A greatsword cast from carefully selected iron ore.
Description
The Iron Blade is a weapon for Cloud Strife in Final Fantasy VII Remake. It provides the Triple Slash ability, which allows Cloud to strike three enemies in quick succession, making it excellent for clearing enemy waves.
The Iron Blade itself provides a higher 
Magic Attack bonus than its 
Attack Power bonus, though its attack power bonus is still respectable. Many of its unlocked abilities improve Cloud's durability. It has good materia slot growth, reaching six slots before Weapon Level 6, but with only a single linked pair.
Obtained[]
Cloud obtains an iron blade by default in "A Job for the Neighborhood Watch" during Chapter 3, "Home Sweet Slum".
Upgrades[]
Materia slots[]
| Materia slots purchased |
Minimum Weapon Level |
Slots |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 
|
| 1 | 4 |
|
| 2 | 5 | 
|
| 3 | 5 |
|
| 4 | 5 |
|
| 5 | 6 |
|
| 6 | 6 |
|
Skills[]
| Iron Blade Core - Weapon Level: 1 - Required SP: 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| DEF Up | Defense +5 | Increases defense attribute. |
| Max HP Up | Max HP +150 | Increases maximum HP. |
| Enhanced Physical Guard | Physical Damage Reduction 10% when Guarding | Reduces physical damage taken when successfully guarding. |
| Counter Damage Up | Punisher Mode Counter Damage 5% Boost | Increases damage dealt when countering in punisher mode. |
| Iron Blade Sub-Core I - Weapon Level: 2 - Required SP: 6 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATK Up | Attack Power +6 | Increases attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +6 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| Dominant Magic Offense | Magic Attack Power +5 with High HP | Increases magic attack power when HP is 75% or higher. |
| Dominant Physical Defense | Physical Defense +5 with High HP | Increases defense when HP is 75% or higher. |
| Iron Blade Sub-Core II - Weapon Level: 3 - Required SP: 8 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATK Up | Attack Power +8 | Increases attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +6 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +6 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| Max HP Up | Max HP +200 | Increases maximum HP. |
| Desperate Limit Breaks | Limit Break 5% Boost with Low HP | Increases the rate at which the limit gauge fills when HP is 25% or lower. |
| Desperate Recovery | Self-Healing 50% Boost with Low HP | Significantly increases the effectiveness of healing spells cast on you when HP is 25% or lower. |
| Iron Blade Sub-Core III - Weapon Level: 4 - Required SP: 12 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATK Up | Attack Power +12 | Increases attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +8 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +8 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| DEF Up | Defense +8 | Increases defense attribute. |
| Trade-Off | Trade-Off | Recover MP when taking significant damage. |
| Needs More Materia | New Materia Slot | Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots. |
| Iron Blade Sub-Core IV - Weapon Level: 5 - Required SP: 14 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATK Up | Attack Power +14 | Increases attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +10 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +10 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| 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. |
| Iron Blade Sub-Core V - Weapon Level: 6 - Required SP: 16 | ||
|---|---|---|
| ATK Up | Attack Power +14 | Increases attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +10 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| MATK Up | Magic Attack Power +10 | Increases magic attack power attribute. |
| Elemental Damage Up | Elemental Damage 5% Boost | Increases damage dealt by fire, ice, lightning, and wind attacks. |
| 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. |
| Needs More Materia | New Materia Slot | Adds an additional materia slot or links two existing slots. |
Use[]
Artwork.
The Iron Blade focuses on durability and spellcasting. It provides a fairly high magic attack, second only to the 
Mythril Saber, while still providing a respectable attack power stat. Most of its unlocks focus on improving Cloud's durability, with one ability boosting healing spells Cloud casts on himself by +50%, one reducing physical damage Cloud takes by 10%, and another improving the strength of Cloud's counters in Punisher Mode by +5%. Its greatest boon to Cloud's durability is Reprieve, which allows him to survive fatal attacks at 1 HP, though this is only obtained at the sixth weapon level. Iron Blade also includes an ability that improves Cloud's limit break damage.
Compared to Cloud's other weapons, the Iron Blade provides fairly high durability, particularly in terms of physical defense. Twin Stinger has similar materia slot growth as the Iron Blade, but its slots link earlier, and it provides greater MP. Furthermore, the Mythril Saber has a much higher magic attack bonus, and more abilities that improve Cloud's spellcasting.
When using the Iron Blade, Cloud's role focuses more on defense and spellcasting than on dealing physical damage. Cloud should take advantage of the magic attack bonus and his own high 
Magic attribute, while also guarding often in melee range to take advantage of attacks. For pure spellcasting roles, Iron Blade is outclassed by other weapons, but the Iron Blade does not compromise as heavily.