FF7: Ever Crisis Tier List – Best Character and Weapon Combos

Summary #

FF7: Ever Crisis allows players to obtain all characters for free, and uses a weapon Gacha system. There are 10 playable characters, each with 8+ different weapons to choose from.

Characters can equip 1 primary weapon, 1 secondary weapon, and up to 3 sub weapons. 

This table shows the differences among primary, secondary and sub weapons.

Here’s my recommended roles and best weapons for characters based on the end game meta.

Click here to view the end game stats of all weapons.

Meta #

It’s important for readers to learn about the battle mechanics.

In FF7: Ever Crisis you have 3 characters on a field, with a set amount of time to clear a stage.

There are some stages that are DPS checks. There are also stages where the enemy can one-shot your unit if you don’t have enough HP or DEF.

It is recommended to focus on building DPS for at least two units, with a third dedicated to healing and buff/debuffing duties. Losing a stage only costs you 1 stamina. Completing a stage uses up all stamina required to enter that stage.

A general rule of thumb is to make sure your unit has at least 4k HP mid/late game. Build DPS or healing after you’ve achieved 4K HP.

Elemental advantage bonus in this game is huge (2x to 3x damage), and makes weapons specializing in certain elements much stronger than neutral elemental weapons.

Overboosting (weapon dupes) provides a large amounts of raw stats to weapons, and it is highly recommended to get at least OB1 on any primary/secondary/sub weapons.

The Broadway Saiyan does a great job of explaining the Battle System in video here.

Cloud Best Weapons #

Cloud is a top tier physical attacker with several single target nuking options. He is the strongest single target lightning/water/fire DPS.

Recommended to be built as your team’s main single target nuker/boss killer.

Cloud’s best weapons are:

1. Skysplitter: Cloud’s strongest single target fire physical damage weapon and the strongest general elemental DPS weapon. Both R. Abilities boost damage. 
2. Murasame: Massive single target lightning physical damage, and the 3rd highest PATK weapon in the game, both R. Abilities boost damage. Very fast casting time.
3. Maritime Sword: The best single target water physical damage option. Ranked lower that Murasame because there aren’t as many bosses weak to Water + longer skill animation time.
4. Hardedge: Great nuking option that can also reduce enemy’s physical defense by a high amount; very versatile and useful in boss fights
5. Zidane’s Sword: Weapon with by far the highest damaging potency skill in the game, alas non-elemental. Amazing R. Abilities for any PDPS unit. 
6. Apocalypse: His 2nd highest single target non-elemental physical damage, R. Abilities boost Wind so you can pair him up with Wind materia
7. Mythril Saber: His highest single target non-elemental magical damage; only if you want to build him as a magic attacker
8. Honorable Mention: Crystal Sword if you want to use Cloud as your dedicated healer, can heal all allies and regen for 3s

It is normal to see Cloud paired with Skysplitter/Murasame and Maritime Sword or Zidane’s Sword for large amounts of physical damage.

Hardedge can be paired with Skysplitter, Murasame or Maritime Sword if you don’t have any other PDEF breaker like Barret/Zack/Glenn/Aerith.

If going magic route, you can pair Mythril Saber with Crystal Sword, as both weapons have high MAG stats

Cloud’s Stamp costumes boosts lightning or fire potency, which is amazing for Murasame and Skysplitter. Cloud’s summer Stamp costume boosts water potency, complimenting Maritime Sword.

Early game, we get access to Buster Sword upgrade material for free, so feel free to level and use this weapon until you get access to better ones.

Cloud’s best sub weapons are ones that boost PATK, ATK, Elemental Potency, HP and Phys Ability Potency.

For Murasame DPS Cloud and in no particular order: Crystal Glove, Enemy Launcher, Mad Minute, Broadsword Axis, Maritime Sword, Zidane’s Sword, SSR1976, Shockbuster, Seaside Collar, Motor Drive.

For Maritime DPS Cloud and in no particular order: Personal Style, Orthodox Raven, Serpent Eater, Zidane’s Sword, Enemy Launcher, Mad Minute, Noble Collar, Motor Drive. 

For Skysplitter DPS Cloud: Radiant Edge, Crewkicker, Rage Collar, Zidane’s Sword, Enemy Launcher, Killer Hornet, Mad Minute.

