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Cloud Strife

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Revision as of 04:45, 30 January 2023 by SuperSaiyan2Link (talk | contribs)
Articles About Cloud Strife
Main Continuity Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Alternate Continuity Dissidia - Kingdom Hearts - Super Smash Bros.
“ Hey, Freyra. Keep doing your best, for the sake of us soldiers. „
~ Cloud Strife to Freyra
“ Don’t go getting yourself killed, now. „
~ Cloud Strife to Vincent Valentine
“ Damn it, I'm surrounded. „
~ Cloud Strife surrounded by Shinra Troops
“ Survival can be a matter of luck of skill. And you can't rely on luck. „
~ Cloud Strife to Jessie Raspberry

Background

Cloud Strife is the main predominant protagonist of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, starring as the main player character of Final Fantasy VII and the lead of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. He also appears as a supporting protagonist in Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII, Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Although at first claiming himself to be a 1st Class member of SOLDIER, Cloud's fight against Sephiroth pushes him towards realizations of who he really is.

This dropdown contains the synopsis of Cloud’s story. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!

Cloud Strife was a young boy who was born and raised in the backwater town of Nibelheim, by his mother Claudia Strife. Cloud was a shy boy who strayed away from making many friends, although he had an intense attraction for a girl named Tifa Lockhart. Wanting to not only impress her, but improve himself, Cloud decided he would leave for Midgar and become a SOLDIER, like his role model, Sephiroth.

Cloud’s life would not be favorable to him, however, as he reached the Shinra Building in Midgar and would be quickly shuffled into the Shinra Infantry, a step below SOLDIER. No matter how hard he tried to stand out or for how long he served, he was never once made a SOLDIER candidate.

A few years passed and Cloud would be sent out on a mission to track down the rogue SOLDIER, Genesis Rhapsodos. Leading the campaign was the SOLDIER 1st Class, Zack Fair, who bonded with Cloud over their backwater-origins, and formed a friendship.

Cloud and Zack would quickly grow to be good friends over the next few years, although Cloud’s dream of being enlisted for SOLDIER never came true, despite how much Zack motivated him. The day came when Cloud would be sent out on a mission back in his hometown of Nibelheim, which greatly scared him.

Cloud, terrified and embarrassed that he was returning to his hometown without having become a SOLDIER, hid himself behind his helmet the entire trip; especially when he ran into Tifa. Unfortunately, this campaign would be the very same one that saw Sephiroth learn of his origins, and be driven insane. Sephiroth massacred the entirety of Nibelheim, including Cloud’s mother, before heading to the Mako Reactor.

Zack, Tifa, and Cloud each made haste towards the Mako Reactor to intercept Sephiroth. Unfortunately, Tifa was taken out, and Cloud was forced to comfort her while Zack went ahead. Zack, too, lost after a fierce battle, leaving it up to Cloud. Cloud took up the Buster Sword and surprised Sephiroth, stabbing him through the abdomen.

After a short scuffle, Cloud overpowered the severely weakened Sephiroth, and threw him into the Lifestream, presumably killing him. After the fight, Cloud passed out alongside Zack and both were found by Professor Hojo, who retrieved their bodies and experimented on them for four years.

Cloud was bathed in Mako for those four years, and even when he was rescued by Zack Fair, he still suffered the consequences. Cloud was not inflicted with Mako poisoning, which greatly affected his mind and made him vegetative. After Zack passed away trying to escape the Shinra army and make it to Midgar, he entrusted the symbol of his honour, the Buster Sword, to Cloud. Cloud also unintentionally adopted Zack’s identity as a SOLDIER.

Cloud would go on to believe himself to be a former SOLDIER and now mercenary, which led him into the organization called Avalanche, which was hell-bent on saving the planet from things like Shinra, and soon the return of Sephiroth.

Cloud formed an entire party alongside him that he would soon consider his family, as he travelled the entire planet on his journey to take down Sephiroth and recover his memories. He lost people along the way, but was able to fully recover his sense of self and grow comfortable with who he is.

