Summary
Square Enix truly outdid themselves with 2024’sFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth,expanding on everything the previous installment accomplished — and more. But this list isn’t about the game’s massive improvements. Instead, it will dive into the best ways to replenish HP in a game where taking damage is as inevitable asBarret losing his temper.
Any character can become a solid healer with a bit of grinding (because, of course, it’s a true JRPG). It mostly comes down to maxing out the Prayer and Chakra Materias. However, some party members are naturally more suited to the healing role. Let’s break down the best of them.
7Tifa
No Healer Here
Tifa Lockhart is an amazing character to have on any roster — just not as a healer. Her expertise lies inclose-combat brawlingand breakneck agility, making her the ideal candidate for getting up close and personal, and then getting out of there.
With the highest maximum Strength in the game, using Tifa as a White Mage would be a waste of her immense offensive potential. Additionally, her lower Magic stats and second-smallest MP pool make her less effective at sustaining party members through healing magic. Sorry, Tifa fans, she’s best suited for dishing out damage, not restoring health.
6Yuffie
Balanced and Viable
Everyone’s favorite ninja is back! After her debut inFinal Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, Yuffie returns as a permanent member of the playable roster in Chapter 7. Like her previous outing, she’s better suited for a mix of ranged and melee combat thanks to her impressive speed and versatility.
While equipping her with a maxed-outHealing Materiacan be effective, Yuffie’s low HP pool (the second-lowest in the game), combined with low Vitality and Spirit, significantly impacts her durability. This isn’t the greatest combo for a party member dedicated to looking after others and not themselves.
5Cait Sith
As Luck Would Have It
Cait Sith is something of an enigma, and arguably the trickiest character to master. Despite being tanky with high HP, he has the lowest Vitality and Spirit, making his defenses surprisingly weak. Complicating matters, he joins the roster late, by which point most players will have already chosen a primary healer.
On the plus side, Cait Sith boasts a solid Magic stat, enabling him to cast effective heals while staying mobile. Still, he’s best utilized bymaxing out his Luck stat, which dramatically boosts the chance for critical hits.
4Cloud
Jack of All Trades
It’s always wise to equip Cloud with some healing abilities, since he’s almost always in the party. This ensures players are prepared even when their primary healers are unavailable. With the right weapons, pairing Magnify with Heal Materia can yield impressive results, making him an excellent secondary healer.
Cloud’s durability is another advantage. He boasts the third-highest HP after Barret and Red XIII. This ensures he can cast Cure and its upgrades, which are essential for keeping the team alive. That said, Cloud excels as theperfect all-round fighter, so it’s not recommended that players pigeonhole him into a single role.
3Red XIII
With The Right Tools
Red XIII boasts impressive base Magic stats, making him a solid natural healer. One of his late-game weapons, the Golden Collar, enhances his healing abilities significantly.Located in the Gongaga Reactor, this weapon offers a hefty 208 ATK, enabling Red XIII to deal powerful damage and build up stagger quickly in tough boss fights.
But its true standout feature is the “Watcher’s Respite” ability. This skill allows Red XIII to convert his Vengeance Gauge into healing for the entire party, providing crucial support during battles. The Golden Collar, with both its offensive power and healing potential, makes Red XIII an invaluable asset to any team.
2Barret
The Tank with a Healing Touch
Who would have thought that the guy with a gun for a hand would be a great healer? Barret is a tank with more health than most other party members, making him an ideal candidate for holding onto Healing Materia in a pinch. His consistent damage output and rapid ATB generation give him versatility (even better with Turbulent Spirit ability), allowing him to play a vital role in healing as well as sponging up damage.
For an optimal healing setup, give Barret the Healing Carcanet, Light Machine Gun, and the following Materia: Item Economizer, Item Master, Healing, Prayer, Provoke, and Steadfast Block. This setup enhances his ability to heal and boost his Lifesaver Weapon Ability.
1Aerith
Sometimes The Obvious Choice Is The Right One
Claiming the top spot (surprising no one) is Aerith, FF7’s iconic healer. With exceptional Magic stats, potent healing spells, and effective ranged weapons, she remains invaluable when players have their backs against the wall. She even has the Pray Materia from the very beginning of the game.
Her specialized abilities, like Radiant Ward, enhance spellcasting and offer strategic combat advantages. Uniquely, her limit breaks heal and strengthen party members rather than dealing damage. For instance, her level 1 limit break, Healing Wind, heals all active party members. While she is perfect as aWhite Mage, don’t ignore her ability to deal massive amounts of damage too.