Sephiroth Best Weapons #

Young Sephiroth is the strongest ST Ice DPS with self buffing options. His weapon options heavily lean towards MAG damage.

Sephiroth’s best weapons are:

1. Edged Wings: Hyper single target ice magical damage, with the highest elemental damage potency in the game. Also has the longest skill animation ever, which nerfs it’s overall DPS by a lil.
2. Aonibi: The weapon with the strongest self-buff MATK skill. Also heals himself. Is an excellent secondary weapon to buff Edged Wings. At OB6, this is probably the strongest secondary weapon on him.
3. Kuja’s Spirit Blade: The best and strongest AOE ATK debuffing weapon, able to debuff potency mid with just a single copy, insane!
   
4. Dark Heavens: His strongest physical attacking weapon and top two strongest wind weapon in the game.
5. Radiant Edge: His best defensive debuffing weapon and the only one that can debuff fire resistance.
6. Shinra Blade: Model I: His strongest single target non-elem damage option with excellent offensive R Abilities. Amazing compliment to Edged Wings, especially when enemy is resistant to ice.
7. Nameless: The weapon with the cheapest skill ATB at 2. Debuffs enemy MDEF for a short duration. Although cheap, it’s duration is extremely short and you might be better off having someone else debuffing MDEF.
8. Prototype Crimson Blade / CC Alloy Sword: Strong AOE Fire and Lightning weapon skills.

Barret Best Weapons #

Barret is a long range physical attacker with multiple AOE damage options.

He has the highest HP in the game; doesn’t necessarily mean he’s the tankiest.

Recommended to be built as your team’s secondary damage dealer with wave clear and supportive options.

Barret’s best weapons are:

1. Microlaser: Increase the MATK of a single ally by the highest amount. Perfect support weapon to help your Sephiroth, Aerith, or other magical attacker
2. W Machine: Reduces enemy physical defense greatly, amazing support weapon for your physical DPS team
3. Heavy Hauser: Barrett’s strongest single target damage option, non-elemental physical, synergizes well with his Stamp outfit
4. Enemy Launcher: Has one of the highest AOE non-elemental damage. Enemy Launcher’s R Ability is one of the most coveted in the game, as it boost Physical Ability potency.
5. Flame Projector: One of the strongest AOE Fire weapons in the game. Very strong against Shiva.
6. Assault Gun: Increase physical defense of all allies by a high amount, and heals by a small amount. This is the only weapon that has this high of an AOE buffing ability in the game. Excellent at getting you through the hardest stages where bosses can one-shot your unit.

In boss fights, you can bring W Machine and Assault Gun. In mindless farming, bring any of his AOE damaging options for faster wave clearing. 

Barret’s Stamp costume gives him bonus PATK, making his wave clearing even faster.

Tifa Best Weapons #

Tifa is a superb physical and magical attacker, great at keeping your team alive by debuffing enemy damage.

She can cleanse herself of Silence and Poison ailments (unsure how useful this is).

She has one of the strongest single target Wind attack.

Recommended to be built as your team’s secondary damage dealer with debuffing options.

Tifa’s best weapons are:

1. Tiger Fangs / Leather Gloves: Single target PHY non-elemental nuke that decreases enemy magic attack / physical attack by a high amount; use it just before the boss nukes your team
2. Holy Flame Gloves: Strongest single-target physical ice attack. Pair with Amaranth’s claw for superior single target damage.
3. Amaranth’s Claws: Strong self-buff PATK that also deals damage. Will become stronger once Tifa gets access to better physical elemental weapons.
4. Lifeguard Wraps: The cheapest big AOE healing option at 4 ATB; also doesn’t heal as hard as Fairy Tale or Prime Number. Really needs Tifa’s summer outfit if you want to use Tifa as your healer.
5. Motor Drive: Arguably her strongest DPS weapon and the strongest single target Wind PHY weapon in the game
6. Kaiser Knuckles: Same as Tiger Fangs but decrease enemy magic defense instead of attack. This is ranked a bit lower IMO because the weapon’s R. Ability 1 and 2 increases her MDEF and Ice Resistance.
7. Crystal Gloves: Great option for AOE lightning wave clearing and farming; really thicc HP from R. Ability 1

I would pick among these two: (Tiger Fangs / Leather Gloves / Kaiser Knuckles) for difficult content and boss fights

Pick Motor Drive when fighting against enemies weak to Wind

Aerith Best Weapons #

Aerith is the best healer in the game, and has the only AOE healing limit break.

