Tifa Best Builds and Weapons

Tifa Lockhart is a playable character in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth). See the best builds for Tifa, list of weapons, their voice actors, and more about this character's background in this guide!

Tifa Character Guides
Best Builds and Weapons	Romance Guide

Tifa Best Builds

Stage and Chapter	List of Tifa Builds
Endgame (Chapter 9-12)	Tifa Endgame Build
Late Game (Chapter 9-12)	Tifa Late Game Build
Mid Game (Chapter 5-8)	Tifa Mid Game Build
Early Game (Chapter 2-4)	Tifa Early Game Build

Tifa Endgame Build

Equipment	Materia
Járngreipr Weapon Lv. 8	Assess + Strength Up Steadfast Block + Precision Defense Focus HP Up + Speed Up Bahamut Arisen
Cetran Armlet	Enemy Skill + HP Absorption Chakra + Empowerment Auto-Unique Ability + Auto-Weapon Ability Spirit Up + Luck Up
Alternative Armor
・ Valkyrian Bangle ・ Cetran Bracer
Weapon Skills	Utterly Unbridled Strength Critical Hit Rate +5% Critical Hit Damage +10% ATB Charge Rate Up

Accessory	Effect
Karmic Cowl	Increases vitality and spirit by 30. Grants immunity to Slow and Instant Death.

This is a versatile Tifa endgame build designed for spamming weapon abilities and self-sustaining Tifa's HP when playing her as an active character. The build is also designed for non-active use when players only use Tifa when enemies are staggered.

Speed Up allows Tifa to build up ATB charges faster; this synergizes with the Plasma Discharge ability from the Enemy Skill materia paired with HP Absorption, allowing Tifa to siphon health from enemies hit by the discharge whenever she fills an ATB gauge.

The Karmic Cowl along with the HP Up, Chakra, and Spirit Up materia are used to add a bit of survivability for Tifa.

Steadfast Block, Precision Defense Focus, Auto-Unique Ability, and Auto-Weapon Ability materia are for situations where Tifa is a non-active character.

Best Team Synergies

Synergy Skills
Cloud Red XIII	Soaring Flurry Allows Tifa to engage in aerial combat. Best used against flying enemies or hard-to-reach enemy parts.
Barret Aerith Yuffie Cait Sith	Heavenly Ascent Useful for stunlocking in midair or attacking flying enemies.
Synergy Abilities
Aerith Yuffie	United Refocus Adds an extra ATB gauge for Tifa and Aerith or Yuffie; synergizes with this build's combo on Plasma Discharge and HP Absorption.
Aerith	Divine Punishment Useful for dealing magic AoE damage against mobs or bosses with targettable body parts.

Additional Build Notes

• You can swap Assess with any magic element (Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Wind) materia to help out with exploiting enemy weaknesses.
• The Plasma Discharge enemy skill is a reward from the combat simulator; Biological Intel: Blinded by Light.

Tifa Late Game Build

Equipment	Materia
Crystal Gloves Weapon Lv. 6	Precision Defense Focus + First Strike Chakra Speed Up Auto-Weapon Ability Skill Master Bahamut Arisen
Hades Armlet	Enemy Skill + HP Absorption Strength Up + Steadfast Block Time + Barrier ATB Stagger
Alternative Armor
・ Yggdrasill Armlet ・ Garm Bangle
Weapon Skills	Attack Power +20 Opening ATB Bonus Enhanced Techniques

Accessory	Effect
Full Throttle Wristguards	Increases strength by 10%. Increases max HP by 500.

After getting the Crystal Gloves in Chapter 11, you'll be able to deal magic damage with your basic attacks while also adding more stagger with each hit using Unfettered Fury. This makes the Magic Attack stat slightly as important as Tifa's Attack stat.

By following this build, you'll have a high amount of both Attack and Magic Attack stats while also improving Tifa's ability to stagger enemies.

