This is a guide on how to beat Biological Intel: That's the Smell in the Combat Simulator of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth). Check out the unlock requirements and rewards, a list of enemies and bosses in each round, and the best party, equipment, and Materia to beat this challenge.

Best Party and Builds

Best Party for Biological Intel: That's the Smell
Cloud	Tifa	Barret

Cloud Equipment and Materia

Cloud Magic DPS
		Weapon		Armor
		Crystal Sword		Spiritbound Armlet
		Accessory		Summon Materia
		Malboro Orb		Bahamut Arisen
Weapon Materia			Armor Materia
HP Up Magic Up			Ice + Magic Focus Poison + Warding Precision Defense Focus Steadfast Block
Weapon Skills
Magic Attack Power +20			Critical Hit Rate +5%
-			-

Cloud will be the Magic DPS of the fight since he can deal decent magic damage while also having various ways to quickly charge his ATB gauge. Make sure to have Ice and Magic Focus materia linked to exploit the Great Malboro's weakness.

Tifa Equipment and Materia

Tifa Physical DPS
		Weapon		Armor
		Tiger Fangs		Commander's Bracer
		Accessory		Summon Materia
		Gi Warrior's Charm		Titan
Weapon Materia			Armor Materia
Ice Cleansing Limit Siphon Auto-Unique Ability Steadfast Block			HP Up Strength Up Speed Up Precision Defense Focus
Weapon Skills
Utterly Unbridled Strength			Max HP +200
Attack Power +20			-

Tifa will act as the Physical DPS during the fight due to her incredible single-target damage with Unbridled Strength. Utilize her abilities, Limit Breaks, and Synergy Abilities whenever the boss is staggered to clean up the fight.

Barret Equipment and Materia

Barret Support
		Weapon		Armor
		Barrage Blaster		Commander's Bracer
		Accessory		Summon Materia
		Malboro Orb		Kujata
Weapon Materia			Armor Materia
Cleansing First Strike Ice Steadfast Block			HP Up MP Up Empowerment Time
Weapon Skills
Max HP +200			Limit Gauge Guard
-			-

Barret will be the Support in the fight since he can also gain ATB charges fast because of his Overcharge ability. Have an ATB charge ready at all times so you are ready to cleanse any allies from severe status ailments.

How to Beat Biological Intel: That's the Smell

Biological Intel: That's the Smell Tips
Shatter Its Mouth during Bad Breath
Use Blizzara on the Mouth
Use Cleansing Materia to Remove Ailments
Kill Quickly during Fetid Haze
Alternatively, Kill It before Fetid Haze

Shatter the Mouth during Bad Breath

Great Malboro's mouth will be targetable whenever it uses Bad Breath. Make sure to shatter its mouth during this time to cancel Bad Breath and prevent its potency from getting stronger.

Use Blizzara on the Mouth

Its mouth will also be targetable whenever it uses other Breath-type attacks. Dodge away from it and use Ice spells like Blizzara on the mouth to pressure it instantly while also dealing significant damage.

Use Cleansing Materia to Remove Ailments

Almost all of Great Malboro's attacks will place a status ailment on your party members, such as Poison, Toad, and Sleep. Whenever this happens, use the Esuna spell from the Cleansing Materia to remove the ailments!

Defeat Quickly during Fetid Haze

When Great Malboro's HP drops to half health, it will use Fetid Haze and quickly drain your party's HP. Make sure you saved up ATB Charges, Limit Breaks, and Synergy Abilities to defeat it as fast as possible. You can also have Tifa use Limit Siphon on Barret at this time so she can have access to her Limit Break.

Alternatively, Defeat It before Fetid Haze

Alternatively, you can also defeat Great Malboro before it even uses Fetid Haze. When it is staggered, switch to Tifa and have her stack up Unbridled Strength ability and use her Rise and Fall, Omnistrike, Limit Break combo on it. You can also use Synergy Abilities with Cloud or Barret to further increase the stagger duration.

Biological Intel: That's the Smell Unlock and Rewards

Requirements and Overview

Complete Classified Intel: Gongaga Region

To unlock Biological Intel: That's the Smell in the Combat Simulator, you will first need to beat Great Malboro in Gongaga by completing the Classified Intel: Gongaga Region.

Classified Intel: Gongaga Region Guide

Assess 15 Enemies in Cosmo Canyon

No.	Enemy	Where and How to Encounter
48	Desert Sahagin	The Desert Sahagin can be located around the Cosmo Canyon Region
49	Sahagin Warrior	The Sahagin Warrior can be located in the Fiend Intel 1 in the Southwest of the COsmo Canyon Region near a lifespring
82	Griffon	The Griffon can be located on the south side of Cosmo Canyon Region
83	Shirdal	The Shirdal can be located on the Fiend Intel 3 East of the Cosmo Canyon Region
99	Pyrowire	The Pyrowire can be located in the Cosmo Canyon Region Fiend Intel 4
145	Skeeskee	The Skeeskee can be located around the Cosmo Canyon Region
146	Drohdroh	The Drohdroh can be located in the Fiend Intel 2 on the Cosmo Canyon Region near Kamariah's Ranch
148	Elder Golem	The Elder Golem can be located on the end of a cliff near the Plateau Ruins in the Fiend Intel 6
149	Basilisk	The Basilisk can be located all around the Cosmo Canyon Region
150	Bashfulisk	The Bashfulisk can be located in the Fiend intel 5 northeast of the Cosmo Canyon Region
152	Jabberwock	The Jabberwock can be located inside a cave on the far south end of the region for the Classified Intel near a giant air blower

Cosmo Canyon Interactive Map and Locations

Level Up Enemy Skill Materia to ★★★★

You will need a ★★★★ Enemy Skill Materia to do this combat sim. You can quickly level up the materia by linking an AP Up Materia with it. Then, defeat groups of enemies from other combat sim challenges or from Fiend Sightings.

AP Farming Guide

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Related Guides

All Combat Simulator Battles and Rewards

All Combat Simulator Articles

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