Ironclad Hard Mode Guide

Ironclad is an Artificial Enemy from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth). Read on to learn how to beat Ironclad on Hard Mode, how to pressure and stagger it, as well as its weaknesses, resistances, immunities, drops, and location.

Ironclad Overview

Ironclad Basic Information

169. Ironclad
Iron giants created by the Cetra with both constructive and combative capabilities in mind. So long as a steady supply of lifestream energy is available, they will always stand back up when knocked dowm.
Areas	Species	Movement
Temple of the Ancients	Artificial	Grounded

Ironclad Weaknesses and Resistances

Weaknesses	Normal: Staggered: -
Resistances	Lesser: Greater: - Staggered: -
Immunities	Normal: Staggered: -
Absorbs	Normal: -

Ironclad Droppable Items

Ironclad Abilities

How to Pressure and Stagger Ironclad

Wait for Ironclad to Use Sharpen

You can't pressure Ironclad yourself, and you'll need to wait for it to use Sharpen and automatically pressure yourself. Save your ATB Charges when you can so that you can raise its Stagger Meter as soon as it uses this move.

How to Beat Ironclad on Hard Mode

Ironclad Hard Mode Tips
Best Hard Mode Builds for Ironclad
Activate Plasma Discharge Immediately Cast Barrier Materia Spells Use Barret's Lifesaver Spam Focused Abilities Once Pressured Dodge Condemned and Thanatosian Blade Add Elemental-Fire to Your Armor

Ironclad Hard Mode Builds

Notice from Game8	These Hard Mode builds use equipment that are at least Weapon Level 8. If you don't have enough Materia slots or the right Weapon Skills to complete a character's setup, consider using a different weapon or collect all of their Manuscripts first.

Tifa

Cloud

Barret

Tifa Main DPS
		Weapon		Armor
		Dragon Claws		Cetran Bracer
		Accessory		Summon Materia
		Enhanced Expeditionary Medal		Odin
Weapon Materia			Armor Materia
HP Up MP Up Strength Up First Strike			Revival Skill Master ATB Assist Steadfast Block Precision Defense Focus Enemy Skill Limit Siphon Prayer
Weapon Skills
Enhanced Techniques			Weapon Ability Damage +5%
Attack Power +20			Attack Power +20

Cloud Secondary DPS
		Weapon		Armor
		Sleek Saber		Valkyrian Bangle
		Accessory		Summon Materia
		Transference Module		Gilgamesh
Weapon Materia			Armor Materia
HP Up MP Up Vitality Up Spirit Up Elemental and Lightning			Magnify and Healing Swiftcast and Revival Steadfast Block Precision Defense Focus
Weapon Skills
Attack Power +20			Attack Power +20
ATB Charge Rate Up			ATB Charge Rate Up

You can replace Cloud's accessory with a Gotterdammerung if you have it.

Barret Support
		Weapon		Armor
		Barrage Blaster		Cetran Armlet
		Accessory		Summon Materia
		Enhanced Karmic Cowl		Kujata
Weapon Materia			Armor Materia
HP Up MP Up Vitality Up Spirit Up Steadfast Block Precision Defense Focus			Magnify and Healing Magic Efficiency and Revival Magnify and Barrier First Strike Chakra
Weapon Skills
Trade-Off			Selfish Recovery +25%
Overload Overcharge			Overcharge Protection

Activate Plasma Discharge Immediately

Have Tifa activate Plasma Discharge as soon as the fight starts so that you can exploit the Ironclad's Lightning weakness without having to cast any Thunder spells or equipping Elemental-Lightning on your weapon.

Unlocked by Beating Biological Intel: Blinded by Light

Do note that you'll need to unlock this ability for the Enemy Skill Materia by beating the Biological Intel: Blinded by Light challenge in the Combat Simulator. If ever you haven't beat it yet, check out our guide for it below!

How to Beat Biological Intel: Blinded by Light

Cast Barrier Materia Spells

Since the Ironclad's attacks deal Physical damage, barring Firaga and Graviga, you'll want to have the Barrier buff active to halve the damage of its attacks. Cast this buff when you can to minimize its damage output.

Counter Graviga with Manawall

Graviga will always bring a character down to 1 HP, and the only way to counter this is by having the Manaward buff active. Make sure that you cast Manawall when it uses this move so that you can weaken Graviga's effect while also applying the generally great Barrier buff.

Use Barret's Lifesaver

Have Barret use Lifesaver as soon as he can so that he can redirect Ironclad's damage towards himself. This way you can focus all of your healing towards Barret, and you can save MP and ATB Charges by having him use Chakra instead of having to cast Cure spells.

Spam Focused Abilities Once Pressured

Try to save your ATB Charges for when Ironclad uses Sharpen and automatically pressures itself. Once it uses this move, you'll want to stagger it as soon as possible so that you can stop it from using Thanatosian Blade.

Dodge Condemned and Thanatosian Blade

Make sure that you dodge the Ironclad's Condemned and Thanatosian Blade attacks since these attacks can outright kill you if you're not prepared. Thanatosian Blade is also guaranteed to deal 9999 damage regardless of a character's defense or buffs.

Save Your Limit Breaks to Make Yourself Immune to Damage

In case you can't dodge away from these attacks, you can use a Limit Break to make a character immune to damage. Try to save them for situations like these instead of using them to maximize your damage output.

Add Elemental-Fire to Your Armor

If you're struggling to defeat the Ironclad, you can replace some of your Materia with Elemental-Fire on your Armor. This makes Firaga heal you if your Elemental is maxed out.

Ironclad Location

Primary Region
Northwood
Map Location	World Location
The Ironclad can be encountered in Temple of the Ancients in Chapter 13.

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides

Boss Fight Guide and List of All Bosses

Story Bosses

Optional Bosses