Having the Opening ATB Bonus weapon skill and the First Strike materia equipped allows Tifa to use Unfettered Fury twice earlier. After setting up, you can cast Sonic Boom (Enemy Skill) for damage boosts and Haste so you can keep using the abilities you need.

Stagger Enemy with Unfettered Fury Before Switching to Unbridled Strength

While Unfettered Fury is active, Tifa's unique abilities will deal increased stagger damage but will increase the damage multiplier of staggered enemies less.

You can keep Unfettered Fury on while staggering the enemy then quickly change to Unbridled Strength upon filling the Stagger gauge.

Best Team Synergies

Synergy Skills
Cloud	Soaring Flurry This skill allows Tifa to be launched at a hovering target and engage in aerial combat. Use this to reach flying enemies or when attacking discrete enemy parts that can't be hit while grounded.
Barret Aerith Yuffie	Heavenly Ascent Very useful against smaller enemies as they can be stunlocked in midair with the right combo after the initial launch.
Yuffie	Slip and Slide Back up for when you have no ATB charge for dodging with Focused Strike.
Synergy Abilities
Aerith	United Refocus This ability gives both Tifa and Aerith an extra segment on the ATB gauge. With this build, Tifa can quickly fill all three charges and spam abilities that you need.
Aerith	Divine Punishment Deals heavy damage and sets Tifa's Dolphin Flurry up the next time an enemy is staggered.
Cloud Yuffie	Relentless Rush / Cyclonic Kick Both Synergy Abilities are best reserved for when the target is staggered to maximize damage.

Additional Build Notes

• Try to use Starshower first before using a Limit Break.
• Use Mind Blast (Enemy Skill) for a quick and easy fill on the enemies' Stagger gauges. Take note that this ability can only be used once per battle!

Tifa Mid Game Build

Equipment	Materia
Kaiser Knuckles	HP Up + Enemy Skill Chakra + Assess
Gold Coral Armlet	Precision Defense Focus First Strike Steadfast Block ATB Stagger
Weapon Skills	Concentration

Accessory	Effect
Aureate Pinion	Increases speed by 10
Alternative Accessories
・ Survival Vest ・ Hi-Power Wristguards

We'll switch to a physical build at mid game with Kaiser Knuckles and enhance it with several Complete Materia. Replacing the Sylph Gloves means sacrificing the ATB charge rate weapon skill in exchange for higher physical attack and an extra materia slot.

Instead of spells, your source of elemental damage will be the Enemy Skill materia and the abilities from Tifa's Folio. The default ability from this materia is a 3-in-1 mix of Aero, Bravery, and Faith, all for just one ATB charge.

Be sure to complete the necessary Combat Simulator battles from Chadley to obtain more Enemy Skills!

Best Team Synergies

Synergy Skills
Cloud Red XIII	Soaring Flurry This skill allows Tifa to be launched at a hovering target and engage in aerial combat. Use this to reach flying enemies or when attacking Jenova Emergent's weak spots.
Barret Aerith	Heavenly Ascent Very useful against smaller enemies as they can be stunlocked in midair with the right combo after the initial launch.
Synergy Abilities
Aerith	United Refocus This ability gives both Tifa and Aerith an extra segment on the ATB gauge. With this build, Tifa can quickly fill all three charges and spam abilities that you need.
Aerith	Divine Punishment Deals heavy damage and sets Tifa's Dolphin Flurry up the next time an enemy is staggered.

Additional Build Notes

• Enemy Skill's Plasma Discharge is a good ability on Tifa against enemies weak to Lightning as she can trigger the electric blast more frequently.

Tifa Early Game Build

Equipment	Materia
Sylph Gloves	Chakra Fire and Ice Precision Defense Focus
Hunter's Bangle	Lightning HP Up
Weapon Skills	ATB Charge Rate Up

Accessory	Effect
Aureate Pinion	Increases speed by 10
Alternative Accessories
・ Bulletproof Vest Mk. II ・ Hi-Power Wristguards

This is a balanced build for Tifa during the early game where she can play as a physical stacker and a spellcaster. Options are limited in the first chapters so Tifa can't specialize in physical damage yet.

