Tonberries are a classic Final Fantasy symbol, and FF7 Rebirth doesn’t shy away from plastering it in your face right, left, and center.
In Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, whether you’re zapping cardboard cutouts or battling epic bosses, Square Enix ensures you won’t leave without knowing Tonberry’s importance. Chapter Nine ramps up the challenge with a showdown against the formidable Tonberry King. In this guide, I outline the best team against Tonberry King, how to counter its moveset, and the best strategy to beat it.
How to get the Tonberry King’s Pristine Crown in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
To get the Tonberry King’s crown in FF7R, engage the Tonberry King in battle during Chapter Nine and steal it from it.
Before defeating it, dodge one of its attacks and damage it right after to pressure Tonberry King. When pressured, its Pristine Crown will fall to the ground. This is when you should cast Steal to snatch the crown for yourself.
Tonberry King boss fight in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Best team
The best team to defeat Tonberry King in FF7R consists of Tifa, Yuffie, and Cloud. Tonberry King can incapacitate or take down a party member with just one hit, and most of the status ailments it inflicts can’t be cured with Esuna. Having a healer like Aerith in the party won’t do you any good. Instead, focus on keeping your offensive up and taking Tonberry King down as quickly as possible.
Make sure to equip the Ennervation Materia to cast deprotect and the Steal Materia to cast Steal on the Tonberry King’s Pristine Crown.
Tonberry King’s moveset
Most of Tonberry King’s moves in FF7R are unblockable. Look for the red triangle-shaped sign next to the move’s name when it casts an attack. This symbol means the move can’t be blocked. It can only be dodged or endured.
| Move name | Description | How to counter |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Treatment | Slows down the party’s ATB gauge charge speed | This move is unblockable and unavoidable. |
| Bone-Deep Grudge | Unleashes an explosion around it, damaging and freezing anyone at melee distance. | Step back when Tonberry King casts this move. |
| Hopping Mad | Drops empty cans above a character, dealing damage with each one. | Continuously dodge to prevent any empty can from falling on your head. |
| Call for Friends | Summons a smaller Tonberry to the arena. | Tonberry King casts this spell several times throughout the battle, and the arena can get pretty crowded unless you take each Tonberry down as soon as possible. |
| Doom and Gloom | Casts a smoke that inflicts Doom upon contact. | Dodge away from danger. |
| Rancor | Shoots two clouds of smoke at a character, dealing damage and rendering them immobile. | Dodge sideways twice to avoid danger. |
| Tantrum | Targets a character and deals enough damage to take them down. | Revive and heal as necessary. |
Strategy
To defeat Tonberry King in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, focus on trying to pressure it. Since it has no elemental weaknesses, rely on the following strategy:
- Dodge one of its attacks.
- After it misses, inflict as much damage as possible to pressure it.
- When pressured, Tonberry King drops its Pristine Crown to the ground.
- Cast Steal with a character to get the Pristine Crown in FF7R.
- Cast Deprotect to lower its defenses and focus on staggering it.
- When staggered, deal as much damage as possible to defeat it.
With the Pristine Crown in your possession, you can now craft the Karmic Cowl with the Transmutation system and complete The Saga of Seaside Inn. Interested in completing more side content from Costal del Sol? Here’s how to complete every card puzzle in Queen’s Blood Carnival.
