Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: Every Playable Character, Ranked

Summary

You can have three party members active at a time and switch between them freely in battle.
Play as nine characters in the game, including Zack, Sephiroth, and Aerith, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
Unlocks for playable characters like Cait Sith and Yuffie occur later in the game, offering different playstyles and abilities to enjoy.

In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, they’ve done an impressive job enhancing the significance of minor characters who were less prominent in the original game, such as Johnny. In the original version, he was just a regular NPC hanging around the Honey Bee Inn. However, in the remake, he played a crucial role in connecting Aerith and Cloud with the Don of Wall Market.

In addition to Johnny from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, there are other characters who enrich the game. While the cast of NPCs is impressive, players might be curious about who they can control in the game. There are a total of nine playable characters, excluding Cid and Vincent. At this point, these characters serve as support in the game, but it’s expected that they will become playable in the third and final installment. This discussion will avoid any spoilers.

9. Zack

Strong When He Is Around

Weapon Type: Buster Sword
Good At: Smashing Foes With His Sword
Bad At: Diversity
Zack is playable at various times throughout the game.

In “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth”, players initially control Zack as their starting character. He accompanies a comatose Cloud and delivers him to Kyrie before engaging in battles to protect Aerith. This initial segment is action-packed but relatively brief. Throughout the game, Zack will be playable for short intervals, approximately five to ten minutes at a time. Despite his limited playability, he significantly contributes to the narrative’s progression without revealing any spoilers about his role in the story.

Because Zack is only playable during story-centric parts of the game, his stats are significantly higher than any character in your team when you do control him. Although he doesn’t possess a wide variety of combat skills like other constant party members, the immense damage his Buster Sword inflicts makes utilizing abilities seem unnecessary.

8. Sephiroth

From Hero To Villain

Weapon Type: Masamune
Good At: Powerful Magic and Long Ranged Swordplay
Bad At: N/A
Sephiroth is only playable during Chapter 1.

In this game, Sephiroth serves as the second playable character, following Zack’s section. As the story progresses, there comes a point where the narrative shifts to Cloud recalling a trip he made with Sephiroth to Nibelheim. Following an initial skirmish, control switches to Cloud. Later in the game, players have the ability to alternate between Cloud and Sephiroth during combat, and it’s no surprise that Sephiroth is incredibly potent. He wields long-range sword strikes and magic abilities beyond Cloud’s reach, making him a formidable force for a limited duration in the game.

In the initial phase of our adventure, Sephiroth towers above me with an overwhelming might. His stats are astronomically higher than Cloud’s, making even his fundamental assault pack a punch that my abilities could only dream of matching. The creatures in Chapter 1 seem barely capable of leaving a mark on him. Though he doesn’t join our permanent party, his formidable presence during this chapter leaves no doubt that one day, I’ll face an adversary as powerful as Sephiroth.

7. Aerith

A White Mage With Bite

Weapon Type: Rods
Good At: Casting Spells and Healing
Bad At: Dodging and Close Quarters
Aerith becomes playable during Chapter 2 once you leave Kalm.

In Chapter 2 of the story, more characters in the game become accessible. Aerith, one of the less powerful characters from Final Fantasy 7 Remake, remains feeble at present. Despite wielding a rod as a melee weapon in the original game, she now discharges magic and must remain stationary while doing so, making her an easy target for enemies and limiting her evasive abilities. Fortunately, she is proficient in casting spells and healing, but managing her movements can be tricky.

I hope this version maintains the natural flow and ease of reading.

Best Abilities & Materia For Aerith

In combat, it’s advantageous to arm Aerith with numerous offensive abilities as she is a backline mage. By providing her with Materia like Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Wind, you’ll have a wide variety of attack options at your disposal. Moreover, her Arcane Ward skill can significantly boost the damage she inflicts, all while using relatively the same amount of MP.

Additionally, providing her with curative items like a fundamental Materia or Prayer is beneficial since it shields the entire team. Also, the Noble Sacrifice skill can prove useful for a character at the rear as she often stays safe and can revive the other two party members if they’re knocked out.

