Hardedge (VII Remake)

The Hardedge is a weapon for Cloud in Final Fantasy VII Remake. It provides the Infinity's End ability that has slow buildup and high ATB cost, but tremendous burst damage. The blade has the kanji written on it, a Japanese term for "cutting into two with a single stroke".
Hardedge provides the highest raw of any of Cloud's weapons, while also providing good durability due to its Bloodsucker ability. Its attribute, however, is significantly lower than most of Cloud's other weapons.
==Obtained==
The Hardedge first becomes available to purchase in Wall Market during Chapter 9, "The Town That Never Sleeps", for 2,000 gil.
==Upgrades==
===Materia slots===
Materia slotspurchased	MinimumWeapon Level	Slots
0 	1 	
1 	5 	
2 	5 	
3 	6 	
4 	6 	
5 	6 	
===Skills===
Hardedge Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 8	Hardedge Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 8	Hardedge Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 8
ATK Up 	Attack Power +4 	Increases attack power attribute.
ATK Up 	Attack Power +4 	Increases attack power attribute.
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +4 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Buff Extension 	Buff Duration 10% Boost 	Extends the duration of beneficial status effects.
Hardedge Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 3 - Required SP: 10	Hardedge Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 3 - Required SP: 10	Hardedge Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 3 - Required SP: 10
Enhanced Attack 	Attack Damage 5% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by basic attacks.
Enhanced Aerial Attack 	Aerial Attack Damage 5% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by aerial attacks.
Enhanced Punisher 	Punisher Mode Strong Attack Damage 5% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by strong attacks in punisher mode.
Enemy Parts Damage Up 	Crippling Damage 10% Boost 	Increases damage dealt to discrete enemy parts.
Hardedge Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 12	Hardedge Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 12	Hardedge Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 12
ATK Up 	Attack Power +8 	Increases attack power attribute.
ATK Up 	Attack Power +8 	Increases attack power attribute.
ATK Up 	Attack Power +8 	Increases attack power attribute.
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +5 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Stagger Siphon 	Stagger Siphon 	Recover HP when dealing damage with unique abilities to a staggered enemy.
Hardedge Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 14	Hardedge Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 14	Hardedge Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 14
ATK Up 	Attack Power +8 	Increases attack power attribute.
ATK Up 	Attack Power +8 	Increases attack power attribute.
ATK Up 	Attack Power +8 	Increases attack power attribute.
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +8 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Enhanced Limit Breaks 	Limit Break Damage 5% Boost 	Increases damage dealt by limit breaks.
Bloodsucker 	Bloodsucker 	Recover HP when enemies are defeated in battle.
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.
Hardedge Sub-Core IV - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 16	Hardedge Sub-Core IV - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 16	Hardedge Sub-Core IV - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 16
ATK Up 	Attack Power +12 	Increases attack power attribute.
ATK Up 	Attack Power +12 	Increases attack power attribute.
MATK Up 	Magic Attack Power +10 	Increases magic attack power attribute.
Ability Critical Hit Rate Up 	Weapon Ability Critical Hit Rate 10% Boost 	Increases probability of landing a critical hit with an ability.
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.
Needs More Materia 	New Materia Slot 	Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots.
==Use==
Hardedge provides the highest raw attack power increase of any of Cloud's weapons, and most of its abilities focus on improving Cloud's physical damage, such as boosting Cloud's aerial damage and to damage dealt against bosses' specific parts, and plain boosts to his attacks both generally and further when in Punisher Mode. Its Bloodsucker ability recovers Cloud's HP when enemies are defeated in battle. This makes it excellent for Cloud's durability and is very MP-efficient. A 5% boost to Cloud's limit break damage can also be unlocked.
Hardedge is the strongest weapon for Cloud's physical damage, and its abilities lock Cloud into this role. The only comparable weapon is the , which provides physical damage in the form of critical hits, but Hardedge has far fewer limitations to Cloud's potential elsewhere. Hardedge provides a few boosts to Cloud's magic damage, but ultimately lags far behind weapons such as the , or even the more rounded or . Compared to Twin Stinger and Mythril Saber, Hardedge's slow materia slot growth can also feel limiting. As Hardedge has linked slots early on, Cloud can still equip or with the weapon.
If Cloud is used for a physical damage role, Hardedge is his best weapon to equip all around, providing solid physical damage stats, decent MP-efficient durability with Bloodsucker, and not too many compromises to his magic capabilities. However, Cloud's balanced attributes mean he can be used in a wide variety of ways, and though Hardedge optimizes Cloud's potential for physical damage, it wastes his magic damage potential. In encounters against enemies more resistant to physical damage, or among players who prefer to use Cloud for a more magic-oriented or mixed role, other weapons may be better suited. For a pure physical damage role, Hardedge is possibly the best choice for Cloud.
Category:Weapons in Final Fantasy VII Remake