One of the most famous swords in Final Fantasy
Few weapons in video games have managed to become such a recognizable symbol as the Buster Sword from Final Fantasy VII.
Its enormous blade, simple design, and disproportionate size made it stand out from Cloud Strife’s first appearance; however, the story of this sword began long before Cloud first lifted it, as it was built around a chain of friendship, sacrifice, and legacy.
The origin of the Buster Sword
The known history of the Buster Sword begins with Angeal Hewley, one of the main characters in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII.
Angeal grows up in a humble family, and his father had obtained the sword in the hope that his son could one day become a SOLDIER. Thus, for Angeal, the Buster Sword does not simply represent a weapon: it is directly linked to his family and the expectations his father had placed upon him.
For this reason, Angeal has a particularity that draws attention during the game: he avoids using the blade's edge, as for him, unnecessarily wasting or damaging a weapon that represents his father's hard work would be contrary to the values he has learned.
The sword thus ends up becoming an extension of Angeal’s philosophy: to fight, but to do so by following a code and maintaining his principles.
Angeal and Zack Fair: When the sword changes hands
During Crisis Core, Angeal becomes a mentor to Zack Fair, a young SOLDIER who dreams of becoming a hero, but the two end up clashing when Angeal abandons the path Shinra expected of him.
The conflict between master and student culminates with Zack defeating Angeal, who, before dying, entrusts the Buster Sword to Zack.
That moment changes the history of the sword; what had begun as Angeal’s family possession passes into the hands of his disciple, who receives more than just a weapon: he receives that which Angeal considers worthy of passing on to him.
From then on, Zack carries it during his missions and continues to use the teachings of his former mentor.
Zack Fair and Cloud Strife: A new destiny
Zack uses the Buster Sword throughout the rest of his story in Crisis Core and, as he rises through the ranks of SOLDIER, the sword remains by his side in all his confrontations.
However, when he is mortally wounded after facing Shinra soldiers following his escape, on the outskirts of Midgar, he manages to protect Cloud and give him the Buster Sword.
From that moment on, the sword continues its journey with a new owner, but maintains the original spirit with which Zack received it and the principles he upheld while wielding it.
Cloud in Final Fantasy VII
When Final Fantasy VII begins, Cloud Strife appears wielding the Buster Sword and, for those who do not know the story of Crisis Core, it seems simply like the protagonist’s signature weapon. However, it is the background of this sword that causes him to have a distorted vision of his own memories for a good part of the story. His identity is linked to events that actually belong to Zack, and the Buster Sword becomes one of the physical connections between both characters even after the death of one of them.
A sword turned into a symbol of Final Fantasy VII
The Buster Sword ended up becoming one of the most recognizable images of Final Fantasy VII, and although its enormous size makes it immediately identifiable, it is its story in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII that explains why it carries so much emotional weight for Cloud and a significance that keeps it ever-present among fans.
Three different characters, three stories, and a single sword that passes from one set of hands to another explain how wielding it is more than just taking up a weapon—it is taking up the dream, the heritage, and the legacy of three protagonists who left their mark on Final Fantasy.