Finally, Cloud confronted Sephiroth once and for all, with the entire sake of the planet on the line. Using his Omnislash, Cloud was able to take Sephiroth out and send him back into the Lifestream. The next few years would be tough for Cloud, however, and the survivor’s guilt over Zack and Aerith’s deaths began to settle in.

Furthermore, Sephiroth’s return began to grow apparent to Cloud, as he was inflicted in his left arm by a horrible plague known as Geostigma. His worst fears were realized, when three Remnants of Sephiroth appeared searching for the remains of Jenova. Cloud opposed them along with the rest of his party, but was unable to stop Sephiroth’s return.

Finally visited by Zack and Aerith, who assured him that they never blamed him for their death, which gave Cloud the strength he needed to face Sephiroth once again. After striking him down once and for all, Cloud finally found true peace; watching Aerith and Zack return together into the Lifestream.

Statistics

Key: Before Crisis/Crisis Core | Final Fantasy VII (Early Game) | Final Fantasy VII (Late Game) | Advent Children/Dirge of Cerberus

Tier: 10-B, 4-A with Sheer Will | 4-A | High 3-A | At least High 3-A

Name: Cloud Strife

Origin: Final Fantasy VII

Sex: Male

Age: 15 - 16 years old (Before Crisis/Crisis Core), 21 years old (Final Fantasy VII) | 24 years old (Advent Children), 25 years old (Dirge of Cerberus)

Classification: Mercenary, Ex-SOLDIER 1st Class (self-proclaimed), Shinra Infantryman (formerly)

Status: Alive

Alignment: Neutral Good (Cloud is a naïve, kind-hearted kid who aims to do whatever he can to be of use and do what is right. He faithfully listens to orders and puts his life on the line, despite not having the power of a SOLDIER. Even after Sephiroth went mad and destroyed his hometown, Cloud still fought him to the bitter end) | Chaotic Good (After having his mind broken and completely reconstructed by JENOVA, Cloud has become a somewhat new person. He is now much more self-serving, joining fights for money rather than his own goals, and hoping to show off in front of people such as Tifa Lockhart. Still, Cloud has a good heart deep down and refuses to willingly preform any evil acts, fighting on the side of good even if he does so begrudgingly at times) | Neutral Good (Cloud has regained his past memories from before his mind shattered, and is once again a pure-hearted hero. Although initially apprehensive about fighting again, he still always jumps into battle to protect the world, and notes that he cherishes the well-being of everything) | Neutral Good

Dimensionality: 3-D

Attack Potency: Average Human level, Multi Solar System level with Sheer Will (He was able to overpower a weakened Sephiroth through will alone. His power during a moment of desperation was considered very noteworthy to Freyra, who could contend with and defeat Zirconiade; as the “Ultimate Summon”, Zirconiade should be above Bahamut Fury, who created its own realm containing several stars) | Multi Solar System level (Gained the power and skills of a SOLDIER 1st Class, and should be above Bahamut Fury) | Multi Supercluster level (Cloud was able to fully defeat Sephiroth, who knew Super Nova during their fight; Super Nova has Sephiroth create a dimension, containing one galaxy with room for countless more) | At least Multi Supercluster level (Cloud was able to defeat a Sephiroth who was so much more powerful than before, that he could casually deflect the move that killed him previously)

Durability: Average Human level | Multi Solar System level | Multi Supercluster level | At least Multi Supercluster level

Striking Strength: Average Human Class, Multi Solar System Class with Sheer Will | Multi Solar System Class | Multi Supercluster Class | At least Multi Supercluster Class

Lifting Strength: Athletic Human

Travel Speed: Athletic Human (Should be just as fast as his older self) | Athletic Human (He can run at similar speeds to a Chocobo; Chocobo are said in the Dissidia Final Fantasy Museum to run at 20 mph) | Athletic Human | Athletic Human, Superhuman with Fenrir (The average motorcycle can reach speeds between 80 and 165 mph)

Combat Speed: At least Massively Hypersonic+ | At least Massively Hypersonic+ | FTL+ | At least FTL+

