Crisis Core Reunion DMW: Definitive Guide

The Digital Mind Wave (DMW) is a confusing mechanic in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion. Yet, through this in-game feature, you can acquire significant buffs, break limits, and upgrade your Materia.

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So how does it work? The DMW is featured as three spinning reels at the top-left of the screen. Depending on the combination you get, you may receive temporary buffs or special attacks. Additionally, you may get level-ups and even Materia upgrades.

In this guide, we go over the basics of the DMW mechanic as well as the various effects it grants you.

Key Takeaways

The DMW feature appears as three rotating wheels at the top-left corner of the screen.
These wheels have character portraits as well as numbers on them.
If the portraits on the left and right heels line up, the DMW enters the Modulating Phase.
Modulating Phase has 4 modes: Normal, Summon, Chocobo, and Genesis. There is also the chance of seeing a memory of a character.
Each of the 4 modes features Limit Breaks, which are powerful attacks.
Watching the memories of all the characters will grant you the Genji Armor.
You can improve your chances of a particular Limit Break triggering by equipping DMW Materia.

The DMW Mechanic Explained

Crisis Core Reunion DMW reels lined up on Hellfire. — The DMW mechanic has 3 spinning reels with character portraits and numbers.

You may have heard of the Crisis Core Reunion DMW. But what is it? DMW stands for “Digital Mind Wave“. This is a mechanic that appears as three spinning reels at the very upper-left corner of your screen. The reels spin consistently, much like a slot machine at any arcade corner.

Drawn on the reels are portraits of characters along with numbers. However, these reels don’t work like normal reels. The spin cycle works differently, which we will discuss in detail in a bit.

The Spin Cycle

If Zack has at least 10 Soldier Points (SP) before each spin and is not affected by Curse, spin the left, right, center, and number reels.
First, the left reel will stop spinning randomly.
Then, the right reel will stop. The numbers and center reel won’t stop.
If the characters on the left and right reels match up, then the DMW will enter what is known as the “Modulating Phase” or “Limit Verge“. We’ll talk more about this later on.
However, in the case that the left and right reels don’t line up, the numbers and center reels will stop randomly. Now, you will receive temporary status buffs according to the number combination you got.
After that, the reels start spinning normally again in a cycle, given the initial condition is fulfilled.

Progression And Other Modes

Character portraits for the reels can be acquired by progressing through the game. This will allow you to unlock more abilities and effects. However, the combinations that you get are completely random, much like with actual slot machines. But you can still change your odds of receiving specific combinations through several methods.

As you progress further into the game, you will be able to unlock Summons as well as Chocobo Mode characters. These appear just like the regular character portraits on the reels and give you different buffs.

There is also the Genesis Mode, which is a special mode that gets activated last. In this, Genesis’s portrait will appear on the reel and you will get separate buffs and attacks.

DMW Status Buffs In Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion

If the spinning DMW reels do not enter the Modulating Phase, then the center reel and numbers will stop spinning normally. Depending on what combinations you get, here are the respective status buffs:

7-X-7: Gives you 15 seconds of invincibility to physical damage.
7-X-X: Makes your AP consumption zero for the next 12 seconds.
X-X-7: Grants you 20 seconds of the Endure battle status.
7-7-X: Grants zero consumption of MP for the next 15 seconds.
X-7-7: Prevents you from taking magical damage. The effect wears off after 15 seconds.
X-7-X: Reduces your MP usage to zero for the next 12 seconds.
1-1-1: Gives you 15 seconds of invincibility to all types of damage.
2-2-2: Makes it so that nothing costs any amount of MP for the duration of one battle.
3-3-3: Prevents you from taking any magical damage for the next 15 seconds.
4-4-4: This makes it so that you don’t have to spend any amount of AP during the whole battle.
5-5-5: Prevents you from taking physical damage for the next 15 seconds.
6-6-6: Every attack you make is critical (deals twice the damage by default) for the next 20 seconds.
7-7-7: Makes you invincible to all types of damage for exactly 15 seconds.

Note: You can have multiple status buffs active at one time.

Modulating Phase Or Limit Verge

If the left and right reels start spinning and then stop on the same portrait, the DMW will begin what is called the “Modulating Phase“. This is also known as the “Limit Verge“.

The reels will expand to cover the whole screen and the center and number reels will start spinning and stop. After that, one of four things will happen randomly:

A cutscene will play showing a flashback of the character the left and right reels stopped on.
A few still shots from the game’s previous cutscenes will be shown.
The DMW will enter Summon or Chocobo Mode.
The Crisis Core Reunion DMW will enter Genesis Mode.