6. Cait Sith

Difficult But Rewarding Combat

Weapon Type: Megaphones
Good At: Sneaking Past Enemies
Bad At: Hard to Control
Cait Sith joins the party during chapter 9.

Cait Sith becomes playable as one of the final party members in the game during Chapter 9, which lies outside Gold Saucer in the Corel region. As in the original game, he rides a giant mog in “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,” but this is associated with an ability rather than just being part of his character design.

Typically, he scampers about in his feline shape, making it challenging to maneuver on a battlefield. However, his moves are erratic, yet once gamers grasp the art of using the mog form, Cait Sith becomes an entertaining character to play.

Best Abilities & Materia For Cait Sith

As a devoted fan, I’ve found that Cait Sith can be a bit elusive when it comes to optimal utilization, as he heavily relies on Luck. However, this mysterious ally packs a powerful magical punch! To get the most out of him, providing a backup Healing Materia is always beneficial. On top of that, enhancing his Luck with a Luck Up Materia is crucial, as his Luck directly impacts his damage output.

In terms of Abilities, he can utilize Moogle Magic and Moogle Knuckle effectively only when on his Moogle mount. Interestingly, these abilities can inflict a substantial amount of harm. The Moogle Knuckle is versatile, usable in any combat scenario. Despite appearing straightforward, its damage potential can be unexpectedly high.

5. Barret

A Giant Gun Arm Comes In Handy

Weapon Type: Gun Arms
Good At: Long Range Blasting
Bad At: Slow Moving
Barret becomes playable during Chapter 2 once you leave Kalm.

In the “Final Fantasy 7 Remake”, Barret is portrayed as a long-range expert, rather than quick in combat. Given his sluggishness in battle, it’s advisable to employ defensive strategies instead of rolling with him. Despite his lack of speed, he compensates significantly with his powerful Overcharged Triangle-based attacks and skills like Focused Shot. The enemies won’t stand a chance against Barret, but using him effectively requires some patience.

Best Abilities & Materia For Barret

Barret’s top skill is undoubtedly Battle Cry, which significantly boosts ATB for a brief period, enabling you to utilize numerous other skills and take advantage when tough opponents are momentarily stunned. Focused Shot is his initial ability and one of the strongest, excelling at stunning foes.

In addition to being the defensive mainstay of our team (party tank), Barret becomes more challenging to defeat when equipped with an HP Up material. Since Barret rarely falls in battle, it would be beneficial to provide him with a Revival materia to revive less durable allies and an ATB Boost materia to enhance his combat prowess even further.

4. Red XIII

He’s Not A Pet

Weapon Type: Collars
Good At: Counterattacks and Support
Bad At: Building Up His Special
Red XIII becomes playable during Chapter 2 once you leave Kalm.

Red XIII was initially more of a secondary character in “Final Fantasy 7 Remake,” entering the game too close to its completion for his full development. It’s likely that he will be one of the first characters players experiment with outside of the main party when “Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth” is released, given the anticipation since 2020. Unlike some might expect, Red XIII isn’t particularly swift; instead, he’s built like a long-bodied beast. His speed may be average, but he makes up for it with powerful attacks and a wide array of support skills beneficial to the party.

Best Abilities & Materia For Rex XIII

Without a doubt, Stardust Ray is Red XIII’s most impressive skill. You could even say he can specialize around this ability, becoming a single-focus character. This move doesn’t just dish out massive damage in a confined space, but also severely disorients any adversary within its range.

To enhance Materia, equip him with an ATB Boost Materia for faster actions, and multiple Magic Enhancement Materia as his Stardust Ray ability amplifies magic damage. Additionally, provide him with an HP Increase Materia to balance his offensive power, focusing primarily on enhancing the Stardust Ray ability.

3. Tifa

The Lightning Fist Of Seventh Heaven

Weapon Type: Gloves
Good At: Speed And Dodging
Bad At: Fists Can’t Punch Through Armor
Tifa becomes playable during Chapter 2 once you leave Kalm.

