Bahamut (VII Remake boss)

Bahamut is an optional boss in Final Fantasy VII Remake and "Episode INTERmission". To earn the materia needed to summon Bahamut, the party must complete all 19 Battle Intel reports for Chadley, and then defeat Bahamut in battle in the VR Combat Simulator.
Bahamut is also fought in the "vs. Shinra Secrets" challenge in the Shinra Combat Simulator on hard mode during Chapter 17 - "Deliverance from Chaos". In this battle, after taking a certain amount of damage, Bahamut will summon Ifrit to assist him. Bahamut is also faced in the combat simulator battles in "Episode INTERmission" with Yuffie and Sonon.
==Stats==
==Attacks==
: = Physical damage
: = Magical damage
Attack 	Pic	Description 	Block	
Cross Impact 	 	Swipes at a target. 	 	
Spin Rush 	 	Spins at a target 1–2 times. 	 	
Claw Swipe 	 	Sends 4 shockwaves out. 	 	
Umbral Strikes	 	Throws energy homing orbs that burst on contact. 	 	
Bind Impulse 	 	Binds a target for 5 seconds. Sustaining 1000 or more damage will cause the boss to release the target earlier. 	 	
Umbral Aura 	 	The boss lets out a burst of energy, surrounding itself in an aura that damages those who touch it. The purple aura is smaller, whereas the magenta aura extends further.	 	
Umbral Frenzy 	 	Chases down a target, slashing 8 times. 	 	
Divebomb 	 	Soars and then dives down. 	 	
Flare Breath 	 	Breathes flames, inflicting and for 15 seconds. 	 	
Umbral Inferno	 	Shoots 16 orbs 3 times. Some scatter while others home in. 	 	
Megaflare 	 	Severe damage to all party members. 	 	
==Battle==
Bahamut is among the most powerful foes in the game, who attacks relentlessly unless charging for its umbral attacks or Megaflare. Unlike other bosses, there are no phases to the battle where it would start to use new attacks when reaching certain HP thresholds. If Bahamut is staggered while charging for an attack, said attack will be cancelled. Bahamut will mostly fight on the ground, but will occasionally fly up into the air to divebomb a character. It can use Umbral Aura, creating a damaging ring of energy around itself, dealing consecutive damage to anyone who approaches.
Bahamut is highly mobile and can quickly close the gap, either by flying towards the player or by using its many attacks, such as Cross Impact and Spin Rush, the latter covering large range and being difficult to dodge. Nearly all of Bahamut's attacks will knock down characters, although most of those can be blocked. It has a dangerous grab move called Bind Impulse, where it will pick up a victim with his claw, and blast them with energy from its mouth. It also uses Flare Breath while in close-combat, dealing damage in a cone in front of it, which inflicts and .
Once Bahamut unleashes Umbral Aura, it becomes even more dangerous, as it can quickly rack-up damage in addition to its other powerful attacks. While in this state, it will use other Umbral-related attacks: Umbral Frenzy has Bahamut attack eight times in succession, although all the swipes can be blocked; Umbral Inferno is a salvo of energy orbs, which should be blocked; Umbral Skies is one of its most dangerous attacks, where it launches two homing orbs that cannot be blocked, inflict massive knockback and are guaranteed to hit, easily killing characters low on health.
Megaflare is used after Bahamut's countdown reaches 1, and it is its most devastating attack, which will often kill the entire party. Much like other ultimate attacks, Megaflare is guaranteed to hit, but its damage can be mitigated with .
===Strategy===
A balanced team composition is Cloud, Aerith, and Barret. Cloud can serve as the main frontline, using his Punisher Mode and Counterstance, which work against nearly all of Bahamut's attacks, while Aerith and Barret provide support. Barret in particular works well thanks to his Steelskin and Lifesaver combo, and can pelt Bahamut from afar when it soars into the sky to prepare for Divebomb. Alternatively, Tifa can be used instead of Barret to provide further power in exchange for utility, as the player can weave between her and Cloud's attacks when Bahamut is pressured.
Linking with and using or throughout the battle helps. Bahamut's Megaflare will kill everyone unless they have a active. Having Revival Earrings and/or Reprieve from weapons helps to survive Megaflare as well. is a useful buff to bestow, as Bahamut cloaks itself in a damaging aura that chips away at the party's health if they are in its vicinity, though they can attack from afar with Barret, Aerith, and magic. is a good materia for any character to help mitigate the damage from Bahamut's many relentless attacks. If Aerith is in the party, the player should avoid controlling her directly for too long, as Bahamut will quickly pressure her, capitalizing on her poor mobility. Ideally, the player should control Cloud or Tifa who boast the mobility to keep up with Bahamut.
When Bahamut uses Umbral Skies, the player can character-swap and heal, as there is no way to avoid it. When Bahamut divebombs, the player should run to the opposite direction Bahamut is aiming at, unless it is coming for Cloud and he has Counterstance, which also works against Claw Swipe, Flare Breath, and Bahamut's standard attacks. When Bahamut uses Umbral Frenzy on Cloud, the player can block its first six hits, then use Punisher Mode's counter on the seventh hit, followed by Counterstance on the eighth hit.
