Final Fantasy Wiki
Advertisement

Template:FFVII Character

Originally a member of SOLDIER, he is now a mercenary who will take any job...

Description

Cloud Strife is the main protagonist in Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and also appears in the spin-off games of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, including Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- and Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, as a supporting character.

An arrogant and proud swordsman at first, Cloud believes himself to be a member of an elite warrior unit called SOLDIER. He discovers that his memories are false and, with the help of his friends, learns there is more to being a hero than possessing physical strength and fame.

Profile

Appearance

Cloud working as a Shinra guard in Crisis Core.

Cloud stands at 5'7" with a lean and toned build. He has spiky blond hair and in Final Fantasy VII features one particularly long spike. Cloud's hair has become one of the trademarks of his appearance, although in later appearances the spikes have been toned down. Cloud has blue eyes, which glow due to him having being exposed to Mako. Because "Mako eyes" are an icon of SOLDIER, Cloud is often mistaken as one. His weapon is the Buster Sword, a massive sword several feet long which he wields in most of his appearances. Cloud's other trademark weapon is a set of Fusion Swords, which he uses in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. The set consists of six individual interconnecting swords that form a larger sword similar in shape and size to the Buster Sword.

Cloud's outfit in Final Fantasy VII is the standard uniform for 1st Class SOLDIER: indigo pants with a sleeveless shirt, and a belt. Cloud wears brown boots, gauntlets with a pauldron over his left shoulder and a SOLDIER band in his left wrist. This is the uniform he wears for most of his other appearances, with slight variations. He has a silver earring in his left ear.

In Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, Cloud wears the blue uniform of a Shinra Electric Power Company infantryman with several belts and straps and a green-gray piece of cloth around the collar. He wears his helmet to conceal his identity at times. After he gains the SOLDIER 1st class uniform his appearance is the same as in Final Fantasy VII, albeit with both shoulder pauldrons in-tact and the SOLDIER logo as it is in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-.

In Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Cloud's clothing design was made with fighting in mind, and the concept began with a black robe and was restructured into the final version seen in the film. Cloud's hair was changed both to show the passage of time since Final Fantasy VII, and to be more realistic. He wears a high collar sleeveless black shirt, black pants and boots, and black cloth covering his left leg and arm; the cloth on his arm hides his Geostigma symptoms. Cloud gains a new pauldron, and his chest is covered by two straps, held in place by a badge representing Fenrir, a wolf that has come to be associated with him. Like the rest of the party, he wears a pink ribbon around his left arm in remembrance of Aerith Gainsborough, though it stays hidden for most of the movie.

In Kingdom Hearts, Cloud's costume was designed to resemble that of Vincent Valentine. He wears a tattered red cloak with dark blue pants and a shirt and brown boots. The costume features many crossing belts and gloves, the left of which has golden trimmings, almost like a claw. Cloud's most distinctive trait in this appearance is a demonic black wing protruding from his left shoulder, symbolizing both his connection to Sephiroth, and the dark powers he is using. The costume can be obtained as DLC in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. In Kingdom Hearts II, Cloud is identical to his appearance in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, save that his new sword is loosely bound as the Buster Sword was in Kingdom Hearts.

Personality

Cloud Portrait

I pity you. You just don't get it at all... there's not a thing I don't cherish!

Cloud to Sephiroth in Advent Children

In Final Fantasy VII, due to the combined effects of Mako poisoning and the influence of Jenova's cells in his body, Cloud unknowingly holds a fake persona created by the Jenova cells mixing his memories of Zack's personality with the cocky and selfish attitude he believes a SOLDIER 1st Class would have. After restoring his true personality, Cloud shows genuine concern for the Planet's fate, a sharp contrast to his persona at the start where he claimed he did not care and only agreed to help AVALANCHE for the right price. The true Cloud is open-minded and cares about the bond he forged with his friends.

In Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and many related appearances, Cloud is a somber character, tormented by guilt over what he perceives as his past failings to save those he cares about. The final straw was contracting the terminal Geostigma plague, adding to his feelings of helplessness. Distancing from his friends and living alone, Cloud tries to keep his affliction secret. Cloud faces his past both metaphorically and literally, and with the shows of loyalty from the friends he tried to let go he comes to forgive himself and moves on. It is unclear what this ultimately means in terms of his personality and lifestyle.

In Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, Cloud is a shy, but more upbeat person who idolizes Zack and Sephiroth, but even after being betrayed by his idol he does not hesitate to avenge.

Cloud's Advent Children render.

