Leader of the terrorist group AVALANCHE, and bitter enemy of the Shinra. He grew up in the mining town of North Corel, where he was involved in a decision to have the town switch from mining coal to using Mako energy, against the protests of his best friend Dyne. The decision turned out to be a disastrous one, and he lost his arm and his friend after an attack from the Shinra. Following the incident, Barret had an operation to have his arm replaced with a gun, and adopted Dyne's now orphaned daughter, Marlene. Seeking answers he couldn't find in Corel, he traveled to Cosmo Canyon where he learned about the harm the Shinra and their Mako reactors were inflicting upon the planet. He eventually ends up in the Midgar slums, in command of a group called AVALANCHE, a rebel group fighting back against Shinra.