How to Beat Swordipede | Boss Guide

This is a guide to beating the Boss Swordipede in the game Final Fantasy 7 Remake (FF7R). This article explains Swordipede's attack patterns, weaknesses, and tips and strategies for defeating them.

Swordipede Basic Information

Stats and Weaknesses

Swordipede
Species	Movement	Type
Artificial Life	Flying	Boss

Description

A bionic species created by Shinra's R&D Division. These specimens are difficult to control, as their behavior regulation mechanisms have not yet been perfected. They circle in the sky searching for quarry, then swoop down to attack.

Assess (Tips)

Tactical data not available.

Swordipede Stats

Swordipede Weaknesses & Resistances

Stagger Rates

Melee	Ranged	Magic	Fire
×1	×1	×1	×1
Ice	Lightning	Wind	-
×1	×1	×1	-

Stagger Length

Rewards

Learnable Enemy Skills

No Enemy Skills can be learned from Swordipede.

List of Enemy Skills

Swordipede Boss Battle Guide

Swordipede Abilities and Attack Patterns

Name	Element	Blockable?	Knockdown?	Status
Cutter	-	Yes	No	-
	Deals damage with the sawblades on its bottom side.
Saw Blade	-	Yes	No	-
	Starts the saw blade in its mouth up and goes after a target.
Live Wire		Yes	No	-
	Envelops itself in electricity before dashing wildly toward your party members.
Energy Volley	-	Yes	No	-
	After spinning around wildly, comes to a slow and drops balls of energy around the arena.
Saw-Toothed Spin	-	Yes	Yes	-
	Turns its body into a giant saw and spins around the arena.

*Status Effects and Ailments Guide

Best Characters for This Boss

Available Characters

Cloud	Barret	Tifa	Aerith
Yuffie	Sonon

Best Characters and Equipment

During the first phase, you should use Barret as your main attacker and Cloud as your support since there will come to a point where Swordipede will fly higher. After its HP drops to about half of the bar during the first phase, it will get enraged and will move on to the second phase where the others will finish it off.

Before the second phase, you will have an opportunity to open the menu and change your equipment. Use Aerith as your main attacker and Tifa as your support as Aerith's long range attacks will be much effective in this battle.

Swordipede Attack Phases

Phase 1

Phase 2

Tips & Strategies for Beating Swordipede

★ Strategy Checklist ★ (Click to jump)
Use Barret in the First Phase Remove Auto-Lock During Energy Volley Open the Menu Before the Second Phase Use Aerith in the Second Phase Watch Out for the Saw-Toothed Spin

Use Barret in the First Phase

Cloud will have a hard time damaging Swordipede in the first phase as you will need to hit its head to deal a noticeable damage, otherwise it will just be "blocked". Attacking it head on will just make it easier for Swordipede to damage you with its circular saw so using Barret would be your best bet.

Remove Auto-Lock During Energy Volley

Locking-in to Swordipede's head will make it easier to damage it but it will also make it more difficult to dodge the orbs from Energy Volley. Remove your auto-lock by pressing R3 again and adjust your camera angle so that you will see where each of the orbs will hit.

Open the Menu Before the Second Phase

During the cutscene after the first phase, you will be given an opportunity to open the menu and prepare for the next phase by holding the square button. Take advantage of this to optimize Tifa and Aerith's equipments. You can also transfer equipments and materias from Cloud and Barret!

Use Aerith in the Second Phase

Same as Barret during the first phase, Aerith will make it much easier to deal damage with her long-ranged attacks during the second phase. Increase her damage output by equipping her Magic Up materia and your highest leveled elemental materia. Lightning materia is recommended as it is easier to hit and will strike through the pillar in the middle. To make it more devastating, use Arcane Ward on Aerith before casting your Thundaga!

Watch Out for the Saw-Toothed Spin

Saw-Toothed Spin is a very quick attack so you cannot run away from it unlike Live Wire and Energy Volley. Instead, you should watch where it spins. Each spin will either be through the inner or outer area of the circle. It will move really quick so you need to focus on where it spins. After spinning, Swordipede will stop for a while so unleash your most powerful attacks before it moves again.

Boss Battle Related Articles

List of Boss Battles

Major Story Bosses

VR Mission Bosses

Story Sub-Bosses

Monster Variants & Optional Sub-Bosses

Intergrade and INTERmission Bosses