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Aeris Gainsborough

Aeris is my eigth favorite character of the main cast, mainly because you lose her half way through the game. It's rather pointless to attempt gaining each of her limit skills when you could be working on someone's who'll be with you throughout the rest of the story. This is not to say they're not worth it, Aeris has some of the most effectively advantageous limit skills in the game, but it's a real pain to obtain them-but hey, that's what us true gamers do, right? Though an excellent magic user, she's somewhat lacking in power, strictly a backline medic, and there are times, when you'd like for even your medic to have some attack power. She does, however; rank far above Yuffie on my chain, and I'm not saying she's a useless character, just that obtaining her skills is pointless. She does have a few good qualities, for instance, she is the only true magic user you have, so go ahead and load her down with materia, as much as you can put on her, let her gain the AP for it so you're not overloading one of your fighters. Her "Seal Evil" limit skill can also be rather useful in dire times when you're sorely outnumbered and in desperate need of a leg up on the opposition. Aeris, in all, is just a bit too squeeky clean though, she's got an air of perfection about her just doesn't seem to fit the rest of her personality. She's often pushy and has esentially overshadowed Tifa for Cloud's affection. Her death, however; does provide a good mid-point addition of reasoning behind the goal of seeking out Sephiroth and destroying him. She's still a good character, adds nicely to the ever present "love triangle" and provides a good medic, but since you lose her mid-way through the game, it's hard to really get to know her. She does, however; rank substantially higher on my chain than Yuffie does which is in, and of, itself a point in her favor.


Statistical Information

Job
Flower Merchant
Age
22
Weapon
Rod
Height
5'3"
Birthdate
February 7
Birthplace
unknown
Blood Type
O
Description
Young, beautiful, and somewhat mysterious, Aeris met Cloud while selling flowers on the streets of Midgar. She decided to join him soon after. Her unusual abilities enable her to use magic, but she seems more interested in the deepening love triangle between herself, Cloud and Tifa.

Weapons

Guard Stick
initial equiptment
Striking Staff
can be stolen from Eligor in Midgar's Traingraveyard or later purchased in Junon or Gongaga
Mythril Rod
can be purchased in Wall Market
Full Metal Staff
can be purchased in Kalm or in Junon
Wizard Staff
can be obtained by collecting the left side treasure on the Mount Corel railroad tracks
Fairy Tale
spoil of defeating Reno and Rude on Gongaga path, it will only be obtained if Aeris is in your party
Prism Staff
can be purchased in Cosmo Canyon
Wiser Staff
spoil of defeating Gi Nattak
Aurora Rod
can be purchased in Wutai
Princess Guard
found in the Temple of the Ancients

Limit Skills

Level One
Aeris starts off her limit skills with the restorative Healing Wind. At the beginning of the game, this is a skill you will use repeatedly, but as your characters grow in level and the damage inflicted upon you increases, it quickly becomes obsolete. Her second skill, however; Seal Evil, can be used throughout the time you are able to have her in your party. This skill paralyzes the enemy for a limited amount of time and is successful against bosses, making tough enemies at low levels exceedingly simple to pummel into submission.
Level Two
Starting off level two, Breath of the Earth cures abnormal status effects bestowed upon party members and is an exceptionally useful skill if you find yourself lacking on remedies. Breath of the Earth is immediately overshadowed by Fury Brand, however; since this skill sacrifices Aeris' limit to fill the guages of her two teammates. This can be a God send if facing a tough foe that you'd like to knock down quickly, such as the Materia Keeper in the Nibelheim Mountains.
Level Three
Planet Protector casts temporary invulnerability on each of the party members, which can be exceptionally useful if you can obtain it at an early level. Using this skill against Gi Nattak or the Materia Keeper can be a wise tactical maneuver. The second skill of level three, Pulse of Life restores the party's lost HP and MP and cures all status effects inflicted upon them. This greatly reduces the usage of Ether and hard-to-come-by Elixers and can be the difference between victory and game over in a tough boss fight.
Level Four
With patience and true gamer grit, you can obtain Aeris' greatist skill, Great Gospel. Much like Planet Protector, it makes the party temporarily invulnerable, but goes a step further by fully restoring everyone. This is the role of medic personified, and although difficult to obtain, it is worth the effort if you decide to be a true gamer and attempt to gather every party members limit skills.