AIGameGuides.com v4/27/2025

Here's a detailed guide for defeating Ironclad in "Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth," including requirements, walkthrough, strategies, and additional tips:

Requirements:

•Location: Fought in the Temple of the Ancients during Chapter 13.

•Rewards: Experience, AP, and progression in the story.

•Party Composition: Cloud, Tifa, and Barret are your party for this fight in Chapter 13, "Where Angels Fear to Tread."

Materia:

•Lightning Materia: Ironclad is weak to Lightning, so this is key.

•Healing Materia: Cure or Pray for healing, especially for Barret to use Chakra.

•Barrier Materia: To mitigate damage from Ironclad's physical attacks.

•Assess Materia: To understand Ironclad's weaknesses and resistances.

Gear:

•Equip Cloud with a weapon like the Twin Stinger for Counterstance, Tifa with Mythril Claws for stagger, and Barret with a weapon that boosts his ranged capabilities like the EKG Cannon.

•Consider gear with Lightning resistance or Elemental Materia linked to Lightning for extra damage.

•Level: Around level 50-55 would make the fight more manageable, but with the right strategy, you can attempt it at lower levels.

Detailed Walkthrough:

Phase 1: Initial Attacks:

1.Sharpen, Thanatosian Blade, Graviga, Firaga, Grand Sword, Crush

Strategy:

2.Pressure: The only time to pressure Ironclad is during Sharpen; all characters should use Lightning attacks or abilities.

3.Avoid Damage: Dodge or block Thanatosian Blade and Grand Sword; these can deal massive damage.

4.Handle Magic: Dodge Firaga and use Manawall for Graviga to prevent instant death.

5.Crush: If a character is grabbed, switch to another to attack and free them.

Phase 2 (Staggering Ironclad - Tower Destruction):

Stagger:

1.Objective: Stagger Ironclad to make it fall and destroy the tower, which is part of the fight's objective.

Strategy:

2.Sharpen: Use this moment to stack Lightning attacks; Tifa's Overpower and Cloud's Focused Thrust are ideal for stagger.

3.Don't Overkill: Be careful not to kill Ironclad before staggering it, as you'll need to repeat the fight if you do.

Phase 3 (Post-Tower Destruction):

Final Push:

1.Ironclad's Vulnerability: After the tower falls, Ironclad remains staggered, making it the perfect time to unleash all your powerful attacks.

Strategy:

2.All Out: Use Limit Breaks, Synergy Abilities, and keep up Lightning spells to finish Ironclad off.

Strategies:

•Exploit Lightning Weakness: Use Thunder spells, Barret's Bonus Round with Lightning Materia, and summon Ramuh if available.

•Stagger Management: Focus on using abilities that increase stagger when Ironclad is sharpening, like Cloud's Focused Thrust or Tifa's Overpower.

•Defensive Play: Use Barrier or Protect to reduce the damage from Ironclad's heavy attacks, save Manawall for Graviga.

•Synergy Abilities: Utilize Synergy Moves like Cloud and Tifa's Relentless Rush to maximize stagger and damage when Ironclad is pressured.

Tips:

•ATB Management: Build ATB during Ironclad's non-pressure phases for use during Sharpen.

•MP Management: On Hard Mode, use MP Absorption with Lightning Materia or use abilities over spells when possible.

•Positioning: Stay spread out to avoid area attacks like Thanatosian Blade's shockwave.

•Limit Breaks: Save for when Ironclad is staggered, especially after the tower falls.

•Hard Mode: Equip Lightning Materia with Elemental on your weapon, and use Barret's Lifesaver to manage damage intake.

•Summoning: If you have Ramuh, save him for when Ironclad is staggered for maximum impact.

•Tifa's Role: She's critical here for stagger; use her to build up the stagger meter quickly during Sharpen.