Fire and Ice Materia will cover you for the majority of the journey as most enemies along the way are weak to either Fire or Ice attacks. The Reverse Gale ability from Sylph Gloves will take care of enemies weak to wind attacks.

Tifa will gain ATB charges fast as the active character, allowing you to reach max chi level with two uses of Unbridled Strength early before spamming other abilities.

Make the ATB gauge fill up even faster with the ATB Charge Rate Up weapon skill along with the Aureate Pinion accessory.

Best Team Synergies

Synergy Skills
Cloud Red XIII	Soaring Flurry This skill allows Tifa to be launched at a hovering target and engage in aerial combat. Use this to reach flying enemies or the Midgardsormr's head.
Barret Aerith	Heavenly Ascent Very useful against smaller enemies as they can be stunlocked in midair with the right combo after the initial launch.
Synergy Abilities
Aerith	United Refocus This ability gives both Tifa and Aerith an extra segment on the ATB gauge. With this build, Tifa can quickly fill all three charges and spam abilities that you need.
Barret	Avalanche Two-Step The Stagger buff from this ability is similar to Cloud and Tifa's. If you decided to bring Barret as the third party member, you can use both Synergy Abilities back-to-back to maximize the enemy's Staggered state.

Additional Build Notes

• Lightning Materia can be replaced with Luck Up or Item Master upon reaching Gabe's Ranch in Junon.
• You can also replace Lightning Materia with Healing if Chakra's recovery isn't enough.

How to Use Tifa and Combat Guide

Tifa Controls

Button / Action	Description
Attack	Basic melee attack
Hold Uppercut	Heavy melee attack
Unique Ability	Changes based on current chi level. Increases Stagger damage multiplier. Lv1 - Whirling Uppercut Lv2 - Omnistrike Lv3 - Rise and Fall
Evade	Quickly dodges to the specified direction. Can be chained with combos.
Commands Menu	Access the Commands Menu for Abilities, Spells, Items, and Synergy
Block	Blocks incoming attacks to reduce damage. Perfect blocks completely negate damage.
Hold Synergy Skills	Opens the menu for available Synergy Skills

Tifa Battle Tips

How to Use Tifa
Increase chi level to extend combos Dodge with Focused Strike Unique ability increases Stagger damage bonus Reach airborne enemies with Synergy Skills

Increase Chi Level to Extend Combos

Unbridled Strength is Tifa's most important skill as it increases her chi level (up to Lv.3). Each level extends her basic attack combos, making it even easier to gain ATB charges, as well as increases their damage.

Her unique ability also increases with her chi level: from Whirling Uppercut, to Omnistrike, then Rise and Fall. Using her unique ability expends one chi level.

Dodge with Focused Strike

Focused Strike is a handy Ability that can both increase Stagger and dodge enemy attacks at the same time. This can also be chained with combos making it a good alternative to the normal dodge.

Once you've memorized the enemies' attack patterns, you can practically spam Focused Strike as perfectly dodging with this ability gives a huge ATB boost.

Unique Ability Increases Stagger Damage Bonus

Try to reach max chi level as early as possible so when an enemy gets Staggered, you can use Tifa's unique abilities to increase the Stagger damage bonus. Your party can then use their strongest attacks to maximize damage before the enemy recovers.

Reach Airborne Enemies with Synergy Skills

Tifa can reach airborne enemies by using the Soaring Flurry and Heavenly Ascent Synergy Skills and perform aerial combos. Dodging while in midair keeps Tifa elevated and allows her to extend her combo.

Tifa Best Combos

Attack	Function
Extended Attack Combo (Chi level 3) Press repeatedly	Use Unbridled Strength twice to reach chi level 3 then press the attack button until the combo ends.
Bonus Divekick Dodge an attack with Focused Strike then use Divekick	Wait for an enemy to attack then dodge it with Focused Strike. The ATB charge that you gain from the perfect dodge can be used to follow up with Divekick or other commands.
Air Juggle (Chi level 3) Heavenly Ascent, mash , Focused Strike, mash , Reverse Gale	This is one method to air juggle smaller enemies using basic attacks and Abilities. Having Tifa at chi level 3 allows her to keep the enemy high enough to hit with Focused Strike, extending the aerial combo before landing with Reverse Gale.

