All along Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth you will have to embody all the characters of the group and those of everyone else. fight works a little differently.
Although you will primarily play as Cloud in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, you will want to switch between characters to use their abilities. Additionally, there are also times when you are forced to use specific characters, so it’s a good idea to understand their unique abilities.
Here is our guide to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth combat with each character and tips for their best abilities.
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Best Combat Abilities and Tips:
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How does combat work in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth?
Combat works essentially the same in Rebirth as it does in Remake. All characters have a basic attack on Square allowing them to increase their ATB gauge by up to two points (or more with certain abilities). These points can then be spent on spells, item usage, or character-specific abilities in the X menu. It’s important to note that each character has a unique move on Triangle that determines how best to use them.
Abilities are learned by equipping the appropriate weapon and using it repeatedly in combat until they are mastered. For each ability, we then noted the associated weapon in parentheses.
A new addition in Rebirth is Synergy. Synergy skills, performed while blocking, build the ATB gauge faster, while synergy abilities are powerful moves best used during bosses. To learn more, check out our synergy skills guide.
Best Cloud Abilities and Combat Tips in FF7 Rebirth
Cloud is a versatile player who excels at magic or melee depending on weapon choice (or a balance of both). He is able to slash enemies up close, but also hit distant enemies with energy blasts when he attacks immediately after dodging.
Cloud’s Triangle move puts him in the slow defensive state of Punisher Mode – holding R to block means he will automatically counter physical attacks and can then follow up with a flurry of sword strikes using Square. This is especially useful in one-on-one melee boss fights.
Two of Cloud’s best abilities are Triple Slash and Default Braver. The former is useful for hitting multiple enemies, while the latter is a powerful strike, best used against staggered enemies and doesn’t take too long to charge. Focused Strike (Buster Sword) is also great for increasing the Stagger gauge of enemies on the ground.
Tifa’s Best Combat Abilities and Tips in FF7 Rebirth
Tifa excels in melee combat with the best strength stats in the game. However, she is best used against single targets rather than groups. Further enhance his strength with the right weapons and materia to make him a real powerhouse.
The key to using Tifa is understanding Unbridled Force Chi levels. At Chi level one, its Triangle move is a fast and powerful swirling Uppercut, but this can be increased up to two Chi levels stronger using its Unbridled Strength ability: level two is Omnistrike, level three is Rise and Fall. Once these moves are used, his Chi level will decrease by one. So it’s a good idea to give Tifa ATB a Materia boost so she can quickly use Unbridled Strength to improve her abilities at the start of the battle.
Overpower (Kaiser Knuckles) and Starshower (Dragon Claws) are great moves to quickly raise the enemy Stagger, but its best move is Divekick (Leather Gloves) – a very fast and very powerful downward kick that, for a big part of the game, makes a great kick. combo following an uppercut.
Barret’s Best Abilities and Combat Tips in FF7 Rebirth
As a primarily ranged fighter, Barret is an indispensable party member. He uses his weapon arm to shoot enemies, and since he fights on the sidelines of battle, he also makes a great s upport character and mage.
On Triangle is its move Overcharge, which fires a series of powerful explosive bullets at enemies. This is great for both stunning enemies and dealing damage, but takes time to recharge – although the charge can be sped up by pressing Triangle multiple times. It’s best to modify weapons to improve overload so they charge more efficiently on their own.
Barret’s Bonus Round (High Caliber Rifle) is an excellent ability that places a limited number of special bullets in the barrel of his weapon, particularly effective at stunning enemies. Follow this with the default Maximum Fury to unleash hell. His Lifesaver ability (Barrage Blaster) can also be used to absorb damage from allies, meaning others can be sent in to deal damage while Barret stays back and focuses on healing himself.
Aerith best abilities and combat tips in FF7 Rebirth
Primarily a healer, Aerith is the weakest fighter in the group and arguably the trickiest to use. Her basic attacks are slow, while holding Square charges up a Storm which can be useful for stunning enemies – when fully charged, she summons a fleeting familiar to aid her. Aerith is therefore best used as a healer and magic user, although you will want to increase her ATB gain through synergy skills and Materia.
His Triangle move warps to his nearest protection, which is placed on the ground with various moves that provide spell enhancements. This distortion can be useful to move around the battlefield faster, or even to avoid certain attacks. Her Radiant Ward (Empress’s Scepter) is perhaps the most useful as it greatly speeds up her basic attacks, or Arcane Ward (Guard Staff) casts attack spells twice.
Other useful abilities include Sorcerous Storm by default, although it has minimal range so is best used when surrounded, and later Ray of Judgment (Plumose Rod) which can be used both to stagger quickly attack enemies and deal damage.
Best Red XIII Abilities and Combat Tips in FF7 Rebirth
A new playable member of the Rebirth party, Red XIII can be considered a tank of sorts as his special move revolves around blocking. Repeatedly blocking enemy attacks will increase the Vengeance Gauge, which can then be activated at any time using Triangle. This speeds up his attacks and increases their damage, although another Triangle hit executes Siphon Fang which heals Red XIII of the damage dealt. Expect his health to decrease and increase significantly as he fights.
However, Red XIII is particularly useful against groups of enemies. Holding Square does a wide spinning attack that deals a lot of damage and quickly increases the ATB gauge. Follow up with Stardust Ray (Mythril Collar) to completely melt enemies. Later, Reaper Touch (Brisingamen) can save lives as it deals damage inversely proportional to current health.
Yuffie’s Best Abilities and Combat Tips in FF7 Rebirth
Previously playable in Remake’s InterMISSION DLC, Yuffie is the most dynamic member of the group, able to enter and exit battle with ease. This also makes her something of a glass cannon. With Triangle, Yuffie will throw her shuriken at an enemy; press again to move to its position and continue attacking (effective against flying or large enemies), or press Square to trigger a long-range ninjutsu. The ability Elemental Ninjutsu (4-Point Shuriken) can then change elements to exploit the enemy’s weaknesses.
Perhaps its best ability, however, is Doppelgänger (Bird of Prey), which effectively repeats every move – used both to deal extra damage and to heal. Windstorm (Twin Viper) and Blindside (Savage Dagger) are great for stunning and dealing damage – follow up with Banishment (Crystalline Cross) for big damage. Yuffie is a great option for equipping the ATB Strengthening Materia, meaning she can quickly trigger Doppelgänger and snuff out smaller enemies before they have a chance.
Cait Sith best abilities and combat tips in FF7 Rebirth
The Moogle-riding Cat is another new fighter for Rebirth, although he won’t join the party until later and will therefore be the least used character. He’s a unique fighter for two reasons: first, he’s sort of a two-in-one fight atop his Moogle; second, many of his abilities rely on luck.
Cait Sith will start ground battles – hold Square to emit a magical soundwave to attack multiple enemies. Once enough ATB has been achieved, he can then summon his Moogle with Let’s Ride, at which point his Triangle move changes from Kitty Wallop to a powerful Dropkick. If he falls off the Moogle for any reason, Triangle will allow him to climb back up, or he can continue fighting independently.
In terms of abilities, his Roll o’ the Dice (Yellow Megaphone) can come in handy although the outcome is random depending on the number the die lands on from 1 to 6. These are as follows:
- Fire and thunder damage to all enemies
- Hypurr Beam Ranged Attack
- Wind and ice damage to all enemies
- Total Outrage adds Fury status to the party
- Regenerative Aura adds Regen status to the party
- Expansive Shield adds Protect to the party
I hope these combat tips are helpful to you on your journey through Final Fantasy 7!
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