If you are unsure which Boss you are looking for, have a look at my Walkthrough. There you will find a list of the places, just choose the nearest location to where you are and you should be able to find out which boss you are dealing with.

Disc One Bosses

• Name :
  1. Guard Scorpion.

  Powers :

  HP=800, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Assault Gun, EXP 100, AP 10.

  Location :

  This guy shows up after Cloud places the bomb at the first reactor.

  Description :

  Giant, Purple, Mechanical Scorpion with a lethal tail.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  When he begins to shake violently and raises his tail in the air (usually one of the characters shouts some sort of warning) do not attack, use this opportunity to cast some potions on yourself. If you attack when the tail is up he unleashes a pretty nasty laser which will bring Barrett and Cloud close to death (if not killing them outright). When the tail is down return to attacking. As with most mechanical beasts in the game, lightning is a pretty good weapon to use. He's invulnerable to gravity-based attacks.

  ---

  Name :

  2. Air Buster.

  Powers :

  HP=1200, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Titan Bangle, EXP 180, AP 16.

  Location :

  This is the big robo cop that shows up after the Shinra president catches you after setting the second bomb.

  Description :

  Side Attack

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Gravity and Earth based attacks are pointless against him. This is a pretty straightforward fight, try to go into it fully healed, watch your HP, use lightning and limit breaks whenever possible. If you can work it out to start this way, Cloud or Barrett's limit break will usually eliminate, or almost eliminate, Air Buster in just one turn.

  ---

  Name :

  3. Apps (also called Apus).

  Powers :

  HP=1800, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Phoenix Down, EXP 240, AP 22.

  Location :

  After Don Corneo sends you tumbling through his trap door you'll run into Apps in the sewers.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  This is again a pretty straightforward fight, try to be fully healed when you go in. Fire does some extra damage to him so use it whenever possible. Apps sewer tsunami does damage to him as well as to the party, whichever of you gets hit first gets the most damage, so, he'll be helping you kill him off! Cloud's Cross-Slash Limit Break has a chance to paralyze Apps--it is usually the case that most paralysis effects don't work on bosses, but this one is an exception so if you can go into the battle with Cloud close to his limit be sure to use this break.

  ---

  Name :

  4. Reno.

  Powers :

  HP=1000, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Ether, EXP 290, AP 22.

  Location :

  At the top of the tower supporting the plate you'll run into Reno for the first time.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  The key is to do enough damage to him to make him get annoyed and leave. Be careful of his little pyramid spells, if he gets a character in one you'll have to attack that character to break him/her out of it. If he gets all 3 characters in pyramids then you're dead. Reno occasionally casts confuse on a character so be careful. Gravity attacks don't harm this guy but he does get hit for extra damage if you use Fire or Ice.

  ---

  Name :

  5. HO512.

  Powers :

  HP=1000, MP=120.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Talisman, EXP 300, AP 30.

  Location :

  This ugly guy shows up right after you free Aeris and Red XIII from Hojo's test tube on level 67 of the Shinra Headquarters.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  He has a few little friend in front of him--don't waste your time attacking them because HO512 can regenerate them infinitely and you'll never get done--concentrate on the boss himself. The only key to this battle is to not use poison on HO512, he absorbs the damage.

  ---

  Name :

  6. Hundred Gunner.

  Powers :

  HP=1600, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  EXP 330, AP 35.

  Location :

  Outside lifts on Shinra Inc. Building.

  Description :

  This is one of the two bosses that Aeris, Barrett and Red XIII will have to fight from a distance after the President of Shinra has been killed by Sephiroth.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  You can't reach this guy with normal physical attacks (except Barrett) so limit breaks and spells are all you've got. This is a mechanical boss so lightning is a good idea. Also, after you've done a fair amount of damage to it the Hundred Gunner starts to prepare it's big cannon, this takes two turns to do so try and use everything you've got during this time so you don't have to sustain those cannon blasts! Once you've beat him you get to fight the next boss.

  ---

  Name :

  7. Heligunner.

  Powers :

  HP=1000, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Mythril Gauntlet, EXP 250, AP 25.

  Location :

  Outside lifts on Shinra Inc. Building.

  Description :

  Second of Two Bosses

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Once again distance prevents Red XIII and Aeris' physical attacks from being effective. Limit breaks and spells are a must. This boss is weak against wind and lightning attacks (although at this point in the game would you have any wind-based attacks?).

  ---

  Name :

  8. Rufus and Dark Nation.

  Powers :

  Rufus--HP=500, MP=0. Dark Nation--HP=140, MP=0.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Protect Vest,Guard Source, EXP 240, AP 35.

  Location :

  Top of Shinra Inc. building.

  Description :

  Two enemies at once

  Best Attack Tactics :

  If you equip someone's armor with an Elemental-Lightning combination then Dark Nation's lightning attacks won't be so bad. In some ways it's good to fight off Dark Nation first because he can do some nasty lightning damage (which means it's a bad idea to use lightning on him--remember the FF7 rule for enemies, if they cast a spell on you it's usually not a good idea to use the same spell on them because if they can cast it they're probably healed by having it cast on them!) and he casts some protect spells on Rufus throughout the battle. Then again, if you do enough damage to Rufus he and Dark Nation both leave.