If none of these special modes mentioned above are initiated, then by default the DMW will enter Normal Mode.

Normal Mode

If the DMW enters Normal Mode, the center and number reels will spin normally. In this case, we look at two parameters: the numbers and the characters.

Here are the different effects that the number combinations will have:

If the number combination is 7-7-7, Zack will level up by 1 level.
If only two numbers that are not 7 line up, the Materia at the slot corresponding to that number will level up once. Hence, if you get 6-3-3-, the Materia at slot 3 will level up once.
If three numbers that are not 7 line up, the Materia at the slot corresponding to that number will level up twice. Hence, if you get 3-3-3, the Materia at slot 3 will level up twice.

Keep in mind that these operations are executed regardless of whether the characters line up. If the characters do line up, however, the following will also happen:

Zack will acquire MP, AP, and HP, depending on the level of a Feather Cap as well as the equipment. How much MP, AP, and HP Zack gains, however, can break in-game limits.
Zack will then acquire large amounts of SP.
Lastly, Zack will be able to execute what is known as a Limit Break.

Limit Breaks

Crisis Core Reunion DMW Chain Slash. — Chain Slash is Zack’s signature Limit Break.

Limit Breaks are special moves related to the portraits on the Crisis Core Reunion DMW. These attacks are called Limit Breaks as, often, they are not bound by standard in-game limits.

Some of the Limit Breaks are acquired right from the very beginning of the game. Others, however, will be acquired as you progress later on. Additionally, each Limit Break has 5 Levels. The Power of the Limit Break scales with the level, as does the duration of any status effects.

Chain Slash

Zack’s default Limit Break. Attacks a single target physically.

Level 1: 48 Power
Level 2: 54 Power
Level 3: 60 Power
Level 4: 66 Power
Level 5: 76 Power

Octaslash

Sephiroth‘s Limit Break. Attacks a single target physically eight times.

Level 1: 9 Power
Level 2: 11 Power
Level 3: 15 Power
Level 4: 18 Power
Level 5: 22 Power

Air Strike

Attacks all targets physically. Tseng’s Limit Break.

Level 1: 40 Power
Level 2: 44 Power
Level 3: 48 Power
Level 4: 64 Power
Level 5: 72 Power

Rush Assault

Attacks a target physically seven times in two sequences. This is followed by one finishing blow, which causes Stun and may give you the Endure buff. The two sequences and the final attack have different Powers and won’t necessarily hit the same target.

This attack is not affected by Vitality. Upon executing a Level 5 attack, there is an increase in the Emotion Gauge of 1. This is Angeal’s signature Limit Break.

Level 1, Sequence 1: 6 Power
Level 2, Sequence 1: 7 Power
Level 3, Sequence 1: 8 Power
Level 4, Sequence 1: 9 Power
Level 5, Sequence 1: 10 Power
Level 1, Sequence 2: 7 Power
Level 2, Sequence 2: 8 Power
Level 3, Sequence 2: 9 Power
Level 4, Sequence 2: 10 Power
Level 5, Sequence 2: 11 Power
Level 1, Sequence 3: 12 Power
Level 2, Sequence 3: 18 Power
Level 3, Sequence 3: 20 Power
Level 4, Sequence 3: 24 Power
Level 5, Sequence 3: 32 Power

Healing Wave

Heals all MP, HP, and AP completely. This power breaks limits and heals all status effects. Additionally, it temporarily makes you immune to all damage. Leveling up this Limit Break will increase the duration that the effect lasts. This is Aerith’s ability.

Level 1: 3 seconds
Level 2: 5 seconds
Level 3: 8 seconds
Level 4: 10 seconds
Level 5: 20 seconds

Lucky Stars

Cissnei’s signature Limit Break. All attacks for a certain period remain critical. Level 5 attacks will increase your Emotion Gauge. Leveling up this Limit Break changes the duration that it lasts.

Level 1: 10 seconds
Level 2: 15 seconds
Level 3: 20 seconds
Level 4: 40 seconds
Level 5: 80 seconds

Meteor Shots

Attacks all targets magically. Cloud Strife’s signature ability.

Level 1: 44 Power
Level 2: 48 Power
Level 3: 64 Power
Level 4: 72 Power
Level 5: 80 Power

Summon Mode

Hellfire wreaking havoc on the enemies. — Hellfire is one of the many Summons you can make.

