Many of the Final Fantasy games have a big warrior in the party that is capable of fitting the tank role in terms of abilities and looks. In Final Fantasy IX it’s Steiner, in Final Fantasy X it’s Kimahri, Final Fantasy XV it’s Gladiolus, and in Final Fantasy VII, it is Barret.
However, unlike the other characters that fit into the “big man” role, Barret is a fantastic long-range fighter with abilities that resemble the classic Archer class. Where Barret differs, however, is his naturally high HP which allows him to take a lot of damage on the battlefield while keeping his distance. However, not all of Barret’s weapons limit him to long-range weaponry there are other choices that allow players to turn him into melee fighter too. Let’s see how all of Barret’s weapons are, ranked by the usefulness.
6 The Gatling Gun
The Gatling Gun is Barret’s first weapon in the game and like Cloud’s Buster Sword it’s the weapon that is the most synonymous with the character’s look. Right from the start, it allows Barret to work as the party’s long-range tank fighter.
Barret’s starting weapon is also one of the most balanced in terms of attack damage and magic upgrades. There isn’t enough of a magic boost to make Barret the main magic-user of the party but equipping Fire, Ice, and Lightning Materia will help the big man exploit several enemy weaknesses.
5 Steel Pincers
The Steel Pincers are available for Barret in Chapter 14, and can be purchased from the Moogle Kid at a cost of 7 Moogle Medals. It’s a brand new weapon for the character in the remake and turns Barret into a melee fighter.
The weapon is good for players that enjoy making Barret a physical and magic-using character, but he’s more natural in the long-range. Even though his HP is naturally high Barret’s aggressive fighting style with a melee weapon can make him an easy target in battle.
4 Light Machine Gun
The Light Machine Gun is a weapon that will be obtained automatically at the end of Chapter 6. It’s only slightly more powerful than the Gatling Gun in terms of power but its magic boosts help set Barret up as an effective magic user too.
It’s a balanced weapon for players that want balance in their fighter. Furthermore, it’s got some really useful defensive upgrades that will increase Barret’s maximum HP and increase his overall defense. Additionally, the Light Machine Gun has the Lifesaver ability which when activated can restore an ally’s HP during battle.
3 Wrecking Ball
The Wrecking Ball, like the Steel Pincers, is a melee weapon for Barret if players are inclined to use the big guy as a close-range fighter. While it is still preferred to keep Barret a natural long-range fighter, the Wrecking Ball’s main advantage over the Steel Pincers is its special ability to hit three enemies at once.
Additionally, it can hit with tons of physical attack damage and its upgrades are focused on boosting attacks too. However, it does leave a lot to be desired when it comes to magic boosts and those looking to keep Barret an active magic wielder may want to look elsewhere.
2 EKG Cannon
If players want Barret to be a significant force when it comes to wielding magic then his final weapon the EKG Cannon is the one to use. Barret is able to get this weapon in chapter 16 after paying Hart 10,000 Gil for it.
In addition to the magic boosts, the EKG Cannon has good offensive capabilities due to its critical hit enhancements increasing by 10%. The cannon is a weapon built with the sole purpose of turning Barret into an offensive magic-user but it’s no slouch in the physical department either.
1 The Big Bertha
The Big Bertha can be purchased in the Sector 7 Slums Weapon Shop near the playground area during Chapter 13. Due to its HP boosting capabilities, it turns Barret into the perfect tank especially as he already has the highest HP among the party.
With very good attack and magic stats, the Big Bertha is arguably the best weapon in the game for Barret. It has incredible attack speed, good accuracy, and the special ability Maximum Fury is one of the best attacks in the game. The ability lasts as long as Barret’s ATB will allow and when paired with elemental attack magic Barret is capable of staggering even the most difficult foes in the game with ease.