A mystifying sword forged from a gem that emits an eerie glow.
Description
The umbral blade is a weapon for Cloud in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. It starts with five materia slots, and teaches Cloud the Prime Mode ability, which upgrades his Punisher Mode for one ATB charge. The weapon's attributes are balanced, while the weapon skills are geared toward durability.
Obtained[]
The umbral blade is found in a treasure chest in chapter 8, "All That Glitters", in the Dustbowl. It is found at the front door of Solemnitude Manor in The Dustbowl.
Upgrades[]
| Level |  ATK |
 MATK
|
Materia slots | Skill slots | New weapon skills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 41 | 41 |  
|
2 |  Enhanced Physical Guard - Reduces physical damage by 5% while guarding. Formidable Counter - Increases punisher mode counter damage by 15%. Reprieve - Prevents incapacitation once per battle. Does not work against instant death attacks or when HP is at 1. Max HP +200 - Increases max HP by 200. Restorative MP Saver - Reduces MP cost of healing spells by 10%.
|
| 5 | 52 | 52 |
|
2 | Bloodsucker - Restores 5% HP upon defeating enemies in battle.
|
| 6 | 66 | 66 |
|
3 | Stalwart Punisher - Increases defense by 10% while in punisher mode. |
| 7 | 79 | 79 |
|
3 | Defense +50 - Increases defense by 50.
|
| 8 | 95 | 95 |
|
4 | Limit Gauge Guard - Increases the limit gauge charge rate by 10% upon successfully blocking.
|
| 9 | 113 | 113 |
|
4 | MP Recovery Rate Up - Slightly increases MP regeneration speed during battle.
|
Use[]
The umbral blade has an equal Attack Power and Magic Attack boost, but both are only the third-highest of Cloud's weapons. Where the umbral blade stands out is in its weapon skills, which grant more durability both in HP and MP.
Both Bloodsucker and Reprieve, in particular, are rare weapon skills and greatly improve Cloud's survivability. Beyond these, other weapon skills, such as MP Recovery Rate Up, can allow him to cast more healing spells in battle. Cloud's propensity to counterattacking in Punisher Mode, and his naturally high durability attributes, make him well-suited to playing a more defensive, tanking role in the party, and the durable weapon skills can also help Cloud in solo battles in arenas such as the Chadley Combat Simulator.
Comparing umbral blade to other weapons for Cloud, 
Buster Sword is the only other one that has equal attack power and magic attack boosts, thus not requiring Cloud to specialize, but does so while granting higher boosts in both attributes. It also has the Reprieve skill, but its weapon skills are more varied and less defensive-minded.
Etymology[]
Umbra means "shadow" in Latin.