changes twice in the game - first after you finish Rocket Town and get Cid in your party, and then again after you get the Highwind (the airship).

{|{{Prettytable|text center=1|notwide=1}}
|-
!width:33% colspan=2| Original
!width:33% colspan=2| After Rocket Town
!width:33% colspan=2| After Highwind
|-
|width:24%| Potion
|width: 9%| 80 BP
|width:24%| Phoenix Down
|width: 9%| 100 BP
|width:24%| Remedy
|width: 9%| 100 BP
|-
|Phoenix Down
| 160 BP
| Remedy
| 200 BP
| Enemy Lure Materia
| 250 BP
|-
|Shrapnel
| 320 BP
| Mimett Greens
| 400 BP
| Right Arm
| 500 BP
|-
|Ether
| 640 BP
| Enemy Lure Materia
| 800 BP
| Pre-Emptive Materia
| 1000 BP
|-
|Mimett Greens
| 1280 BP
| Bird Wing
| 1600 BP
| Reagan Greens
| 2000 BP
|-
|Fury Ring
| 2560 BP
| S-Mine
| 3200 BP
| Speed Plus Materia
| 4000 BP
|-
|Enemy Lure Materia
| 5120 BP
| Pre-Emptive Materia
| 6400 BP
| Stardust
| 8000 BP
|-
|Pre-Emptive Materia
| 10240 BP
| Speed Plus Materia
| 12800 BP
| Champion Belt
| 16000 BP
|-
|Speed Plus Materia
| 20480 BP
| Champion Belt
| 25600 BP
| Omnislash
| 32000 BP
|-
|Champion Belt
| 40960 BP
| Omnislash
| 51200 BP
| W-Summon
| 64000 BP
|}

===Strategy===
In Disc 1 you'll need the following items Enemy Skill Materia with '''Big Guard, ????, Beta, Trine, Aqualung, Matra Magic, White Wind, Death Force, L4 Suicide.''' You'll need to equip an accessory Star Pendant, Fairy Ring, White Cape, Peace Ring, Jem Ring, and even equip '''Ribbon'''. You'll also need '''Added Effect''' Materia paired with Transform, or Poison, Time, Destruct, Seal, Odin in the paired armor slot '''Gold Armlet or Diamond Bangle'''. You'll also need to pair '''Elemental''' Materia with Fire, Ice or Lightning, you'll need '''Steal, HP Plus, Morph''' Materia.

If you're going for the big prizes (Omnislash, W-Summon) it is almost universally accepted that you should wait until disc 2 and 3; when the prices are lower and until you're around level 60; so you stand a chance.

It is probably a good idea to do this with Cloud, simply because he will always be your strongest character. If you have them, equip him with Ultima Weapon and a '''Mystile''', if not just find the strongest weapon and armour you have and equip that: don't worry about materia slots (the '''Ziedrich''' can be stolen early on from Rude in Gongaga and is a good choice for this). Also, try and get your limit meter up to about 4/5 of the way before you go in (it will then be at 4/5 ''every'' time you enter the arena). A '''ribbon''' is essential. This done, go to the Golden Saucer and get about 100 GP, I did my time in the battle arena immediately after breeding a [[Final Fantasy VII/Chocobos|golden chocobo]] and so had plenty of GP from racing, however it shouldn't be a problem to get enough GP in Wonder Square later on the game (when the Sub and Snowboard games are unlocked). 

     SUPER EASY GP- There is a man in the background at the entrance to the Gold Saucer that will trade 100 GP for 10,000 gil. He appears at random behind the save point that uses GP. So you have to go into the entrance and run back out over and over and over until he re-appears. He may show up several times in a row and sometimes it may take 40 times running in and out. Money should not be an issue as you can trade an ALL materia for 1,400,000 gil.

You're now ready to fight, remember that you will lose your BP if you leave Battle Square so this all has to be done in one go. Equip Cloud with as many Counter Attacks, HP Pluses and MP Pluses you have as well as an Enemy Skill with '''Big Guard''', '''Death Force''' '''Magic Hammer''' to drain MPs from the enemy, '''????''' which ignores enemy defense and most importantly Slash All (see the materia section and enemy skill section for help with these). When you get inside the arena cast Big Guard straight away and  start attacking. By the end you might get into trouble because of handicaps, a broken accessory or weapon can be a thorn in your side so if you find you just aren't doing enough damage raid your inventory for those items you've accumulated in the course of the game, or use Enemy Skill if it isn't broken by now. Heal any status effects you can with items. Use this strategy to build up 32 000 BP and purchase Omnislash. To maximize BP, try and get All Materia broken before the last round, this isn't as bad as it seems when you are mainly using physical attacks and items, Slash All will be disabled but that doesn't matter as there are no groups beyond about round 6.

