How to Pressure Rufus in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7)

During Chapter 12 of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, you will face your most significant challenge yet — Rufus. This guide covers how to pressure Rufus so you can defeat him.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: How to Pressure Rufus

The first phase

The first thing you need to know about Rufus in Chapter 12 is that he has no significant weakness you can exploit. Instead, the boss fight boils down to precise timing and knowing when to strike. The only time you can Pressure Rufus in FF7 Rebirth is when he is reloading his gun.

It sounds easier than it is, though. Rufus has a variety of attacks that can be hard to avoid, and most of them will stun-lock you, ridding you of the chance to attack when he reloads.

The best way to pressure Rufus is to wait for his “Guns Akimbo” attack (where he splits his gun in two), block or dodge it, and attack immediately afterward. I found this attack the easiest time to hit him during a reload.

Tip: When you successfully apply pressure to Rufus, keep attacking as much as possible until he gets his footing. Then retreat.

While you can try your chances during his other attacks, they’re much harder to avoid, and you risk being stunned. I recommend you keep your distance, avoid his special moves (Think Fast, Bright Lights, Up in Smoke, etc.), and wait for the simple Guns Akimbo attack. This is the easiest time to prepare for a reload and jump in to pressure him.

As for abilities, you should focus on using Triple Slash when the opportunity arises. Since Rufus usually attacks from range, and you will be keeping a reasonable distance yourself, Triple Slash will allow you to lunge toward him when he begins his reload animation.

Rufus second phase

The objective in the second phase is the same—pressure Rufus when he reloads. The catch, though, is that he will summon his dog, Darkstar, at the beginning of the fight. The best way to beat this phase is to focus your entire attention on Darkstar and unload ATB abilities on him until he is defeated.

When Darkstar is done, turn your attention to Rufus again and follow the process mentioned in the previous section. Eventually, you will reach the point where you have pressured him enough that his health bar will diminish.

Since you only have access to Cloud during the Rufus boss fight, check out our guide on the best Cloud build in FF7 Rebirth to prepare yourself.