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Boss Guide & Tips: Final Fantasy 7 Remake

April 29, 2025 by Matthew Proctor

The time has come...

You've reached the final confrontation, and the only thing standing between you and the fate of the world is the One-Winged Angel himself.

He won't go down easy, so take our advice and utilize these in-depth strategies and tips to successfuly combat the ultimate SOLDIER.

This fight consists of four phases wherein Sephiroth's abilities become progressively more aggresive.

Sephiroth: First Phase

*notable attacks

In this phase, Sephiroth will approach you slowly while initiating quick, sudden sword slashes. Utilize your counter stance to successfully parry his sword attacks and dish out damage of your own. Beware of his attacks "Telluric Fury" and "Aeolian Onslaught"

picture of sephiroth's telluric fury

Sephiroth will periodically initiate his own counter stance called "Scintilla". Attacking him in this stance will trigger a counter attack very much like your own while dealing heavy damage in the process--avoid this.

picture sephiroth's scintilla

Failure to successfuly counter these attacks will deal moderate damage to your health. Heal accordingly if Sephiroth manages to hit you with these abilities.

picture of sephiroth's aeolian onslaught

After dealing roughly a third of damage to his total health, Sephiroth will power up his sword and initiate phase 2...

Sephiroth: Second Phase

*notable attacks

In this phase, one of your party members will decide to join the fight--but don't get cocky.

picture of aerith and cloud battling sephiroth

Sephiroth will begin moving at very high speeds while delivering the abilities mentioned above. Additionally, Sephiroth will begin casting Aeroga (wind) magic and perfoming the move "Hell's Gate".

picture of sephiroth's hell's gate

Sephiroth will leap high into the air and impale the ground at high velocity--creating a ring of light in his wake. Anyone caught in the ring will suffer heavy damage, so do your best to roll out of its area-of-effect to avoid unnecessary damage.

Keep dealing damage using proper counter attacks and dodges and at around 50% of his remaining health, Sephiroth will begin phase 3...

Sephiroth: Third Phase

*notable attacks

picture of the Sephiroth boss battle

A third and final party member will join you in the battle, and now the real battle begins. Sephiroth will begin teleporting to close distance--so have those reflexes ready. Additionally Sephiroth will respond by infusing himself and his abilities with a magic--adding an elemental enhancment to his attacks, but making him succesptible to it in turn. Pay close attention to the element he chooses, then do your best to respond with the opposing element accordingly.

picture of Sephiroth infusing himself with magic

Beware of the ability "Flamewall". Sephiroth will split the battle arena in half with a wall of fire--separating your party members in the process. If any party member is caught alone on their side of the wall, they will have to battle an enhanced Sephiroth one-on-one--a very dangerous idea. Avoid this scenario by switching to a party member with some backup, as Sephiroth will aggresively target whoever is being controlled.

picture of Sephiroth's Flamewall

"Thunderstorm is a dangerous lighting-based ability that strikes multiple segments of the arena. Do your best to avoid these lightning strikes--indicated by a yellow glow on the arena floor--as getting hit by one these can send you flying into other lightning strikes--causing a chain effect of heavy damage.

picture of sephiroth's thunderstorm

At around 25% of his remaining health, the final phase will begin.

Sephiroth: Final Phase

*notable attacks

You're almost there, but this battle isn't over. Sephiroth will initiate a countdown while summoning a large meteor that will slowly begin descending from the skies. Failure to defeat Sephiroth before his countdown hits ends means instant death, so you must fight with urgency here.

picture of Sephiroth's meteor

In addition to his teleportation, Sephiroth will now gain the ability of flight. You must close the distance while keeping up the onslaught as Sephiroth will overwhelm your party with speed whille intentionally flying from your attacks to waste time. He will also begin casting "Shadow Flare", a powerful area of effect attack that behaves similarly to his thunderstorm attack. Failure to dodge this attack results in extremely heavy damage.

picture of Sephiroth's shadow flare

picture of Sephiroth's heartless angel

Sephiroth's "Heartless Angel" attack is fairly telegraphed, but dangerous nonetheless. Sephiroth will cast a giant ring of light on the arena. Anyone caught in this light will be reduced to a single health point, and immediately met by Sephiroth's blade on a teleporting follow-up attack. Sephiroth succesfully landing this attack on multiple party members can easily spell doom for an otherwise great run in this battle, so pay close attention when he casts this move.

Perhaps his most devestating attack, however, is "Octaslash". Sephiroth will teleport to a member of the party and deliver a series of 8 sword-strikes. This is nearly impossible to dodge and typically means death to whoever falls victim. Be ready with curative magic to revive anyone that falls victim to this attack.

picture of Sephiroth's octaslash

Defeat Sephiroth before his counter hits 0, and congratulations--you've won! Sit back and enjoy the epic final cutscene that will only leave more questions than answers as we prepare for the upcoming sequel: Final Fantasy: Rebirth!

picture of the Sephiroth boss battle