She is universally useful in difficult content as a dedicated healer so that the rest of your team don’t need to waste time healing.

Surprisingly, she also has the best ST MAG Wind and AOE MAG Earth and Lightning damage (wow!).

Recommended to be built as a pure healer or magic damage dealer.

Aerith’s best weapons are:

1. Fairy Tale: The best AOE healing weapon in the game, largest healing potency, and weapon with the highest Heal stat in the game. R. Ability 1 further boosts Heal strength.
2. Prism Rod: The strongest single target Wind DPS weapon in the game. Made even stronger with her Prism Dress costume that boosts wind DMG by 35%.
3. Sun Umbrella: The best QOL enemy DEF debuff option in the game. It’s the weapon you set and forget on Aerith, just like Fairy Tale. Sun Umbrella can boost her magic damage with it’s two MDPS R Abilities.
4. Garnet’s Rod: The only weapon that can grant MATK buff to any single ally. This weapon allows Aerith to take on so many different roles.
5. Snowflake: Decent Ice DPS option with single target MDEF debuff.
6. Guard Stick: Buffs the magic defense of a single ally by a high amount and heal them a bit. R. Ability 1 boosts Healing potency by an amount larger than Fairy Tale.
7. Wizard Staff / Wizer Staff / Silver Staff (Lightning / Earth / Ice): All three options are her AOE MAG damage options and great for wave clearing and farming.
8. Full Metal Staff: AOE PHY non-elemental damage that decreases all enemies physical attack by a moderate amount.
9. Mythril Rod: The best AOE physical and magic defense up buff that also heals a bit.

I would 100% equip Fairy Tale to Aerith if it’s at 5* rarity (healing from Fairy Tale is AOE at 5*).

Assuming you need her purely for healing, pair Fairy Tale with Guard Stick or Mythril Rod.

If used as your magic DPS, pair Sun Umbrella with any one of her DPS staves.

Red XIII Best Weapons #

Red XIII is the best AOE regen user, which is interesting but feels weaker than flat healing (regen = 1 tick of heal every 3s).

He can heal, debuff, or deal massive Fire damage.

Recommended role is to support your magic DPS units with AOE debuffs and regen.

Red XIII’s best weapons are:

1. Seaside Collar: Enables lightning damage teams to deal even more damage, works only if the enemy is already weak to lightning.
2. Rage Collar: Top two strongest ST Fire damage weapon, excellent for end-game Shiva farming. R. Ability 1 can boost ATK by the highest amount out of any weapon.
3. Canyon Collar: Better version of Gold Collar, longer debuff duration and deals wind damage.
4. Gold Collar: AOE MAG non-elemental damage that also reduces enemy magic defense by a moderate amount. One of few weapons in the game that can AOE reduce enemy magic defense moderately, making it useful for wave clearing. 
5. Platinum Collar: Heal and AOE Regen for all allies for 18s (6 ticks of regen)
6. Junk Collar: Single target non-elemental damage nuke and decrease enemy magic attack by a high amount
7. Sleek Collar: AOE magic defense increase by a high amount with a tiny bit of healing

As a support/healer, give him Platinum Collar with Junk or Sleek Collar.

As a fire DPS, give him Rage Collar with Gold Collar.

Zack Best Weapons #

Zack is the most versatile debuffer, able to debuff PATK/MATK/PDEF and Water Res. Amazing for single enemy/boss fights. 

Recommended to play the role of a debuffer/supportive role for physical DPS teams.

Zack’s best weapons are:

1. Black Whiskers: Zack’s ultimate physical attack debuffing weapon that also debuffs Water Resistance. Empowers physical and water teams.
2. Twinkling Star: Debuffs enemy MATK and PDEF. Empowers physical teams again.
3. Cutlass: Similar to Cloud’s Hardedge; strong single target physical non-elemental damage with PDEF break by a high amount
4. Arc Sword: A strong single target MAG non-elemental damage with MDEF break by a high amount
5. Falchion: Strongest AOE PHY Wind damage weapon
6. Zweihander: His strongest single target nuking option, PHY non-elemental damage; highest ATK weapon in the game with a 940% skill multiplier. Bonus: We get this weapon for free from Pre-reg rewards!
7. Crystal Sword (Z): 2nd strongest AOE MAG Fire damage weapon

You can’t go wrong equipping Cutlass and Arc Sword on Zack to have the best of both worlds.