Reaction Speed: At least Massively Hypersonic+ (Should be similar to his early-game older self) | At least Massively Hypersonic+ (Can dodge the lasers from Shinra security system) | FTL+ (Could keep up with and defeat Sephiroth; Sephiroth knew Super Nova at the time of their fight, meaning he could react to the comet of his Super Nova) | At least FTL+ (Should be much faster than before. Could outpace Sephiroth’s reactions, who was able to react to the move he died to previously)

Stamina: Superhuman (Even when riddled with Mako poisoning, Cloud was able to walk all the way into Midgar from several miles away. Cloud went on his journey to defeat Sephiroth for countless days on end, with very few breaks in between, and never seemed naturally fatigued a single time)

Range: Standard Melee, Extended Melee with Buster Sword and Fusion Sword, Far Higher with Materia

Intelligence: Genius (Although he spent several years of his life as a simple infantryman, it only took a bit of mental trickery for Cloud to become a convincing SOLDIER 1st Class. He was even able to outskill Sephiroth two separate times, who was a legitimate SOLDIER that had years upon years of experience on him)

Key: Pre-Destiny's Crossroads | Post-Destiny's Crossroads

Tier: 4-A | 2-C

Name: Cloud Strife

Origin: Final Fantasy VII Remake

Sex: Male

Age: 21 years old

Classification: Mercenary, Ex-SOLDIER 1st Class (self-proclaimed), Shinra Infantryman (formerly)

Status: Alive

Alignment: Chaotic Good (Is somewhat selfish, valuing money over morals and fighting only because he his hired. He does refuse to perform evil acts, however, and deep down does want to assist the side of good) | Neutral Good (After reaching Destiny's Crossroads, Cloud has discovered Sephiroth's plans, Cloud has become more of who he truly is, and is now fully committed to fighting for the sake of the planet)

Dimensionality: 3-D

Attack Potency: Multi-Solar System level | Universe level (Cloud could completely destroy the Whisper Harbinger, which is connected to all of time and space, and the destruction of which was seen across all of time. Was later able to contend with Sephiroth far earlier than he originally could, with Sephiroth being stronger than ever before after absorbing the Whispers)

Durability: Multi-Solar System level | Universe level

Striking Strength: Multi-Solar System Class | Universal Class

Lifting Strength: Athletic Human | Athletic Human

Travel Speed: Athletic Human | Athletic Human

Combat Speed: At least Massively Hypersonic+ | Extra-Temporal

Reaction Speed: At least Massively Hypersonic+ (Could dodge the lasers from Shinra security system) | Extra-Temporal (Could keep up with the Whisper Harbinger and Sephiroth after he absorbed the Whispers, who are connected to all of time and space)

Stamina: Superhuman

Range: Standard Melee, Extended Melee with Buster Sword, far higher with Materia

Intelligence: Genius

Powers and Abilities

Spirit Energy Physiology, which grants: Superhuman Physical Characteristics, Blessed (Everyone born into the world is blessed with Spirit Energy), Sheer Will (Willpower alone can be enough to fight off Mako poisoning, and the will of Jenova. Those with a strong enough will can retain their sense of self after dying and returning to the Lifestream), Memory Manipulation, Energy Manipulation, Rage Power, & Aura (Limit Breaks are born of memories, are comprised of Spirit Energy, and are unleashed when the user's anger is pushed to the limit. They give off an aura when used), Non-Physical Interaction (Characters can interact with the souls of the Gi Tribe), Regeneration Negation (Mid-High; Jenova can regenerate itself fully so long as its cells remain, as Cloud Strife participates in Jenova's Reunion despite only containing her cells. Despite this, pieces of Jenova defeated by the heroes were unable to enact the Reunion), Immortality Negation (Type 3; Can completely kill pieces of Jenova, preventing them from regenerating), Accelerated Development (When Sephiroth fought the party far earlier than he was supposed to, the main characters could still contend with him, even after Sephiroth absorbed the Whispers and became stronger than he had ever been)
Human Achievements (Cloud made it into the Shinra infantry. He soon became a proficient mercenary), Weapon Mastery (Cloud is skilled with guns, and the Buster Sword), Vehicular Mastery (Cloud is skilled with his motorcycle, Fenrir), Energy Projection & Homing Attack (Cloud can shoot energy with Blade Beam, which can home-in on enemies), Death Manipulation (Finishing Touch inflicts Instant Death on foes), Air Manipulation (Finishing Touch sends a gust of wind that blasts enemies into the air), Paralysis Inducement (Cross-Slash inflicts paralysis), Afterimage Creation (Cloud can create afterimages with Omnislash Version 5), Earth Manipulation & Fire Manipulation (Cloud can create and launch flaming boulders with Meteorain)

