How to Beat M.O.T.H. Unit | Boss Fight Guide

This is a guide to beating the Boss M.O.T.H. Unit in the game Final Fantasy 7 Remake (FF7R). This article explains M.O.T.H. Unit's attack patterns, weaknesses, and tips and strategies for defeating them.

M.O.T.H. Unit Stats and Information

Basic Information

M.O.T.H. Unit
Species	Movement	Type
Mechanical	Grounded	Normal

Description

A self-piloting antipersonnel weapon manufactured by Shinra's Advanced Weaponry Division. This consummate killing machine is armed with a drill on its head, claws on its arms, and rotating blades on its torso.

Assess (Tips)

Once it charges up enough electricity, it unleashes a highly potent special attack. For a short time after this attack, the unit is susceptible to staggering. In fact, this is the only time its stagger gauge can be filled.

M.O.T.H. Unit Stats

M.O.T.H. Unit 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 M.O.T.H. Unit.

List of Enemy Skills

M.O.T.H. Unit Boss Fight Guide

M.O.T.H. Unit Abilities and Attack Patterns

Name	Element	Blockable?	Knockdown?	Status
Double Claw	-	Yes	Yes	-
	Slices at a target with its claws while charging towards them.
Speed Rush	-	Yes	No	-
	Moves in a figure eight while spinning its saw.
Drillstrike	-	Yes	Yes	-
	Charges at a target at high speed.
Chainsaw	-	Yes	No	-
	Spins its saw while acting.
Chainstorm	-	Yes	No	-
	Shoots 8 smaller saw blades towards a target that move around the arena.
Shock		Yes	No	-
	Charges an electric shock that knocks the target down.
HIgh Voltage		Yes	Yes	-
	Shoots a small charge of electric energy.
Ultra High Voltage		Yes	Yes	-
	Charges up electrical energy and fires it off at a target. Often follows up with High Voltage and Shock.

*Status Effects and Ailments Guide

Best Characters for this Boss

Available Characters

Cloud

Barret

You will fight M.O.T.H Units in Chapter 17 while controlling Cloud and Barret so they are the only available characters in this fight.

Recommended Characters

M.O.T.H Unit's rotating blades will be active at the beginning, which makes it difficult for Cloud to get close as the rotating blades can whittle down his HP quickly. During this time, have Barret do most of the attacking. Equip his weapon with Elemental + Lightning / Wind materias to make him deal more damage.

After it charges itself with electricity, it will withdraw its rotating blades. Cloud can now get close safely once this happens and deliver his melee attacks. You can also use his Punisher Mode's auto-counter against M.O.T.H Unit's close-ranged attacks and Drillstrike.

M.O.T.H. Unit Attack Phases

Tips & Strategies for Beating M.O.T.H. Unit

★ Strategy Checklist ★ (Click to jump)
Stay Away from the Rotating Blades Block the Flying Blades Watch Out for Its Voltage Attacks Vulnerable After Using Ultrahigh Voltage

Stay Away from the Rotating Blades

M.O.T.H. Unit's Initial State

At the beginning, M.O.T.H. Unit's rotating blades are active so getting close to it or attacking it with melee attacks is dangerous as the blades can whittle down your party members' HP quickly. Use Barret during this phase to deal damage from afar safely.

If you really like using Cloud, use long-ranged attacks like Blade Burst and lightning / wind spells or use the Punisher Mode's auto-counter against its melee attacks and Drillstrike.

You can also resort to using Barrier to increase your defense against most of M.O.T.H. Unit's attacks.

After First Charge

After a while, M.O.T.H. Unit will charge itself with electricity and withdraw its rotating blades. This will be an opening for Cloud's melee attacks so make the most out of this opportunity.

Block the Flying Blades

M.O.T.H. Unit will occassionally send out flying blades from its torso. These blades will bounce across the room, making it very difficult to dodge, so your safest option is to have your guard up as soon as M.O.T.H. Unit opens up its torso for these blades.

Watch Out for Its Voltage Attacks

The first time M.O.T.H. Unit charges electricity gives it access to High Voltage, which deals heavy lightning-based damage to a single target. Its second charge gives it access to Ultrahigh Voltage, an improved version of High Voltage, which deals even more damage.

Do not try to dodge these attacks as they are extremely fast. Your only way out of these attacks is by blocking and hoping that your HP and magic defense are enough to keep you from losing consciousness.

...or just simply link Elemental + Lightning materias on your armor. Problem solved.

Vulnerable After Using Ultrahigh Voltage

As the assessment suggests, M.O.T.H. Unit will become vulnerable for staggering after it uses Ultrahigh Voltage. Use this opportunity to make it regret its existence by bombarding it with your most devastating attacks, preferably lightning and wind attacks.

After this short period, M.O.T.H. Unit will regain mobility and start over from its initial state.

Boss Battle Related Articles

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Major Story Bosses

VR Mission Bosses

Story Sub-Bosses

Monster Variants & Optional Sub-Bosses

Intergrade and INTERmission Bosses