Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers gamers an unforgettable JRPG experience complete with a legendary combat system, breathtaking graphics and a dazzling storyline. It also brings with it a plethora of mini-games – so much so that a lot of the fanbase has referred to them as “annoying” or “excessive.” Admittedly, the game does indeed bombard you with an endless stream of mini-games – most of them good. For example, the Fort Condor auto-chess battler is a fantastic strategy game worthy of playing until the very end, in fact I wish there was more of it. Queen’s Blood, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s rendition of a collectible card game, is also fantastic in its own right, mixing together elements of Marvel Snap, Magic: the Gathering, and Triple Triad, the trading card game from Final Fantasy VIII. However, one mini-game stands out as being quite difficult – especially as you climb its ranks and challenge the better non-playable characters, and that mini-game is the 3D Brawler at Gold Saucer, which features fan favorite characteres Sephiroth and Yuffie.
This guide will show you how to conquer the hard mode battles of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s 3D Brawler mini-game, which features throwback graphics and four stages of old school Punch Out-style boxing combat, including bouts against Shiva, Ifrit, a Shinra Middle Manager, Sephiroth, and your own teammate Yuffie! If you’d like to check out more tips and tricks related to the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, check out these other pieces on KeenGamer:
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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s 3D Brawler title screen.
Combat Basics of the 3D Brawler Mini-Game
Controls
The mini-game works by pitting Cloud in a boxing match against an opponent that generally has six ways to attack: a straight left, a left hook, a left uppercut, a straight right, a right hook and a right uppercut. Using your perception and reflexes, the game wants you to identify which attack the enemy is throwing out, dodge it accordingly, and look for the opportune time to mount a counterattack. Each opponent has a physical tell on when Cloud should attack, but more on that later. To win, you have to max out your ATB meter by landing attacks and using your limit break attack – the first person who does this, wins the match.
One thing to note is that this isn’t a fighting game where you can spam attacks and expect to win – you HAVE to read and recognize your enemy’s attack patterns and react accordingly. The matches against Ifrit and Sephiroth are pretty difficult, but fear not, I have a meta trick to share with you that will turn these tough bouts into cakewalks.
Cloud’s controls for this mini-game are:
- L2 Button – Left Hook
- R2 Button – Right Hook
- Analog Stick – Dodge/Guard
- L2 + R2 – Limit Break
The Pause Trick
One thing to note is that some actions, like Limit Break, require Cloud to have ATB meter to use, just like in-game combat. But before we get into it, there is one crucial trick you should know about – one that ensures you know which attack your opponent will throw out every time and gives you ample time to respond! What you have to do is pause the game as your opponent is winding up his attack. This lets you identify what attack is headed your way so you can react with the correct dodge! Note that if you pause too early, you won’t be able to recognize which attack is going to be thrown out and if you pause too late, you won’t have enough in-game time to input a dodge, so getting good at when to pause becomes some sort of meta game. If you do end up pausing too early, you can immediately unpause and then pause again – this should generally land you right where you need to be. If you feel like you’ve paused too late, you should hold the direction you want to dodge BEFORE unpausing. Alright, with that out of the way, the first hard mode fight you will encounter is the summon Shiva.
How to Dodge
Here is the proper way to block each single attack your opponents throw at you. Remember, if you need to figure out exactly what’s coming your way, use the pause trick! It will save you time.
- For Right Straights, press up on the left analog stick.
- For Right Hooks, press left on the left analog stick.
- For Right Uppercuts, press down on the left analog stick.
- For Left Straights, press up on the right analog stick.
- For Left Hooks, press right on the right analog stick.
- For Left Uppercuts, press down on the right analog stick.
How to Defeat Shiva in the 3D Brawler Mini-Game
Shiva’s tell – this is when you should attack her.
Shiva is the easiest fight out of the bunch because she lacks long combos. All of the hard mode 3D Brawler fights start to use furious combinations near the end of the bout in an attempt to hit Cloud, but Shiva maxes out at two, maybe three hits in a row. All you have to do is identify them, dodge them, and counterattack. Shiva’s tell on when to attack her is also fairly straightforward – she’ll make a pose like the one pictured above. You may not even need to use the pause trick against Shiva but you’re certainly welcome to.
Here is the loot you get for defeating Shiva in the 3D Brawler:
- First clear: Dark Matter (crafting material) and 270 Gold Saucer points
- Second clear+: 135 Gold Saucer points
How to Defeat Ifrit in the 3D Brawler Mini-Game
Ifrit’s tell – this is when you should attack him.
Ifrit is a bit tougher than Shiva because once your meter starts to fill up, he powers up and starts hitting you with hard combos that need impeccable dodging. I would recommend using the screen pause trick against Ifrit – at least when he’s in his powered-up mode as he can mount quite the comeback. Ifrit’s tell, the moment when you should launch an attack against him, is pictured for you above.
Here is the loot you get for defeating Ifrit in the 3D Brawler:
- First clear: Golden Brawler’s Gloves and 350 Gold Saucer points
- Second clear+: 175 Gold Saucer points
Bonus Characters
Sephiroth
Cloud and Sephiroth getting ready to tango.