If you have at least one Summon and are lucky enough, a blue star will appear when the center wheel is spinning. Summon Mode is a special mode of the Modulating Phase that allows you to summon monsters and creatures to help you out in battle.

However, when this mode gets activated is completely random. Initially, the chance that Summon Mode gets activated is 12.5%. However, you can increase this rate by equipping several Summon DMW Materia.

Also to note is that, even if the Crisis Core Reunion DMW enters Summon Mode, the chances of an actual Summon happening are even lower. The percentage depends on the level of your Emotion Gauge. Here’s how your Emotion Gauge affects the chance of a Summon occurring:

At a Low Emotion Gauge, you have a 50% chance of activating a Summon.
Once your Emotion Gauge rises to Normal, your Summon chance increases to 70.3%.
However, when the Emotion Gauge reaches the High level, the chances actually drop, from 70.3% to 56.9%.
This has a great payoff as when your Emotion Gauge reaches the Sky High level, the Summon chance increases to 93.8%.
Finally, when the Emotion Gauge goes to Heavenly, a Summon is guaranteed, provided the DMW enters Summon Mode.

Summons

You can summon 5 monsters to aid you in battle. These can be acquired after clearing some missions. And much like the Limit Breaks, they have abilities as well as levels.

Hellfire

Hits all targets with magic damage and looks over Spirit. Ifrit’s signature move.

Level 1: 52 Power
Level 2: 56 Power
Level 3: 60 Power
Level 4: 64 Power
Level 5: 77 Power

Exa Flare

Bahamat Fury has this signature attack. Hits all targets with magic damage and looks over Spirit. If you use the level 5 version of this attack, your Emotion increases by 1 level.

Level 1: 70 Power
Level 2: 74 Power
Level 3: 78 Power
Level 4: 82 Power
Level 5: 96 Power

Zantetsuken

Gives all targets Instant Death. Does not have any Power or attribute growth with level. Odin’s portrait triggers this move.

Megaflare

Bahamut’s portrait triggers this attack. Hits all targets with magic damage and looks over Spirit. Increases the level of your Emotion by 1 when you use the level 5 version of this attack.

Level 1: 58 Power
Level 2: 62 Power
Level 3: 66 Power
Level 4: 70 Power
Level 5: 84 Power

Rebirth Flame

Hits all targets with magic damage and looks over Spirit. Also, it inflicts the Raise status on Zack. Phoenix’s signature move.

Level 1: 48 Power
Level 2: 52 Power
Level 3: 56 Power
Level 4: 60 Power
Level 5: 78 Power

Chocobo Mode

Crisis Core Reunion DMW Murderous Thrust Level 4. — Murderous Thrust ignores all Vitality.

Aside from the Summon and Normal Modes, there is the Chocobo Mode. The only condition for this mode to get activated is that you must have at least one Chocobo character unlocked.

Chocobo Mode has some chance of getting triggered, which is 9.4% initially. Eventually, you can enhance this chance by acquiring the relevant Crisis Core Reunion DMW Materia.

If it does get triggered, though, then the left and right portraits change to those of a single Chocobo character. Then, the center and number wheels start rolling and stop. If all three portraits line up, then you will summon a Chocobo character. Additionally, the effect that the numbers have is the same as with Normal Mode.

There are some battles in which Chocobo Mode is blocked from activating, such as the fight against the final boss.

Much like with the Summon Mode, activating the Chocobo Mode doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll summon a Chocobo character. The chances change with the Emotion Guage’s level. Here are the chances of summoning a Chocobo character given your Emotion Gauge level:

If your Emotion level is Low, then your chances of summoning a Chocobo character are 31.3%.
When you raise your Emotion level to Normal, the summon chance rises to 50%.
Then, once you get to Emotion level High, you have a 70.3% chance of summoning a Chocobo character.
After that, if you reach the Sky High level, the summon chance will increase to 85.9%.
Lastly, when your Emotion level reaches Heavenly, the summon chance maxes out at 93.8%. It’s worth noting that the summon chance never goes to 100%.

Chocobo Character Summons

Just like with the regular Summon Mode, the Chocobo Mode lets you summon 6 Chocobo characters along with one Dud. The characters each must be unlocked first by finding them throughout your missions.

Additionally, these characters have attacks that have 5 levels. The Power of the attacks rises with each level, though not always. Additionally, leveling up increases the duration of effects that some attacks inflict.

Dud

Hits Zack with Power corresponding to the level of the attack and Stuns him. The Stun duration is 1-6 seconds, according to the level.

