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 | This section contains spoilers! Content within this section may reveal significant parts of a game(s) story. |
The goal of Chocobo Breeding is to breed a Gold Chocobo capable of getting to some of the the most important hidden areas in the game. The player may then use that Gold Chocobo to obtain other rewards in Chocobo Racing.
The player can begin to breed Chocobos as soon as Cid is made the leader of the group, but it is recommended to wait until Cloud is able to lead the group again. This is because a fundamental aspect of Chocobo breeding is Chocobo Racing; when Disc 2 starts, the Gold Saucer is closed, but by the time that Cloud is once again in the party, the Gold Saucer has re-opened.
The first thing you'll need is money, at least 300,000 Gil (though more certainly couldn't hurt). This is to finance the renting of Chocobo Stables, as well as the purchase of various greens that will be needed. If you're short on Gil, consult this guide for things to do. Chocobo Breeding also requires Nuts; while there are many nuts available, we are interested in just two: Carob Nuts and Zeio Nuts.
The Chocobo Sage on the Northern Continent can sell you greens to use for Chocobo Catching and Chocobo Breeding. For breeding, we'll be needing Sylkis Greens, while for capturing, we will either need Reagan Greens or Curiel Greens. Reagan Greens not only keep the Chocobo occupied for several turns, but also reduce the chance of the Chocobo becoming spooked, while Curiel Greens keep the Chocobo occupied for several turns.
Chocobo Catching[ | ]
To catch a Chocobo, you will need at least one (preferably two) Chocobo Lure Materias equipped, preferably mastered or at least Level 3 on each. Chocobos come in different types when you catch them; this can be predicted based upon what enemies spawn along with a Chocobo during an encounter. Choco Bill will comment on each Chocobo you catch, and this helps confirm to you what type that Chocobo is.
| Type | Comment |
|---|---|
| Poor | "This one doesn’t seem to be very good." |
| Weak | "I really can’t recommend this one." |
| Mediocre | "This Chocobo’s so-so." |
| Average | "This is a pretty average Chocobo." |
| Fair | "Mmm, this one’s not bad." |
| Good | "Mmm, this seems like a good Chocobo." |
| Great | "This is a great Chocobo." |
| Wonderful | "This…is a wonderful Chocobo!" |
For the purposes of this guide, we will only be interested in Good, Great and Wonderful Chocobos. To reduce confusion, we will be focusing on three particular sets of Chocobo Tracks:
- The tracks near the Gold Saucer (for a Good Chocobo).
- The tracks near Mideel (for a Great Chocobo).
- The tracks near the Icicle Inn (for a Wonderful Chocobo).
Chocobo Gender[ | ]
Chocobos can be either Male or Female. Breeding obviously requires one Male and one Female, but the gender is not determined upon capture. Instead, the gender is determined when inspected at the Chocobo Stables. Therefore, after capturing your initial two Chocobos, you should ensure that one is a Male, and one is a Female.
Chocobo Naming[ | ]
Not a strict requirement, but some find it beneficial to name their caught Chocobos with names that identify their type and gender.
Chocobo Abilities[ | ]
Chocobos come in different colors, and it is these colors that confer special abilities when being ridden on the world map. All Chocobos prevent enemy encounters when you're riding them.
| Type | Comment |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Can only cross grasslands and wastelands. |
| Green | Can climb hills and mountains. |
| Blue | Can cross rivers and the shallow waters near coastlines. |
| Black | Can cross hills, mountains, rivers and the shallow waters near coastlines. |
| Gold | Can cross hills, mountains, rivers, the shallow waters near coastlines, and the deep ocean. Cannot go underwater. |
Chocobo Maturity[ | ]
Chocobos need time between being bred or being born to be used for Chocobo Breeding. Chocobos that have just been bred need between 3 and 10 battles to become available for breeding again, while newborn Chocobos need between 3 and 18 battles to become available for breeding.
Chocobo Racing[ | ]
Chocobos caught in the wild always start off at Class C. They advance in rank when they have won three races (in total, not consecutively). There are four ranks: C, B, A, and S. The higher ranks are needed for breeding to increase the odds of getting the Chocobo you want.
