How to Beat The Great Malboro in Gongaga

Struggling with the Great Malboro in FF7 Rebirth's Gongaga region? This guide breaks down its attacks and offers a solid strategy to take it down, including tips for Hard Mode.

Alright, so you've made it to Gongaga and you're running into the Great Malboro. Don't worry, this big ol' tentacle monster can be a real pain, but we'll get you through it. It's an optional boss you'll find in the Gongaga Region as part of the Classified Intel missions. You can actually fight it more than once, which is good because you'll need its drops for the 'Trouble in Paradise' odd job in chapter 12, and on Hard Mode, you'll need the Slimy Malboro Tendril for the Genji Gloves. Apparently, these guys are native to Gongaga but this one got all mutated and extra nasty thanks to mako exposure. Classic. ### The Great Malboro's Attacks This thing's main move is called Bad Breath, and yeah, it lives up to the name. It builds up this nasty mist and then unleashes it, leaving a cloud on the battlefield for about 20 seconds. If you get caught in it, you'll be hit with all sorts of nasty status effects like Poison, Sleep, Toad, and Silence. Keep an eye on its mouth when it's charging this up – hitting it can pressure the Malboro. If you take too long, the attack gets even worse, turning into Putrid Breath (adding Petrify) and then Rancid Breath (adding Stop). Besides that, it's got a few other tricks: * Tentacle Whip: It'll lash out with its tentacles at close range and leave behind damaging pools of goo. Watch out! * Tentacle Whirl: It spins around, hitting hard and inflicting Deprotect and Deshell if you don't block. This one comes out pretty fast. * Bioga: It can cast this poison spell too. * Test Bite: Around 50% HP, it'll try to chomp a character. If it grabs you, it'll swallow you, chew you up (dealing massive damage), and then spit you out, leaving you with Poison, Silence, Sedate, and Slow. This can't be blocked, so be ready to dodge or heal. * Fetid Haze: Below 15% HP, it'll shake and release toxic spores that deal rapid damage in an area around it. You can't interrupt this one. ### Strategy Time! The good news is that most of its attacks have a pretty long wind-up, so you can usually see them coming, except for that Tentacle Whirl. The absolute best way to deal with the Great Malboro is to exploit its weakness: Ice. When it starts charging up Bad Breath, that's your cue. Hit its mouth with Ice spells. Aerith is fantastic here, especially with Ice Materia equipped. Her Arcane Ward and Radiant Ward can be super helpful, just try to place them away from the Malboro, maybe near the edges of the arena, so they don't get hit. For your physical attackers, make sure they've got Ice Materia equipped too. You want to be hitting it with Ice damage as much as possible to build up its stagger gauge. When it's staggered, unleash your strongest abilities. Remember to keep an eye on your party's HP and status effects, and heal up quickly. Having some items like Softs or Esunas handy wouldn't hurt, just in case you get hit with those nasty status effects from Bad Breath.