Cloud remains steadfastly loyal and true to those he cares about and is driven to protect them, going as far as to hide his pain and emotions so he would not worry them. His selfless and kind nature lets him overcome Sephiroth time and again. Cloud has a lighter side, willingly crossdressing as a woman to save Tifa from Don Corneo's mansion. When the party arrives at Costa del Sol, Tifa asks Cloud what he thought about Barret dressed as a sailor; one option is to reply "He looked like a bear wearing a marshmallow," much to Barret's annoyance. He has a dry, ironic wit in Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- and overall, while Cloud has a moody demeanor, his personality is not as brooding as that of Vincent Valentine.

Cloud suffers from motion sickness that is seemingly cured during the period he upholds a fake SOLDIER persona, but returns when his true self is restored, although him riding the Fenrir on delivery business suggests his motion sickness has since improved.

Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)

Early Life

BCVIICloud

Then later... I began to think I was different... that I was different from those immature kids.

Cloud talking to Tifa about his childhood

Cloud was born in the mountain village of Nibelheim, and was neighbors with Tifa Lockhart. His father died when he was young and he was raised by his mother. As a child, Cloud had no close friends and perhaps as a coping mechanism, convinced himself he was superior to the other village children and so didn't care for their company. He had a crush on Tifa, but hated her friends, calling them immature. Although the two consider each other (and are considered by others) to be childhood friends, by Tifa's own account they were not close growing up, despite him having been her neighbor.

When Cloud was nine, Tifa's mother died, and Tifa insisted she could meet her by crossing Mt. Nibel. Cloud followed her and when a bridge collapsed he fell when trying to save her. He escaped unharmed but Tifa's life was in grave danger. The townsfolk believed the expedition up the mountain to have been Cloud's idea, and Tifa's father forbade Cloud from approaching her. Cloud blamed himself for failing to save her and developed an anger problem, getting into fights for little to no reason.

At the age of thirteen Cloud learned of Sephiroth and his exploits. Resolving to become a hero like him, Cloud decided to set out and join SOLDIER. He called Tifa out to the water tower to tell her about his departure, hoping to impress her and upon her request promised to save her if she ever found herself in trouble. The following spring, he left for Midgar.

Shinra Militant

Template:Sideicon Template:Sideicon

If only I were SOLDIER...

Cloud talking to Zack in Nibelheim

Cloud's dreams were cut short as despite his bravado he never made it into SOLDIER and became a mere ordinary Shinra infantryman. On June 28th, 0001, Cloud is among those ordered to protect Professor Rayleigh in Midgar from the insurgency organization AVALANCHE. Though he is unsuccessful, their lives are saved by the Player Turk. During the incident Cloud displays impressive sword skills for a regular infantryman.

In autumn, while working for Shinra during Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, at the age of fifteen, he meets a first-class SOLDIER named Zack Fair on their way to Modeoheim and the two befriend after learning they are both "backwater experts". When he and Zack infiltrate a Mako Excavation Facility, they encounter Genesis Rhapsodos and Dr. Hollander. When Hollander attempts to escape, Cloud briefly captures him. Hollander breaks free and Cloud gives pursuit, but both he and Tseng—the leader of the Turks—are taken down by Angeal Hewley.

Zack and Cloud meet again on September 0002 while protecting Junon from Genesis's attack. On September 22nd, 0002, Cloud returns to Nibelheim along with Zack and Sephiroth to investigate a damaged Mako Reactor on Mt. Nibel, and Tifa is to act as their guide. Embarrassed of his failure to join SOLDIER, Cloud hides his identity from the townspeople, and especially Tifa, by always wearing his helmet, although he does visit his mother who asks about his new life with Shinra.

Cloud-defeats-Sephiroth-CCFFVII

Cloud defeats Sephiroth.

When the expedition reaches the reactor Sephiroth discovers Professor Hojo's experiments with makonoids and Jenova, whom Sephiroth mistakenly believes to be his mother. Cloud is knocked out by Genesis and is helped back into town by Tifa. When Cloud regains consciousness, he is angry at not being strong enough. Sephiroth locks himself in the Shinra Manor's basement, immersing in Professor Gast Faremis's writings, and discovers his dark past, as well the secrets regarding the Cetra and the Promised Land. On October 1st Sephiroth destroys the village on a rampage, fueled by his newfound hate for the "traitors" of the Ancients, the humans.

Cloud witnesses his mother's death in the ensuing fire and rushes to the reactor to confront Sephiroth where he finds both a gravely wounded Tifa and a barely conscious Zack. Cloud picks up Zack's Buster Sword, catches Sephiroth off guard in the reactor core, and impales him. When Cloud returns to attend to Tifa, a wounded Sephiroth emerges from the reactor core, but when Cloud attacks again, Sephiroth stabs him with the Masamune. Cloud summons previously unknown strength and uses the katana as a lever to hurl Sephiroth into the Mako pit below before collapsing.

