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Exploring a fleshed-out Midgar in Final Fantasy 7 Remake is a magical moment for many gamers who have dreamed of this since 1997. The game is a triumphant success that retells a classic story that so many hold dear to their hearts.

RELATED: How Long Does It Take To Beat Final Fantasy 7 Remake?

Among the four playable characters in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Barret Wallace is the most suited for long-range attacks. There are close-range weapon options for his grafted arm, but Barret’s main appeal is his ability to wreak havoc from afar. Throughout this guide, we’ll analyze the best builds for Barret that maximize his talents in three key areas to help you take down the evil Shinra Corporation.

Attack

barret weapon selection final fantasy 7 remake

Constructing an Attack build will have Barret focusing on sheer damage. He's more effective from long-range, though he does have a close-range build option available depending on your playstyle.

Category

Name

Details

Weapon

Wrecking Ball/Big Bertha

Wrecking Ball is suited more for close-range combat, while Big Bertha utilizes Barret's long-range capabilities.


Wrecking Ball offers more Materia slots than Big Bertha, but the latter offers more offensive options.

Armor

Chain Bangle/Cog Bangle

Chain Bangle increases Barret's Physical Defense and Magic Defense more significantly than Cog Bangle, but the latter is a suitable alternative.

Accessory

Supernatural Wristguards

This accessory will boost Barret's Attack and Strength but lower his Magic and Magic Attack.

Materia

Eight or Nine Slots

First Strike, Time, Deadly Dodge, HP Up, Chakra, ATB Stagger, Ice/Fire/Lightning, ATB Boost, Ifrit or Fat Chocobo

Weapon

wrecking ball weapon final fantasy 7 remake

Barret has a couple of close-range options that might be suitable depending on the enemy you’re facing.

Wrecking Ball is Barret’s best close-range weapon, but also offers substantial Materia usage with one connecting slot and four separate slots. Its ability, Smackdown, has Barret smash the ground, sending nearby enemies flying backward. You receive the Wrecking Ball in Chapter 14 after defeating the Type-0 Behemoth.

For a long-range option, look no further than Big Bertha. Also a great Materia option with two connecting slots and one separate slot, Big Bertha gives Barret the highest Attack rating among long-range weapons and also boosts his health quite a bit. The weapon’s ability, Maximum Fury, is named appropriately, as Barret unleashes a heavy stream of bullets at an enemy. Before returning to Sector 7, you can purchase Big Bertha from a vendor in Chapter 13.

Armor

chain bangle final fantasy 7 remake

Choosing a suitable armor piece comes down to which offers the biggest bump in a character’s defensive categories. The Chain Bangle drastically increases Barret’s Defense and Magic Defense, and also provides two connecting Materia slots. While exploring Chapter 17, the Chain Bangle can be found hidden in a chest.

An alternative armor piece is the Cog Bangle, which moderately increases his Defense and Magic Defense, and provides one connecting slot and one separate slot. You can obtain the Cog Bangle in three different ways: either as an item dropped from the Valkyrie boss in Chapter 15, purchased in a shop inside the Shinra building, or as a reward by completing the Shinra challenge simulators.

Accessory

supernatural wristguards barret final fantasy 7 remake

You’ll want to equip the Supernatural Wristguards on any character whose attack you want to maximize. This accessory will boost Barret’s Attack and Strength, but will also lower his Magic and Magic Attack. You can purchase the Supernatural Wristguards during Chapter 9 in Wall Market.

Materia

first strike materia final fantasy 7 remake

Depending on which armor piece you equip between the Cog Bangle and Chain Bangle, you’re looking at either eight or nine Materia slots.

With that in mind, you’ll want to equip First Strike to increase the amount of ATB gauge at the start of a battle, Time, Deadly Dodge if you’re using Wrecking Ball, HP Up, ATB Stagger, Chakra, and then fill the remaining slots with your strongest elemental Materia.

If you don’t want to use ATB Stagger or multiple elemental Materia, you can substitute them for another HP Up or Healing. For his Summon, select either Ifrit or Fat Chocobo for additional bumps in Barret’s Attack and Strength categories.

RELATED: Final Fantasy 7 Remake: How To Use The Magnify Materia

Tank

light machine gun final fantasy 7 remake

Barret's ability, Lifesaver, makes a Tank build an excellent choice for the character. Being able to soak up damage for his party members is exactly what you're looking for in a defensively-minded build.

Category

Name

Details

Weapon

Light Machine Gun

A long-range weapon that increases Barret's Physical Defense and Magic Attack.


Lifesaver ability allows Barret to take damage intended for other injured party members.

Armor

Supreme Bracer/Astral Cuff/Heavy-Duty Bracer/Sorcerer's Armlet

The two bracers boost Barret's Physical Defense, while the Astral Cuff and Sorcerer's Armlet boost his Magic Defense.

