Gears and Gambits Hard Mode Guide and Rewards

Gears and Gambits is a minigame available in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth). Read on to learn how to unlock Gears and Gambits and its Hard Mode, tips to complete the minigame, and how to play it here.

Gears and Gambits Hard Mode Strategy

Gears and Gambit Stages
Gears and Gambits 1 Strategy Gears and Gambits 2 Strategy Gears and Gambits 3 Strategy Gears and Gambits 4 Strategy

Gears and Gambits 1 Strategy

Recommended Formation and Gambits
Recommended Gambits and Actions
Round Restriction	Number of Robots
T1 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Thunder Shot Thundaga Shot Gravity Shot Barrier Shot HP +300 | Cost +15
T2 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe: Targeting Self Self Self: HP ≤ 50%	Blizzard Shot Blizzaga Shot Gravity Shot Haste Field + Regen Multishot
T3 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Fire Shot Firaga Shot Missile Augmentation + HP +150
Stage 1 Conditions and Strategies
You can only deploy 3 of each type of robot Deploy AoE attacks when targeted by 3 or more enemies Use Regenga when 4 or more robots are present on any lane

Do note that the number of robots you can deploy are limited to each type. If the robots are currently gathered into one place, use Regenga to restore some of their HP.

Deploy Robots That Target Enemy Weakness to Each Lane

Be sure to send out robots that exploit the elemental weaknesses of incoming enemies on each lane. Use Portal Skills to heal with Regenga or buff your attack and defense with Cautious Courage.

Gears and Gambits 2 Strategy

Recommended Formation and Gambits
Recommended Gambits and Actions
Round Restriction	Number of Same-Type Robots
T1 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Thunder Shot Thundaga Shot Hyper Lariat Barrier Shot HP +300 | Cost +15
T2 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe: Targeting Self Self Self: HP ≤ 50%	Blizzard Shot Blizzaga Shot+ Gravity Shot Haste Field + Regen Multishot
T3 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Fire Shot Firaga Shot+ Missile Augmentation + HP +150
Stage 2 Conditions and Strategies
You can only deploy 2 of each type of robot Deploy AoE attacks when targeted by 3 or more enemies Enemies are summoned when Target Enemy HP is below 60%

You can only send out 2 robots from each type, so make sure that the robots you're deploying can exploit the weaknesses of enemies in their designated lanes.

Be sure not to deploy more robots than necessary to prevent enemy forces from increasing their numbers and activating their Trigger Abilities.

Use Comet to Target Groups of Enemies

If the target enemy is below 60% HP, it will commence deployment of small enemies. Use Comet to take out the newly-summoned enemies and prevent enemy forces from rising.

Gears and Gambits 3 Strategy

Recommended Formation and Gambits
Recommended Gambits and Actions
Round Restriction	Robot Deployment Interval
T1 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Thunder Shot Thundaga Shot+ Hyper Lariat Barrier Shot HP +300 | Cost +15
T2 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe: Targeting Self Self Self: HP ≤ 50%	Blizzard Shot Blizzaga Shot+ Gravity Shot Haste Field + Regen Multishot
T3 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Fire Shot Firaga Shot Missile Augmentation + HP +150
Stage 3 Conditions and Strategies
A 10 second cooldown time exists when each robot is being dispatched Target Enemy attribute will change when HP is below 60% Robots exploiting elemental weaknesses will be targeted with powerful magical attacks Use AoE cure or attack spells

There is a 10-second cooldown time that begins after each robot is deployed on the field. It is recommended that you only send out robots which can exploit the weaknesses of enemies on the field, rather than sending out a robot after each cooldown.

The necessity for numbers will not be an apparent factor when your robots can easily dispatch enemies by targeting their weaknesses.

Gears and Gambits 4 Strategy

Recommended Formation and Gambits
Recommended Gambits and Actions
Round Restriction	Robot Color ≠ Leader's
T1 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Thunder Shot Thundaga Shot+ Hyper Lariat Barrier Shot HP +300 | Cost +15
T2 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe: Targeting Self Self Self: HP ≤ 50%	Blizzard Shot Blizzaga Shot+ Gravity Shot Haste Field + Regen Multishot
T3 Robot
Condition	Action
Foe Foe Foe Self Self: Modify HP and Cost	Fire Shot Firaga Shot Missile Augmentation + HP +150
Stage 4 Conditions and Strategies
Robots with similar colors to the Target Enemy cannot be deployed Target Enemy will change attribute when HP is below 60% Use AoE attacks when targeting 3 or more enemies

Robots with similar colors to the Target Enemy's attribute cannot be deployed in the field. It is advised that you set up the Gambits and Actions of your robots beforehand to circumvent this restriction.