Names given to the above combos are for descriptive purposes. The list above is subject to updates.

Tifa Best Folio Skill Cores

Skill Core / Priority	Type and Effect
Leaping Strikes ★★★	Synergy Ability ・ Allows Tifa to engage in aerial combat or knock small enemies airborne.
United Refocus ★★★	Synergy Ability ・Works well with how fast Tifa can gain ATB charges. ・Using Rise and Fall, Omnistrike, and Whirling Uppercut, in quick succession fills all three bars easily.
Bodyguard ★★★	Synergy Skill ・A useful skill that grants Tifa another defensive option.
Enhanced Techniques ★★★	Stat Boost ・Increases the damage of Unique Abilities by 5%, extremely useful when spamming unique abilities on staggered foes.
Combo Damage Up ★★★	Stat Boost ・An extremely useful stat boost that benefits from Tifa's combo when at Chi level 1 or 2.
Martial Arts Mastery ★★★	Stat Boost ・Increases the duration of Unbridled Strength by 50%, allowing Tifa to maintain higher Chi levels for a longer period.
Utterly Unbridled Strength ★★★	Stat Boost ・Increases the duration of Unbridled Strength by 50%, allowing Tifa to maintain higher Chi levels for a longer period.
Concentration ★★☆	Stat Boost ・Grants a 50% chance of entering battle with Unbridled Strength active, allowing you to save one ATB charge and get early access to Chi level 2.
Opening ATB Bonus ★★☆	Synergy Ability ・Slightly fills the ATB gauge at the start of battle, allowing you to use abilities earlier.
Icy Impulse ★☆☆	Ability ・Useful for exploiting enemy ice weaknesses. Can be used at a range. ・Does not cost MP.
Fiery Impulse ★☆☆	Ability ・Useful for exploiting enemy fire weaknesses. Can be used at a range. ・Does not cost MP.

Tifa Weapon Locations and Stats

Leather Gloves

Leather Gloves
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 26 ・MATK + 18 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: ◯-◯ Ability: Divekick		Weapon Ability ATB Recovery Max HP +200 Magic Attack Power +20 Attack Damage +5% Attack Power +20 MP Recovery Rate Up Max HP +200 Weapon Ability Damage +5% Utterly Unbridled Strength Martial Arts Mastery
Location
Tifa starts with the Leather Gloves as her default weapon. You'll gain access to this weapon as soon as she joins you in Chapter 2.

Sylph Gloves

Sylph Gloves
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 32 ・MATK + 25 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: ◯◯◯ Ability: Reverse Gale		Offensive MP Saver Magic Attack Power +20 Attack Power +20 Max MP +3 Restorative MP Saver Attack Damage +5% Steadfast Concentration MP Recovery Rate Up Enhanced Techniques ATB Charge Rate Up
Location
Beside a Crystalline Crab Enemy in the Mythril Mine

Kaiser Knuckles

Kaiser Knuckles
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 67 ・MATK + 15 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: ◯-◯◯-◯ Ability: Overpower		Limit Gauge Stagger Enemy Parts Damage Up Max MP +3 Synergy Damage Up Magic Attack Power +20 Enhanced Magic Guard Max HP +200 Magic Attack Power +20 Concentration Martial Arts Mastery
Location
In the Cargo Hold of Shinra-8

Dragon Claws

Dragon Claws
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 62 ・MATK + 31 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: - Ability: Starshower		Weapon Ability ATB Recovery Attack Power +20 Martial Arts Mastery ATB Charge Rate Up Weapon Ability Damage +5% Magic Attack Power +20 Attack Damage +5% Attack Power +20 Enhanced Techniques Martial Arts Mastery
Location
Get 42,000 Points in the Desert Rush Minigame

