FF7/Materia Types

Types

Materia is separated into five categories of functions in the game: "Command", "Magic", "Summon", "Independent", and "Support". Graphically they are yellow, green, red, blue, and purple respectively. The materia type is determined by a single byte value that is separated into two parts. The upper nybble will be considered the sub-type and the lower nybble is the base type. For base types the values will yield the following results:

Base	Materia Type
X0	Independent
X1	Independent
X2	Command
X3	Command
X4	Independent
X5	Support
X6	Command
X7	Command
X8	Command
X9	Magic
XA	Magic
XB	Summon
XC	Summon
XD	Independent1
XE	Independent1
XF	Independent1

Each of these Base Types have a set of sub-types that provide different functions. They are used to determine what function to provide, usually based on the Materia's attribute list. These sub-types have the following functions when equipped:
(If sub-type is listed as 'X' then any sub-type will produce that effect. Other sub-types have no function. Battle effects not mentioned.)

Independent Types:
00	Function based on Attribute 1
	0Ch	Character's flags ORd with 1 and MateriaHandler set to 11 (Underwater)
	62h	Character's flags ORd with 8 and MateriaHandler set to 11 (HP<->MP)
202	Increases Stat Bonus value based on attribute list2A and AP level and sets MateriaHandler to 4
303	Character's flags ORd with 4 and MateriaHandler set to 12
40	Same as 20, but sets MateriaHandler to 0Dh (EXP Plus)
214	Enables effect Attribute 1 with a magnitude based on attribute list and AP Level
41	Enables effect Attribute 1 with a magnitude based on attribute list and AP Level
X4	If 0xC06914 is non-0 after getting AP level then set MateriaHandler to 0Bh (Mega-All)
Command Types:
12	Replace first command (Attack) based on attribute list and AP Level
X3	Subtype not important. Only Primary Attributes allowed are 15h, 16h, 17h
	15h	Replaces Magic with WMagic
	16h	Replaces Summon with WSummon
	17h	Replaces Item with WItem
X6	Add Command based on attribute list and AP Level
X7	Add Command 0Dh (E.Skill)
X8	Add Command 5 (Steal), 6 (Sense), 7 (Coin), 9 (Morph), Ah (D.Blow), Bh (Manip), Ch (Mime)
Support Types:
25	Attribute 1 must be between 54h - 64h inclusive. Just sets the MateriaHandler to a specific value
	Attribute 1 Value	MateriaHandler	Materia
	54h	0Fh	Command Counter
	55h	0Fh	Magic Counter
	56h	10h	Sneak Attack
	57h	Ignored
	58h	10h	MP Turbo
	59h	10h	MP Absorb
	5Ah	10h	HP Absorb
	5Bh	Ignored
	5Ch	10h	Added Cut
	5Dh	10h	Steal As Well
	5Eh	10h	Elemental
	5Fh	10h	Added Effect
	60h	Ignored
	61h	Ignored
	62h	Ignored
	63h	Ignored
	64h	10h	(Unused)
35	Like 25, but only Attribute 1 values 51h, 57h, and 63h are used.
	51h	0Fh	All
	57h	10h	Final Attack
	63h	0Fh	Quadra Magic
Magic Types:
X9	Add Command 2 (Magic) and Enable magics based on attribute list and AP Level
XA	Add Command 2 (Magic) and Enable magics with index 0-37h inclusive5
Summon Types:
XB	Add Command 3 (Summon) and enables attack at Attribute 1 for use 'AP Level' times (Ignores other Attributes)
XC	Add Command 3 (Summon) and enables attacks with index 38h - 47h inclusive

1 - There are no XD, XE or XF type materias in the game. They are graphically represented as Independent but have no effect.

2 - Various in-battle conditions (Cover/Counter) and stat increases

2A - 0=Strength; 1=Vitality; 2=Magic; 3=Spirit; 4=Speed; 5=Luck; 6=Attack; 7=Defense; 8=MHP; 9=MMP; 10=EXP; higher than 10 results in memory leaks

3 - ONLY works with Materia Index 0Ch (Long Range). Attribute List is ignored

4 - Although Enemy Away's first attribute shares a value with Enemy Lure (1), it is handled differently based on index to alter a different memory address from Enemy Lure.

5 - Shield is the last magic attack with an index of 35h. The Magic menu prevents access to attacks 36h & 37h

Materia Handler

These are the values assigned to each materia type:

Handler Value	Type
00	None
01	Magic Materia (excluding Master Magic)
02	Summon Materia (excluding Master Summon)
03	Base 6
04	20
05	Master Command
06	Master Magic
07	Master Summon
08	E.Skill
09	41
0A	21
0B	Mega-All
0C	None
0D	EXP Plus
0E	W-Materia
0F	some 25 & 35
10	some 25 & 35
11	00
12	Specifically CounterAttack and Long Range
13	Base 2

It primarily (exclusively?) tells the menu loader which texts to bring up when a menu is loaded.