FF7 Rebirth

ATB Guide: How to Fill the ATB Gauge

FF7 Rebirth Walkthrough Team

Last updated on: February 24, 2024 05:29 AM

The ATB, or Active Time Battle Gauge, in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth) is a major battle mechanic that enables the usage of Abilities in battle. Check out our guide to learn how to fill the ATB Gauge and what it's for.

List of Contents

How to Fill the ATB Gauge
Tips and Tricks
What is the ATB Guage
Related Guides

How to Fill the ATB Gauge

Fills Automatically Over Time

The ATB Gauge fills up on its own, albeit very slowly. So long as your party is engaged in combat, you and your party members will steadily gain ATB charges, so defending against attacks won't be detrimental to your progress.

Normal Attacks Help Fill the Gauge

In addition to ATB Abilities, you and your teammates can attack with your equipped weapons and even unleash skills that use up neither MP nor ATB charges. Using such attacks can help with filling up the ATB Gauge faster.

Block Attacks as Much as Possible

Successfully blocking incoming attacks can also fill your ATB Gauge in addition to reducing the damage you take.

ATB Gauge Tips and Tricks

Get the First Strike

First Strikes are will result in a partially filled ATB Gauge at the start of battle. Previously, the First Strike can only be attained if the First Strike Materia is embedded into a weapon. However, in FF7 Rebirth, players can get preemptive strikes more actively.

Upon approaching an enemy, a detection gauge will fill up. Once it's full, a battle commences. If players strike an enemy before this gauge becomes full, they will get successfully initiate a First Strike.

Parry Incoming Attacks

Parrying enemy attacks also contribute largely to the ATB Gauge. However, this may be a little tricky to pull off as you need to keep a close eye on your enemies' attack patterns and time your block right.

Switch to a Character

A subtle difference that many players may not notice is that the active character's ATB Gauge charges faster than those of inactive ones. If you have your sights set on a particular character's ability, you may want to switch to them for faster results.

Cast Haste for Even Faster Charging

Casting Haste on yourself and your teammates can help accelerate the ATB Gauge's charging time so be sure to cast it every chance you get. On the flip side, having Slow cast on you will have the completely opposite effect.

Other status ailments like Stopor Sleep are also detrimental to your ATB Gauge. Should you be afflicted with this status ailment, be sure to cast Esuna or use items like Remedy to negate its effects.

What is the ATB Guage

For Skills and Abilities

Apart for normal attacks, Cloud and his companions can execute unique abilities and cast spells which consume ATB charges. These abilities can be accessed in the Commands Menu and must be manually selected in order to be executed.

Helps With Filling the Synergy Gauge

Certain Abilities that use ATB charges give the caster Synergy Charges which enables them to use Synergy Abilities. These Abilities will have two party members combine their attacks to deliver a devastating blow.

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides

FF7 Rebirth Wiki

FF7 Rebirth Complete Guide

All FF7 Rebirth Guides

FF7 Rebirth Guides
Story Walkthrough	Bosses
Side Quests	Queen's Blood
Minigames	Characters
Romance	World Intel
Materia	Weapons
Armor	Accessories
Limit Breaks	Folio Skill Tree
Chocobos	Maps and Locations
Combat Simulator	Crafting Materials
Enemies	News and Game Info
Demo Walkthrough

FF7 Rebirth - Recommended Guides

Beginner's Guide and Getting Started

Guides for Getting Started
Beginner's Guide	Best Gameplay Settings
Difficulty Setting Differences	Should You Watch The Story So Far?
How to Claim Bonuses	How to Skip Chapter 1
Trophy List and Guide	List of Controls

Gameplay System Tips and Tricks

Gameplay Tips and Tricks
Combat System Explained	Battle Icons and Status Effects Explained
Active and Classic Combat Style Differences	First Strike Explained
How to Restore HP and MP	How to Change Your Party
How to Pressure and Stagger Enemies	How to Fill the ATB Gauge
How to Attack Flying Enemies	How to Counter and Parry Attacks
How to Dash (Run)	How to Use Terrain Actions
How to Run Away (Fleeing)	Chocobo Customization Guide
How to Fix Insert Data Disc Bug	How to Fast Travel Across Regions
All Beach Outfits and Which to Choose	How to Go Down Ladders Fast
Steal List & Guide: Best Items to Steal	Morph List & Guide: Best Items to Morph
What to Spend GP On and All Gold Saucer Items	Missable Items, Events, and Quests
Weapon Upgrades Explained	How to Get Unbound
How to Take Photos in Photo Mode	All Synergy Abilities and How to Use
How to Save the Game and Delete Save Files	Shinra Boxes Explained
Weapon Abilities Explained	How to Lock On to Enemies
How to Farm GP	-

Character Stat Guides

Character Stats Guides
Character Stats Explained	What Does Attack Do?
What Does Defense Do?	What Does Magic Do?
What Does Magic Defense Do?	What Does Magic Attack Do?
What Does Strength Do?	What Does Spirit Do?
What Does Vitality Do?	What Does Speed Do?
What Does Luck Do?	-

Mount Guides

Mount Guides
All Mounts and How to Unlock	How to Get the Buggy
How to Get the Tiny Bronco	How to Get the Wheelie (Segway)

Farming Guides

Farming Guides
Gil Farming Guide - How to Farm Gil (Money) Fast	AP Farming Guide - How to Farm AP Fast
EXP Farming Guide - How to Level Up Fast	How to Increase Party Level and Rewards
Moogle Medal Farming Guide	SP Farming Guide - How to Farm SP Fast

Post-Game Guides

Post-Game Guides
Chapter Select and New Game Plus Explained	Post-Game Content and How to Get 100% Clear
Hard Mode Difficulty Guide	List of All Manuscripts Guide
All Johnny's Treasure Trove Locations	How to Recover MP in Hard Mode

Story Guides

Story Guides
How to Escape the Depths	How to Get Into the Crow's Nest
How to Get the Gondola Ticket	How to Wake Up the Dead Businessmen
Should You Pay 2,000 Gil to the Bandits?	Swindling Seminar Solution
Which Direction Should You Set the Minecart?	World Intel Guide and Rewards
Which Direction Should You Set the Minecart?	All Pirate Relic Locations
Which Gift to Choose for Aerith?	How to Unlock the Elevator with Yuffie
Point of No Return	-

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ATB Guide: How to Fill the ATB Gauge

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ATB Guide: How to Fill the ATB Gauge

How to Fill the ATB Gauge

Fills Automatically Over Time

Normal Attacks Help Fill the Gauge

Block Attacks as Much as Possible

ATB Gauge Tips and Tricks

Get the First Strike

Parry Incoming Attacks

Switch to a Character

Cast Haste for Even Faster Charging

What is the ATB Guage

For Skills and Abilities

Helps With Filling the Synergy Gauge

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides