How to Pressure and Stagger Enemies

Check out how to Pressure and Stagger enemies in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (FF7 Rebirth). Read our detailed guide to learn how Pressured and Staggered work and various ways to inflict them on enemies!

How to Pressure Enemies

1. Pressure Methods Vary Per Enemy
2. Exploit Weaknesses

Pressure Methods Vary Per Enemy

A lot of the enemies, mini-bosses, and bosses in FF7 Rebirth will have unique Pressure Conditions. In order to figure out how to pressure an enemy, use Assess Materia in combat to scan them for weaknesses.

Use Assess Materia to check Pressure strategy of an enemy

Assess Materia grants the Assess ability to the character that has it equipped. During combat, spend one ATB charge on Assess to scan the enemy for weaknesses. The pressure strategy will appear as yellow text underneath the enemy description.

Note: You do not need to keep re-scanning an enemy in order to view its Assess screen. To review its weaknesses, simply hit the controller touchpad to bring up the Assess page of enemies you've scanned during the fight.

Exploit Weaknesses to Pressure Regular Enemies

Barring special pressure conditions, most regular enemies can be easily pressured by exploiting their weaknesses. After using Assess, take note of an enemy's elemental weakness and use related spells to quickly pressure it.

How to Stagger Enemies

1. Attack Enemies to Fill Up Stagger Gauge
2. Pressured Enemies Build Up Stagger Faster
3. Use Abilities that Filll the Stagger Gauge Faster
4. Use Abilities Designed to Follow Up on Stagger
5. Use Synergy Abilities to Extend and Amplify Stagger

Attack Enemies to Fill Up Stagger Gauge

The Stagger Gauge can be located below an enemy's HP bar. You can fill up the Stagger Gauge simply by hitting the enemy with attacks and abilities.

Using Spells or Magic Abilities that exploit an enemy's weakness will provide a huge increase to their Stagger Gauge.

Pressured Enemies Build Up Stagger Faster

Enemies who enter a Pressured Sate will build up Stagger faster. Make sure to press the attack button once you see Pressured appear underneath the Stagger Gauge to quickly build up Stagger.

Tifa's Overpower ability can help pressure enemies faster, especially if these enemies get pressured if they take a certain amount of damage.

Use Abilities that Fill Up the Stagger Gauge Faster

Character	Abilities that Fill Up Stagger
Cloud	Focused Thrust
Barret	Focused Shot Bonus Round
Tifa	Focused Strike Unfettered Fury
Cait Sith	Moogle Mine

Some character Abilities can fill up a considerable amount of Stagger to enemies. These abilities are especially effective when the enemy is Pressured.

Use Abilities Designed to Follow Up on Stagger

Increased Damage While Staggered
Cloud	Infinity's End
Increases Stagger Damage Bonus
Tifa	Whirling Uppercut / Omnistrike / Rise and Fall True Strike
Aerith	Ray of Judgement
Cait Sith	Moogle Knuckle

The abilities above thrive on staggered targets, either simply dealing more damage to them, or making their damage multiplier higher and enabling other party members to deal more damage.

Once you stagger an enemy, it would be best to follow up with these attacks to further optimize the situation and deal maximum damage. Use Tifa's unique abilities or Cait Sith's Moogle Knuckle to increase the stagger damage multiplier, then unleash Cloud's Infinity's End.

Weapon Abilities Explained

Use Synergy Abilities to Extend and Amplify Stagger

Character	Synergy Ability and Partner
Cloud	Relentless Rush (Tifa)
Aerith	Sweet-and-Sour Salvo (Barret)
Barret	Avalanche Two-Step (Tifa) Purrfect Shot (Cait Sith)
Red XIII	Ringmaster (Aerith) Call of the Wild (Tifa)
Yuffie	Halcyon Descent (Cloud) Cyclonic Kick (Tifa)
Cait Sith	Mega Moogle Mash (Aerith)

Apart from individual abilities, Synergy Abilities are also extremely effective when it comes to following up on staggered opponents. The Synergy Abilities above not only do significantly more damage to staggered enemies, but also prolongs stagger duration.

Should you have enough Synergy Charges to spend, do not hesitate to use these abilities to deal maximum damage to staggered targets!

All Synergy Abilities

What is Staggered?

Leaves Enemies Incapacitated

Enemies in a Staggered state will be incapacitated and take increased damage from your characters. This is ideal for taking down enemies as soon as possible without taking a lot of damage.

Stagger can be applied by inflicting Pressure on enemies to fill up their Stagger Gauge faster. Once the Stagger Gauge is full, enemies will be reduced to a Staggered state for a short amount of time.

Attacking Staggered Enemies Fills Up ATB

Hitting Staggered enemies will also fill up your ATB gauge quickly. This allows you to unleash Abilities and Spells sooner.

ATB Guide: How to Fill the ATB Gauge

Staggering Enemies Fill Up the Limit Gauge

When Stagger has been inflicted on an enemy, the character who Staggered the enemy will have their Limit Gauge filled up.

List of Limit Breaks and Locations

FF7 Rebirth Related Guides

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

Beginner's Guide and Getting Started

Gameplay System Tips and Tricks

Character Stat Guides

Mount Guides

Farming Guides

Post-Game Guides

Story Guides