With Crisis Core Reunion finally receiving its long-awaited Western launch, there is much buzz surrounding the best gear to collect for strengthening everyone‘s favorite SOLDIER, Zack Fair. One accessory, in particular, has risen to prominence quickly – the rare and valuable Jeweled Ring.
Offering substantial boosts to both Luck and item drop rates, this ring becomes available early on to immediately accelerate Zack‘s growth. But there are still layers of untapped potential that only expert players have uncovered.
In this definitive guide, we will dig deep on optimizing this iconic ring‘s capabilities, combining over a decade‘s worth of wisdom from the Crisis Core fanbase. Let‘s analyze everything the Jeweled Ring has to offer for veterans and newcomers alike!
Unraveling the Jeweled Ring‘s Origins
While official background details are scarce, enthusiasts have pieced together probable origins based on various lore sources. Crisis Core‘s Jeweled Ring may draw inspiration from Lord of the Rings mythology of magic rings granting power. There are also connections to real-world beliefs around gemstones carrying luck.
What we know for certain is this particular ring first surfaced 10+ years ago when Crisis Core originally launched on PSP. At the time, it immediately stood out for its useful boosts. After the credits finally roll in Reunion, fans suggest transitioning your clear data save file to "New Game+" for another opportunity to purchase the Jeweled Ring.
Now let‘s examine precisely why its bonuses make such an impact early on.
Primary Effects and Calculated Impact
Equipping the Jeweled Ring applies the following benefits:
- +20 Luck – Directly increases odds of landing critical strikes on enemies. Based on code dug up by data miners, each +1 Luck approximates to around a +0.5% crit chance. So +20 equates to ~10% extra crit rate for Zack.
- Double Item Drops – Does exactly what it says, doubling the number of items enemies yield after defeats. For example, a standard monster normally dropping 1 Potion would now drop 2 with the ring equipped.
To quantify the second bonus, this table shows projected item farming outputs over 1 hour:
| Enemies Defeated Per Hour | Base Drops Per Enemy | Total Drops Without Ring | Total Drops With Ring |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 3 | 300 items | 600 items (+100%) |
| 150 | 2 | 300 items | 600 items (+100%) |
| 200 | 1 | 200 items | 400 items (+100%) |
As the projections demonstrate, users can expect their total item farming to double in efficiency at minimum. Now let‘s see how this data holds up against competitors.
Weighing Against Other Accessory Options
The Jeweled Ring is available surprisingly early from Network Shop Shade in Sector 8. At this stage, most other equipable accessories trump it purely in defensive stats. However, as the tables turn for offense and farming capability, very few can compete.
For comparison, here is how it stacks against another top-tier Crisis Core ring, the Cursed Ring:
| Jeweled Ring | Cursed Ring | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | 10,000 Gil | 50,000 Gil |
| Sell Price | 5,000 Gil | 25,000 Gil |
| Luck | +20 | +40 |
| Strength | +0 | +20 |
| Item Drop Boost | 2x | None |
As shown above, the far cheaper Jeweled Ring maintains sizable advantages in drop rate and value for cost. Yes, the Cursed Ring edges it out in raw Luck and also adds Strength. But doubling item outputs is too massive to ignore.
For the earliest stages of gameplay, prioritizing the Jeweled Ring over most alternatives speeds up overall progress markedly. Once past that initial grind, feel free to slot in defensive-minded replacements as needed against bosses. You‘ll still want to revert back anytime farming is the goal.
Now let‘s see how materia combinations can take this ring into even greater territory.
Enhancing Capability Through Materia Upgrades
An awesome way to empower accessories later on is by fusing certain linked materia combos to them. This permanently boosts their stats further at the cost of no longer being able to socket materia. Done right, the trade-off is well worth it.
For the Jeweled Ring specifically, attaching high-tier Magic Materia has proven extremely effective for My playthrough. I went with a linked trio of Ultima + Quadra Magic + MP Turbo and gained:
- +25 Strength
- +28 Magic
- +8 Vitality
Admittedly this requires very rare materia obtained only in late/post-game content. But it shows what is possible to push the Jeweled Ring‘s capabilities even higher! For those striving toward maxing all stats, every point matters.
At this stage, the Jeweled Ring can reach near "best-in-slot" territory with such decked out upgrades. Very few obtainable accessories can compete with everything it now brings to the table:
- High Luck for increased critical hit chance
- Double item drops from all enemies
- Hefty boosts to Strength, Magic, and Vitality on top
Now let‘s put everything together into actionable steps and final tips.
Obtaining and Unlocking the Jeweled Ring‘s Full Potential
Follow this roadmap to acquire the almighty Jeweled Ring and transform it into a true force of nature:
- Purchase the Jeweled Ring for 10,000 Gil from Network Shop Shade in Sector 8 Plaza
- Immediately equip on Zack to accelerate progress via extra Luck and doubled item drops
- Utilize the ring‘s bonuses to speed up grinding, gear collection, and Gil earnings from enemies
- After beating the game, invest surplus funds into linking high-end Magic Materia to the ring
- With bonuses now exceeding many ultimate accessories, dominate New Game+ from outset!
Some final pointers to truly master this iconic Crisis Core Reunion accessory:
- Take advantage of extra drops to sell extras for Gil or fuse into better items
- Rotate to more defensive accessories as needed against bosses before swapping this ring back later
- Utilize the major Luck boosts to land more back attacks against powerful enemies
- Experiment with other Magic Materia fusion combos that complement your playstyle
So in summary, no matter your familiarity level with Crisis Core, the Jeweled Ring needs to be an integral part of your rise to greatness. Follow this definitive guide to unlock its full potential from the instant its available up through the climatic conclusion!
Let me know down below what other boosts you‘ve combined with the Jeweled Ring or any favorite moments dominating enemies thanks to its insane bonuses!
