Shears' Counterattack, initially known as ???, is an Odd Job in Chapter 9, "The Town That Never Sleeps", in Final Fantasy VII Remake, taking place in Wall Market. After Cloud Strife completes some tasks for Madam M, he returns to her parlor.

"Shears' Counterattack" and "The Price of Thievery" part of a questline available depending on the player's choice throughout "The Town That Never Sleeps", particularly during "Madam M's Desire". Different choices will instead provide the quests "The Party Never Stops" and "A Dynamite Body".

How to get

The following choices increase the chance of getting Madam M's questline:

• Describing Tifa as "She's great at handling the books" (during "Chasing Tifa").
• Ignoring "Vagabond Johnny".
• Saying "How much?" to the innkeeper when he offers a room to Cloud and Aerith.
• Selecting "No deal" when offered a coin toss (during "Sam").
• Selecting the Luxury Course or the Standard Course at Madam M's parlor (during "Madam M's Desire").
• Selecting "It matter what I think?" when Aerith asks about her outfit (during "Madam M's Desire").

Walkthrough

After returning from Madam M's parlor, the gatekeeper will ask Cloud to travel to the Corneo Colosseum. Return and use the elevator. In the Colosseum, either the "Special Match" or a "Free Battle" can be accepted though "Special Match" is required for this sidequest.

In the "Special Match", a sweeper, the Jury-Rigged Cutter, is fought; this is weak to Lightning, so Cloud should equip the Lightning Materia, preferably paired with Elemental Materia. Cloud can stagger it by casting Thundara or using character abilities, and its melee attacks should be dodged. In particular, using Focused Thrust often can build its stagger gauge.

After it is defeated, Madam M invites Cloud back to the parlor.

Hard mode

This is the final combat challenge in the chapter, so all MP can be spent here if desired. In addition to lightning with elemental materia, Steadfast Block Materia and Parry Materia are useful, allowing Cloud to remain in Punisher Mode and stay defensive, and with Parry, dodge-roll while remaining in Punisher Mode.

Cast Regen on Cloud as the match begins, and if possible, Haste can be useful also. As before, casting Thundara can be useful, though another effective strategy is to rely on well-timed Counterstance uses to deal heavy damage while also reducing damage taken.

Behind the scenes

The quest's title is likely a reference to the 1988 Gundam film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack and Shears, a character featured in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-.