Relationship Choices

Affinity Guide

What Affinity Does: Affinity determines which character appears with Cloud in the Gold Saucer date sequence (Chapter 8) and the final scene of Chapter 14. The character with the highest accumulated affinity score wins the date. Ties are broken by the game's internal priority order: Aerith → Tifa → Barret → Red XIII → Yuffie → Cait Sith.
+3 pts (Best response)
+2 pts (Good response)
+1 pt (Neutral)
+0 pts (No effect or negative)
Highlighted option = best choice for that character
Chapter 1 Kalm — Beginnings
Aerith asks Cloud about their mission together
"You really came all this way to escort me. Is this just a job to you?"
"It's more than that."
+3 Aerith affinity — most sincere response
"You hired me. That makes it a job."
+1 Aerith affinity
"I don't need a reason. Let's just go."
+0 Aerith affinity
After the first battle, the party regroups. Tifa checks on Cloud.
Tifa: "You okay? You seemed distracted back there."
"I'm always watching your back."
+3 Tifa affinity
"Just thinking through the mission."
+1 Tifa affinity
"I don't get distracted."
+0 Tifa affinity
Chapter 2 Mythril Mines — Into the Dark
Aerith and Cloud explore the mines alone briefly. She mentions the Planet speaking to her.
Aerith: "You think I'm strange, don't you? For hearing things no one else can."
"Not at all. I think it's part of who you are."
+3 Aerith affinity — validating response
"Strange? No. Different? Maybe."
+2 Aerith affinity
"What does it say?"
+0 Aerith affinity — deflects the emotional question
Barret talks about Marlene while setting up camp inside the mines.
Barret: "You got anyone waitin' for you? Back in Midgar?"
"Marlene's lucky to have you."
+3 Barret affinity — focuses on him, not Cloud
"Not really."
+1 Barret affinity
"Why do you ask?"
+0 Barret affinity
Chapter 3 Junon Outskirts — Old Wounds
Tifa and Cloud walk alone for a moment. She brings up Nibelheim.
Tifa: "Do you ever think about home? Nibelheim, I mean. Not what happened. Before."
"Yeah. Especially about you."
+3 Tifa affinity — the most personal, direct answer
"Sometimes. The good parts."
+2 Tifa affinity
"I try not to think about it."
+0 Tifa affinity — shuts down the moment
Red XIII joins the party. He observes Cloud in silence for a while before speaking.
Red XIII: "You fight like someone who has accepted death. Is there nothing you are protecting?"
"There's plenty I'm protecting. I just don't say it out loud."
+3 Red XIII affinity
"I protect the people I'm with."
+1 Red XIII affinity
"Mind your own business."
+0 Red XIII affinity
Chapter 4 Junon — The Parade
During the Junon parade, Cloud is forced to participate. Aerith watches and calls out to him.
Aerith: "You actually looked like you were enjoying yourself up there. Even a little?"
"Maybe. Just a little."
+3 Aerith affinity — rare moment of Cloud being open
"I was focused on the mission."
+1 Aerith affinity
"Don't tell Tifa."
+2 Tifa affinity (shared joke) — no Aerith gain
Yuffie joins the party here. She immediately tries to steal Cloud's materia and gets caught.
"Hey! I was just looking at it. You should take that as a compliment — means you have good taste."
"You've got nerve. I like that."
+3 Yuffie affinity — she respects boldness
"Touch my materia again and there will be consequences."
+1 Yuffie affinity
"Stay away from my gear."
+0 Yuffie affinity — no humor, no connection
Chapter 6 Gongaga — Forests and Memories
Aerith finds a quiet moment near a river in the Gongaga forest. She looks at the water.
Aerith: "Sometimes I feel like I'm running out of time. Is that strange? To feel that way?"
"You're not going anywhere. I won't let you."
+3 Aerith affinity — highest possible response for this moment
"It's not strange. I feel it too sometimes."
+2 Aerith affinity
"What do you mean?"
+0 Aerith affinity — deflects the emotional weight
Cait Sith has been acting strange. He asks Cloud if he trusts him.
Cait Sith: "Be honest — do you actually trust me? Or am I just along for the ride?"
"You've had my back when it mattered. That's enough."
+3 Cait Sith affinity
"I trust anyone who fights with me."
+1 Cait Sith affinity
"The jury's still out on that."
+0 Cait Sith affinity
Chapter 7 Cosmo Canyon — Under the Stars
The party watches the Cosmo Canyon stars from the observation platform. Tifa stands next to Cloud.
Tifa: "Remember the water tower? When we made that promise under the stars?"
"I remember everything."
+3 Tifa affinity — the most meaningful confirmation possible
"I kept that promise, didn't I?"
+2 Tifa affinity
"That was a long time ago."
+0 Tifa affinity
Red XIII reveals the truth about his father, Seto. He's visibly shaken.
After the scene with Seto, Red XIII stands alone. Cloud approaches.
"He died protecting the people he loved. That's who he was."
+3 Red XIII affinity — honors his father's sacrifice
"Your father was a warrior. You should be proud."
+2 Red XIII affinity
"Are you going to be okay?"
+0 Red XIII affinity — too generic
Chapter 8 Gold Saucer — The Date
The Date: Chapter 8 includes the Gold Saucer date sequence — the character with the highest cumulative affinity goes on the date with Cloud. Choices made during the date itself are mostly cosmetic and don't shift future affinity. The outcome of the date affects dialogue and the final scene of the game.
Affinity Snapshot — Reaching This Point

If you've followed all the best choices above, your approximate standings entering Chapter 8 should be:

Aerith
Leader
Tifa
Red XIII
Barret
Yuffie
Cait Sith
Quick Reference

Who to Pick for Each Ending

Target Character Key Chapters for Affinity Critical Choices Notes
Aerith 1, 2, 4, 6 Always choose sincere, emotionally open responses. Validate her Cetra nature. Never deflect her personal questions. Default front-runner. Tiebreaker priority 1. Easiest to achieve high affinity naturally.
Tifa 1, 3, 7 Reference Nibelheim and the water tower promise. Responses about protecting her specifically score highest. Requires consciously directing Cloud's emotional openness toward Tifa across all chapters.
Barret 2, 5, 9 Acknowledge his dedication to Marlene. Respect his sacrifice and mission without being dismissive. Difficult to make him date leader — requires actively ignoring Aerith/Tifa moments throughout.
Red XIII 3, 7, 10 Engage philosophically with his questions. Honor Seto. Never shut down his introspective observations. Very hard to make date leader. Requires treating every Red XIII conversation as a primary priority.
Yuffie 4, 8, 11 Match her energy. Respond to her boldness with humor or respect rather than reprimand. Limited Yuffie-specific choice windows. Hard date target but fun character arc payoff.
Cait Sith 6, 9, 12 Express trust. Don't dismiss him as untrustworthy even when he's evasive. Lowest starting affinity. Essentially impossible to make date leader on a first playthrough focused on other characters.