Players can obtain six weapons for each party member in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, which can be upgraded by spending skill points (SP) to increase stats, unlock materia slots, and gain passive boosts. Every weapon has a unique special ability that players can only use when the respective weapon is equipped or once they've gained enough proficiency to learn them outright. Barret is the leader of the splinter cell of Avalanche, father to a young daughter and naturally puts himself on the line to protect those around him. Not only does Barret’s large HP pool set him up as the tank of the party, but so do various abilities available to him.
Using his gun-arm weapons in battle, Barret is a long-range fighter and very effective at taking down flying enemies. Players can also use Barret as a melee damage dealer with a couple of his weapons where he can inflict a massive amount of pain in close quarters. Barret’s unique attack will change between Overcharge and Overrun depending on how players choose to use him, either firing three powerful consecutive blasts or having Barret charging directly into enemies and slamming his weapon into the ground for area of effect damage.
Gatling Gun
Barret’s initial weapon is the Gatling Gun, which has one available materia slot to begin with. Players will gain access to Focused Shot when first using this weapon; a long-range blast that will greatly increase the stagger gauge of pressured enemies.
To use this ability, all of Barret’s available ATB charges will be consumed, with the resulting attack dealing extra damage when two or more bars are used. Players must successfully stagger enemies while using Focused shot to gain proficiency and permanently learn it.
Light Machine Gun
With a higher magic attack power, the Light Machine Gun will also provide Barret more durability when SP is invested in the weapon upgrade menu, and begins with two linked materia slots. During Chapter 6, players will be given grappling hooks by Biggs, as well as the Light Machine Gun.
Players can learn Lifesaver with this weapon. This ability allows Barret to take damage intended for other party members, acting similarly to the Cover materia from the original game. Gaining proficiency will require players to have their other party members take damage while Barret has Lifesaver active.
Big Bertha
Beginning with two linked and one single materia slot, Barret’s next weapon is the high physical damage dealer, Big Bertha. Players can first purchase this gun arm from the weapons merchant in Evergreen Park during Chapter 13 for 2,500 gil. If players miss out on buying it there, it will become available in both Chapters 14 and 16.
Maximum Fury is another ability that will use all of Barret’s available ATB bars, dealing more damage and prolonging the duration of the fire rate if two or three (with the use of the Refocus materia) are used. Barret will fire a barrage of bullets at a single target, switching to another if the first is killed during the attack, which will also earn players proficiency as they dispatch enemies while using Maximum Fury.
Steel Pincers
Players will be able to purchase the Steel Pincers from Moggie’s Moogle Emporium for 7 Moogle medals in Sector 5 during Chapter 14. With three single materia slots to begin with, it Is the first of two melee weapons that Barret will have access to. As such, it changes his combat style. Barret can now target multiple enemies at once as he does AOE damage, and this specific weapon increases his magic stats to give players more options for playing Barret.
When using Charging Uppercut, Barret will run towards a target before spearing them with the Steel Pincers and hurling them into the air. Using this ability will cost one ATB bar, but players can earn back a significant amount of ATB if they land a direct hit. A proficiency bonus will be granted if players charge up Barret’s ATB gauge to full, execute Charging Uppercut, and regain one ATB charge in the process.
Wrecking Ball
When players complete the quest “Subterranean Menace” during Chapter 14, they will be rewarded with Barret’s next melee weapon: the Wrecking Ball. If players choose not to complete the quest, they will instead be able to purchase this weapon during Chapter 16. At the cost of his speed and a low magic affinity, Wrecking Ball has the highest raw attack power of all Barret’s weapons.
Players will have two linked and two single materia slots to work with when Wrecking Ball is first acquired as well as the Smackdown ability. Using one ATB charge, Barret will take a moment to charge up a devastating attack which sees him slam his weapon into the ground. Proficiency with this weapon ability will be earned when players successfully hit three or more enemies at once while using Smackdown.
EKG Cannon
Beginning with four single materia slots, the EKG Cannon has the best magic stats out of all Barret’s weapons after it has been fully leveled up and is perfect for players that want to use Barret as a support character. Players can purchase the EKG Cannon during Chapter 16 from a character named Hart for the steep price of 10,000 gil.
Point Blank will deal physical melee and ranged damage, as Barret steps towards a foe and blasts them from a short distance. He will also attach a bomb to them that explodes after a few seconds, damaging all enemies within a radius. This ability also uses all of Barret’s ATB charges, and players must use a fully charged ATB gauge to gain proficiency.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
