How to Beat Sandstorm Drake

Sandstorm Drake is an optional boss you encounter during the When Words Won't Do side quest in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth). Learn how to beat Sandstorm Drake, its weaknesses and resistances, a list of its moves and attack patterns, as well as tips and rewards for beating it in normal and hard mode.

Sandstorm Drake Weaknesses and Stats

Stats

	Easy	Normal	Hard
HP	2372	3389	?

Weakness and Resistances

Weaknesses	Lesser Resistances	Greater Resistances
Wind	Proportional Damage Petrify	None
Absorbed Elements	Immunities
None	Stone

Changes When Staggered

How to Pressure Sandstorm Drake

Damage Continuously to Deplete Aura

Damage Continuously Until Their Aura Depletes.

The Sandstorm Drake is protected by an aura that spawns harmful tornadoes when hit. As you continue to deal damage, the aura will eventually run out, which will pressure the Sandstorm Drake.

You can hit the Sandstorm Drake from behind to deplete the aura without spawning tornadoes.

How to Pressure and Stagger Enemies

Sandstorm Drake Best Party and Builds

Recommended Party Setup

Recommended Party Setup
Cloud	【Damage / Stagger Buildup】 ・Focused Thrust increases stagger build up. ・Can pressure with elemental spells. Recommended Level: 21
Barret	【Pressure】 ・Can deal continuous damage to help remove protective aura. Recommended Level: 21
Aerith	【Support / Stagger Buildup】 ・Pressure and build up Stagger with elemental spells. Recommended Level: 21

Sandstorm Drake Best Materia to Use

Materia	Effect
Wind	・Deal Wind Elemental Damage ・Best equipped on Cloud or Aerith (high magic stat).
Time	・Cast Stop to help build up stagger faster.
Petrify	・Cast Stop to help build up stagger faster.
Magnify	・Allows you to hit multiple enemies or allies when using its linked Magic or Healing Materia.
First Strike	・Gain a small amount of ATB (large if maxed out) at the start of battle. ・Can be equipped on Cloud or Aerith to help with early casts of Wind at the start of battle.

How to Beat Sandstorm Drake

Sandstorm Drake Boss Fight Tips
Focus on One Enemy at a Time to Prevent Damage Deal Damage Continuously to Deplete Aura and Pressure Use 3★ Time Materia to Stagger Without Spawning Tornadoes Equip Safety Bit to Avoid Petrification

Focus on One Enemy at a Time to Prevent Damage

The Sandstorm Drake is protected by an aura that spawns harmful tornadoes when hit. Focus on a single drake at a time to prevent the unnecessary spawning of multiple tornadoes. Having fewer tornadoes will also make it easier to dodge them.

Deal Damage Continuously to Deplete Aura and Pressure

As you continue to deal damage, the aura will eventually run out, which will pressure the Sandstorm Drake.

You can hit the Sandstorm Drake from behind by constantly switching characters to deplete the aura without spawning any tornadoes.

Use Barret for Continuous Ranged Damage

Barret is the best character for this fight as his Rapid Fire attack can easily deplete the drake's aura, and his range allows him to attack from afar, safe from the tornadoes.

Use 3★ Time Materia to Stagger Without Spawning Tornadoes

If you are finding the tornadoes difficult to dodge or are doing too much damage, you can cast Stop from the Time Materia. The affected Sandstorm Drake can be attacked without spawning tornadoes. However, they cannot be pressured in this state either.

Equip Safety Bit to Avoid Petrification

This fight is especially difficult in Hard Mode due to the Sandstorm Drakes' ability to Petrify your characters, incapacitating them. Equip your characters with the Safety Bit item to prevent them from being petrified.

How to Get Safety Bit

Sandstorm Drake Rewards and Details

Rewards

Drops Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. VIII on Hard Mode

You can obtain the Sharpshooter's Companion Vol. VIII Manuscript for Barret by defeating the Sandstorm Drake on Hard Mode.

List of All Manuscripts Guide

Basic Information and Details

Sandstorm Drake
Location	Chapter Unlocked
Junon Region	Chapter 4
Species	Movement
Biological	Flying
Details
A rare cyclone drake variant. Creates sandstorms with its powerful wings to trap and weaken its prey. Attacking the aura that shrouds it will produce tornadoes. The aura will weaken with each tornado spawned, and once it has vanished, the drake will become pressured. Attacking it from behind will weaken the aura without creating tornadoes.

Sandstorm Drake Location and Side Quest

Encountered During When Words Won't Do Side Quest

You can encounter Sandstorm Drake during the When Words Won't Do side quest in the Junon Region. Sandstorm Drake will appear as one of the enemies in the way while you're following Salmon.

When Words Won't Do Walkthrough

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides

Boss Fight Guide and List of All Bosses

Story Bosses

Optional Bosses