Once you have Omnislash the Battle Square is easy. Spend any leftover BP on small items and head outside the Golden Saucer, build up your limit meter until you are ready to use Omnislash and then return to Battle Square. This time, all you need is Enemy Skill and Mime, fill whatever space you have left with HP and MP Pluses. Whatever you do, don't equip Counter Attack. In the first battle, cast Big Guard on yourself and then use Omnislash. From then on you can just keep miming Omnislash and wiping everyone out. Hopefully, you have 9999 HP so you should never need to heal, if you do, hold out until the last minute and use an X-Potion - you'll have to use normal attacks after that. Omnislash, at full power, will kill all the enemies in the Battle Arena in one go, however if your weapon gets broken multiple times, the damaged can be severely reduced, just keep at it though. You can easily build up enough BP this way to buy W-Summon and anything else you want.

====Handicaps====
After each round a wheel will spin and when it stops you get a handicap (as in you lose an ability or stat). It is important to understand that the amount of BP you gain from a round depends on what handicaps you get. The worse the handicap you get, the more points, and the later on you get the handicap the more it is worth. It may seem like it is a good thing to get the "No Handicap", however it means you will get less points for the fight.

The points you get for any hanicap in the first six rounds are fairly trivial (all are under 500 points, and most are under 100), so for these you want to get the least damaging handicaps that you can. Even the 7th round handicaps aren't worth that much compared to the 8th round ones (2000 points maximum, most are under 1200). Your best bet is to have very few handicaps for the first seven rounds (though losing items or summons won't kill you if you're properly prepared), and then for the last round loose your green materia (~9500 points). If you are properly healed up (and leveled up) you can beat the 8th round with only your weapon; a limit break if you time it correctly. Losing all materia in the 8th round is only worth 10000 points, so it isn't really worth it and at no point is it worth it to have your weapon break.

'''Equipment breaks''' - The associated piece of equipment is disabled and cannot be restored until after the fight
* No Item
* No Weapon - your strength alone determines your attack power - at level 99 Cloud will do about 300 damage; fortunately Omnislash still does non-trivial damage.
* No Armor - your vitality alone determines damage - this is surprisingly not that bad, especially if you can still heal
* No Accessory - kiss your ribbon and other status protection Accessories goodbye

'''No Materia''' - the associated color materia(s) are disabled. The loss of red and blue aren't that bad usually, and the loss of green or yellow means you can't use enemy skills, Steal and Morph, or Restore having to rely on more basic attacks and using alternative skills for healing but is generally survivable. The loss of purple can be devastating as it means your HP Plus, MP Plus, and Counter Attack. The loss of Blue can cause the paired Elemental and Added Effect to lose their support effect.
* No Red
* No Yellow
* No Blue
* No Green
* No Purple
* No Materia (all five are broken)

'''Halvers''' - cuts your ''maximum'' HP and/or MP, so you can't restore it afterwards. HP and MP plus materias can help reduce the impact of these
* 1/2 HP&MP
* 1/2 HP
* 1/2 MP

'''Misc. damage''' - these affect your HP & MP, but not the maximum so you can restore yourself
* 0 MP - drops your MP to zero, so use an ether to restore a little bit and then use Magic Hammer to drain your enemy's MP (if you can go a few rounds without being slaughtered)
* x30 Time - loss of HP is based on in-game timer

'''Level drops''' - loose the associated stats (but not MP or HP), you won't really notice the difference unless you get these handicaps three or four times
* Down 5 Levels
* Down 10 Levels

'''Status aliments''' - casts the specific aliment on you - can be blocked with a ribbon, Star Pendent, Fairy Ring or White Cape, Added Effect Materia paired with Poison, Transform, Hades.
* Frog
* Mini
* Poison
* 1/2 Speed (same as slow)

'''Beneficial''' - the good news is that nothing bad happens to you, the bad news is that nothing good happens to you BP
* Lucky 7 (no penalty)
* Cure (full cure)

===A Dame to Kill For===
The woman outside the Battle Square says she likes Fighters, but not those who are all talk. To prove her otherwise go into the arena and do a full gauntlet of eight enemies. If you talk to the woman again, she will give you the Sprint Shoes accessory.

===Special Battle===
If you have Omnislash, W-Summon and Ultima Weapon the woman at the counter will offer Cloud a place in a special battle. This isn't any harder than a normal Battle Square gauntlet using my Omnislash technique mentioned earlier. Once you win this battle you will receive the extremely handy "Final Attack" materia.

*'''Round 1:''' Sea Worm LV 22, HP 18000, MP 200
*'''Round 2:''' Ho-Chu LV 39, HP 8600, MP 290
*'''Round 3:''' Unknown LV 52, HP 15000, MP 150
*'''Round 4:''' Serpent LV 40, HP 28000, MP 290
*'''Round 5:''' Wolfmeister LV 43, HP 20000, MP 200
*'''Round 6:''' Behemoth LV 45, HP 14000, MP 400
*'''Round 7:''' Maximum Kimaira LV 49, HP 8000, MP 350
*'''Round 8:''' Proud Clod LV 53/52, HP 60000/20000, MP: 320/300
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