Tiger Fangs

Tiger Fangs
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 58 ・MATK + 46 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: ◯◯◯◯◯ Ability: Chi Trap		Unbridled Stagger Siphon Max Hp +200 Enhanced Physical Guard Selfish Buff Up MP Recovery Rate Up Attack Power +20 Altruistic Recovery +10% Max HP +200 Steadfast Concentration Utterly Unbridled Strength
Location
On a Rocky and Metal Platform in Gongaga Reactor

Crystal Gloves

Crystal Gloves
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 48 ・MATK + 92 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: ◯◯◯◯◯-◯ Ability: Ufettered Fury		MP Limit Magic Attack Power +20 Attack Power +20 Limit Break Damage +10% Max MP +3 Opening ATB Bonus Max MP +3 Enhanced Elements Attack Power +20 Enhanced Techniques
Location
In a Chest on the Way to Nibel Reactor

Járngreipr

Járngreipr
Stats and Ability		Weapon Skills
・ATK + 86 ・MATK + 58 ・DEF + 0 ・MDEF + 0 Slots: ◯-◯◯-◯◯-◯ Ability: True Strike		Ability Critical Hit Rate Up ATB Charge Rate Up Critical Hit Damage +10% Limit Break Damage +10% Critical Hit Rate +5% Weapon Ability Damage +5% Critical Hit Damage +10% Critical Hit Rate +5% Steadfast Concentration Utterly Unbridled Strength
Location
In the Hall of Life in Temple of the Ancients

All Weapons and How to Get Them

Tifa Manuscript Locations

Way of the Fist Locations

Volume	Difficulty Req.	How to Get
Vol. 1	Easy / Normal	Moogle Shop Can be purchased at Merchant Rank 1 for 6 Moogle Medals.
Vol. 2	Easy / Normal	GP Exchange Purchase at the GP Exchange for 100 GP.
Vol. 3	Easy / Normal	Beast Battleground Reward for clearing Prison Tourney: Chicken or the Egg-splosive combat challenge.
Vol. 4	Easy / Normal	Moogle Shop Can be purchased at Merchant Rank 4 for 6 Moogle Medals.
Vol. 5	Easy / Normal	Side Quest: My White-Haired Angel Reward for completing the My White-Haired Angel Side Quest in the Nibel region.
Vol. 6	Easy / Normal	Side Quest: Sand and Circuses Reward for completing the Sand and Circuses Side Quest in the Corel region.
Vol. 7	Hard	Boss: Midgardsormr Reward for defeating Midgardsormr in Chapter 2 Hard Mode.
Vol. 8	Hard	Side Quest: Dreaming of Blue Skies Reward for defeating the Mystic Dragon during the Dreaming of Blue Skies Side Quest, in the Junon region while playing in Hard Mode.
Vol. 9	Hard	Side Quest: Calling All Frogs Reward for defeating the Capparwire during the Calling All Frogs Side Quest, in the Junon region while playing in Hard Mode.
Vol. 10	Hard	Boss: Grasptropod Reward for defeating Grasptropod in Chapter 6 Hard Mode.
Vol. 11	Hard	Side Quest: Bodybuilders in a Bind Reward for completing the Bodybuilders in a Bind Side Quest, in the Corel region while playing in Hard Mode.
Vol. 12	Hard	Classified Intel: Tonberry King Reward for defeatingTonberry King Classified Intel boss in Hard Mode.
Vol. 13	Hard	Side Quest: My White-Haired Angel Reward for defeating the Queen Bee during the My White-Haired Angel Side Quest, in the Nibel region while playing in Hard Mode.
Vol. 14	Hard	Side Quest: Sand and Circuses Reward for completing the Sand and Circuses Side Quest, in the Corel region while playing in Hard Mode.
Vol. 15	Hard	Boss: Tseng Reward for defeating Tseng in Chapter 13 Hard Mode.
Vol. 16	Hard	Combat Simulator: Tifa vs. The Martialists Reward for completing the Legendary Bout: Tifa vs. The Martialists in Combat Simulator.

