One of the newest features introduced in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake follow-up, Rebirth, is the ability to check your bond levels with fellow party members. This all comes into play for the eventual date that happens at the Gold Saucer, but you may be wondering, how exactly do you increase a character bond/relationship so that you’re matched with your ideal crush? Well, we’ve got you covered, as this guide will teach you how to increase bond levels in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. 

Understanding the Bond Levels

Before we dive into how to increase bond levels, we first must understand precisely what each Bond level means. Essentially, the levels are broken down by colors, going from weak bonds to strong bonds. I know there are four available colors, possibly five, if you manage to complete every story beat and get every dialogue right, and other things. Sadly, you can’t check the progress of those two (and more) until after you’ve beaten the game, when an extra menu will be available. I’ll break that stuff down in a later section, though. 

You can, however, check the bond level of each member of the party by pushing and holding L1. This will display a colored circle with a smiley face on each member. 

It works like this: purple has a low bond level, yellow has an okay bond level, dark blue is good, and light blue is very good. I believe there is one more color, which would be the strongest bond level (perfect) you can get in the game. 

Ultimately, you’ll want to pay attention to this throughout the game, as that will eventually lead to the Gold Saucer date, which the game warns you about and tells you to increase your bond level with whatever character you wish to go on a date with. 

What Determines the Gold Saucer Date in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth?

Ultimately, it’s your bond level and whichever character you have the strongest bond with that determines who knocks on your door for the Gold Saucer date. If you have multiple characters that have the same bond levels, the game will default to Cait Sith as your date, so it’s important to ensure whoever you want to go on a date with has the strongest bond level. 

How Many Characters Are Available to Date, and How Many Outcomes Are There?

In total, there are six (technically eight) characters that you can go on a date with, with 11 different endings to unlock. Those characters are:

• Aerith
• Barret
• Cait Sith (accompanied by Cid and Vincent)
• Red XIII
• Tifa
• Yuffie

Every character except Cait Sith has two conclusions to their date, those being standard and intimate. The Intimate conclusion is only achievable if you manage to have a strong bond (max), which, to my understanding, isn’t achievable (maybe with a light blue bond) until you beat the game, as there are story beats and conversations that are part of achieving a strong bond post-Gold Saucer date. 

Once you’ve beaten the game, you’ll have access to chapter selection, as well as an extra menu that will display bond levels and even let you force the intimate conclusion. 

How Do You Increase Bond Levels in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth?

The biggest question you probably have is how do you increase bond levels in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth? Well, the first and obvious way is to have a conversation with the characters. Every time you reach a new settlement that has other NPCs, members of your party usually leave your side to wander around. This typically comes with the opportunity to find them and draw up conversations with them. You’ll know it’ll be available if the character shows up as a blue dot on the map and has a speech bubble above their bond level. 

Once you speak to that character, you’ll be given some dialogue options. Do enough of these and pick the correct dialogue, and you’ll see a boost in your bond level with that character.

The other way to increase bond levels is by doing side missions, or as the game calls them, odd jobs. Every region in the game has them, though only a limited number of them are available until you make some progress by completing them and getting far enough in the story for some. Each odd job is tied to a specific character and will increase your bond level for completing them. Do enough of these for a specific character, and their bond will grow stronger. 

Here’s a complete list of side missions organized by order and region and whose bond level improves from completing them. Note that a majority of these missions need to be unlocked by completing prior ones in the same region. 

All Odd Jobs/Side Missions in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Grasslands

• Flowers from the Hill – Aerith
• A Rare Lost Card – Tifa
• Lifeline in Peril – Barret
• Livestock’s Bane – Red XIII
• Where the Wind Blows – Red XIII
• Hustle and Grind – Barret

Junon Region

• Stuck in a Rut – Aerith
• When Words Won’t Do – Barret
• Call All Frogs – Tifa
• The Hardest Sell – Red XIII
• Dreaming of Blue Skies – Tifa
• Tides of War and Worry – Yuffie
• Beneath Still Waters – Aerith

Corel Region

• The Saga of the Seaside Inn – Yuffie
• Rendezvous in Costa del Sol – Aerith
• Bodybuilders in a Bind – Tifa
• Of Robed Men and Ransoms – Red XIII
• Missing: Mr. Birdie – Barret
• Trouble in Paradise – Yuffie
• Gold Cup or Bust – Tifa
• Sand and Circuses – Tifa
• Can’t Stop Won’t Stop – No Bond, though, is required to unlock Sephiroth in 3D Brawler. 

Gongaga Region

• The Pursuit of Perfections – Barret
• Teach Me, Great Warrior – Yuffie
• O Chicken, Where Art Thou – Red XIII
• The Spice of Life – Aerith
• Escape from Endless Writer’s Block – Barret
• Woodland Vigil – Aerith

Cosmo Canyon Region

• Bonds of Trust – Yuffie
• Absence of a Sign – Aerith
• From Whence Life Flows – Red XIII
• Promises to Keep – Red XIII
• Victim of Circumstance – Yuffie

Nible Region

• Esoteric Secrets of the Elders – Yuffie
• My White-Haired Angel – Tifa
• Lamend of the Damned – Barret

All of these will be unlockable by the time you reach the Gold Saucer date in Chapter 12, though Coral Region’s “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” is the only mission that is available after the date happens and you’ve beaten the bosses in the Gold Saucer arena. Otherwise all the other missions are accessible as soon as you reach Chapter 12, so you’ll have plenty available to increase the bond level for the character you desire to go on a date with. 

Don’t worry though, as when you beat the game you’ll get access to chapter select to replay the date, as well as an extra menu that lets you pick you who to go on a date with and their conclusion, if you don’t get who you want in your first playthrough.

More Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Reading:

• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Best Materia Guide
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth – Side Missions/Odd Jobs List
• Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Best Settings