Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities: Every Synergy action and how to unlock it

by Josh Tolentino on 05 March, 2024

One of the most impactful additions to the combat of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is Synergy: A new mechanic that reflect's the party members' bond with each other. As we mentioned in our official review, the use of Synergy in the game underscores the way the development team put character dynamics front and center in virtually every aspect of the game.

Synergy is also critical for truly mastering the game's combat, as their use unlocks the most powerful aspects of each character's combat potential. With that in mind, we've come up with a quick guide to every Synergy Ability and Synergy Skill in the game. We'll explain how to unlock each Synergy Skill and Ability, what it does, who it can be used with, and how best to use it.

Synergy, Briefly Explained
Full List of Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy, Briefly Explained

Synergy is the new friendship-centered combat mechanic that covers two new categories of action in combat: Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities. The former can be done at any time, while the latter is powered by Synergy, a new "resource" of sorts that builds up in combat.

Your available Synergy Skills and Abilities are determined by what you've unlocked for each character via their Folio, and by the team composition. All Synergy Skills and Abilities require at least two party members present to trigger, so you can't use them in solo fights.

Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills are smaller abilities that can be triggered at any time. You can access them by holding down the Guard button (default R1) and pressing a face button. They have a variety of functions, ranging from being a charged hit to setting up a defensive or counter stance.
Synergy Abilities can only be used when you've built up enough Synergy by spending ATB charges on abilities and spells. They have four effects in addition to whatever effects the actual Synergy Ability has (usually a Physical or Magic attack).
- Raises the Level of the involved characters' Limit Breaks.
  - Indicated by a yellow sun icon.
- Temporarily gives the involved characters Unlimited MP.
  - Indicated by a pink infinity icon.
- Does extra Stagger Damage and briefly extends Stagger time when used on a Staggered foe.
  - Indicated by an orange hourglass icon.
- Temporarily gives involved characters 3 ATB segments (United Refocus only)
  - Indicated by a blue bar icon.

The highlighted icons next to each Synergy Ability's name indicate which effect it will activate when used:

Unlocking New Synergy Skills and Abilities

You can unlock new Synergy Abilities and Skills in the Folio Screen, accessible at bookstores and Folio machines at rest stops. More Synergy Skills and Abilities become unlockable as you raise your party and weapon levels by acquiring manuscripts, completing side quests, obtaining intel, and participating in world activites.

How to Use Synergy Abilities

As mentioned above, you can only use a Synergy Ability when both characters involved have enough synergy.

You can build synergy by using Abilities and Spells in combat. Synergy only lasts for the duration of the fight, which means it needs to be built up from zero in every battle.

Not all Abilities and Spells build synergy. When opening the menu, check for a small rectangular icon that indicates that that ability or spell builds synergy:

As you build up synergy, small blue pips will fill in on each character's portrait. When you have enough synergy to use a Synergy Ability, the Synergy Ability menu in tactical mode will glow.

The number of pips beside each Synergy Ability indicates its cost. This cost increases each time a Synergy Ability is used in a single battle, and resets when the fight's over.

As such, it becomes more expensive to repeat the same Synergy Ability, so you'll want to use different ones with different characters.

Full List of Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Cloud Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Ranged Blade - Performs a ranged attack with your partner
- Barret - Bullet Batter (Physical)
- Red XIII - Howling Smash (Magical)
Counterfire - Counters an enemy ranged attack with your partner
- Can be used with Tifa, Red XIII, Barret, Aerith, Sephiroth (Flashback)
Melee Blade - Charged up tandem attack
- Tifa - Power Cleave (Physical)
- Aerith - Spell Blade (Magical)
Voidshatter - charged melee magical attack
- Can be used with Sephiroth (Flashback)

Synergy Abilities

Sephiroth (Nibelheim Flashback)
- Double Helix - a powerful tandem attack
Barret (Party Lv. 8)
- Partners in Pain - tandem attack, limit level increase
Aerith (Party Lv. 2)
- Firework Blade - Ranged magical attack, increases Limit Level
Tifa (Party Lv. 2)
- Relentless Rush - Launches Tifa and attacks enemy, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Yuffie (Party Lv. 5)
- Maelstrom Strike - Tandem attack, limit level increase
Red XIII (Party Lv. 5)
- United Refocus - temporary 3-charge ATB gauge
Cait Sith (Party Lv. 8)
- Curiosity’s End - tandem attack, temporary infinite MP

Tifa Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Leaping Strikes - Performs a jumping attack with your partner, functions as airborne launcher
- Cloud, Red XIII - Soaring Flurry (Ranged)
- Barret, Aerith - Heavenly Ascent (Launch)
Slip and Slide - Dodges an enemy attack and performs a counterattack
- Usable with Cloud, Aerith
Bodyguard - Your partner defends you while you move around
- Usable with Barret, Red XIII