When Bahamut begins counting down, the party will get their chance to attack with abilities and limit breaks to deal heavy damage and pressure it. When it is stationary, the player can get Cloud's Infinity's End to connect. If Cloud's limit break is ready, the player can hold while in Punisher Mode until he gains , and then use the limit. Aerith's Ray of Judgment also deals great damage to a stationary Bahamut, or she can doublecast third tier magic from an Arcane Ward. Bahamut can be briefly stunned by using any third tier spell, though works best since it is guaranteed to hit. If Bahamut is counting down to Megaflare, and the player cannot stagger it in time to halt it, now is the time to heal to full health and bestow the party with Manaward.
===Shinra Combat Simulator===
Bahamut is fought in the gauntlet "vs. Shinra Secrets" up to Pride and Joy Prototype in the Shinra Combat Simulator found at the start of Chapter 17, "Deliverance from Chaos", which becomes available after finishing the game once. This fight is only available on the hard difficulty.
Bahamut appears in the the fourth round, and will summon Ifrit at losing half health. He will summon Ifrit even if the player already has their own Ifrit out. It is essential to keep the Manaward buff on the entire party before Bahamut counts down to Megaflare, as well as remain at high HP, or the attack will kill the party. The player needs to switch between characters often to get in abilities, forcing Bahamut to switch targets in the process. The battle is one of endurance, as applying damage in the form of character abilities throughout will chip away at the boss's health.
It is also possible to use multiple powerful abilities in succession, such as high-level spells on Arcane Ward, or strong character abilities, to interrupt attacks, such as Umbral Aura, and also put Bahamut in a pressured state during his countdown. Ifrit, when summoned, can be dealt with using powerful spells, as well paired with a maxed out on armor, as all of Ifrit's attacks are deal damage; this will allow the player to heal from Ifrit's advances and actually make the fight significantly easier. Cloud can use Counterstance liberally, and can be bestowed with to make it easier to use it more often.
If the party manages to do enough damage within 30 seconds, Bahamut will fall to the ground for an extended Pressured state; taking advantage of this when it is just about above half health lets the player possibly defeat him without it ever summoning Ifrit. To manage enough damage in such a small window, the player can cast third tier spells from within Aerith's Arcane Ward, with a on her as well. Third tier spells stun Bahamut for a moment, and so the party can temporarily disable him. When Aerith runs out of ATB, she can use a fully charged Tempest to build it back up. Haste also helps as always.
===Episode INTERmission===
250px|thumb
Bahamut and Ifrit can be the most difficult opponents of the "Top Secrets" group in the Shinra Combat Simulator in hard mode. Bahamut's usual attacks can be devastating. After losing half of its health, Bahamut will summon Ifrit, though it is possible to skip this step if the player is very fast and keeps Bahamut pressured and staggered so it does not start the summon; if Bahamut is about to summon, it cannot be staggered even if his stagger bar should be full.
Keeping up Haste, Regen, Barrier, or Manaward, or multiples of these buffs, is helpful, and for most of the fight, the player should keep a distance and avoid Bahamut's attacks. Sonon should have synergy; pairing it with a may be good as the next round has a wind-weak opponent, though the final boss in the gauntlet resists wind and is also good to capitalize on Ifrit's weakness to ice. Having elemental materia with fire in Yuffie's armor helps, and so the pair can continue to concentrate on defeating Bahamut first even after Ifrit makes its entrance (Ifrit focuses on the player-controlled character). Gozu Drive is great for Yuffie with the Chthonian Armlet.
Yuffie should use Brumal Form often, especially when dodging Divebomb. When Bahamut uses his countdown abilities (such as "Five..."), Yuffie and Sonon should sweep in with Synergized Art of War to pressure Bahamut and apply more damage until it resumes attack. In-between, moderate Throw into Windstorm can be used with a physical damage strategy, or level three spells can be cast with a magic strategy; Thundaga, in particular, can interrupt most of Bahamut's attacks. Mug can be used to pressure Bahamut though it has nothing to steal. Sonon's Twirling Lunge can be used when Bahamut is pressured to greatly increase stagger.
==Gallery==
Bahamut boss from FFVII Remake.png|The King of Dragons.
Binding Impulse from FFVII Remake.png|Binding Impulse.
Bahamut's Flare Breath from FFVII Remake INTERmission.png|Flare Breath.
Bahamut's Umbral Inferno from FFVII Remake INTERmission.png|Umbral Inferno.
Bahamut's Umbral Strikes from FFVII Remake INTERmission.png|Umbral Strikes.
Bahamut's Divebomb from FFVII Remake.png|Divebomb.
Bahamut's Umbral Aura from FFVII Remake.png|Umbral Aura.
Boss Bahamut's Megaflare from FFVII Remake.png|Megaflare.
Bahamut boss uses Megaflare from FFVII Remake.png
==Related enemies==
*Whisper Bahamut
Category:Bosses in Final Fantasy VII Remake