Cloud Strife Weapons and Abilities | Cloud Best Build

This is a character page for Cloud, containing his abilities, characteristics, and Limit Breaks, as well as his weapons, and recommended battle settings for Cloud in the game Final Fantasy 7 Remake (FF7 Remake). When playing FF7 Remake, check this article any time you need to know something about using Cloud.

Cloud's Backstory and Profile

An ex-SOLDIER: first class, Cloud came to Midgar to start a new chapter of his life as a mercenary. At the invitation of his childhood friend, Tifa, he accepted a job with Avalanche. He may bring his buster sword to bear against Shinra troopers, but he does not care for plight of the planet. For him, this is a job and nothing more. Source: FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE

Name	Cloud Strife
Age	21
Height	173 cm (5'8")
Birthday	August 11th
Blood Type	AB
Voice Actor	English: Cody Christian Japanese: Takahiro Sakurai
Weapon	Swords

Cloud's Characteristics

The Quintissential Melee Swordsman

Effect	Cloud's attacks are always done with his Buster sword. He is a melee fighter, and his attack have a little delay mainly because of the heavy nature of his weapon.

Cloud's Strengths and Unique Ability

Cloud specializes in close-range combat. Press □ to strike, and hold it down to unleash a powerful attack. △ activates Cloud's unique ability, mode change, allowing you to switch modes during battle.

Punisher Mode

In punisher mode, Cloud moves more slowly, but □ unleashes a more powerful attack than usual. In addition, Cloud launches a counterblow every time he guards against an enemy's melee attack.

He cannot, however, guard against ranged attacks or magic. When you evade such attacks, you will switch back to operator mode.

Operator Mode

In operator mode, Cloud strikes the perfect balance between attack and defense, and moves more quickly than in punisher mode.

Cloud's Abilities

Triple Slash

Effect			How to Learn
Slash three enemies in quick succession, dealing more damage with each blow.			Equip Iron Blade. Reach 100% Proficiency to learn permanently.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
600		3		0

Focused Thrust

Effect			How to Learn
Lunge toward an enemy with a piercing strike that hits multiple times. Significantly increases stagger.			Associated with Buster Sword. Learned from the start.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
200		6		0

Braver

Effect			How to Learn
Jump into the air and strike your foe with a powerful attack.			Learned from the start.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
400		2		0

Disorder

Effect			How to Learn
Deliver a devastating attack and switch modes in one fluid motion.			Equip Nail Bat. Reach 100% Proficiency to learn permanently.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
80 (Operator Mode) / 180 (Punisher Mode)		1 (Operator Mode) / 2 (Punisher Mode)		500 (Operator Mode) / 200 (Punisher Mode)

Blade Burst

Effect			How to Learn
Unleash a wave of non-elemental mako energy at an enemy in front of you with a slash of your sword.			Equip Mythril Saber. Reach 100% Proficiency to learn permanently.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
378		1		0

Infinity's End

Effect			How to Learn
Lunge toward and enemy with a piercing strike that hits multiple times. Significantly increases stagger.			Equip Hardedge. Reach 100% Proficiency to learn permanently.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
666		0		0

Counterstance

Effect			How to Learn
Brace for attacks and retaliate with a powerful slash.			Equip Twin Stinger. Reach 100% Proficiency to learn permanently.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
520		5		0

Cloud's Limit Breaks

Cross-Slash

Effect			How to Learn
Damage your foe while making an ominous symbol with your slashes.			Learned from the start.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
1700		5		0

Ascension

Effect			How to Learn
Focus on a single enemy and deliver several powerful strikes. significantly increases stagger.			Clear Party Member vs. Wild Animals in Corneo Colosseum.
Power		Stagger Rate		ATB Gain
2800		50		0

List of Limit Breaks | Limit Break Guide

Cloud's Weapons

Cloud's Starting Weapon

Weapon	ATK	MATK	DEF	MDEF	Slots
Buster Sword	22	22	0	0	○-○

Cloud's Other Weapons

Weapon	ATK	MATK	DEF	MDEF	Slots
Iron Blade	23	31	0	0	○○○
Nail Bat	30	30	0	0	None
Hardedge	57	19	0	0	○-○○
Mythril Saber	24	72	0	0	○-○○○
Twin Stinger	46	46	0	0	○-○○-○

List of Weapons Stats and Materia Slots

Cloud's Stats

Level 50 Stats

Stat	Value
HP	4820
MP	75
Strength	107
Magic	100
Vitality	63
Spirit	63
Luck	72
Speed	55

Character Ranking by Stat

How to Use Cloud

Dodge After the Combo Finisher

Cloud will execute a combo by continuously pressing the attack command in either mode. However, after the combo finisher (or the combo's final attack), there will be a brief pause as an interval between combos that makes Cloud vulnerable and unable to attack. You can cancel this animation frame by dodging or using an ability.

Use this technique to avoid vulnerabilty frames and maximize Cloud's damage output!

