Final Fantasy VII Rebirth combat guide: The best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the long-awaited follow-up to Final Fantasy VII Remake, is finally available on PC. Featuring enhanced visuals, improved lighting effects, Nvidia DLSS support, and frame rates up to 120 fps, your adventures from the outskirts of Midgar to Junon and beyond are sure to be more mesmerizing than ever before.
Like its predecessor, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth features a memorable cast of party members. Whether you prefer to stick with old favorites like Tifa and Aerith or explore Yuffie and Cait Sith's capabilities, you'll need to master your party's offensive and defensive quirks to succeed in battle. Our guide discusses Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities to help you decide on the strongest party composition.
How to unlock Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities can be accessed via the Folio menu when you interact with bookstore NPCs and vending machines. The Folio screen is somewhat similar to the Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X in that you need to unlock perks before you can select adjacent nodes.
Synergy Skills are marked with a red-orange crosshair icon, while Synergy Abilities are depicted with two interlocking arms. As with other perks in the Folio menu, you need skill points (SP) to unlock these perks. Characters earn skill points by leveling up, and whenever you acquire their manuscript or booklet from key vendors.
You must also increase your overall Party Level in order to see additional higher-tier options as you progress further into the campaign. This is usually done by tackling World Intel side content.
How to use Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities in combat
Once you’ve unlocked Synergy Abilities and Synergy Skills in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, make sure you equip them via the Combat Settings menu. There, you can select offensive and defensive Synergy Skills, as well as unique Synergy Abilities. Take note that these functions will only work if the two characters required for the action are in your party.
There are a few key differences between Synergy Skills and Abilities:
- Synergy Skills: Hold the Guard button and press the corresponding input. This will cause two characters that are partnered to act in tandem. These actions do not require any resource at all, so you can use them often in battle.
- Synergy Abilities: You must first use actions that raise your Synergy resource, which is represented by vertical lines/pips on a character’s portrait. Then, open the Command menu and select the Synergy Ability that you wish to use.
Cloud’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
The Ex-SOLDIER has some of the best Synergy Skills in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Power Cleave pairs Cloud with Tifa and deals tremendous damage. Bullet Batter and Howling Smash, executed with Barret or Red XIII respectively, let Cloud and his chosen partner strike enemies from afar.
As for Cloud’s defensive option, Counterfire, the most interesting part is that this can be used in conjunction with any party member. This is a great way to deflect most ranged projectiles and follow up with a devastating blow.
In terms of Synergy Abilities, I recommend Firework Blade, which can be cast if Aerith is in your squad. This triggers a flurry of ranged attacks that also boost the Limit gauges of both characters.
You should also prioritize performing new Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities with Cloud and another character. The first time you use these moves successfully in battle, Cloud gains a relationship boost with that teammate—important for a certain “romantic or friendly” interaction later in the campaign (which we don’t want to spoil here). The only exception to this mechanic is Cait Sith, who does not gain a relationship bonus.
Tifa’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Tifa excels when she’s able to deliver a furious flurry of punches and kicks. That’s where Heavenly Ascent—performed with Aerith, Yuffie, Barret, or Cait Sith—comes in. This is a launcher-type move that causes Tifa to uppercut a foe, allowing her to juggle them with multiple combo strikes while in mid-air. Slip and Slide is also very useful, since it lets Tifa dodge and hit a target in quick succession.
As for Synergy Abilities, Divine Punishment (cast in tandem with Aerith) is the best option, since it causes a magical explosion in a wide area that also boosts the Limit levels of both characters. Relentless Rush with Cloud is also a good choice if you want to stagger an opponent for a longer period.
Aerith’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Aerith has several powerful magical spells, such as Sorcerous Storm and Arcane Ward. Unfortunately, she tends to be vulnerable during the setup. That’s where Bodyguard comes in, a Synergy Skill that’s compatible with all other party members. With it, Aerith’s partner will defend her as she repositions before casting.
In terms of Synergy Abilities, we’ve already mentioned Divine Punishment with Tifa. There’s also Sweet And Sour Salvo with Barret, a ranged barrage that can bring down targets and increase stagger duration. What makes it more notable is that both Aerith and Barret strike a memorable pose while doing it.
Barret’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
One of the best Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Synergy Skills is Friendly Fire, which Barret performs in tandem with Tifa, Aerith, or Cait Sith. You can blast a foe multiple times and help build up an ally’s ATB Gauge. Iron Defense is also invaluable, as it can render Barret and another teammate impervious to damage so long as you’re holding down the skill button.
For Barret’s Synergy Abilities, there’s the aforementioned Sweet and Sour Salvo combo with Aerith. Alternatively, you can try Avalanche Two-Step with Tifa, which extends stagger duration.
Red XIII’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Red XIII’s Wild Charge, which is available regardless of party member, is an ideal Synergy Skill. It lets Nanaki charge toward an opponent while guarding against their attacks.
Overfang, performed in tandem with Barret, is easily the best option among Red XIII’s Synergy Abilities. Since Nanaki’s damage potential is in melee range, a move that lets Barret throw him closer to hostiles helps him get into the thick of the fray.
Yuffie’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Yuffie’s Foxflame—available as long as either Aerith, Red XIII, or Cait Sith is in the group—is a great Synergy Skill choice for this Materia thief from Wutai. Foxflame can be charged, and further bolstered by the affinity of her Elemental Ninjutsu.
As for Yuffie’s Synergy Abilities, Halcyon Descent or Cyclonic Kick (used alongside Cloud or Tifa respectively) helps extend stagger time on a hostile. You can also go with Mystic Manipulation, which causes Aerith to create multiple Yuffie clones that deliver a frenzied assault on a foe, while also granting unlimited MP for a short period of time.
Cait Sith’s best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities
Cait Sith is the last character to join your party in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s campaign—and by the time that happens, you probably have clear favorites for your squad setup. That said, Cait Sith’s All-Out Assault can be performed with any teammate, causing him to dismount from his giant Moogle. You can either continue attacking as a cat plush toy or cast Let’s Ride to get back on your Moogle pal.
For Cait Sith’s Synergy Abilities, SOLDIER Moogle Class and Mayhem-Go-Round (performed with Cloud and Barret respectively) effectively increase the Limit gauge level of affected characters.
That does it for our guide to Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's best Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities. We hope these tips help you choose the right party members as you make your way through this sprawling sequel.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and its predecessor Final Fantasy VII Remake are available now on the Epic Games Store.