Chocobo Racing: Grade III Races

Conquer Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Grade III Chocobo Races! Get tips on the best Chocobos, gear, and strategies for each track, from Carbuncle Classic to Coeurl Championship.

Alright, let's get you prepped for the Grade III Chocobo Races in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth! These can be a bit trickier than the earlier ones, but with the right Chocobo and a few smart moves, you'll be crossing the finish line in first place in no time. Think of me as your co-pilot here, guiding you through each track.

First off, let's talk about your ride. When you start, you'll pick from the Chocobos you've already tamed. Piko is a solid all-around choice with a Speed Burst ability that's super useful. Belle is built for speed and strength, and her Rock Solid ability is great for keeping you grounded and preventing knock-backs. Then there's Kyma, who might not be the fastest but has other great stats and a Birdshot ability that can mess with other racers. Honestly, Piko is a fantastic choice and was good enough for me to win every race, especially with that Speed Burst. As for gear, anything that boosts your speed is a good bet, and remember, your options depend on what you've found in the main game.

Chocobo Racing Basics

Before we dive into the tracks, let's nail down the basics. To get a nice boost off the starting line, keep an eye out for the number '2' and press and hold the [X] button as soon as you see it. Your Chocobo will rear up, and you'll get a great jumpstart. If you miss it, no worries, you can still catch up!

Drifting is your best friend in these races. Hold down the [Circle] button to drift around corners. If you nail a good drift, you'll get a speed boost coming out of it, which is crucial for gaining an edge. Keep practicing this!

You'll see different colored balloons scattered around the track:

• Blue Balloons: These boost your speed. You can stack up to 10. Be careful though – hitting a wall or another racer will make you lose one, so try to stay clean!
• Red Balloons: These fill up your special ability meter. Once it's full, hit the [Square] button to unleash it.
• Yellow Balloons: These give you a boost charge. Press the [Square] button to use one whenever you need a quick burst of speed.

The Carbuncle Classic

This is your warm-up race, pretty straightforward. There aren't really any tricky obstacles, so just focus on getting a feel for the racing and drifting. You'll probably need to drift around the second turn. After that, there's a little jump with some boost balloons on it – try to grab them!

Pro-Tip: This is the perfect place to really get the hang of drifting. Since the stakes are low, you can experiment without too much pressure.

The Moogle Oaks

Slightly tougher than the Carbuncle Classic, but still manageable. Keep an eye out when you jump and are in the air – you can often clear the railings by heading straight ahead. This can give you a nice advantage. Later in the race, you'll encounter conveyor belts. Pay close attention to the arrows on them; you don't want to be going against the flow!

The Cactuar Derby

You might recognize this track from the story! When you reach a fork in the road, the left path usually has Dash balloons, so it's often worth taking. Watch out for the spinning saucers – you'll want to move in the same direction they're spinning. If they're going clockwise, hug the left side, and if they're going counter-clockwise, stick to the right. This track also introduces water hazards, which will slow you down significantly. Try to hug the edges of the track to maintain speed, but be careful not to hit the walls and lose your speed boosts.

The Bomb Blowout

This track is similar to the Cactuar Derby but adds a new hazard: Bomb balloons. If you hit these, they explode and leave you dazed for a few seconds, which can really set you back. Avoid them at all costs! You'll also find more water sections here, so either try to stick to the edges or just power through them, accepting the speed loss.

The Malboro Memorial

Bumpers show up on this track, mainly in the water section near the start. They're more of an annoyance than anything, just bouncing you around, but they can make navigating the water a bit more challenging. There's a small shortcut later in the track that mostly just nets you a Dash balloon.

The Tonberry Derby

Things are heating up with the Tonberry Derby! This is where Cactuar Gates come into play. These are sets of gates that open and close in sequence. It can be tricky to time your approach, especially if a gate closes just as you reach it. If a gate happens to open right as you're approaching, you're golden! Also, there's a jump early on that can serve as a shortcut if you go straight instead of following the track.

The Coeurl Championship

This race can be tough. The first two major turns are tricky, and it's easy to fall off after the first one, especially since fog can obscure the track. This race also introduces spinning orbs on posts that rotate. You'll often have to weave through multiple orbs in a stretch, so careful maneuvering is key.