The Escape

Complete The Escape mission in final fantasy vii. Learn how to improve Tifa's disposition and defeat Rufus.

After a cutscene (a non-interactive cinematic the game plays automatically), you'll find yourself in prison. Talk to Tifa; saying “Leave it to me” improves her disposition towards Cloud (Tifa +1), while “Kinda hard” lowers it (Tifa -1). You can alter her disposition multiple times, which is key for the “Best Bromance” trophy if you wish to pursue it. When finished, approach the door and choose to rest.

Upon waking, the door will be open. Talk to Tifa and follow her. After a brief conversation about the dead guard, claim his key. Free your other friends and speak with them. Your party will be set as Cloud, Aeris, and Tifa. Equip them appropriately, then head west to find the Jenova specimen has escaped. Speak with Red XIII, then proceed to the elevator and travel to the 68th and 69th Floors.

Follow the blood trail out of the stairwell and through a doorway to the west, then ascend some stairs. After identifying the cause of the blood, the head of Shinra’s space program will confirm your suspicions. A helicopter interrupts your discussion. Head through a door to the north to confront Rufus, the heir of Shinra, Inc. After his speech, he will send the rest of the party away. Tifa will also leave, leaving your party as Barret, Aeris, and Red XIII. Equip them with at least Bolt and Restore Materia (remove Cloud and Tifa’s Materia). Restore + All is a good combination, and Poison + Elemental can offer some status effect protection. Head to the elevators to the south and ride down.

Boss Battle: Hundred Gunner/Heli Gunner

A Shinra security robot, the Hundred Gunner, will attack. This is a ranged battle; only Barret can use physical attacks. Use Lightning Materia, as Hundred Gunner is weak against it. You should deal over 150 damage per cast at level teens. Hundred Gunner’s attacks are physical, targeting one or all enemies for around 100-150 damage. Heal characters below 200 HP, utilize Restore + All, and Aeris’s Healing Wind Limit Break.

Upon defeating Hundred Gunner, Heli Gunner will appear. The same tactics apply: use Lightning and Limit Breaks, and heal damage. Heli Gunner’s “AB Cannon” can inflict Sleep, and its “C Cannon” can inflict Poison. Its “Firing Line” attack hits all characters and can inflict Sleep and Poison. If a character is asleep and poisoned, they may die from poison before waking. When heavily damaged, Heli Gunner will spin, using “Spinning Bodyblow” and “Flying Drill” for heavy single-target damage without status effects.

• Hundred Gunner HP: 1600, Weakness: Lightning, XP: N/A, AP: N/A, Steal: N/A, Drop: N/A, Gil: N/A
• Heli Gunner HP: 1000, Weaknesses: Lightning, Wind, XP: 250, AP: 25, Steal: N/A, Drop: Mythril Armlet, Gil: 200

Boss Battle: Rufus (with Dark Nation)

Cloud confronts Rufus. Remove Materia from your other party members and re-equip Cloud. Poison can be effective against Rufus, but is not necessary. Restore will prevent defeat. Rufus is accompanied by Dark Nation, who will cast Barrier and MBarrier to protect Rufus. Focus on killing Dark Nation first, then engage Rufus. Rufus has 500 HP. If you stole a Hardedge earlier, trading blows should secure victory.

• Rufus Stats: HP: 500
• Dark Nation Stats: Purpose: Protect Rufus, Casts: Barrier, MBarrier