Truly the best in offensive weaponry, the Ultimate Weapons can make mincemeat out of even the strongest opponent. How do you know if you got an Ultimate Weapon? Well: * The weapon will have eight connected Materia holders. * Materia attached to the weapon don't gain AP (the holders are black). * The weapon will power-up and do more damage after certain conditions are met. * The weapon (usually) has a higher Attack Power and Hit Rate than any other weapon. * The weapon's power won't decrease if you're using the Metamorphosis materia. With other weapons, Attack Power is reduced by about 2/3rds when using this materia against an enemy. The sole exception to this is Aeris--her Ultimate Weapon has only seven slots, and you can earn AP for Materia equipped to them. Also, another one of her weapons (the Umbrella), has a higher Attack Power than her Ultimate Weapon (the Princess Guard). Where you can find each weapon, and what you have to do to make it power-up, is listed below:
CLOUD: ULTIMA WEAPON Location: Kill the Ultimate Weapon (the big dragon) flying around in Disc 2/3. It will take a few tries as he will escape from battle several times before finally facing you. Condition: The more current HP you have, the more damage this weapon inflicts. (i.e. the closer your score is to the maximum amount, the higher the damage, regardless of defenses). BARETT: MISSING SCORE Location: Look on the landing near the Sister Ray during the raid on Midgar City in Disc 2 (if Vincent's not in your party, he'll be on the landing near the chest with the Ultimate Weapon in it). Condition: Equip materia on this weapon. The more AP a materia has, the higher the damage (so if you're wearing 8 mastered materia, Barett will do lots of damage). TIFA: PREMIUM HEART Location: Return to Midgar City in Disc 2 or 3 and examine the computer in the Wall Market. It's in a room marked 'ITEM'. Condition: When Tifa performs her Limit Break, but gets a 'MISS' for one or more of the spinning wheels, her weapon powers-up. AERIS: PRINCESS GUARD Location: You can get it in the Temple, during the talking clock mini- game. This only has seven materia holders instead of eight, but it's still considered an Ultimate Weapon. Condition: This weapon will power-up when protecting an ally. RED 13: LIMITED MOON Location: Buugen Haagen will give this to Red 13 when he dies at Cosmo Canyon after Weapon attacks Midgar City in Disc 2 (although you can get it in Disc 3, as well). Condition: The more current MP you have remaining (the closer you are to you maximum amount of MP), the stronger this weapon is. YUFFIE: CONFORMER Loaction: Look in the Wrecked Plane in Disc 2 or 3. Condition: If an enemy's experience level is higher than Yuffie's, this weapon will power-up and do added damage. CAIT SITH: MARVELOUS CHEER Loaction: Search the lockers on the 64th floor of the Shinra HQ during your raid on Midgar City during Disc 2. You can get to the HQ by heading north along the underground rail passage. Condition: The more current MP you have remaining (the closer you are to you maximum amount of MP), the stronger this weapon is. VINCENT: DEATH PENALTY Location: You get this when you get his limit break manual at the waterfall. Condition: The more enemies that Vincent kills (as in, he finishes them off, at least), the stronger this weapon becomes. This counts for all the enemies he's killed since he joined you, not the enemies he's defeated since getting this weapon (just like the way the computer determines damage for the Chocobockle Enemy Skill). CID: VENUS GOSPEL Location: Talk to the old man standing outside the house that's just left of the rocket launch pad (the same one who gave Cloud a sword in Disc 1). You can only do this after completing the 'Huge Materia' rocket sub-quest in Disc 2 or 3 (which means the rocket has been destroyed). After talking to the geezer three times in a row, he'll give Cid his Ultimate Weapon. Condition: The more current MP you have remaining (the closer you are to you maximum amount of MP), the stronger this weapon is.