Use Falchion + Cutlass if enemy is weak to Wind.

Use Arc Sword + Crystal Sword (Z) if enemy is weak to Fire.

Zweihander is great if you have other units debuffing enemy PDEF like Cloud/Barret/Glenn/Aerith.

Matt Best Weapons #

Matt is very similar to Aerith. He has the second strongest AOE Healing weapon in the game. 

He has one of best AOE MAG ice damage, again similar to Aerith.

Recommended role is your main Healer and support… until he gets his Stamp Costume and stamp weapon (future).

Matt’s best weapons are:

1. Prime Number: 2nd best AOE healing weapon in the game; only losing out to Aerith’s Fairy Tale.
2. Bramble Spine: Best PATK buffing support weapon in the game, allowing you to buff your main physical damage dealers. Heal R. Ability compliments Prime Number.
3. Slick Beetle: Single target PHY non-elemental damage that can decrease enemy PATK by a high amount.
4. Stingray: Decreases enemy MDEF by a high amount.
5. Core Defender: Buff MDEF of all allies by a large amount, and heal them by a bit.
6. Killer Hornet & Broadsword: Axis: Both weapons are single target non-elemental damage with 150% critical potency and 120% lightning ability potency respectively. What makes them stand out more is the fact their R. Ability 1 both boost PATK by +100/50%. 

Healer/Support Matt should be equipped with Prime Number, followed by any of Slick Beetle/Stingray/Core Defender.

Glenn Best Weapons #

Glenn has access to strong single target Fire and AOE Earth damage weapons, which are very rare.

With the Halloween banner, he is now the best physical DPS buffing unit for your Lightning/Water Cloud, Wind Sephiroth, or whoever.

Recommended to be used as your primary fire damage dealer or PDPS buffer.

Glenn’s best weapons are:

1. Pumpkin Lamppost: The best physical offensive support weapon in the game. A single 5* copy of this weapon allows you to buff any physical DPS unit by two buff marks. 
2. Crewkicker: Top two strongest single target Fire weapons in the game, and excellent against end-game Shiva farming.
3. Ultimatic: 2nd highest non-elemental damage weapon in the game, but more importantly, amazing DPS R abilities.
4. Jiggy Fam: One of few Earth damaging weapons in the game. 
5. Piece of Cake: Similar to Barret’s W Machine, this weapon skill deals damage and reduces enemy physical def by a high amount.
6. Apology in Hell: His best single target non-elemental nuke with two very strong physical R abilities.

Glenn can take on the role of physical def debuff, but don’t sleep on his elemental damage.

I would equip Piece of Cake if your team doesn’t have any other PDEF breaker.

Lucia Best Weapons #

Lucia has several unique weapons not found anywhere else. 

She is the only unit that can Silence an enemy for 5s (Silence = prevent enemy from using skills).

She has the only strong single target earth weapon at the time of writing.

Lucia’s best weapons are:

1. Holiday Revolver: The strongest single target Earth damage in the game. At the time of writing, the only source of Earth single target damage from a weapon.
2. Bald Eagle: The only weapon that can debuff enemy Ice resistance. Two incredible R Abilities for PATK and Ice Potency.
3. Serpent Eater: Arguably the strongest single target Water damage weapon, excellent against end game Ramuh farming.
4. Pulse Gun: The strongest and only AOE Wind MAG damage weapon
5. Mad Minute: Single target non-elemental damage and reduce enemy’s magic ATK by a large amount. 
6. Black Rifle: The only weapon in the game with a skill that can silence. Also deals great single target non-elemental damage. Unsure how powerful Silence will be. 

She excels in Earth and Water damage, and compliments Ice teams with Bald Eagle.

Damage Matrix

One very important consideration is elemental advantage in this game. Certain elemental weapons are rarer than others, and may need to be prioritized. 

Strongest Weapons by Damage Types #

The tables below are ranked based on one metric alone: Damage.

Earth #

Fire #

Ice #

Lightning #

Water #

Wind #

Non-Elemental #

Healing #