Players can unlock abilities and bonuses by raising Buster Sword Proficiency in Crisis Core Reunion. Read on to learn how to quickly raise the Buster Sword Proficiency to 100 percent, all farming methods, as well as the abilities and bonuses players can unlock.

Buster Sword Proficiency Farming Guide

Use Battle Stance Effectively

Action	Proficiency Gained
Guard Successfully during Battle Stance	0.07% (Goes up by 0.01% each time)
Battle Stance → Strong Attack	0.25% (0.02-0.03% Per Enemy)
Battle Stance → Use Command Materia	0.25% (0.02-0.03% Per Enemy)

For every successful action above, you will increase your Buster Sword Proficiency by 0.01% - 0.03% depending on whether you've done any of the actions.

You can only gain up to 0.57% Buster Sword Proficiency per battle, so missions with long battles such as 1000 Shinra Troops will not give you a lot of Proficiency. You may get a random 10% Proficiency Boost during battle, which happens rarely.

Proficiency Percentage Cap

Action	Proficiency Gained
Guard Successfully during Battle Stance	Around 26.6%
Battle Stance → Strong Attack	Around 26.6%
Battle Stance → Use Command Materia	Around 26.6%

This is only an estimation above. It seems that you can only raise your Proficiency for each of the three actions by around 26.6%. Which you can't use the action if you managed to collect a total of 26.6% Proficiency with it.

Get a 5% or 10% Boost After Learning an Ability

Ability Learned	Bonus Proficiency Gained
Barrier Piercing Barrier Break	5％
Damage Limit Break	10%

You will either get a 5% or 10% boost to your Buster Sword Proficiency when you attain certain abilities. The boost will depend on which abilities you have learned.

Methods for Increasing Proficiency Change Over Time

Increasing Buster Sword Proficiency changes over time. In the early stages of the game, it can be easy to raise up to around 50%. The further players raise the efficiency of the Buster Sword, the more specific the requirements are in further increasing proficiency.

How to Get 100% Buster Sword Proficiency

Penetrate Through Enemy Barriers

Mission	Mission Details
Rematch with Ifrit	Availability Chapter 2 How to Unlock Beginning of Ch. 2
	Enemy Status Effects None
	Clear Rewards ・Ifrit Materia

If you are unable to raise your Buster Sword Proficiency above 95%, you probably haven't unlocked the Barrier Piercing ability. We recommend defeating a lot of enemies who can produce Barriers.

We recommend doing the M9-6-5: Life Form of Energy as there are enemies that use Barriers here!

Unlockable Buster Sword Abilities & Bonuses

List of Unlockable Abilities

Profeciency	Unlocked Ability
0%	Enhanced Guard Zack’s Guard now reduces damage by 80%, both in and out of Battle Stance.
0%	Necromose Zack regains a bit of MP and AP every time he defeats an enemy..
10~15％	Damage Limit Break Damage threshold from Strong Attacks during Battle Stance will increase from 9999 to 99999.
55％ - 70%	Barrier Piercing Attacks ignore the effects of Barrier when dealing DMG.
70% - 85％	Barrier Break Attacks take down the effects of Barrier when dealing DMG.
100％	Red Aura Zack emits a red aura. The damage received from most attacks is 0. Some attacks like Ultima can bypass this.

It is important to note that the proficiency numbers shown above are where the abilities are likely to show up, however there's no guarantee that it will always activate.

How to Unlock Each Ability

Damage Limit Break

Effect	Damage threshold from Strong Attacks during Battle Stance will increase from 9999 to 99999.

Damage Limit Break can be acquired by going into Battle Stance and using your Strong Attacks to defeat enemies.

Barrier Piercing

Effect	Attacks ignore the effects of Barrier when dealing DMG.

Barrier Piercing may be unlocked by defeating a lot of enemies who use Barrier. For those who stuck at 90% Proficiency, it may be a good idea to try to defeat enemies with barriers.

Barrier Break

Effect	Attacks take down the effects of Barrier when dealing DMG..

Barrier Break can also be unlocked by defeating a lot of enemies who use Barrier. You will acquire this ability while also trying to get Barrier Piercing!

