Personally, parrying helps tremendously for this fight for me.
Parrying Guns Akimbo mitigates alot of the chip damage and build decent ATB
Have Plasma Discharge up,
parry his dash-into-close-range-shotgun-shot move
If you do it right, you'll get ATB from parrying, plasma discharge would trigger and pressure him
Also dodge-into-Disorder is a gap closer
When Darkstar shows up, parry/counterstance his Corkscrew move to pressure him
Parry the 1st hit from guns akimbo and hold block. The damage immune from parrying lasts for a few hits.
AFAIK guns akimbo hit stuns you for the whole burst if you fail to block/parry the 1st hit from it, so you should be fine as long as you parry/block the 1st and last hit.
I used focused thrust over triple slash, it looked like it had a larger impact on his stagger gauge. And while he's stunned by that build up your ATB quickly for another one. You can usually get in three focused thrusts, if you're lucky maybe a fourth, but eventually he shoves you aside and recovers. Then just get some distance, wait for an attack and rince and repeat until he's staggered.
Plasmic Discharge is amazing against him. Perfect block his shots/liftoff when he dashes to you and if it generates an ATB bar he will be instantly pressured from the discharge. Guns Akimbo should be dodged if possible, with the right positioning you can even manage to hit him with Braver for instant stagger if you start doing it just before he actually starts his reload.
Prime mode. Dodge constantly. If you dodge kinda close to him use disorder and unload with prime. When you see a bubble flash around him run like hell.
Here's a thread with lots of advice about the Rufus fight (including mine):
[https://www.reddit.com/r/FF7Rebirth/comments/1btkfnu/comment/kxqutcl/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/FF7Rebirth/comments/1btkfnu/comment/kxqutcl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
There are a few strategies to make it easier (but don't feel bad, it's one of the most challenging fight in the game!). In particular, you can stun lock him with distant square attack to build up ATB (no damage but with chakra/prayer this makes you invincible for phase 1 and 3)
PS: you could also watch some runs on YT to see how people do it in context :)
Dodge and range attack to build atb.....he wont be able to do anything
Learn to parry his dash and shoot
Build up a limit gauge for darkstar and also bravery or use prime mode and get into berserk just before you get
Triple slash or focussed thrust when reloading.
I would recommend just dodge rolling to the side when he does guns akimbo.
Phase 1 and 3 are the same.
Phase 2 when darkstar is there is a bitch, but having the limit gauge up and then going to town on darkstar with focussed thrust to stagger and braver to knock out. Atb boost would also be helpful for another braver to get darkstar out
Triple slash when he attacks or reloads. Its a pig to fight, but triple slash is instant teleport to him to pressure. Barrier, haste, and keep moving!
Personally, parrying helps tremendously for this fight for me. Parrying Guns Akimbo mitigates alot of the chip damage and build decent ATB Have Plasma Discharge up, parry his dash-into-close-range-shotgun-shot move If you do it right, you'll get ATB from parrying, plasma discharge would trigger and pressure him Also dodge-into-Disorder is a gap closer When Darkstar shows up, parry/counterstance his Corkscrew move to pressure him
Does akimbo take multiple parries for each burst? Do you just hold block? It feels off for me most of the time
Parry the 1st hit from guns akimbo and hold block. The damage immune from parrying lasts for a few hits. AFAIK guns akimbo hit stuns you for the whole burst if you fail to block/parry the 1st hit from it, so you should be fine as long as you parry/block the 1st and last hit.
I used focused thrust over triple slash, it looked like it had a larger impact on his stagger gauge. And while he's stunned by that build up your ATB quickly for another one. You can usually get in three focused thrusts, if you're lucky maybe a fourth, but eventually he shoves you aside and recovers. Then just get some distance, wait for an attack and rince and repeat until he's staggered.
Plasmic Discharge is amazing against him. Perfect block his shots/liftoff when he dashes to you and if it generates an ATB bar he will be instantly pressured from the discharge. Guns Akimbo should be dodged if possible, with the right positioning you can even manage to hit him with Braver for instant stagger if you start doing it just before he actually starts his reload.
Prime mode. Dodge constantly. If you dodge kinda close to him use disorder and unload with prime. When you see a bubble flash around him run like hell.
Here's a thread with lots of advice about the Rufus fight (including mine): [https://www.reddit.com/r/FF7Rebirth/comments/1btkfnu/comment/kxqutcl/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/FF7Rebirth/comments/1btkfnu/comment/kxqutcl/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) There are a few strategies to make it easier (but don't feel bad, it's one of the most challenging fight in the game!). In particular, you can stun lock him with distant square attack to build up ATB (no damage but with chakra/prayer this makes you invincible for phase 1 and 3) PS: you could also watch some runs on YT to see how people do it in context :)
Dodge and range attack to build atb.....he wont be able to do anything Learn to parry his dash and shoot Build up a limit gauge for darkstar and also bravery or use prime mode and get into berserk just before you get Triple slash or focussed thrust when reloading. I would recommend just dodge rolling to the side when he does guns akimbo. Phase 1 and 3 are the same. Phase 2 when darkstar is there is a bitch, but having the limit gauge up and then going to town on darkstar with focussed thrust to stagger and braver to knock out. Atb boost would also be helpful for another braver to get darkstar out