Step-by-Step Guide[ | ]
The following will outline the most efficient route to catch and breed Chocobos.
Step 1: Rent[ | ]
Speak to Grandpa at the Chocobo Stables (building to the left of the barn), and say that you want to breed Chocobos. Then, enter the barn, and speak to Choco Bill. Rent all six of the stables for a combined cost of 60,000 Gil.
Step 2: Forage[ | ]
Head to the Chocobo Sage. Buy 50 Sylkis Greens, and either 10 Reagan Greens or 10 Curiel Greens, depending on your preference. Then, obtain 3 Carob Nuts. They are best stolen from a Vlakorados (in the green area not far from Icicle Inn). You also should steal 1 Zeio Nut from a Goblin on Goblin Island.
Step 3: Catch your first two Chocobos[ | ]
Head to the Gold Saucer area Chocobo Tracks with your lure(s) equipped. When the Chocobo and enemies appear, you need to keep an eye out for a Chocobo that spawns along with two Spencers. This is the Good Chocobo that you want to capture.
Once done, head to the Chocobo Tracks near Mideel. When the Chocobo and enemies appear, you need to keep an eye out for a Chocobo that spawns along with either one or two Spirals. This is the Great Chocobo that you want to capture.
Once done, head to Chocobo Farm. Save before entering the barn. Then, move the Chocobos from the field to the stables. You must check to make sure that one of the Chocobos is a Male and the other is a Female. If you get two Males or two Females, reset the game and reload the save until you get one of each gender. It does not matter which if the two is Male or Female, as long as you have one of each.
Step 4: Racing[ | ]
Feed both your Good Chocobo and Great Chocobo 5 Sylkis Greens each. Head to the Gold Saucer to race them. Each Chocobo needs to win three races, so they can both advance from Class C to Class B. Once done, head back to the Chocobo Farm. Save before entering the barn.
Step 5: Breeding[ | ]
Breed the Good Chocobo and the Great Chocobo together with a Carob Nut. You should get either a Green Chocobo or a Blue Chocobo. Feed this new Chocobo 10 Sylkis Greens. You will then need to fight up to 10 random encounters on the world map. Once done, save and enter the Chocobo farm again. Breed the Good Chocobo and the Great Chocobo again, also using a Carob Nut. You should get either a Green Chocobo or a Blue Chocobo; you want one of the opposite color and gender to what you have already (i.e. if you have a Female Green Chocobo, you want a Male Blue Chocobo). If you did not get what you needed, restart the game and reload. If you got the right combination, feed your new Chocobo 10 Sylkis Greens.
Step 6: Racing 2[ | ]
Head back to the Gold Saucer. Your Green Chocobo and Blue Chocobo now need to win six races each to advance from Class C to Class A.
Step 7: Catch your third Chocobo[ | ]
Head to the Icicle Inn Chocobo Tracks. When the Chocobo and enemies appear, you need to keep an eye out for a Chocobo that spawns along with one or two Jumping. This is the Wonderful Chocobo that you want to capture. Head back to the Chocobo Stables and enter the barn. Move the new Chocobo into the stables. Make a note of the gender, although the specific gender of this Chocobo does not matter. Feed your new Wonderful Chocobo 10 Sylkis Greens. Exit the stables and save your game.
Step 8: Breeding 2[ | ]
Enter the barn again. Breed your Blue Chocobo and Green Chocobo together using another Carob Nut (you may need to fight some random encounters first). You want to breed a Black Chocobo of the opposite gender of the Wonderful Chocobo. If you didn't get the combination you wanted, reset your game and reload your save. If you do get the correct combination, feed your new Black Chocobo 10 Sylkis Greens.
Step 9: Racing 3[ | ]
Head back to the Gold Saucer. Your Wonderful Chocobo and Black Chocobo now need to win six races each to advance from Class C to Class A.
Step 10: Breeding 3[ | ]
Head back to the Chocobo Stables. Breed your Black Chocobo and Wonderful Chocobo together with a Zeio Nut (you may need to fight some random encounters first). You should get a Gold Chocobo from this pairing. If you didn't, reset the game and reload the save.