Accessory

Supernatural Wristguards

Although the Supernatural Wristguards don't affect Barret's defensive categories, it's still the best accessory available to equip to increase his Attack.

Materia

Eight slots (five if you equip Astral Cuff)

Deadly Dodge, HP Up (2), Chakra, Time, Steadfast Block, Provoke, Barrier, Ifrit

Weapon

upgrade screen light machine gun final fantasy 7 remake

Having a character to soak up damage is a must in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and this tank build will make Barret just that.

His Light Machine Gun gives the Avalanche leader a boost in his Physical Defense and Magic Attack. The weapon offers two connecting Materia slots and one separate slot. Its ability, Lifesaver, is perfect for a tank build: when activated, Barret takes damage that’s intended for other party members. You’ll receive the Light Machine Gun after completing Chapter 6.

Armor

heavy duty bracer final fantasy 7 remake

Ultimately, your choice of armor will be dependent on if you’re facing an enemy that specializes in magic or physical attacks. Your main choices will be the Supreme Bracer, Astral Cuff, Heavy-Duty Bracer, and Sorcerer’s Armlet.

The two bracers focus on increasing Barret’s Physical Defense, while the Astral Cuff and Sorcerer’s Armlet increase his Magic Defense. You can purchase the bracers from various shops after Chapter 13 (the Supreme Bracer is also a reward after completing the Shinra Combat simulators), the Astral Cuff is found in Chapter 17, and the Sorcerer’s Armlet is found in Chapter 14.

Accessory

barret armor final fantasy 7 remake

When it comes to which accessory to choose, you’ll want to stick with the Supernatural Wristguards. While the Talisman increases Barret’s Magic Defense very slightly, the reduction in his Attack isn’t worth the trade-off.

Materia

provoke materia final fantasy 7 remake

Unless you equip the Astral Cuff, you’re looking at a total of eight Materia slots.

You’ll still want Deadly Dodge to inflict damage in the area after dodging, two HP Ups, Chakra, Time, Steadfast Block to reduce enemy damage and fill up the ATB gauge faster while guarding, Provoke to draw enemy fire when other party members are hurt, and Barrier.

Ifrit remains the best choice to have as a Summon to give Barret an added boost to his Defense and Vitality categories.

Mage

barret using magic final fantasy 7 remake

Barret might not be the best character suited for a Mage build, but it's still possible with the right equipment. This build will still utilize Barret's long-range standard attacks, while also giving him the maximum amount of Materia slots.

Category

Name

Details

Weapon

EKG Cannon

This long-range weapon increases Barret's Magic Attack and Health but lowers his Physical Defense and Attack.

Armor

Supreme Bracer/Heavy-Duty Bracer/Sorcerer's Armlet

The two bracers are more suitable against enemies that specialize in physical attacks, while the Sorcerer's Armlet is used against magical enemies.

Accessory

Platinum Earrings/Circlet

Platinum Earrings significantly increase Barret's Magic and Magic Attack, while Circlet moderately increases his Magic, Magic Attack, and MP.

Materia

Nine slots

Healing, Time, MP Up (2), HP Up, Elemental, Ice/Fire/Lightning, Revival, Barrier, Shiva

Weapon

ekg cannon final fantasy 7 remake

When constructing a Mage build for Barret, you’ll want to equip the EKG Cannon. This weapon increases Barret’s Magic Attack and Health, but lowers his Physical Defense and Attack.

Although the weapon’s standard attack operates from long-range, its ability, Point Blank, delivers a close-range attack. You can receive the weapon from Mayor Domino’s assistant in Chapter 16, but be careful because it's possible to miss this weapon.

Armor

sorcerer's armlet final fantasy 7 remake

Once again, your armor selection will be dependent on what type of enemy you’re facing.

If the enemy is skilled in magic attacks, opt for the Sorcerer’s Armlet to increase Barret’s Magic Defense; if the enemy uses physical attacks, equip the Supreme Bracer or Heavy-Duty Bracer. You’ll want to avoid the Astral Cuff because it will severely limit your Materia usage, and with this build, Materia is the name of the game.

Accessory

circlet accessory final fantasy 7 remake

To maximize Barret’s Mage build, the two best accessory options are the Platinum Earrings and Circlet. The earrings will increase Barret’s Magic and Magic Attack, while the Circlet will increase his Magic, Magic Attack, and MP.

However, the increase from the Platinum Earrings will be greater than the Circlet, and you can always equip an MP Up Materia for an extra boost. You can purchase the earrings in Wall Market and find the Circlet in Chapter 14.

Materia

selecting shiva materia

With this build, Barret will have nine available Materia slots at his disposal. We recommend filling them with Healing, Time, HP Up, two MP Ups, pair Elemental with one of Ice, Fire, or Lightning, Revival, and Barrier. Equipping Shiva as his Summon will also boost his Magic and Magic Attack categories.

NEXT: Final Fantasy 7 Remake: The Best Weapon For Each Character