Best Missions to Raise Buster Sword Proficiency

Shinra Basic Training

Mission	Mission Details
Shinra Basic Training	Availability Chapter 1 How to Unlock During Chapter 3, talk to the man in Sector 8 at the top of the stairs about the threa to Shinra.
	Enemy Status Effects None
	Clear Rewards ・Elixir

The first mission you encounter in the story. Enemies here will deal attacks that deal multiple hits, so it is easy to earn Buster Sword Proficiency through the Guard Stance.

We recommend doing this mission if Zack is currently at a low level.

M1-1-1: Shinra Basic Training Mission

Life Form of Energy

Mission	Mission Details
Life Form of Energy	Availability Chapter 3 - 10 How to Unlock Clear "Biomechanical Threats"
	Enemy Status Effects Stun
	Clear Rewards ・SP Master

This mission will dish out more than 5 enemies with Barrier against you. If you're going to get the Barrier Piercing and Barrier Break abilities, go for this mission.

You can defeat enemies easily by going through Battle Stance and casting Darkness. Zack should have 255 VIT and SPR to not get knocked out quickly.

M9-6-5: Life Form of Energy

50 Shinra Troops

Mission	Mission Details
50 Shinra Troops	Availability Chapter 9 / 10 How to Unlock Clear "Shinra Advanced Training"
	Enemy Status Effects None
	Clear Rewards ・Hero Drinkx2

Most missions will make you reach the maximum obtainable proficiency by defeating around 20 enemies in a single combat instance with Guard stance. Missions like 50 Shinra Troops are great as they instantly put you in a combat situation.

You'll want to defeat enemies as efficiently as possible by guarding into a Strong Attack or by using AoE Command Materia.

M1-1-3: 50 Shinra Troops Mission

Unusually Strong Monsters

Mission	Mission Details
Unusually Strong Monsters	Availability Chapter 3 - 10 How to Unlock Clear "Further Below"
	Enemy Status Effects Stop, Stun
	Clear Rewards ・Protect Ring

This Mission will help in not just raising Buster Sword Proficiency, but it will also help you in earning SP. If Zack is high leveled, he can use the Magical Punch Materia to defeat small enemies in just one use.

M9-5-3: Unusually Strong Monsters

Buster Sword Proficiency Explained

Points Gained During Battle Stance

Buster Sword Proficiency is an in-game feature unlocked after obtaining the Buster Sword during Chapter 5 of the Main Story. You can gain Buster Sword Proficiency by doing certain actions in combat during Battle Stance.

When you reach certain Buster Sword Proficiency percentages, you will unlock new abilities.

Crisis Core Reunion Related Guides

Beginner's Guide: Tips & Tricks

Mechanics and Combat Tips and Tricks

Mechanics and Combat Guides
DMW System Explained	Battle System Guide
All Controls and Button Mapping	All Status Effects and How to Remove Them
All Base Stats Explained	SP Conversion Guide
How to Level Up Zack	Level Farming Guide
Save Points: How to Save	Buster Sword Proficiency Farming
DMW 100% Progress Guide	Break HP, AP, MP and Damage Limits
How to Heal: Potions & Magic

Materia Tips and Tricks

Materia Tips and Tricks
Best Early to Mid-Game Materia	Best Materia and How to Get Them
How to Level Up Materia	Materia Fusion Guide

Equipment and Accessories Tips and Tricks

Equipment and Accessories Tips and Tricks
Best Equipment and Best Accessories	Genji Armor Set Guide
How to Get More Accessory Slots

General Information

General Tips and Tricks
Trophy Guide and Achievements	PC Spec Requirements
How Long to Beat Crisis Core	All Missable Events
Reporter Location: Should You Report or Let Him Go?	Fan Club Guide: Which to Join
Ending Explained	All Changes, Differences, and New Features
Version Differences: PS4/Switch/PC	Difficulty Differences Guide
How to Unlock New Game Plus	Beginner's Guide
How to Find and Unlock All Shops	Gil Farming Guide
SP Farming Guide