FF7: Ever Crisis – FFIX Crossover Event Weapons Review

The first half of the FF7: Ever Crisis Crossover event features Cloud and Tifa’s FF9 inspired weapons: Zidane’s Sword and Amarant’s Claws.

These weapons are truely time-limited, and do not appear in the general pool or wishlist after they’re gone. 

Zidane’s Sword Details #

Stats at Lv 90 with varying overboost:

• OB0: [PATK: 234] [MATK: 187] [HEAL: 144]
• OB10: [PATK: 561] [MATK: 448] [HEAL: 201]
• OB1: 26 Boost PATK / 12 Boost Phys. Ability Pot.
• OB4: 30 Boost PATK / 16 Boost Phys. Ability Pot.  
• OB6: 34 Boost PATK / 16 Boost Phys. Ability Pot. 
  
• OB10: 40 Boost PATK / 36 Boost Phys. Ability Pot.
  • PATK Boost I
  • PATK Boost I
  • ▲ Sigil Boost I

C. Ability: Free Energy at varying overboost (OB):

• OB0: [Phys. Non-elem.] 650% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]
• OB1: [Phys. Non-elem.] 780% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]
• OB6: [Phys. Non-elem.] 1140% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]
• OB10: [Phys. Non-elem.] 1300% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]

• OB0: [PATK: 230] [MATK: 189] [HEAL: 146]
• OB10: [PATK: 552] [MATK: 453] [HEAL: 204]
• OB1: 26 Boost HP / 12 Boost Phys. Ability Pot.
• OB4: 30 Boost HP / 16 Boost Phys. Ability Pot.  
• OB6: 34 Boost HP / 16 Boost Phys. Ability Pot. 
• OB10: 40 Boost HP / 36 Boost Phys. Ability Pot.
  • PATK Boost I
  • PATK Boost I
  • PATK Boost I

C. Ability: No Mercy with varying overboost:

• OB0: 360% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  25s PATK Up (+5s) (Mid) [Range: Self]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]
• OB1: 430% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  28s PATK Up (+5s) (Mid) [Range: Self]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]
• OB6: 630% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  36s PATK Up (+7s) (High) [Range: Self]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]
• OB10: 720% Phys. Non-elem. Damage [Range: Single Enemy]
  40s PATK Up (+8s) (High) [Range: Self]
  10% Crit Rate [Range: Single Enemy]

Crossover Outfits #

Zidane’s Outfit: 10pts to HP and Phys. Ability Pot.

Amarant’s Guise: 10pts to HP and Phys. Ability Pot.

An Analysis on Non-elemental Damage #

Zidane’s Sword #

Cloud’s weapon is a very obvious powercreep for physical non-elemental damage and general damage.

• At OB1, you’re getting a whopping 780% Phys. Non-elem damage to a single enemy
• The closest comparison is his Apocalypse weapon, which deals 600% Phys. Non-elem damage at OB1
• The immediate difference is a 30% multiplier to damage (600 x 1.3 = 780)

The two R. Abilities of the weapon are excellent as sub weapons for any physical DPS (e.g Non-elem. Cloud, Lightning Cloud, Water Cloud, Wind Sephiroth, Wind Tifa, Water Lucia).

Keep in mind, if used purely as a sub weapon, Zidane’s Sword is inferior to Matt’s Killer Hornet weapon. They have the same R. Abilities, but Killer Hornet is not a limited time weapon.

How good is Boost Phys. Ability Potency R. Ability?

So Zidane’s Sword is Cloud’s first weapon that features the Boost Phys. Ability Potency ability. This means he could equip it as a main slot weapon and gain 100% of the R. Ability pts.

Boost Phys. Ability is a top tier DPS R. Ability coveted for it’s versatility. It boosts all physical damage – including physical elemental damage and limit breaks.

The math behind Phys. Ability (or any Ability Potency) R. Ability was deciphered recently.

• For Non-elem damage, Phys. Ability Pot. is a separate multiplier to damage at full effectiveness.
• For elemental damage, Phys. Ability Pot. is a separate multiplier to damage at half the effectiveness.

The game nerfs the effectiveness of Phys. Ability Pot (and any Ability Potency) for elemental damage. This is probably a good call, because elemental damage is already really strong.

Should you pull for Zidane’s Sword?

It’s a bit complicated.

The Argument FOR Zidane’s Sword and Non-elemental damage

• We are being introduced to enemies that are heavily resistant to all elemental damage. According to the enemy stats table, the three new Black Waltz enemies and the Astral Iron Giant (F50) are heavily resistant/immune to all elemental damage
  • It is wise to have at least one unit that can deal top tier non-elem damage
• Dungeons can have diverse set of enemies immune to a variety of elemental damage, and non-elemental damage can take away some of the preparation or guess work 
• Non-elemental damage can crit for 50% extra damage, and if they update the crit mechanic someday, maybe we’ll see a retry meta

The Argument AGAINST Zidane’s Sword and Non-elemental damage

• Every enemy that is weak to some element takes 2x/2.5x/3x more damage (theoretically, a 450% potency skill that hits enemy weakness can exceed a 1300% potency skill that hits no weakness)
• Arcanum from outfits boost elemental damage by an additional 20% to 35%, which is considered the best passive from outfits
• Dungeons and event enemies generally have one common elemental weakness

What will I be doing?

I’m going to be happy if Zidane’s Sword pops out, but won’t be chasing for the weapon because I already have a decently built Apocalypse.

Players without a decent non-elem weapon can consider chasing for OB1. It is wise to have at least one strong non-elem damage option to clear some end-game content.

As a sub weapon, it’ll take a miracle to pull several copies of Zidane’s Sword and I’d rather just wishlist Killer Hornet for long term overboosting.

Amarant’s Claws #

Tifa’s self-buffing weapon is really good. My reddit article on Sephiroth’s Aonibi goes in depths on why self-buffing ATK is super strong.

Tifa’s self buff is the perfect skill to use during the beginning of a battle when your stance gauge isn’t charged up, or during enemy interuption.

Currently, the best use of Amarant’s Claws is to boost Tifa’s physical wind damage from Motor Drive.

You can boost any of her materia blow skills. 

• Leather Gloves boost Fire materia blow skills by 30%
• Grand Gloves boost Water materia blow skills by 30%

Materia ATB damage efficiency is up there with some of the best skills in the game:

If the game gives Tifa more physical elemental damage weapons, you’ll be set up for success. Big if.

F2P/Light spenders don’t need to chase past OB1. Dolphins and Whales will want at least OB6 to get that high potency buff and longer buff duration. 

Can’t Glenn with Pumpkin Lamppost give Tifa a PATK buff?

Glenn is the top physical DPS enabler, capable of granting any teammate a physical attack buff and reducing enemy physical defense.

I’m looking for versatility. There may be stages where I can’t afford to have Glenn on the team because I’m lacking healing or ATK debuffing.

What will I be doing?

I’ll chase after OB1 and consider it a future investment for when the game provides Tifa with more physical elemental weapons.

Tifa is my go-to ATK debuffer, and with this weapon she can become a hybrid DPS debuffer with good HP.

What’s the best outfit to chase for? #

This is highly dependant on your weapons.

For my set up, I’ll be going for Cloud’s because I missed out on Maritime Outfit and could use something to boost his Water damage, as well as his non-elem damage.