Spirit Energy Physiology, which grants resistance to: Mind Manipulation & Soul Manipulation (Those with high willpower can resist succumbing to Jenova's will, which passively takes over one's mind and eats away at the soul, and can prevent their mind from shattering), Poison Manipulation (High willpower can prevent the toxicosis that comes with the exposure to Jenova Cells), Power Mimicry & Power Absorption (Limit Breaks cannot be copied by others. Only Zack Fair can copy Limit Breaks, though he is noted to be the only exception to this), Corruption (Types 1 & 2; Several main characters have been exposed to high amounts of Mako energy, and never became Makonoid monsters), Biological Deconstruction & Soul Manipulation (Main characters have fallen into the Lifestream and returned unscathed, without being forcefully diffused or dissolved into it, or having their spirit be eroded and dissipated), Heat Manipulation & Radiation Manipulation (Can withstand Super Nova without any negative effects of heat or radiation), Limited Disease Manipulation (Those with a will to live are unaffected by Geostigma, which infects those with a weak will)

Berserk Mode (Paired with Mystify Materia it inflicts Berserk), Resistance to Petrification & Time Stop (Paired with Contain Materia, grants resistance to Petrify and Stop), Resistance to Death Manipulation (Paired with Destruct and Odin Materia, grants resistance to Instant Death), Resistance to Magic Negation & Sleep Manipulation (Paired with Seal Materia, grants resistance to Silence and Sleep), Resistance to Size Manipulation & Transmutation (Paired with Transform Materia, grants resistance to Small and Frog)

Healing (Potions, Hi-Potions, and X-Potions all restore Cloud’s health. Ethers and Turbo Ethers restore magic power), Resurrection (Phoenix Down fully restores fallen party members when they are defeated), Resistance to Status Effect Inducement (Remedy, Elixir, and Megalixir prevents negative status effects)

Standard Equipment

*Buster Sword: An enormous broadsword with two Materia slots, that serves as a symbol of dreams and honor. It has inherited the hopes of those who fight, which is then bequeathed from one warrior to another. The Buster Sword once belonged to legendary SOLDIER 1st Class, Angeal Hewley, who then passed it down to Zack Fair, before it eventually ended up in the hands of Cloud Strife. It now currently rests in the Sector 5 Church, serving eternally as a reminder of those who sacrificed themselves to save the planet.

  • Buster Sword

    Buster Sword

  • Mythril Saber: A large saber that has slightly better stats than the Buster Sword, and contains three Materia slots instead of two. Cloud can purchase the Mythril Saber for 1,000 Gil, from either a shop in Kalm or one in Junon Harbor. He picked up this blade not long after he left Midgar.
  • Mythril Saber

    Mythril Saber

  • Hardedge: A large, extremely-wide sword with a hard edge, dealing powerful blunt damage with each slash. It is more powerful than the Mythril Saber, and contains four Materia slots total. Cloud purchased this blade in either Junon Harbor or Gongaga, for 1,500 Gil.
  • Hardedge

    Hardedge

  • Butterfly Edge: A large, jagged blade that looks more like a gargantuan pocket knife than a sword. The Butterfly Edge has decent stats, being the strongest weapon Cloud had available at the time until he received the Enhance Sword. It comes with four Materia slots, and was purchased by Cloud in Cosmo Canyon for only 2,800 Gil.
  • Butterfly Edge