Final Side Quest
To unlock Sephiroth, you first must complete the “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” side mission, which can itself only be unlocked once you finish every other side quest in the game and Chapter 12. The “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” mission takes place on the Gold Saucer and has Cloud running around completing various mini-games. To start the quest, you simply have to approach the Ultimate Party Animal and accept it. To complete this side mission, you have to complete five mini-games at the Gold Saucer. The mini-games you have to win at are:
- Chocobo Race (Beat the Ultimate Party Animal in a race)
- Galactic Saviors (Beat the highest score)
- Musclehead Colosseum (Complete the “Send in the Clowns” mission)
- G-Bike (Obtain a score of 32,000 on the expert course)
- Queen’s Blood (Beat the Ultimate Party Animal in a match)
- Beat the Shinra Middle Manager in the 3D Brawler
Congratulations, you’ve now completed every single side quest in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth! Here are the rewards you get for completing the “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” side mission:
- Gambler Materia
- Queen’s Blood Card 142 (Ultimate Party Animal)
- Unlock fighting the Shinra Middle Manager in 3D Brawl
- +10 Party EXP
- Player EXP (based on whatever your current level is)
Please note that there is currently an issue that may stop your progress in the “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” side mission. Square Enix is aware of this problem and is working to create a patch to be included the game’s next update.
How to Defeat The Shinra Middle Manager in the 3D Brawler Mini-Game
Cloud squares off against the Shinra Middle Manager.
Before you get to Sephiroth, you have take down the Shinra Middle Manager. The Shinra Middle Manager has two main combinations that he throws at you. The first one, which always starts with him throwing out a left uppercut, can be dodged in the following way:
- Down on the right analog stick
- Up on the right analog stick
- Right on the right analog stick
- Up on the right analog stick
His second attack combo, which always starts with a right uppercut, can be dodged in the following way:
- Down on the left analog stick
- Left on the left analog stick
- Up on the left analog stick
- Left on the left analog stick
How to Defeat Sephiroth in the 3D Brawler Mini-Game
Once this is done, you can challenge Sephiroth to a match in the 3D Brawler. Be forewarned about this fight – even with the pausing trick, it’s still pretty tough. You may want to think about using the pause trick every step of the way, even for his single strikes. The main thing to note is that Sephiroth starts coming at you with four different combos during the endgame. Sephiroth’s tell is obvious – it happens after you dodge his combos and he hunches over and just flat out looks exhausted.
Sephiroth’s first combo, which always starts with a left straight, can be dodged in the following way:
- Up on the right analog stick
- Left on the left analog stick
- Right on the right analog stick
- Up on the left analog stick
- Down on the right analog stick
Sephiroth’s second combo, which always starts with a right uppercut, can be dodged in the following way:
- Down on the left analog stick
- Right on the right analog stick
- Up on the left analog stick
Sephiroth’s third combo, which always starts with a right hook, can be dodged in the following way:
- Left on the left analog stick
- Left on the left analog stick
- Up on the right analog stick
- Down on left analyst stick
Sephiroth’s fourth combo, which always starts with a left straight when your limit break meter is nearly filled, can be dodged in the following way:
- Up on the right analog stick
- Left on the left analog stick
- Right on the right analog stick
- Up on the left stick Up on the left stick
- Down on the left stick
Here is the loot you get for defeating Sephiroth in the 3D Brawler:
- First clear: Ribbon and 400 Gold Saucer points
- Second clear+: 1200 Gold Saucer points
Yuffie
How to Defeat Yuffie in the 3D Brawler Mini-Game
Yuffie and Cloud brawling.
To get a crack at Yuffie, all you have to do is reach Chapter 12 in the story and then go to Wonderment Square and challenge her to a match. Okay, now things will get even a little tougher as Yuffie has some fake out moves, but we can conquer those too. Much like Sephiroth, Yuffie will eventually start coming at you with a complex combo, warning you beforehand that they’re coming by emitting red aura around her.
Yuffie’s first and only combo, which always starts with a left straight, can be dodged in the following way:
- Left on the left analog stick
- Right on the right analog stick
- Up on the left analog stick
- Down on the right analog stick
- Down on the right analog stick
However be warned that Yuffie sometimes uses the red aura as a fake out! It will activate, making you believe that a combo is on the way, only for her to jab you with a left straight, so be on the lookout for that for this maneuver. The crucial thing to take away from this is that both the fake out and the combo must necessarily start with a straight left, so if you’re prepared for that move specifically, you can easily counter her antics. Yuffie’s tell, much like Sephiroth’s, is obvious and comes after you dodge her combos. She will look exhausted and you can get a free hit in and build your Limit Break meter.
Here is the reward you get for defeating Yuffie in the 3D Brawler mini-game:
- First clear: Increase relationship with Yuffie.
Visualizing the Pause Trick
Above, you will find a visual depiction of the pause trick against the Shinra Middle Manager. Remember to use it sparingly if you’re not really interested in a challenge and want to breeze through. Be warned, however, the even with this trick, Sephiroth and Yuffie are no easy bouts. Enjoy!
