You’re wandering around the dusty, monster-infested wasteland of Cosmo Canyon and suddenly, you see it. A quest marker. It’s the FF7 Rebirth Victim of Circumstance mission, and honestly, it’s one of those tasks that sounds simple but ends up being a massive headache if you don't know exactly where to look. Most players stumble into this one during Chapter 10, right when the world map starts feeling overwhelmingly huge. You meet Zhijie, a guy who’s basically having the worst day of his life, stuck out in the middle of nowhere because his buggy broke down.
He needs help. Obviously.
But this isn't just a "kill three wolves and come back" kind of deal. It requires a specific item, a bit of Chocobo-assisted tracking, and the patience to deal with some of the trickiest terrain in the game. If you've been circling the canyon walls for twenty minutes wondering why the waypoint seems to be inside a mountain, you aren't alone. The verticality of Cosmo Canyon is a nightmare.
Finding the Great Girallulu (And Why It Matters)
To get things moving, you need a Vibrodetector. If you don't have one yet, you’ve gotta buy it from the Moogle Emporium. This little gadget is the key to the whole quest. Once you have it, the game expects you to play a game of "hot or cold" to find underground monsters called Great Girallulus.
The first spot is usually pretty easy to find. You head to the marked area and watch the signal on your screen. When the circles get tight and turn red, you’re on top of it. But here’s the kicker: the monster won't just pop out because you’re standing there. You have to trigger the encounter.
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Most people get stuck here because they think the quest is bugged. It’s not. You just need to be precise. These enemies are weak to Ice, so make sure Cloud or Yuffie has Blizzard Materia equipped before you start digging around. Honestly, if you go in with Fire or Lightning, you’re just making your life harder for no reason.
The Navigation Nightmare of Cosmo Canyon
Cosmo Canyon is beautiful, but the map is a lie. Well, not a lie, but it’s deceptive. The FF7 Rebirth Victim of Circumstance quest highlights exactly why the region's Chocobo mechanics—those gliding ramps—are mandatory.
You’ll find yourself looking at a quest marker that says it’s 20 meters away, but there’s a massive cliff in your face. To reach the second and third encounter sites, you have to use the Gliding Range. You’re looking for specific fans and launch pads that carry you to the higher plateaus. If you try to run there on foot, you’ll just hit a dead end every single time.
Spot Two: The High Ground
The second location is tucked away on a ledge that requires a very specific flight path. Look for Gliding Range No. 16. If you miss the jump, you’re falling all the way back to the canyon floor, which is a literal five-minute trek back up. It’s frustrating. It's annoying. It's Final Fantasy.
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Once you land, pull out the detector again. The Great Girallulu here is a bit tougher. It likes to use a move called "Ensnare" that can lock down your party members. If you’re playing on Dynamic or Hard mode, this can actually wipe you if you aren't paying attention. Keep your ATB bars full and save them for when the monster pressures. Ice spells are your best friend here.
Combat Strategy for the Final Encounter
By the time you reach the third spot, you’re probably ready to be done with Zhijie and his broken buggy. The final Great Girallulu isn’t alone, though. It usually has some smaller fries helping it out.
The trick to winning this fight quickly is "Pressuring" the enemy. In FF7 Rebirth, the Great Girallulu has a massive HP pool, but it’s a glass cannon once you stagger it. Use Tifa’s Unbridled Strength to ramp up the damage multiplier. If you can get that multiplier to 200% or higher while the beast is staggered, the fight ends in seconds.
Don't forget to use your Folio skills. Synergy abilities that don't cost MP are great for keeping the pressure on without draining your resources for the next fight. Cloud and Aerith’s "Spell Blade" or similar combos work wonders.
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Why Does This Quest Exist Anyway?
You might be wondering why you're doing chores for a guy in the desert. Beyond the XP and the party level points, FF7 Rebirth Victim of Circumstance gives you something much more valuable: a boost to your relationship with Yuffie.
If you’re aiming for the Yuffie date at the Gold Saucer, side quests like this are mandatory. Every bit of dialogue and every completed task in Cosmo Canyon shifts those invisible points in her favor. Plus, you get some decent materials for crafting high-level accessories later in the game. It’s a grind, sure, but it’s a calculated one.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Forgetting the Vibrodetector: You cannot start the tracking without it. If the Moogle shop doesn't have it, you haven't progressed the Moogle Intel in this region enough. Go find those floating plushies first.
- Ignoring the Altitude: If the detector signal is weak but you're in the right spot on the 2D map, look up or down. You're likely on the wrong "floor" of the canyon.
- Wasting MP: Don't spam Blizzaga on the small mobs. Save your mana for the big guys. Use Elemental Materia linked with Ice on your physical attackers to get free elemental damage.
- Skipping the Chocobo Ramps: Don't try to be a hero and climb. Use the ramps. They are there for a reason.
The quest ends with a bit of a bittersweet moment. Zhijie is safe, the buggy is... well, it’s a buggy, and you’re one step closer to 100% completion. It’s not the most epic tale in the game, but it grounds the world. It shows that while Cloud and the gang are trying to save the planet from a meteor, regular people are just out there trying not to get eaten by giant sand monsters while their cars break down.
Actionable Steps for Success
- Check your Inventory: Ensure you have the Vibrodetector from the Moogle Emporium (requires Moogle Medals).
- Equip Ice Materia: Every main party member should have access to Blizzard or an Ice-infused weapon.
- Master Gliding: Practice the Chocobo flight mechanics at Gliding Range No. 16 before attempting to reach the second site.
- Focus Fire: In the final fight, take out the smaller enemies first to avoid getting staggered by multiple attacks at once.
- Check the Relationship Menu: After finishing, check your bond with Yuffie to see if the quest gave you the boost you needed.