In the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Tifa was one of the standout characters due to her excellent blend of speed and strength. In this new installment, she retains her agility, but her attacks seem slightly less impactful, which may disappoint Tifa’s fans a bit. However, against unprotected opponents, Tifa can swiftly eliminate them with the right combination of punches. Additionally, she has a good reach in the air, whether players utilize her uppercut move or combine her abilities with someone else to toss her at enemies.

Best Abilities & Materia For Tifa

Tifa is ideal for causing stagger, particularly if you strategize to do so deliberately. Equip her with a Precision Defense Focus Materia and enhance it to cause more stagger when attacking after a block. Additionally, due to her role as a damage-focused combatant, provide her with a Strength Up Materia. To ensure she exploits weaknesses and staggers enemies quicker, give her a Fire & Ice Materia at least.

The Unfettered Fury skill is fantastic for swiftly overwhelming opponents by accelerating the rate at which your fundamental attacks stun them, whereas Starshower serves as an effective prelude to True Strike, dealing significant damage not just when your primary aim is to stun the enemy, but consistently.

2. Cloud

Midgar’s Number One EX-SOLDIER

Weapon Type: Giant Swords
Good At: A Close Range Powerhouse
Bad At: Swinging His Swords Can Be Slow
Cloud is playable right at the beginning of the game.

Previously noted, Cloud becomes the third controllable character in the game. This is surprising since he serves as the main character. He will be available from the prologue, allowing players to explore Kalm briefly before the rest of the party is accessible after the town section. Interestingly, it seems that a bit of Tifa’s speed has been bestowed upon Cloud, making him a swift swordsman, even in Punisher Mode.

In terms of taking and giving punches, he’s second to none, and it’s only fitting that our lead character should be among the best or nearly the best.)

Best Abilities & Materia For Cloud

As a gamer, I prefer building Cloud with an emphasis on his Attack stat, as it remains superior to other builds in my experience. Enhancing this attribute using a Strength Up Materia only widens the gap between us and our opponents. This is particularly beneficial given Cloud’s extensive skillset that primarily leverages his strength.

Additionally, I find it advantageous to equip him with a Precision Defense Focus Materia, which boosts his ability to stagger enemies. His knack for staggering makes this Materia an invaluable asset when it comes to maintaining control over the battlefield.

As a gamer, I’ve found that the Blade Burst ability significantly boosts Cloud’s ranged damage, making him a force to be reckoned with in open combat scenarios. Plus, it’s handy for managing crowds. On the other hand, Triple Slash is an excellent choice for taking down groups of enemies or even a single foe. It’s got this nifty feature where Cloud manages to land hits on enemies even when they’re on the move, and it keeps him agile enough to dodge incoming attacks.

1. Yuffie

From A DLC Character To The Number One Ninja

Weapon Type: Big Shurikens
Good At: Long Range and Close Range
Bad At: Overall Power
Yuffie joins the party at the beginning of Chapter 7.

In the fourth chapter, Yuffie joins the playable characters just when Cloud and the group are sealing Rufus’ deal in Junon. While there’s some platforming involved, that’s essentially her only introduction. However, she won’t become a permanent party member until Chapter 7 kicks off at Costa Del Sol. What sets Yuffie apart is her speed and reach; she’s agile enough to zip past enemies like Tifa, and her quick reflexes make her an elusive opponent. Moreover, Yuffie carries a pair of massive shurikens that allow her to attack from a distance or teleport close to enemies for hand-to-hand combat. Despite not dealing as much damage as Cloud, her versatility is crucial for success in battle.

Best Abilities & Materia For Yuffie

Yuffie is capable of inflicting immense damage, making her an ideal character to be constructed as a “high-damage, low-durability” or “glass cannon” type. Regardless of how you choose to develop her, her Doppelganger skill will replicate your actions and effectively double your damage output when utilized effectively. Additionally, Yuffie’s Elemental Ninjutsu ability allows her to handle all elements and switch between them effortlessly without the necessity for multiple Materia.

Due to this, the majority of her Materia enhances her base stats, making her more powerful. Skill Master will also be beneficial since you’ll often switch between different commands when playing as her, and it helps with ATB stagger. Despite being a glass cannon, Brumal Form provides protection against damage and increases your earned ATB.

2025-02-03 05:56