Final Fantasy VII Remake Intermission: Nero - boss, how to beat? Final Fantasy 7 Remake guide, walkthrough
Last update: 11 August 2022
On this page of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intermission guide you can find a walkthrough for Nero boss battle. You'll learn when the confrontation takes place, what attacks the boss has at his disposal and how to avoid them, as well as how to quickly and efficiently defeat him.
The battle with Nero takes place at the end of Chapter 2 (Covert Ops) of the Intermission expansion. Yuffie and Sonon have entered Shinra Electric Power Company building in search of Ultimate Materia, but their path has been crossed with Nero's - a member of Tsviets elite unit.
Resistances, weaknesses, basic data
Nero is the final boss of Intermission expansion for Final Fantasy VII Remake. Nero (Nero the Sable) is a member of Tsviets, an elite unit and can manipulate darkness.
Weaknesses and resistances:
- Weaknesses: none;
- Abilities: Sweeping Darkness (Physical), Pinion Pistols (Physical), Binding Talons (Physical), Disembowel (Physical), Umbral Shell (Physical), Salvo (Physical), Chthonic Surge (Magical), Dark Torrent (Magical), Dark Ferocity (Physical), Veil of Woe (Physical), Chaotic Pulsars (Magical), Haste (Magic), Eldritch Celerity (Physical), Spatial Shift, Soul Erosion (Magical), Dark Matter (Magical);
- Invulnerability: Poison, Silence, Sleep, Slow, Stop, Berserk, Fixed Damage, Proportional Damage.
Considering that Nero doesn't have weaknesses, consider choosing defensive Materia (Cure, Chakra, Revival, Hp Up, Barrier) which will keep your heroes alive and revive them if needed
First phase
Considering that Nero isn't susceptible to magic attacks, once the battle begins synchronize with Sonon and hit the enemy with melee attacks as to induce Staggered status as soon as possible. Once the ATB bar of both heroes is charged, use Synergized Art of War.
Second phase
During the second phase, Nero will start using the power of darkness. If any of your heroes had been struck with dark energy, it will start syphoning health from them (in a damage over time fashion)
Monitor the health levels of Yuffie and Sonon and use healing spells (Cure/Cura/Regen, Pray, or Chakra abilities) if necessary.
In the second phase of the encounter, you need to continue attacking aggressively and putting pressure on your opponent by dealing heavy physical attacks. During this stage of the Nero encounter, you need to pay more attention to Yuffie and Sonon health bars, and if needed, use spells or healing abilities.
Third phase
In the third phase, Nero receives access to even more magical attacks. The boss will begin this phase of the battle by performing Spatial Shift - he will teleport behind one of your heroes and perform a melee attack. If Yuffie is the target, be ready to perform a dodge or block (R1) the attack
Because of the fact that boss will use magic more often, in this stage of the encounter shuriken attacks work well, which slowly but surely deplete boss's health bar and allow you to avoid dark energy.
If you want, you can summon Ramuh now or save the option for the final phase of the encounter.
If you managed to induce Staggered status, use all available offensive attacks (Synergized Art of War) and proceed to the final stage of the battle with the boss of the Intermission expansion.
Fourth phase
This is the most difficult part of the Nero boss fight, as the boss will affect a large portion of the area with his spells, making it more difficult to avoid his attacks. Moreover, he will constantly syphon life from your heroes, so watch their health bars and if needed, use healing spells or items, such as e.g. Hi-Potion.
Focus on destroying Abyssal Wings to induce Staggered status. When the enemy is stunned, focus all your might on him (Yuffie and Sonons' Limit Breaks, Synergized Art of War) and finish the final boss of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intermission.