List of All Manuscripts Guide

Tifa Character Profile and Background

Profile and Voice Actor

Tifa	Voice Actors
	EN: Britt Baron JP: Ayumi Ito
	Weapon
	Gloves
	Chapter Unlocked
	Chapter 2 A New Journey Begins
Official Introduction
Though a loyal member of Avalanche─an underground organization that opposes Shinra─Tifa nevertheless questions the group's extremist tactics, struggling to reconcile her cause with her conscience. This internal conflict reaches a fever pitch when her group's actions effectively lead to the fall of the Sector 7 plate. Racked with guilt, she leaves Midgar in search of a new path to tread.

Cloud's Childhood Friend

Tifa was Cloud's childhood friend back when they were still in Nibelheim. As shown in the first chapter's flashback, the two were reunited when Cloud was sent to survey the Mako Reactor in Mt. Nibel together with Sephiroth.

Tifa Abilities

Ability	Effect / Source
Unbridled Strength	Strengthen basic attacks and increase combo count. Allows Whirling Uppercut to be followed by Omnistrike, then Rise and Fall. Unlocked from the start
Focused Strike	Evade, then unleash a charging attack. Moderately increases stagger. Can use while airborne. Unlocked from the start
Divekick	Leap into the air and unleash a powerful kick. Weapon: Leather Gloves
Reverse Gale	Knock enemies into the air or bring them crashing down with a wind-aspected attack. Launches enemies toward you. Can use while airborne Weapon: Sylph Gloves
Overpower	Use with other attacks to more effectively pressure enemies. Can use while airborne. Weapon: Kaiser Knuckles
Starshower	Unleash a flurry of powerful strikes. Increases strength of next command executed. Weapon: Dragon Claws
Chi Trap	Create an orb of materialized chi that deals damage on contact. Weapon: Tiger Fangs
Unfettered Fury	Imbue your unbridled attacks with non-elemental magic. Increases stagger. Weapon: Crystal Gloves
True Strike	Deliver a tremendous blow at close range. Increases stagger damage bonus. Weapon: Járngreipr

Tifa Limit Breaks

Limit Break	Effect / How to Get
Somersault	Limit Level 1 Launch an enemy high into the air with a Zangan-style swift kick. Unlocked from the start
Dolphin Flurry	Limit Level 2 Unleash an unrelenting stream of acrobatic attacks. Significantly increases stagger. Unlocked from the start
Meteor Strikes	Limit Level 3 Rain down a series of devastating blows, each with the force of a falling meteorite. Unlocked through the Folio Skill Tree at party level 8.

Tifa Synergy Skills

Synergy Skill	Synergy Skill	Folio Level
Leaping Strikes	Partner(s): Cloud, Barret, Aerith, Red XIII Team up with a partner to perform a jumping attack.	1
Slip and Slide	Partner(s): Cloud, Aerith Team up with you partner to dodge and deliver a counterstrike. Dodge at the right time to perform a counterattack.	2

Tifa Synergy Abilities

Synergy Ability	Description	Buff
Relentless Rush	Cloud launches Tifa toward an enemy to attack in tandem. Use on staggered foes to increase potency and extend stagger.	Stagger Extend
Divine Punishment	Tifa makes use of Aerith's magic to deal damage across a wide area. Raises their limit levels.	Limit Level Increase

Tifa's Role in FF7 Rebirth

Acts as the Team's Fighter

Tifa specializes in close combat using Zangan-style martial arts, making her the fighter of the team. Her powerful strikes and quick reflexes easily overwhelm her targets and cripple them before delivering even deadlier blows.

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides

List of All Characters

Other Character Guides

Character Guides
Characters Tier List	Best Builds
Best Party Compositions	Best Abilities

List of Playable Characters

All Characters
Aerith	Barret	Cait Sith	Cloud
Red XIII	Sephiroth	Tifa	Yuffie
Zack