  ---

  Name :

  9. Motor Ball.

  Powers :

  HP=2600, MP=120.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Star Pendant, EXP 440, AP 45.

  Location :

  This is the ORV/machine gun that shows up after you've done the little sword slashing motorcycle escape from the Shinra Headquarters.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  This guy can do anywhere from 200-300 HP of damage to everyone at once so keep an eye on everyone's HP. Use Aeris' Healing Wind limit break and the Restore-All, combo as often as necessary. Motorball is a machine so use lightning whenever you can.

  ---

  Name :

  10. Bottom Swell.

  Powers :

  HP=2500, MP=100.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Power Wrist, EXP 550, AP 52.

  Location :

  This is the beast that shows up on the beach at Junon and attacks Priscilla.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Make sure you've healed yourself fully before going into this battle. Physical attacks are worthless so use magic--as with many flying characters, he's weak against wind attacks. Like some flying creatures, you can't reach this guy with normal physical attacks so you need spells, limit breaks, and Barrett's long range capabilities. Be sure to burst any of the bubbles he puts on a character (just attack that character with some sort of magic spell)--if he bubbles all 3 of your characters you're done for the day. You're getting to the level where casting poison on an enemy isn't a bad idea at all, poison continues to drain HP in chunks throughout the battle. Bottom Swell has a Big Wave attack that he usually only uses as a a final attack move--this can do about 100 HP damage to everyone so make sure your HP stay above 100 at all times. Now since Bottom Swell isn't actually on the ground it is pointless to try any Earth-based spells or summons (like Quake spells or Odin).

  ---

  Name :

  11. Jenova-Birth.

  Powers :

  HP=4000, MP=110.

  Leaves When Dead :

  White Cape, EXP 680, AP 64.

  Location :

  Jenova-Birth shows up in cargo ship after everyone has been killed and Sephiroth has waxed all cryptic and gloomy again.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  She's sort of tough so use summons, limit breaks and spells. The Flame Thrower Enemy Skill is very effective against her. The best summons to use are Shiva and Choco/Mog. Her biggest attack is the tail laser, it does about 200 HP damage so keep your HP above that!

  ---

  Name :

  12. Dyne.

  Powers :

  HP=1200, MP=20.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Silver Armlet, EXP 600, AP 55.

  Location :

  You'll run into him east of the crashed cars in Corel Prison.

  Description :

  Dyne is Barrett's old friend who doesn't think too much of Barrett now.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Barrett has to fight him alone so make sure Barrett is fully healed. Keep an close eye on your HP, Dyne can attack up to 3 times in a row. Just keep hitting him back with spells (you might find it useful to equip Barrett with Restore materia too), it's a pretty good idea to poison Dyne too!

  ---

  Name :

  13. Reno and Rude.

  Powers :

  Reno--HP=2000, MP=80. Rude--HP=2000, MP=135.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Fairy Tale, EXP 660, AP 60. X Potion, EXP 720, AP 135.

  Location :

  You'll find these two in the destroyed area in Gongaga.

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Rude has a tendency to cast some heal spells so if you smack him around until he leaves then you can concentrate on Reno. Aeris' Seal Evil limit break should paralyze both of these guys for a turn or two (most bosses are immune to this sort of thing) allowing you to get in a couple of free shots.

  ---

  Name :

  14. Gi Nattak.

  Powers :

  HP=5500, MP=200.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Wizard Staff, EXP 1400, AP 150.

  Location :

  This is the ugly thing you have to fight in the Cave of the Gi (the secret area in Cosmo Canyon that Bugenhagen takes you to).

  Description :

  Best Attack Tactics :

  He's got a couple of little fireball friends which he can regenerate at will and he's also able to heal himself a couple of times. He's weak against Holy attacks so use them if you've got them. Of course, as he's an undead creature he doesn't care to much to have Heal spells cast on him (note--this is not the same as Restore or Revive, it's one of the other green materia). You can also kill him off by going to the item screen and using a Phoenix Down or an X-Potion on him (the X-Potion hits more frequently than the Phoenix Down). Equip as many characters as possible with protection against Fire, especially since this guy's little Soul Fire buddies will occasionally posses a character for a short while and do some fire damage in the process. Don't use Fire spells on him, it just gives him some extra HP.

  ---

  Name :

  15. Lost Number.

  Powers :

  HP=7000, MP=300.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Cosmo Memory, Key To Locked Room In Basement, EXP 2000, AP 80.

  Location :

  Lost Number appears in the Shinra Mansion in Nibelheim after you open the Safe.

  Description :

  He's got a purple side (physical attacks) and a red side (magic attacks).

  Best Attack Tactics :

  You should hit these sides oppositely, attack the red side with physical attacks and the purple side with magic. At some point the boss will transform into either all red or all purple (this is determined by the last blow delivered before the transformation--if your last hit on him was a spell you get the red side, if the last hit was physical you get the purple side). Once the transformation is over if you get the red side just keep on attacking. If you get the purple side be on guard (and you should probably cast Big Guard and White Wind) because it can.

