You’re standing in the middle of the Grasslands, staring at a chest that just spit out a giant slab of iron, and you’re probably wondering if it’s actually better than the Buster Sword. It’s a fair question. In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the way Square Enix handled Cloud's gear isn't just about "higher number equals better." Honestly, if you try to play this like a standard RPG where you just equip the newest shiny thing, you’re going to hit a wall fast.
Cloud Strife is a weird hybrid. He's a walking contradiction of high physical attack and surprisingly decent magic stats. Because of that, picking the right FF7 Rebirth Cloud weapons depends entirely on whether you want to play him as a heavy-hitting tank or a spell-slinging tactical lead. Most players just stick to whatever looks coolest. Don’t do that.
The Buster Sword Dilemma
Let's talk about the elephant in the room. The Buster Sword. It’s iconic. It’s what everyone pictures when they think of Cloud. In Rebirth, it’s actually a incredibly well-balanced tool, but it lacks the specialized "oomph" you get from later finds. It’s basically the "Jack of all trades" option. You’ll get the Focused Thrust ability from it, which is arguably the most important move in your entire kit for pressure builds.
If you’re the type of player who hates menu-fiddling, you can honestly ride the Buster Sword for a long time. But you shouldn't. You're leaving damage on the table.
Why the Sleek Saber Changes Everything
Early on, you’ll stumble across the Sleek Saber in the Abandoned Dock in the Grasslands. Grab it. Don't think, just grab it. This weapon is a massive shift toward physical offense. It gives you Fire and Ice Breath, sure, but the real value is in the raw Attack Power boost.
The Sleek Saber makes Cloud feel like the SOLDIER he claims to be. It’s fast. It’s punishing. When you’re fighting those annoying early-game bosses like the Midgardsormr, that extra physical edge helps you push through phases before your MP runs dry. Most people sleep on it because it looks a bit "basic" compared to the jagged edges of later swords, but the stat spread for a physical build is genuinely top-tier for the first half of the journey.
The Magic Pivot: Rune Blade
Then there’s the Rune Blade. You find this one in the Junon region, specifically near the Starboard Terrace. It looks elegant, almost fragile. That’s because it’s a magic powerhouse. If you’ve been pairing Cloud with Aerith and wondering why your spells feel weak, this is your fix.
The Rune Blade comes with the Disorder ability. This is one of the "secret sauce" moves in FF7 Rebirth. It lets you switch between Operator and Punisher mode while attacking, and it refunds ATB if you land it. It’s a rhythmic, flow-state weapon. If you equip Cloud with Elemental Materia on his blade and use the Rune Blade, he becomes a walking weakness-exploiter. It’s arguably the best weapon for a "Tactician" playstyle where you’re constantly swapping modes to parry and counter.
Hardedge and the Brute Force Meta
Look, sometimes you just want to hit things until they stop moving. That’s where the Hardedge comes in. You can buy this one in Kalm or find it in various chests throughout the early-to-mid game. It’s ugly. It looks like a giant meat cleaver. It’s also the highest physical attack weapon you’ll see for a massive chunk of the story.
The ability attached to it, Infinity’s End, is the definition of "all or nothing." It costs two ATB bars. It takes forever to wind up. But if you hit a Staggered enemy with it? The damage numbers are basically dopamine hits.
The downside? The Hardedge has terrible magic stats. If you equip this, Cloud’s healing spells will be pathetic. You’re committing to a build where Cloud is the hammer and everything else is a nail. It works, especially if you have Tifa in the party to build stagger while Cloud waits for the big opening.
The Umbral Blade and High-End Tech
Once you get to the Dustbowl (underneath Gold Saucer), you’ll find the Umbral Blade. This is where things get complicated. The Umbral Blade is arguably the most "meta" weapon for high-level play because of its balance and its ability: Prime Mode.
Prime Mode is an upgrade to your standard Punisher Mode. It gives you a longer combo, more damage, and better defensive options. If you’re playing on Hard Mode—or planning to—mastering the Umbral Blade is mandatory. It changes how Cloud moves. It’s less about "hit button, do damage" and more about maintaining a buffed state that turns you into a whirlwind of steel.
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What about the Igneous Saber?
You’ll pick this up in the Cosmo Canyon region. It’s a strange one. It’s very defensive. It focuses on HP and Vitality. Most players find it a bit boring because it doesn't offer the explosive power of the Hardedge or the magic utility of the Rune Blade. However, in some of the late-game Combat Simulator challenges where you’re getting hit for 3,000 damage a pop, that extra bulk is the difference between a "Game Over" screen and a clutch victory. Blade Burst is its signature move, which is great for crowd control, but honestly, you’re using this for the stats, not the skill.
Crystal Sword: The Late Game Beast
By the time you reach the Gongaga region, you’ll find the Crystal Sword. It’s flashy. It’s powerful. It’s basically the "end-game" version of the Buster Sword in terms of its balanced stats, but cranked up to eleven. The ability, Ascension, is a high-damage Limit Break-style move that helps with clearing mobs.
The thing about the Crystal Sword is that it doesn’t specialize. If you’ve spent the whole game building a specific "Magic Cloud" or "Strength Cloud," the Crystal Sword might actually feel like a downgrade because it spreads its points too thin. But for a first-time playthrough where you want Cloud to be able to do everything, it’s the gold standard.
Choosing the Right Build for the End Game
A lot of "guides" will tell you there’s one best weapon. They’re lying. The best FF7 Rebirth Cloud weapons are the ones that complement your Materia.
If you are running:
- Strength/Crit Focus: Stick with the Hardedge or the Sleek Saber. Pair them with "Luck Up" Materia and "Strength Up."
- Magic/Hybrid: Rune Blade is your best friend. Load it with "Magic Up" and "MP Up."
- Balanced/Defensive: Umbral Blade or Igneous Saber. Focus on "HP Up" and "Precision Defense Focus."
One detail most people miss is the weapon upgrade system itself. You don't "spend" points anymore like you did in Remake. Your Weapon Level goes up as you gain SP, and it applies to all weapons. This means you can swap weapons freely without feeling like you "wasted" resources on an old sword. The only thing that changes are the specific "Sub-Core" nodes you activate.
Always check your weapon upgrades in the menu. Some weapons give you "Reprieve" (survive a fatal hit with 1 HP). If a boss is kicking your teeth in, switch to a weapon that has that node unlocked. It’s literally a life-saver.
Actionable Tips for Mastery
Stop looking at the base stats and start looking at the Materia slots. A weapon with high attack but only two Materia slots is often worse than a weaker weapon with four slots, especially if those slots are linked. Being able to link "Magnify" with "Healing" or "Elemental" with "Fire" is worth more than a 10-point bump in physical damage.
Next, prioritize learning every weapon ability. Once you use an ability enough times to "master" it, you can use that move even when you switch to a different sword. This is the core progression loop. You should be switching weapons the moment you master an ability until your move list is full.
Finally, don't ignore the shopkeepers in new towns. Some of the best gear isn't hidden in a dungeon; it’s just sitting on a shelf in a dusty village. If you missed a chest in a story mission, check the "Weapons" tab at any general store or vending machine. Square Enix usually puts missed unique weapons there for a small Gil fee so you don't get locked out of Cloud's full potential.
Go to your equipment menu right now. Look at the "Ability Mastery" bar for your current weapon. If it’s full, swap to something else. You need those skills for the late-game grind. Focus on mastering "Disorder" and "Prime Mode" as early as possible; they are the two pillars of high-level Cloud play. Optimize your Materia links based on the weapon's specific strengths—stop trying to make the Hardedge a magic staff—and you'll find the combat flow becomes significantly more rewarding.