Synergy Abilities

Cloud (Party Lv. 2)
- Synchro Cyclone - Aerial spinning attack, temporary infinite MP
Aerith (Party Lv. 2)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Barret (Party Lv. 5)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Red XIII (Party Lv. 5)
- Bestial Barrage - Tandem attack, limit level increase
Cait Sith (Party Lv. 8)
- Moogle Dunk Shot - tandem attack, limit level increase
Yuffie (Party Lv. 8)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge

Aerith Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Combat Savior - Partner follows up your attacks temporarily
- Usable with Cloud, Barret, Red XIII
Bodyguard - Your partner defends you while you move around
- Usable with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Red XIII
Spellbound Blast - Charge up spell attack with partner, recharges MP
- Usable with Tifa

Synergy Abilities

Cloud (Party Lv. 2)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Tifa (Party Lv. 2)
- Divine Punishment - Wide area magic damage, limit level increase
Yuffie (Party Lv. 5)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Barret (Party Lv. 5)
- Sweet-and-Sour Salvo - Ranged tandem attack, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Red XIII (Party Lv. 8)
- Planetary Roar - Wide area attack, limit level increase
Cait Sith (Party Lv. 8)
- Kitty Cannonade - Ranged magical attack, temporary infinite MP

Barret Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Mad Dash - Charges forward while guarding against incoming hits
- Usable with Cloud, Red XIII
Iron Defense - Takes up a strong defensive stance with your partner
- Usable with Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Red XIII
Friendly Fire - Ranged scattershot attack with your partner
- Usable with Tifa, Aerith

Synergy Abilities

Cloud (Party Lv. 2)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Tifa (Party Lv. 2)
- Avalanche Two-Step - Team attack with Tifa, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Red XIII (Party Lv. 2)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Aerith (Party Lv. 5)
- Arcane Blast - Magical ranged attack, temporary infinite MP
Cait Sith (Party Lv. 8)
- Purrfect Shot - Team attack, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Yuffie (Party Lv. 8)
- Ninja Carbine - Team attack, limit level increase

Red XIII Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Wild Charge - Charges forward while guarding against incoming hits
- Usable with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith
Phantom Fang - Dodges an enemy attack and performs a counterattack
- Usable with Cloud, Barret
Iron Defense - Takes up a strong defensive stance with your partner
- Usable with Cloud, Tifa, Aerith

Synergy Abilities

Barret (Party Lv. 2)
- Overfang - Barret launches Red XIII for a tandem attack, limit level increase
Cloud (Party Lv. 2)
- Savage Assault - Tandem attack, limit level increase
Aerith (Party Lv. 5)
- Ringmaster - Aerith controls Red XIII to deliver a wide area attack, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Yuffie (Party Lv. 5)
- Hack and Slash - Tandem attack, limit level increase
Cait Sith (Party Lv. 8)
- Feline Fury - Team attack, limit level increase
Tifa (Party Lv. 8)
- Call of the Wild - Team attack, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.

Yuffie Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Ninja Bazooka - Dodge and counter-strike with follow-up
- Usable with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Red XIII
Shuriken Sync - Throws Shuriken with a follow-up from partner
- Usable with Cloud, Barret, Tifa
Foxflame - Fire a charged magical attack. Can change element using Elemental Ninjutsu
- Usable with Aerith, Red XIII

Synergy Abilities

Barret (Party Lv. 2)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Cloud (Party Lv. 5)
- Halcyon Descent - Tandem attack, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Aerith (Party Lv. 8)
- Mystic Multiplication - Aerith clones Yuffie, temporary unlimited MP
Tifa (Party Lv. 2)
- Cyclonic Kick - Airborne throwing star diving attack, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Red XIII (Party Lv. 4)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Cait Sith (Party Lv. 8)
- Moogle Pinwheel - Tandem attack, temporary unlimited MP

Cait Sith Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities

Synergy Skills

Magic Megaphone (Party Lv. 2) - Partner attacks your target
- Usable with Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie
Bodyguard - Your partner defends you while you move around
- Usable with Barret, Aerith, Red XIII
All-Out Assault - Team melee attack with your partner
- Usable with Cloud, Barret, Tifa, Aerith, Red XIII, Yuffie

Synergy Abilities

Barret (Party Lv.52)
- Mayhem-Go-Around - Tandem area attack, limit level increase
Cloud (Party Lv. 2)
- SOLDIER Moogle Class - Tandem attack, increases limit level
Aerith (Weapon Lv. 5)
- Mega Moogle Mash - Aerith embiggens the moogle and launches it, increases attack power and stagger time when used on a staggered foe.
Tifa (Party Lv. 2)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Yuffie (Party Lv. 8)
- United Refocus - Temporary 3-Charge ATB Gauge
Red XIII (Party Lv. 8)
- Mognificient shot - tandem aerial attack, temporary infinite MP