    Butterfly Edge

  • Enhance Sword: A golden, two-handed broadsword. Although its strength is inferior to other weapons Cloud possesses, it makes up for this by containing a staggering eight Materia slots, which is far more than any other weapon he has. Cloud obtained this weapon while he was climbing the Northern Crater, where he found it on Gaea's Cliff.
  • Enhance Sword

    Enhance Sword

  • Organics: Although oddly-shaped, the Organics is an incredibly useful weapon. It grants a great attack bonus compared to Cloud's previous weapons, and has six Materia slots. Cloud purchased this weapon for 12,000 Gil in the Icicle Inn.
  • Organics

    Organics

  • Crystal Sword: Made of blue crystal, this sword is not only one-of-a-kind in appearance, but also in stats. It completely outclasses Cloud's previous weapons in terms of power, as well as containing six Materia slots. Cloud purchased this weapon for 18,000 Gil in Mideel.
  • Crystal Sword

    Crystal Sword

  • Force Stealer: A menacing, purple blade with a large red gemstone in its hilt. The Force Stealer is not only more powerful than Cloud's previous swords, but also grants Cloud double Ability Point growth, meaning that he learns new techniques much quicker. Unfortunately, the Force Stealer comes at a price of only holding three Materia slots. Cloud won this as an award for participating in Rufus Shinra's parade in Junon.
  • Force Stealer

    Force Stealer

  • Rune Blade: A thin-handled blade that gets extremely wide at its tip. Much like the Force Stealer, the Rune Blade grants double Ability Point growth, but for all four of its Materia slots. Cloud obtained this blade on his trip to Mt. Nibel, and finds good use in it for quickly strengthening his Materia.
  • Rune Blade

    Rune Blade

  • Murasame: Very similar to Sephiroth's Masamune, the Murasame is an extremely large katana blade, so large in fact that Cloud wields it with two hands. This blade is quite well-rounded, being more powerful than the Butterfly Edge but weaker than the Organics. However, is comes with five Materia slots, and is quite easy to swing around. Cloud purchased this weapon for 6,500 Gil in Wutai.
  • Murasame

    Murasame

  • Nail Bat: This is the only joke weapon that Cloud can acquire; literally just being a large bat with jagged nails sticking out of it. This bat has incredibly high attack power, but no Materia slots, making it an extreme double sided coin. Cloud found this unconventional "sword" in the Temple of the Ancients.
  • Nail Bat

    Nail Bat

  • Yoshiyuki: Another giant katana blade, the Yoshiyuki is superior to the Murasame in many ways. Though its attack power starts out seemingly low, it doubles if one of Cloud's allies falls in battle. It can then triple if to allies fall, so on and so forth. It also comes equipped with two Materia slots. Cloud received the Yoshiyuki from a man in Rocket Town.
  • Yoshiyuki

    Yoshiyuki

  • Apocalypse: A large, demonic red blade with an intricate and deadly design. Though only holding three Materia slots, this gargantuan blade is not only extremely powerful, but grants a triple Ability Point bonus. Cloud acquired the Apocalypse in the Ancient Forest.
  • Apocalypse

    Apocalypse

  • Heaven's Cloud: Fairly standard looking for a broadsword, but with two distinct rings hanging off of its hilt. The Heaven's Cloud is noted to be extremely well-rounded, and his third strongest sword overall during the events of the original game. It comes with six Materia slots. Cloud found this sword in treasure chest in the sunken Gelnika.
  • Heaven's Cloud

    Heaven's Cloud

  • Ragnarok: This large golden broadsword is the second most powerful weapon that Cloud obtained in his first adventure. It is very well-rounded with its stats, and has six Materia slots overall. In terms of strength, it even outranks the Ultima Weapon's base power. Cloud obtained this sword after defeating Heidegger and Scarlet in their Proud Clod machine.
  • Ragnarok