Cloud and Zack, as well as other survivors in the town, become Professor Hojo's test subjects. Injecting them with Jenova's cells and exposing them to Mako, Hojo attempts to test his Jenova Reunion Theory and turns them into Sephiroth Clones. Since Zack had gone through a similar process in SOLDIER, his body resists the experiments, but Cloud develops a severe Mako poisoning. Hojo labels the two failures, places them in a cryogenic sleeping state and leaves them in their pods in the Shinra Manor basement.

Cloud & Zack

Cloud after his and Zack's final conversation.

Four years later (December 19th, 0006) Zack breaks out of his confinement and helps a vegetative Cloud escape, giving him a SOLDIER uniform to wear as his old clothes are soaked with Mako. Due to the experiments Cloud is weak and delirious but during their journey Zack tells the unresponsive Cloud about his life and his plans for both of them to become mercenaries in Midgar. Though Cloud is unable to partake in the events, he is present when Zack defeats Genesis.

After almost a year of running, the pair arrives outside Midgar in September 0007. The Shinra forces catch up and Zack fights to defend both Cloud and himself against overwhelming numbers. Zack is gunned down, but the soldiers ignore the vegetative Cloud. He regains some awareness and crawls over to Zack who entrusts the Buster Sword to him, telling his legacy will live on inside Cloud, before dying. Buster Sword in hand, Cloud trudges off towards Midgar.

Final Fantasy VII Opening 0002

Cloud with the Buster Sword at the end of Crisis Core.

Cloud undergoes a transformation due to the combined trauma caused by the Nibelheim incident, Mako poisoning, and witnessing Zack's death. Cloud impresses Zack's memories and fighting abilities into his own, along with Tifa's memories of him and his own ideal image of himself as a SOLDIER, creating a new set of memories with an accompanying persona. What emerges in Cloud's mind is a reality in which he joined SOLDIER and was Sephiroth's partner—Zack did not exist—and in most of Cloud's twisted memories he takes Zack's place. Cloud presents himself in Midgar as a former 1st Class SOLDIER, now a mercenary for hire.

Mercenary Days and AVALANCHE

Template:Sideicon

Wall VII 01

Cloud outside Shinra Headquarters.

It's not my problem. The only thing I care about is finishin' this job before security and the Roboguards come.

Cloud about AVALANCHE's mission to blow up the Sector 1 Reactor.

Shortly before Final Fantasy VII, Tifa runs into Cloud at the Sector 7 Slums train station mumbling deliriously and being attended by a confused station worker. Though he becomes lucid upon recognizing her, his inconsistent memories, bouts of blackouts and head pains concern her, especially since once he recovers from these bouts he has no idea they'd happened. Now a member of the anti-Shinra terrorist group AVALANCHE, Tifa requests Cloud join the group so she can secretly keep an eye on his condition.

Cloud helps AVALANCHE attack the Sector 1 Reactor on December 9th. Claiming he does not care about the Planet and is only working for money, Cloud attempts to walk out after returning to AVALANCHE hideout in Tifa's 7th Heaven bar, but she reminds him of the promise he made to her after deciding to join SOLDIER.

Though Cloud puts up an indifferent front, he is more troubled than he lets on. A mysterious voice arises from within him every now and then, reminding him of something that happened in the past, but Cloud braves to ignore and suppress it.

After blowing up the Sector 5 Reactor, Cloud is separated from the others when he falls into the Sector 5 Church where he meets Aeris Gainsborough and agrees to become her bodyguard in exchange for a date. Cloud ignores the voice in his head that tries to talk to him while he was unconscious on the church flowerbed, and again when he spends the night at Aeris's house. Tifa enters a "dating service" with the prize being a night with Don Corneo to extract information out of him. Cloud and Aeris, after disguising Cloud as a woman, attempt to rescue her, and meet the Don who admits Shinra has discovered AVALANCHE's base of operations.

Cloud-ffvii-fmv-bike

Cloud riding the Hardy-Daytona during an FMV sequence.

To destroy AVALANCHE, Shinra drops the Sector 7 Plate of Midgar crushing the Sector 7 Slums. AVALANCHE members Jessie, Biggs and Wedge are killed trying to stop them, and Aeris is captured while taking Barret's daughter, Marlene, to safety. Cloud leads an attack on Shinra Headquarters to rescue her, where he meets Red XIII, and sees Jenova's headless remains stored in Hojo's lab, triggering another spout of hearing voices in his head. The group is captured and imprisoned, and during the night Cloud awakens to find the prison doors open and the guards slaughtered. He, Aeris, Barret, Tifa, and Red XIII follow a blood trail to the top floor and find President Shinra impaled on Sephiroth's katana. Cloud battles the new head of Shinra, Rufus, and escapes Midgar on a Hardy-Daytona motorcycle, the others riding alongside in a pickup.

