Question about melding materia

[Darktangent]

I've melded a strength materia to a weapon before, but on the weapon by the materia it said I was getting +0. Is this just specific to me? Like if I sell this to someone else is there a chance they would get the bonus? What is actually going on here, and how can you tell whether you will get the stat bonus or not? I'm a paladin looking to meld materia to my lvl 33-35 armor and weapon, so I'm probably looking to get parry and vitality or skillspeed, but I have no idea how to tell if I will actually get the benefit from these materia, and the active help didn't explain any of this.

[ChameleonMS]

Nope, all items have a limit for each stat that can be melded. e.g. +3 str, then all +str after that will be +0. The limit varies with item level and how many of a stat is already on the item but there is always a limit.
On the melding screen, it will show what the effect is going to be. If the effect is going to be +0, I would not meld it, unless you are using "junk" materia melds for faster spirit bonding.

[Nyalia]

If the number is in red, it means the materia will try to raise the stat above the item's stat cap. It then lists the amount of a boost you will actually get from using that materia. If it lists +0, that means the item is already at the cap for that stat.

Generally speaking, HQ items (non-accessories) are always at the stat cap for their main stats (primary stat (str/dex/int/mind) + vitality). Materia slots are really for secondary stats, especially ones that the item doesn't already have. For instance, if the item has +strength, +vitality, +determination, and +skill speed, you will likely get no benefit from strength or vitality materia and only a small amount of determination and skill speed materia will help. However, you'll get a really nice boost from, say, critical hit or accuracy materia.

[Darktangent]

Thanks! I thought I had looked the last time I melded to see if it said what the bonus would be but couldn't find it. I'll just have to look harder next time. This should give me a pretty good idea of what materia I need to meld to what.