Parry is Perfect for Punisher Mode

Cloud's block in Operator Mode is replaced by auto-counter in Punisher Mode. The downside of Punisher Mode's auto-counter is that Cloud will still take full damage from magic and ranged attacks. While holding R1, you cannot just simply switch to Operator Mode before you get hit by these attacks as Cloud will swing his sword before being able to guard.

The solution to this problem is equipping Parry Materia.

Executing Parry will allow Cloud to stay in Punisher Mode while also blocking, dodging, and dealing damage to nearby enemies all at the same time. Perfect for Punisher Mode fans!

Use Triple Slash for Mob Clearing

The Triple Slash ability learned from Iron Blade is useful against both single and multiple targets as it increases damage per hit and deals area damage.

This ability is easily one of the most useful abilities in the game as it works well on clearing mobs quickly for a faster run or dealing a lot of damage to a single enemy efficiently!

Blade Burst Deals Magic Damage

Take note that the Mythril Saber's Blade Burst deals magic damage. What makes it special is that you can use it without consuming MP, is non-elemental, and deals area damage, while the other abilities in Cloud's moveset deals physical damage.

This is useful against enemies weak to Magic but has certain elemental resistances.

Counterstance is OP

The Counterstance ability from Twin Stinger is an upgraded version of Punisher Mode's auto-counter. For 1 ATB bar, you can counter most attacks, even magic and ranged attacks, and dish out even more damage than Punisher Mode's auto-counter to enemies around you.

Infinity's End on Staggered Enemies

Hardedge's Infinity's End executes an enemy by dealing an insane amount of damage once Cloud finishes winding it up. If it is not enough for you, use it on staggered enemies to make this ability's damage hit the roof. Infinity's End can easily reach the damage cap if used on staggered enemies even in Hard difficulty.

The only drawback is its cost and casting time. This ability requires 2 ATB bars and takes approximately 3 seconds before it hits, making it almost completely useless against moving enemies. This means that if you are aiming to make it hit during the enemy's staggered state, make sure that you have enough ATB charges before its stagger gauge is completely filled. Better yet, use Infinity's End right before the stagger gauge is filled so you can use the remaining stagger duration to deliver other attacks.

Best Build for Cloud

Balanced Build

Equipment	Stats (Fully Upgraded) / Effect
Buster Sword	Attack: 91 Magic Attack: 91 Defense: +11 Magic Defense: +11 Max HP: +200 Max MP: +26 Slots: ○-○○-○○-○
Chain Bangle	Defense: +50 Magic Defense: +50 Slots: ○-○○-○
Gotterdammerung	Enter battle with a full limit break gauge. Limit break gauge gradually fills during battle.

Buster Sword
Fire + Elemental
HP Up	HP Up
First Strike	Steadfast Block
Chain Bangle
Chakra	ATB Stagger
Healing	Revival

Notes

• Switch the Fire materia according to the enemy's weakness.
• Use Twin Stinger if you need the Reprieve ability.
• Use Cog Bangle if Chain Bangle is unavailable then remove the ATB Stagger materia.
• Use Champion Belt if Gotterdammerung is unavailable.

Physical Build

Equipment	Stats (Fully Upgraded) / Effect
Hardedege	Attack: 137 Magic Attack: 46 Slots: ○-○○-○○-○
Chain Bangle	Defense: +50 Magic Defense: +50 Slots: ○-○○-○
Gotterdammerung	Enter battle with a full limit break gauge. Limit break gauge gradually fills during battle.

Hardedge
Fire + Elemental
HP Up	HP Up
First Strike	Steadfast Block
Chain Bangle
Parry	ATB Stagger
Time	Chakra

Notes

• Switch the Fire materia according to the enemy's weakness.
• Use Haste immediately at the start of a battle.
• Use Cog Bangle if Chain Bangle is unavailable then remove the ATB Stagger materia.
• Use Champion Belt if Gotterdammerung is unavailable.

Magic Build

Equipment	Stats (Fully Upgraded) / Effect
Mythril Saber	Attack: 46 Magic Attack: 138 Magic Defense: +10 Max MP: +10 Slots: ○-○○-○○-○
Chain Bangle	Defense: +50 Magic Defense: +50 Slots: ○-○○-○
Circlet	Increases max MP by 10% Increases magic power by 5%

Mythril Saber
Fire + Elemental
Magic Up	Magic Up
First Strike	Steadfast Block
Chain Bangle
Healing + Magnify
Revival	MP Up

Notes

• This build maximizes the damage output of Blade Burst, which is also your main damage dealing ability when using this setup.
• Switch the Fire materia according to the enemy's weakness.
• Use Cog Bangle if Chain Bangle is unavailable then remove the MP Up materia.
• Switch Circlet with Healing Carcanet if you need increased healing.

Best Build for Each Character

Recommended Battle Shortcuts for Cloud

Button	Setup
▢	Triple Slash
△	Blade Burst
◯	Counterstance
Ｘ	Infinity's End

Character Links

Main Characters
Cloud	Aerith	Barret	Tifa
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Character Ranking by Stat
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