Butterfly Edge (Final Fantasy VII)

Butterfly Edge
(バタフライエッジ, Batafurai Ejji?)
Availability
Obtained	Cosmo Canyon
Character users	Cloud
Value	2,800 gil
Classification
Type	Sword
Range	Melee
Element	Cut
Specifications
Attack	39
Magic atk	8
Attack%	100
Materia slots	x2
Related pages
Recurring appearance	Butterfly Edge (weapon)

The Butterfly Edge is a weapon for Cloud in Final Fantasy VII. It is the third weapon that Cloud can acquire after the Buster Sword. It provides stats on-par with other weapons available from Cosmo Canyon, and four Materia slots total, with two linked slots side-by-side. The player can equip it to Cloud or throw it.

Obtained

The Butterfly Edge can be purchased in Cosmo Canyon for 2,800 gil.

Mechanics

As the Butterfly Edge has a base Attack stat bonus of 39, the base damage for physical attacks when it is equipped is in the following formula:

$\text{Base Damage} = \text{(39 + Strength)} + \frac{\text{(39 + Strength)} + \text{Level}}{32} \times \frac{\text{(39 + Strength)} \times \text{Level}}{32}$

where "Level" is Cloud's current level and "Strength" is his Strength stat. The Butterfly Edge also has an Attack% (Accuracy) of 100%, and grants a +8 bonus to Cloud's Magic stat when casting spells.

Use

Promotional render.

The Butterfly Edge provides modest stat boosts, and four linked Materia slots. It is the strongest weapon for Cloud until the significantly more Enhance Sword is found or purchased later in the game. This makes it a useful weapon to purchase as soon as it becomes available.

As all of Butterfly Edge's Materia slots are linked, it is ideal for Cloud to equip Materia that links with Support Materia. This normally comes in the form of Summon Materia or Magic Materia, which can link with Elemental to take advantage of Cloud's high Magic and Strength stats. Magic Materia, notably, can be linked with All to further take advantage of Cloud's Magic damage. However, there are limited cases where Command Materia can be paired with Support Materia. If Cloud is best suited to equip an ability, and lacks an unlinked slot in his armor, then a Magic, Command, or Summon Materia should be placed in one of Butterfly Edge's slots, but will forfeit benefits of a linked Materia.