In Final Fantasy 7 Remake, there are a plethora of weapons that you can choose from. Specifically, today we’ll be talking about swords. All weapons in the game affect stats such as physical and magical damage, health, armor, etc. Each weapon in the game comes with a unique ability and 2-4 materia slots. 

Each weapon can also be upgraded to give the user different boosts, such as extra damage, health, magic, mana, etc. I'll be ranking the swords by their strength and how useful they are. I'll also rank them based on how useful they are from the early game to the late game. Now that's out of the way, let's rank them!

5. Iron Blade

A huge slab of metal!

The first sword that I'll be talking about is the Iron Blade for Cloud. You can obtain it during the quest “A Job for the Neighborhood Watch” in “Home Sweet Slum.” It comes with an ability called “Triple Slash,” which slashes enemies three times in quick succession. It's good for crowd control and waves of enemies. 

The sword gives Cloud higher magic damage than physical, so while using it, equip a few offensive or healing spells on Cloud. The sword also focuses on the survivability of Cloud, as it reduces the physical amount of damage taken by -10% and improves healing spells by 50% that he casts on himself. 

Once the sword is upgraded to the max, it will give Cloud 77 physical and 105 magic attack damage. The best way to use the sword is to focus on a magic build fully. Make sure that you have some healing spells equipped as well, as they heal Cloud for 50% more and offer decent survivability.

What Makes Iron Blade Great:

• Reduces the amount of physical damage Cloud takes by 10%.
• Improves all healing on Cloud that he casts on himself by 50%.
• Has decent materia growth.
• Once fully leveled up, it gives Cloud 105 magic attack.
• Has an ability called “Triple Slash,” which is great for dealing with a crowd of enemies.
• Improves on Clouds mana pool.
• Starts with 3 materia slots.

Iron Blade Stats:

• Ability: Triple Slash.
• Attack Power: Initial - 23, Max - 77.
• Magic Power: Initial - 31, Max - 105.
• Materia Slots: Initial - 3, Max - 6.
• Price: /

4. Mythril Saber

Bet you won’t dodge this!

Are you going for a full magic build? If you are, then you should use this sword explicitly for magic builds. The ability that it comes with is called “Blade Burst,” which is a long-range magical attack. The ability is great for huge waves of enemies or flying enemies. 

The sword has really good materia growth and has skills that improve Cloud's MP regeneration and his spell casting. You can obtain this bad boy once you reach Chapter 14 and buy it from the “Wall Market Weapon Shop” for 3,000 gil. 

The sword also reduces the MP cost of attack spells by 20% and gives some magic defenses. The best use of this weapon is to focus Cloud on spell casting and dealing damage from a distance due to the small amount of physical damage it gives and its lack of survivability. 

What makes Mythril Saber Great:

• Improves Cloud spell casting.
• Gives Cloud MP regeneration.
• Reduces the MP of attack spells by 20%.
• The “Blade Burst” ability is good for taking down waves of enemies or flying enemies.
• Gives some magical defenses.
• Has really good materia growth.

Mythril Saber Stats:

• Ability: Blade Burst
• Attack Power: Initial - 24, Max - 46.
• Magic Power: Initial - 72, Max - 138.
• Materia Slots: Initial 2 linked, Max - 6.
• Price: 3,000.

3. Hardedge

Bonk power increased by 1000%

Here's a sword if you want to focus on your physical build. It also provides Cloud with durability and survivability due to the “Bloodsucker” passive ability. The ability gives Cloud HP when he defeats enemies in battle. It also comes with an ability called “Infinity's End.” 

The ability deals some devastating damage, but it has a slow buildup and a high ATB cost when used. The weapon has the lowest amount of magic stats. It's amazing for single targets, crowds of enemies, etc. Additionally, it also increases the damage of his punisher mode and his limit break by 5%. 

To obtain this beast, simply purchase it during Chapter 9 in “Town That Never Sleeps.” The sword will serve you from the mid-game point when you acquire it all the way to the late game. The best use of this sword is for full physical damage builds and a full on offensive play style for Cloud.

What Makes Hardedge Great:

• The best sword for physical damage builds.
• Improves on Clouds survivability. 
• Improves his limit break and punisher mode damage by 5%.
• The ability “Infinity's End” deals devastating damage and can kill some enemies instantly.
• Gives Cloud life-steal through the “Bloodsucker” passive.

Hardedge Stats:

• Ability: Infinity's End.
• Attack Power: Initial - 57, Max - 137.
• Magic Power: Initial - 19, Max - 46.
• Materia Slots: Initial - 3, two are linked, Max - 6.
• Price: 2,800.

2. Twin Stinger

Two swords fused into one.

The Twin Stinger has great materia growth, and the initial amount of materia is 4, which all of them are linked. Additionally, it also comes with the “Counterstance'' ability, which causes Cloud to brace for an attack, and once he gets attacked, he unleashes a devastating slash that deals damage in a wide area of effect.

The sword leans into spellcasting mostly as it gives a boost to Cloud's overall MP and extends the duration of positive and negative buffs. The sword also boosts damage to all offensive spells, such as fire, thunder, blizzard, and aero. Furthermore, it comes with an ability called “Reprieve,” which allows Cloud to avoid fatal attacks once per battle, leaving him with 1 HP. 

The way to obtain this sword is by finding it in a chest during the story quest “Find The Others” in Chapter 17. The best way to use this sword is by combining different materias and using them to your advantage. The sword excels at spell casting and is good at dealing physical damage too. It's great throughout the late game parts, as that is when you acquire it too. 

What Makes Twin Stinger Great:

• Reduces the amount of damage Cloud takes while guarding by 10%.
• Has an ability called “Reprieve,” which allows Cloud to survive fatal attacks.
• Has really good materia growth.
• Excels at combining different materias.
• Perfect for any magic builds.
• Enhances the damage of all offensive spells.
• Comes with the ability “Counterstance,” which allows Cloud to counter an attack and answer with a powerful attack of his own.
• Increases the duration of debuffs and buffs by 10%.
• Reduces the MP cost of all healing spells by 20%.

Twin Stinger Stats:

• Ability: Counterstance
• Attack Power: Initial - 46, Max - 73.
• Magic Power: Initial - 46, Max - 73.
• Materia Slots: Initial - 4 all linked, Max - 6.
• Price: /

1. Buster Sword

The most iconic sword in all of gaming!

Here’s the most iconic weapon in the whole game and gaming as a whole. When it comes to the weapon, you obtain it at the start of the game. Yes, this beast of a sword is what you start with. The stats of the weapon are balanced, as it gives 91 magical and 91 physical attack damage when maxed out. 

The ability that comes with this sword is “Focused Thrust,” that deals decent damage and raises the stagger of enemies significantly. The sword is suitable for any build and any situation due to its rounded stats. The sword does lack materia growth, and until the max level, you won't have 6 materia slots, which is a bummer. 

The sword is amazing for people who aren't sure what build they want to go. The best way to use this sword is going with both magical and physical damage. Focus on the offensive side and use the materia slots to your advantage.

What Makes Buster Sword Great:

• Has well-rounded stats.
• Very decent magical and physical stats.
• Gives Cloud extra defenses against magical and physical attacks.
• Gives Cloud extra HP.
• A very versatile weapon when it comes to builds.
• Great for both magical and physical builds.
• Special ability “Focused Thrust” is great for single targets and filling up the stagger meter.

Buster Sword Stats:

• Ability: Focused Thrust.
• Attack Power: Initial - 22, Max - 91.
• Magic Power: Initial - 22, Max - 91.
• Materia Slots: Initial - 2, Max - 6.
• Price: /

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