From there, make use of earlier tactics from previous stages and deploy robots exploiting elemental weaknesses.

Gears and Gambits Tips

Gears and Gambits Tips
Set the Difficulty to Easy Take Advantage of Elemental Weaknesses Keep an Eye Out for Triggered Abilities Use Portal Skills Use Auto-Program if You’re Unsure

Set the Difficulty to Easy

If you're having difficulty playing Gears and Gambits, try changing the game difficulty to Easy. This setting can be found in the Gameplay settings. If the difficulty is Normal or above, the ATB Gauge will fill slower which, in turn, will lead to deploying units slower.

Difficulty Settings Guide

Take Advantage of Elemental Weaknesses

Some enemies have an Elemental Weakness at the top-right corner of their HP bars. Deploy robots with the same element to quickly destroy the monsters with the elemental weakness.

Keep an Eye Out for Triggered Abilities

The central enemy can unleash abilities depending on various circumstances. Some examples include if the enemy has 50% HP remaining or if the enemy is being targeted by a certain number of robots.

You can press the Square button to see how their abilities can be triggered. Their triggers can be seen in the orange circles on the enemy information.

Use Portal Skills

Portal Skills are powerful abilities that can only be used once per game. Damage-type Portal Skills are more effective against mobs of enemies, while Recovery-type Skills help keep your units alive.

Use Auto-Program if You’re Unsure

Auto-Program is a feature in the minigame wherein your robots will be automatically outfitted with recommended Gambits and Actions during the Player Units menu.

You can use Auto-Program in case you are unsure of the programs that you want to equip your robots in battle. Do note that Auto-Program will not be available in Hard Mode.

How to Play Gears and Gambits

Deploy Robots to Attack the Central Monster

Gears and Gambits play similarly to the Fort Condor minigame as you need to deploy robots to defeat the main enemy at the center.

You lose the game if the time runs out or if your base is destroyed.

Fort Condor Minigame Guide and Rewards

Choose a Lane to Send out Robots

Select a lane to dispatch robots by pressing L2 or R2 during the minigame. It is advisable that you send out robots to occupied enemy lanes, and exploit their weakness by dispatching the suitable robot for the situation.

How to Unlock Gears and Gambits

Defeat Gi Nattak in Chapter 10

After defeating Gi Nattak in Chapter 10 and releasing the tower, a Phenomenon Intel will appear once you return to the Cosmo Canyon Region.

All Protorelic Locations (Phenomenon Intel)

How to Unlock Hard Mode

Complete All Phenomenon Intel in Cosmo Canyon

After you've unlocked your first Phenomenon Intel, you will gain access to the succeeding ones that will eventually lead you to the fourth one as you complete them.

Completing all 4 Phenomenon Intel in Cosmo Canyon will unlock the Hard Mode difficulty for Gears and Gambits.

All Cosmo Canyon Phenomenon Intel

Gears and Gambits Rewards

Gambit Technician Trophy

By completing Gears and Gambit in Hard Mode, you will be rewarded with the Gambit Technician Trophy, one of the many collectibles you need to unlock in Johnny's Treasure Trove. Make sure to play this minigame on hard mode, especially if you're aiming for a 100% completion.

Post-Game Content Guide

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides

List of All Available Minigames

All Minigame Guides

All Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Minigames
Piano Minigame	Hustle de Chocobo
Moogle MIschief	Dolphin Show Minigame
Junon Parade and All 7th Infantry Locations	Fort Condor
Cactuar Caper and All Cactuar Locations	Run Wild
Card Carnival (Costa del Sol Queen's Blood Challenges)	Pirate's Rampage
Wheelie Rendezvous	Minecart Adventure
G-Bike Minigame	Desert Rush
Galactic Saviors	3D Brawler
Chocobo Races	Musclehead Colosseum
Jumpfrog	Crunch-Off
Glide de Chocobo	Cactuar Crush
Gears and Gambits	Gold Saucer Queen's Blood Challenges