EKG Cannon

The EKG Cannon is a ranged weapon for Barret in Final Fantasy VII Remake. It provides Barret the Point Blank ability, a close-range ability that knocks down a target.
The weapon provides the highest attribute once fully leveled up, while providing a range of upgrades that improve Barret's durability. This makes the weapon well-suited to Barret in a more supporting role for the party.
==Obtained==
The EKG Cannon can be bought from Hart in "A Helping Hand", during Chapter 16, "The Belly of the Beast". The party must ask Hart for a hint for 10,000 gil.
==Upgrades==
===Materia slots===
Materia slotspurchased	MinimumWeapon Level	Slots
0 	1 	
1 	1 	
2 	4 	
3 	5 	
4 	5 	
5 	6 	
===Skills===
EKG Cannon Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 10	EKG Cannon Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 10	EKG Cannon Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 10
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +10 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Max HP Up 	Max HP +300 	Increases maximum HP.
Max HP Up 	Max HP +250 	Increases maximum HP.
Critical Hit Rate Up 	Critical Hit Rate 10% Boost 	Increases probability of landing a critical hit.
Critical Damage Up 	Critical Hit Damage 10% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by critical hits.
Needs More Materia 	New Materia Slot 	Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots.
EKG Cannon Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 14	EKG Cannon Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 14	EKG Cannon Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 14
Ability Critical Hit Rate Up 	Weapon Ability Critical Hit Rate 10% Boost 	Increases probability of landing a critical hit with an ability.
Desperate Striker 	Critical Hit Rate 50% Boost with Low HP 	Significantly increases probability of landing a critical hit when HP is 25% or lower.
Desperate Physical Defense 	Physical Defense +10 with Low HP 	Increases defense when HP is 25% or lower.
Desperate Magic Defense 	Magic Defense +10 with Low HP 	Increases magic defense when HP is 25% or lower.
Needs More Materia 	New Materia Slot 	Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots.
EKG Cannon Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 16	EKG Cannon Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 16	EKG Cannon Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 16
ATK Up 	Attack Power +10 	Increases attack power attribute.
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +15 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Max HP Up 	Max HP +350 	Increases maximum HP.
Enhanced Attack 	Attack Damage 5% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by basic attacks.
Enhanced Overcharge 	Overcharge Damage 10% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by Overcharge.
Critical Damage Up 	Critical Hit Damage 10% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by critical hits.
Needs More Materia 	New Materia Slot 	Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots.
Needs More Materia 	New Materia Slot 	Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots.
EKG Cannon Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 18	EKG Cannon Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 18	EKG Cannon Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 18
ATK Up 	Attack Power +10 	Increases attack power attribute.
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +15 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Desperate Striker 	Critical Hit Rate 50% Boost with Low HP 	Significantly increases probability of landing a critical hit when HP is 25% or lower.
Bloodsucker 	Bloodsucker 	Recover HP when enemies are defeated in battle.
Reprieve 	Avoid Incapacitation once per battle. 	Survive an otherwise fatal attack with 1 HP. Can only activate once per battle.
Needs More Materia 	New Materia Slot 	Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots.
==Use==
The EKG Cannon's main strength is its high magic attribute, making Barret well-suited to spellcasting. Because its abilities also increase Barret's durability, it is well-suited to using Barret in the role as a tank, taking advantage of his Lifesaver and Steelskin abilities to draw fire away from enemies and protect the party. Although the EKG Cannon is not optimal for physical damage, it does provide boosts to his critical hit rate to allow Barret to keep up the damage. Nonetheless, with EKG Cannon, this will be secondary damage, and primarily used to build his ATB gauge.
Compared to Barret's other weapons, EKG Cannon has the lowest attack power attribute. Although its magic attribute is higher than the , the Light Machine Gun has both a higher attack power attribute, and more abilities that improve Barret's spellcasting, making the two fairly comparable. The is also comparable, being a more versatile weapon as its attack power attribute is equal, while the excel at spellcasting and can focus Barret towards close-range area-of-effect physical damage.
Equipping the EKG Cannon morphs Barret's role into more of a supporting character, where he both tanks damage for the party and provides spellcasting potential. This role fits into Barret's playstyle and takes advantage of his abilities as well as his naturally high HP. Its drawback is that Barret's low MP pool makes him unreliable for spellcasting, while the lower physical damage wastes some of his physical damage potential. Nonetheless, the EKG Cannon is great to equip if the player is using Barret for a supporting role and to optimize him toward magical damage.
==Behind the scenes==
The concept art for the EKG Cannon depicted it as having a transforming barrel. Final Fantasy VII Remake main character modeler Dai Suzuki was disappointed that this idea ended up on the cutting room floor.
==Other appearances==
===Final Fantasy Brave Exvius===
EKG Cannon (FFVII REMAKE) is a Gun obtained as the Super Trust Master Reward from Avalanche's Barret. It provides +180 ATK, +220 DEF, +30% resistance to fire and wind, +70% accuracy, and increases static DEF by 500.
==Etymology==
The weapon's Japanese name is "Heartbeat". The English name derives from shorthand for electrocardiography, which measures electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the skin. In German, EKG Cannon is called "Herzensbrecher", meaning heartbreaker.
==Citations==
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy VII Remake