Level 1: 1 Power
Level 2: 1 Power
Level 3: 10 Power
Level 4: 100 Power
Level 5: 1000 Power

Chocobo Stomp

Chocobo’s portrait appears during this attack. Hits all targets physically while ignoring all Vitality.

Level 1: 48 Power
Level 2: 54 Power
Level 3: 58 Power
Level 4: 64 Power
Level 5: 72 Power

Moogle Power

Moogle’s portrait triggers this effect. Regenerates some of Zack’s HP for a duration that scales with the attack’s level. Lasts for the whole battle at level 5. Also levels up all the Materia that are equipped onto Zack depending on the level.

Level 1: 40 seconds
Level 2: 60 seconds
Level 3: 80 seconds
Level 4: 100 seconds
Level 5: Whole battle

Murderous Thrust

Tonberry’s special attack. Hits a single enemy physically while ignoring all Vitality.

Level 1: 52 Power
Level 2: 60 Power
Level 3: 64 Power
Level 4: 68 Power
Level 5: 78 Power

Courage Boost!

Zack gets cured of Stop, Silence, Stun, and Poison effects. Additionally, this effect gives Zack three sets of bonuses that each last for three different periods. The bonus sets include:

MBarrier, Endure, and Barrier
AP and MP Cost 0
Physical and Magic Null

Once this effect is leveled up to level 5, all the buffs last for the entire battle, with the exception of Magic and Physical Null. Cait Sith’s portrait grants this effect.

Level 1, Set 1: 30 seconds
Level 2, Set 1: 40 seconds
Level 3, Set 1: 50 seconds
Level 4, Set 1: 100 seconds
Level 5, Set 1: Whole battle
Level 1, Set 2: 20 seconds
Level 2, Set 2: 30 seconds
Level 3, Set 2: 60 seconds
Level 4, Set 2: 120 seconds
Level 5, Set 2: Whole battle
Level 1, Set 3: 5 seconds
Level 2, Set 3: 8 seconds
Level 3, Set 3: 10 seconds
Level 4, Set 3: 15 seconds
Level 5, Set 3: 30 seconds

1000 Needles

Hits a single target eighteen times. Cactuar’s special ability.

Level 1: 300 Power
Level 2: 500 Power
Level 3: 1000 Power
Level 4: 1500 Power
Level 5: 2000 Power

Item Mugger

Magic Pot triggers this effect. Gives Zack a random item according to the level of this effect.

Level 1: Graviga, Curaga, Libra, Drain
Level 2: Platinum Bangle, Titanium Bangle, Iron Bangle, Carbon Bangle
Level 3: Royal Crown, Shinra Beta+, Crystal Orb, Kaiser Knuckles
Level 4: 3 Phoenix Downs, 10 Elixirs, 1 Phoenix Down, 5 Elixirs
Level 5: 1 Gold Rolling Pins, 5 Gold Rolling Pins, 3 Gold Rolling Pins, Ribbon.

If you want to know about how to unlock the Magic Pot and access it as a Summon, then head on over to our Magic Pot guide. We go into great detail about how to unlock the Summon and use it.

Genesis Mode

Zack casting Apocalypse on the enemies. — Apocalypse is the only Limit Break in this mode.

Along with the Summon and Chocobo Modes, there is the Genesis Mode. In this mode, the reel gets an addition of Genesis’s character portrait. After checking to see if the game will enter Chocobo or Summon Modes, the game lastly checks for Genesis Mode.

There is a 12.5% chance (initially) that the DMW will enter Genesis Mode if it fails to enter the other two modes. If it doesn’t enter Genesis Mode either, then it will enter Normal Mode.

However, even if Genesis Mode activates, it doesn’t guarantee that the only attack in this mode, Apocalypse, will activate. Instead, there is only a percentage chance that Apocalypse will activate.

When it does activate, however, the Genesis portrait will remain in the DMW wheels until the wheel is reset. Additionally, the chance of activating Genesis Mode can be modified by Crisis Core Reunion DMW Materia.

Apocalypse

Hits all targets with magic damage. Only Genesis’s portrait will trigger this ability.

Level 1: 66 Power
Level 2: 76 Power
Level 3: 86 Power
Level 4: 96 Power
Level 5: 120 Power

All DMW Portrait Locations

We’ve already established that some DMW portraits can be acquired at the very beginning of the game while others must be discovered. Here’s a list of all the portraits and where to find them in the game: