Crisis Core Tips for Hard mode

[Ramiel]

Well, I played Hard for a while and it was really hard, no seriously, REALLY hard. Extremely hard. I'm in Junon now and those damn g-soldiers are getting on my nerves, they ASSAULT me, they don't let me attack!
So I decided to put up a list of tips - how to play Hard mode and get past the second chapter!
First of all, when you get past the training, check your locker 20 times or such for a Cursed Ring. It will really help. Especially in the fight with Genesis in Modeo, where he curses you since his first move.
FUSION
I have an old paper with Fusion tips, but I lost it! And I blame communism for it .
-With an level 2+ Assault Twister and a level 1 (I think) F/I/T , you get not Fire/Blizzard/Thunder Blade, you get Fira/Blizzara/Thundara Blade! Thats 1UP for you!
-When you pass Aerith (get steal), do mission 6-1-3 to get Dash, and fuse your Steal with .... I don't know, I think Barrier, but you must obtain Smart Consumer. Fuse that Smart Consumer with Dash, and you got Mug!
-As for Barrier and MBarrier, I think it's HP Up and respectively SPR Up plus F/I/T, I'm not sure. Please help me.
-Dark F/I/T will help you alot. So fuse a StEffect materia with your F/I/T materia. I recommend Fire, just because it can hit easily.
-Remember - every time you got new materia, try fusing it with all you got until you get something interesting. I recommend looking for Drain Blade and higher level materia (-a or -aga). Oh, and F/I/T means Fire/Ice/Thunder.
COMBAT TIPS
-Dodge dodge! Run run! It's not normal mode! Keep distance! That takes us to tip 2:
-Use ranged attacks, and upgrade them whenever you can (-a or -aga, see above) ! That means you must upgrade your MP and MAG, but also keep an eye on the other stats!
-Keep the Cursed Ring onto you. When you feel like leveling up, de-equip it, use a Remedy and repeat mission 1-1-1.
-Endure is your best friend. Twisted Headband is your path to salvation. You can't do nothing with the constant assault of enemies! You can't cure yourself!
-Blizzard is the best magic attack, but always start your battle with a Dark Fire.

Of course, I'll add more tips, and others feel free to add more tips. So good luck... you'll need it. (And always save your game!)

 

[Bambi]

I find the hell thundaga helped me ALOT, on y first playthrough, I probably used that more than anything else, not only does it hit more than one enemy it can inflict status ailments on them too

If you can't find it, buy it from the shop....i think its the wutai one

Also, for boosting hp, I think I used (at first) a curaga a hp and some elixers, that boosts it a fair bit, I did use all my elixers eventually though. Best way of getting hp+999% though, that should help alot on hard mode

 

[Ramiel]

Umm....
Well, the 8-3-6 which give you HellThundaga and the 4-2-6 which gives you WutaiSecretShop are too hard, very hard, hard as hell in the hard mode, you might need to play one day with no breaks to prepare yourself for the missions and actually pass them. I'm sorry, but it's best to experience it before you submit your tips.
But I can't believe that I forgot about HP boosts. I'll continue what Minerva said.
-It's best to use your healing materia as the base, because you'll always need a curative materia in your inventory.
-You must try to fuse it with every single HP Up+ (only + or ++) and try fusing it with all your unnecesary materia.
-Once you get ItemFusionTome, you can fuse hp makostones, hp stones & fat chocobo feathers, elixirs, bangles and potions. Worth the mention is mission 6-2-4 which gives 20 elixirs reward!!!!
That's all, folks.