    Ragnarok

  • Ultima Weapon: The most powerful weapon that Cloud had access to in his first adventure, proudly titled his ultimate weapon. This large, colorful blade has extremely high stats and eight Materia slots, making it incredibly useful in all forms of combat. It also is able to deal more damage depending on how high Cloud's health is. Cloud was rewarded the Ultima Weapon after defeating the WEAPON, Ultimate Weapon.
  • Ultima Weapon

    Ultima Weapon

  • Fusion Sword: Cloud's primary sword following the events of the original game, which is constructed to resemble the Buster Sword. Instead of simply being one blade, however, the Fusion Sword can split into seven separate pieces, which allows for Cloud to use his Omnislash Version 5. Each piece of the sword is placed inside of his motorcycle, which he can pull out and quickly assemble at any time.
  • Fusion Sword

    Fusion Sword

*Summon: Small red orbs of crystalized Mako energy that can be used to call upon legendary, gargantuan beasts from the distant past, to fight alongside him. This includes giant flaming behemoths like Ifrit, to huge dragons like Bahamut.

  • Summon

    Summon

  • Magic: Small green orbs of crystalized Mako energy that can be used to enable the use of magic spells, oftentimes being elemental in nature, such as Fire/Fira/Firaga which attacks with flames.
  • Magic

    Magic

  • Command: Small yellow orbs of crystalized Mako energy that can be used to enable the use of extra commands in battle, such as the ability to throw items or steal items from enemies.
  • Command

    Command

  • Support: Small blue orbs of crystalized Mako energy that have the primary purpose of being linked to other Materia, in order to enhance their effects.
  • Support

    Support

  • Independent: Small purple orbs of crystalized Mako energy that increase the stats of the user, or give them auto-abilities such as Cover.
  • Independent

    Independent

*Potion: Restores a small amount of health.

  • Potion

    Potion

  • Hi-Potion: Restores a large amount of health.
  • Hi-Potion

    Hi-Potion

  • X-Potion: Restores all health.
  • X-Potion

    X-Potion

  • Ether: Restores a small amount of magic power.
  • Ether

    Ether

  • Turbo Ether: Restores all magic power.
  • Turbo Ether

    Turbo Ether

  • Elixir: Restores all health and magic power.
  • Elixir

    Elixir

  • Megalixir: Restores all health and magic power of the entire party.
  • Megalixir

    Megalixir

  • Remedy: Cures all abnormal status effects, including Sleep, Poison, Sadness, Fury, Confusion, Silence, Frog, Mini, Slow, Petrify, Berserk, Paralysis, and Darkness.
  • Remedy

    Remedy

  • Phoenix Down: Resurrects one party member from death.
  • Phoenix Down

    Phoenix Down

Notable Techniques

  • Braver: Cloud’s first Limit Break, which has him jump high into the air before slamming his blade down onto his enemies.
  • Cross-Slash: Cloud runs up to his enemy and slashes them multiple times, inflicting them with temporary paralysis.
  • Climhazzard: Cloud stabs his blade into a foe, before leaping high into the air for a powerful upwards strike.
  • Meteorain: Cloud leaps high into the air, launching large meteors from his blade.
  • Finishing Touch: Cloud spins around and shoots a large swirl of wind at his foes, which blasts them into the sky and inflicts instant death upon them.
  • Omnislash: Cloud’s signature Limit Break, which has him brutally strike his foe a total of fifteen times without letting up, before jumping high into the air and slashing them on his way down.
  • Omnislash Version 5: The advanced version of Cloud’s Omnislash, which is performed with the Fusion Sword. The Fusion Sword splits apart and each individual piece surrounds the foe, as Cloud jumps between each blade with blinding speed and delivers powerful strikes; finishing with a slash into the ground.

Other

Weaknesses: Cloud started off with a lot of self-esteem issues, being too embarrassed to even come to his hometown when he couldn’t become a SOLDIER. This shyness and embarrassment would be amplified into horrible memory and identity crises. Even after he got over those, Cloud suffered from horrible survivor’s guilt that made him give up on living for a while.

Battle Records

None

None

None

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