  ---

  Name :

  16. Materia Keeper.

  Powers :

  HP=8400, MP=300.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Jewel Ring, Enemy Skills-Trine, EXP 3000, AP 200.

  Location :

  You run into this guy in the Nibel Mountains after you've collected all the treasures to be had in the reactor-pipe area.

  Description :

  A purple Scorpion.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Don't use fire on him because he absorbs the damage (and that means Vincent's level 1 limit break is a bad idea). Otherwise just watch your HP and pound away on this guy. His attacks do around 200-300 HP damage and Trine will do about 500 HP damage so watch your HP. You can't manipulate him to learn his enemy skill, you just have to stall and wait for him to use it--be sure that you have the enemy skill materia equipped! This guy can extend the battle by healing himself a couple of times (up to 1000 HP per time) so make sure you've got Restore linked with an All so you can do the same.

  ---

  Name :

  17. Palmer.

  Powers :

  HP=6000, MP=240

  Leaves When Dead :

  Endicoat, EXP 1800, AP 98.

  Location :

  This annoying little Shinra guy you'll find outside of Cid's house in Rocket Town trying to steal the Tiny Bronco--you'll have to fight him for it.

  Description :

  He's a pretty weak guy, not immune to anything so do what you want.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  A good move is to paralyze him with Aeris' Seal Evil Limit Break or with the Choco/Mog summon. If you do either of these in the first round you can often beat him before he ever gets to attack.

  ---

  Name :

  18. Rapps

  Powers :

  HP=6000, MP=300.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Peace Ring, EXP 3200, AP 33.

  Location :

  Wutai (Yuffie's Sub-Quest).

  Description :

  This little beast is thrown at you by Corneo after he leaves Yuffie and Elena hanging on the statue in the Da-Chao Mountains.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  You won't have any Materia when you meet him, so normal attacks, items and Limit Breaks are all you can use.

  ---

  Name :

  19. Red Dragon.

  Powers :

  HP=6800, MP=300.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Dragon Armlet, EXP 3500, AP 200.

  Location :

  This big guy shows up when you're in the Temple of the Ancients at door VI of the Cetra Shrine after you've captured the purple monk as he runs in and out of the doors.

  Description :

  A big red Dragon :-)

  Best Attack Tactics :

  If you've got fire rings equip them, if you can, give someone an Elemental-Fire combo on their armor and you'll nullify most of the damage this dragon can do. Of course, if he can do it to you it's a bad idea to do it to him--don't use fire on this guy. Cast Barrier on everyone, this will cut the damage from his bite from 700-800 down to about 350-400 HP. Casting Regen early on is a good thing to do (make sure this is Regen-All, Regen by itself is pretty stupid!). Casting a poison spell on this guy is a good way to help finish him off more quickly.

  ---

  Name :

  20. Demon Gate.

  Powers :

  HP=10,000, MP=400.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Gigas Armlet, EXP 3800, AP 220.

  Location :

  Not long after you've beaten the Red Dragon and are making your way out of the Temple (via door XII) you'll run into a door that instead of opening turns into a beast.

  Description :

  The Demon Gate is probably the nastiest boss you've fought until now--he has a great deal of HP, he casts some nasty spells that can do anywhere from 1000 to 2000 HP damage at a time.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Use Barrier to cut this damage down. He's invulnerable to poison and gravity-based attacks and earth-based attacks only do 1/2 damage. Summon's are a good idea here, also the Big Guard Enemy skill doesn't hurt either, a few White Winds would be necessary too. It's not a bad idea to cast slow on this guy either. If you use Magic Hammer a few times you can take away his ability to use his magic attacks pretty quickly. Be aware that this guy can petrify your characters (only one at a time though) so make sure you've got the Heal materia equipped or a few softs that in your item pack--if he petrifies all three of you all you can do is watch him kill your characters off one by one.

  ---

  Name :

  21. Jenova-Life.

  Powers :

  HP=10000, MP=300.

  Leaves When Dead :

  Wizard Bracelet, EXP 4000, AP 350.

  Location :

  You'll find her in the City of the Ancients after you've explored all the side paths, right after Sephiroth attacks Aeris :-(.

  Description :

  Jenova-Life is the first beast you'll run across that uses water-based spells.

  Best Attack Tactics :

  Make sure that someone is equipped with the Water Ring you found in Zango Valley (between Bone Village and the City of the Ancients)--that person will be pretty close to invulnerable throughout the battle, the others will probably die off in the first two rounds. Jenova-Life doesn't fair too well against earth magic so use that on her. Be careful that after awhile she might cast reflect on herself so any spell you cast at her will come back at you--if you just attach the earth materia to an Elemental materia in your weapon then you can just swing at her without having to worry about the rebound effect. Be sure to begin by casting the Big Guard Enemy Skill--the MBarrier and Haste benefits of this skill are a big help here. It's also possible for Jenova to use up all her magic powers while you're still alive--at this point whoever is left in the group can use Revive or Phoenix Down to bring your other characters back and Jenova can't do anything to them.