How to cross the Swamp in the Grasslands in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Seeing how Rebirth handles so many beats of the original FF7 is a nostalgic treat. That said, sometimes, that legacy knowledge can work against you. If you are struggling to evade the Midgardsormr, let me show you how to cross the Swamp in the Grasslands in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

How to cross the Swamp in FF7 Rebirth

Your main quest in the Grasslands is to cross the Swamp near the middle of the area. When you reach the Abandoned Dock, you’ll be told to travel to a nearby Chocobo ranch. Head there and complete the story quest to earn your first Chocobo. It’s worth mentioning that Pika is only useable in the Grasslands. As you explore new areas, you have to find new Chocobos to ride.

Once you have the Chocobo, you can attempt to cross the Swamp. While it may be tempting to go right away, I strongly recommend completing side objectives around the Grasslands. There are so many items and resources up for grabs that the secondary tasks almost feel mandatory. Summon Crystals, for example, can be found while completing optional quests, and they make obtaining powerful Summon Materia much easier.

How to cross the Swamp with a Chocobo

This part tripped me up because I foolishly tried to use the bridges to cross the Swamp. I was overthinking it. Travel back to the Abandoned Dock, call your Chocobo, and ride it into the Swamp. I recommend exploring nearby for items, but once you’re done, swim south with the Chocobo and follow the Swamp as it snakes to the west.

If you’ve played the original, the upcoming series of events plays out differently than normal. In the 1997 version, The Midgardsormr is impossible to kill when you first encounter it and must be avoided at all costs. Without delving too deep into spoilers, the Midgardsormr doesn’t hunt you down like before, and the upcoming battle against it is mandatory. Once you’ve beaten the boss, you can traverse the rest of the area unchallenged. 

If you’re an OG player and want to get your hands on the E.Skill Materia, you’ll be pleased to learn it’s also in Rebirth.