Elena and Rude Boss Guide

Learn the best strategies to take down Elena and Rude in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's Chapter 3. Master their attacks and exploit their weaknesses for an easier victory.

Alright, you've made it to Chapter 3 and now you're facing down Elena and Rude in the Mythril Mine. It's a bit tougher since you've got two enemies at once, and your party is locked to Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith. Don't sweat it, though – these two are definitely beatable!

Stats / Weaknesses:

• Rude: Weak to Wind. Tends to block a lot and counters melee with his own attacks, while ranged attacks trigger Shockwave.
• Elena: Weak to Lightning. Her grenades can inflict Stun.

Phases:

1. Initial Encounter: Both Elena and Rude are active.
2. One Leaves the Field: One Turk will leave the arena to perform a special attack (Elena uses Stun Grenades, Rude uses Spirit Surge).
3. Double-Team Attack: Around half health for one of them, they'll initiate a cinematic double-team move (Atlas Stance by Rude, Petite Powerhouse by Elena). This can be interrupted to pressure both.

Strategy:

• Target Priority: Your best bet is to focus down Elena first. She's the less durable of the two, and taking her out means you won't have to worry about her Stun Grenades anymore.
• Exploit Weaknesses: Remember Rude's weakness to Wind and Elena's to Lightning. Make sure your party members have the appropriate Materia equipped to deal extra damage.
• Rude's Guarding: Rude loves to block. If you use melee attacks, he'll counter, and if you use ranged attacks, he'll hit you with Shockwave. Be mindful of this and try to bait out his reactions or find openings.
• Elena's Stun Grenades: Keep an eye on Elena, especially when she's tossing grenades. Getting Stunned can leave you vulnerable. Keep moving to avoid the geysers from Spirit Geyser and the explosions from her grenades.
• Special Attacks: When one of them leaves the field to perform a special attack, pay attention. Elena will lob Stun Grenades, and Rude will use Spirit Surge (a non-tracking version of Spirit Geyser). These are your opportunities to heal or reposition.
• Interrupting the Double-Team: When they start their big cinematic attack, don't just stand there! Unleash all your ATB and abilities to break it. Doing so will put both Elena and Rude into a pressured state, giving you a significant advantage.
• Finishing Rude: Once Elena is down, it's just Rude. Keep chipping away at his HP, using your Wind attacks, and you'll eventually bring him down.