FF7 Rebirth: How to Steal the Tonberry King Crown

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Tonberry King is one of the game’s tougher optional battles. Players need to master a precise Steal mechanic to grab the crown, and the item you get hinges on how well you handle the fight. There are two versions of the crown: the Pristine Crown and the Marred Crown, each impacting crafting or progression differently.

The Tonberry King pops up as part of the game’s rich side content. This aligns with Square Enix’s approach of filling FF7 Rebirth with various hunts and quest chains. The game dropped on February 29, 2024, and hit PC via Steam in early 2025. It’s currently priced at $49.99, with 2,622 players active on the platform as of now.

To snatch the crown, you’ll need a character equipped with the Steal ability. Yuffie’s your best bet due to her speed and synergy with the Steal materia. Initiate Steal early in the encounter, before the Tonberry King ramps up its aggression. Quick action can mean the difference between snagging the Pristine Crown, which requires a perfect steal, and the Marred Crown, which drops under less ideal circumstances or if you delay your steal attempt. You can check out VGC’s full guide for detailed timing and party setups that can boost your chances.

The Tonberry King packs a punch. Its notorious Chef’s Knife attack can take down unprepared party members in one hit, so equipping accessories that boost Instant Death resistance is crucial. Keeping your party’s HP above 50% during the steal window minimizes the risk of a wipe. For players having trouble with the encounter’s initial phase, IGN’s walkthrough and Polygon’s location guide offer helpful positioning tips.

This quest fits into a larger content ecosystem that Square Enix continues to enhance. A PC mod released in July 2026 revamped the game’s lighting, shadows, and water rendering. Additionally, Rebirth sold physical units in Japan on Switch 2 during its June 2026 launch week, according to Famitsu data. This suggests the player base remains active across multiple platforms over two years after its original PS5 release.

By The Numbers

Release Date	February 29, 2024
Current Steam Price	$49.99
Steam Reviews	78% positive (16,044 reviews)
Current Steam Players	2,622
Crown Variants	2 (Pristine, Marred)

Steam reviews for Rebirth show a mixed-to-negative sentiment among vocal players. One user commented: “I love the original FF7, remake was meh but this game is so unbelievably boring I can’t continue. It makes no sense to split the game into 3 parts and all of the story changes they have made are ♥♥♥♥.” This frustration with the trilogy structure and narrative changes from the 1997 original pops up frequently in negative feedback. Still, the overall score of 78% positive indicates that a good number of players are enjoying the content.

What To Watch

• Whether Square Enix releases a patch to address ongoing performance issues with the PC version, which are a pain point for new players tackling content like the Tonberry King hunt.
• The sales pace of FF7 Rebirth on Switch 2 — if the Famitsu week-one numbers hold, Square Enix might speed up the release of the trilogy’s third installment.
• Community-driven mod support on PC: the July 2026 lighting overhaul hints at a vibrant modding scene that could keep the game fresh ahead of part three’s announcement.