Pursuit of Sephiroth

The group stays at an inn outside Midgar in Kalm where Cloud tells his version of what happened on the day Nibelheim was burned, with himself in Zack's place and Zack no longer present. Although Tifa knows the story is not true, she remains silent. The next day the group sets out to track Sephiroth down, going through the Mythril Mine where the Turks reveal Sephiroth is headed for Junon. Cloud and the group sneak into Junon, and, after saving a girl called Priscilla from a monster, are allowed to sleep over. In his sleep a voice tells Cloud to ask Tifa about the time he returned to Nibelheim as a SOLDIER, but when he does Tifa evades his question. After a welcoming parade for Rufus's honor, Cloud and the party stow away on a cargo ship bound for Costa del Sol.

Cloud and Aerith, artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.

The journey to find Sephiroth leads them through North Corel and the Gold Saucer, where the manager Dio gives Cloud and his friends a buggy to assist them in their travels, and the cat-robot Cait Sith joins their cause. The buggy breaks down, forcing the group to stay at Red XIII's hometown Cosmo Canyon, where the Elder Bugenhagen reveals critical information about the Planet and the Lifestream, and how Shinra's drilling for Mako affects them. When the group reaches Nibelheim they find the town rebuilt and inhabited by imposter villagers hired by Shinra who claim to have no recollection of either Cloud or Tifa, or the town ever having been burned down.

In the Shinra Mansion basement, Sephiroth appears and alludes to a "reunion" he feels Cloud should attend. Cloud and the group cross Mt. Nibel and visit Rocket Town where they escape on Cid Highwind's plane, only to have it shot down by Shinra soldiers. Adding Cid to their roster of allies, the group returns to Gold Saucer and claims the Keystone from Dio. Cloud and the group stay the night when the trolley to the park breaks down, and Cloud goes out with a party member. Cait Sith, who turns out to be a Shinra spy, steals the Keystone and turns it over to Tseng of the Turks.

Traveling to the Temple of the Ancients, Tseng is found gravely wounded after a struggle with Sephiroth, and he returns the Keystone. In the heart of the temple Cloud finds Sephiroth who reveals his plan to call the Ultimate Black Magic, Meteor, to deal a critical wound to the Planet. His plan is to have the Lifestream emerge to heal it so he can absorb its energy, becoming a god. Sephiroth leaves as Cloud discovers the temple itself is the Black Materia.

Cait Sith sacrifices himself to get the Black Materia, but Sephiroth returns, and because Cloud had been injected with Jenova cells during his four-year-long captivity in Shinra Manor, Sephiroth has control over Cloud, who hands over the Black Materia. Cloud goes berserk and attacks Aeris, but his friends knock him out. While unconscious, Aeris appears to Cloud in a dream, claiming only she can stop Sephiroth. When Cloud regains consciousness Barret and Tifa tell him Aeris has left, and Cloud resolves to follow her.

Cloud and company pursue Aeris through the Sleeping Forest to the Forgotten Capital where he finds her praying on an altar in the center of the city's underground complex. Cloud takes up the Buster Sword and attempts to attack her, his mind under Sephiroth's control. Stopping himself in the nick of time when his allies shout at him to stop, Sephiroth descends from above the altar and kills Aeris, impaling her with his Masamune. The party mourns Aeris's passing as Cloud rests her body in the lake. Cloud reveals to the party he has been under Sephiroth's control, and may become controlled again, asking his allies to stay with him despite this.

Meteorfall

FMVCloud

Cloud in an FMV.

Arriving at the North Crater, the party regains the Black Materia and Cloud gives it to a party member as he does not trust himself. Sephiroth appears and shows Cloud a partial vision of what really happened at Nibelheim, revealing Zack's presence in his stead but not Cloud's true part in the events. Shinra arrives and Professor Hojo reveals his Jenova Reunion Theory that Cloud is a part of. Cloud comes to believe he was created by Hojo and even his name and memories of being Tifa's childhood friend belong to someone else. The shock of his fabricated past shatters Cloud's mind and destroys his morale. Using an illusion to trick the party member with the Black Materia into coming to Cloud's aid, Sephiroth has Cloud take it back and he hands it to Sephiroth, who uses it to summon Meteor. After Cloud apologizes to Tifa for "not being the real Cloud", the crater shakes and Cloud falls into the Lifestream.

Surfacing at Mideel a week later, Cloud has been subjected to intense Mako poisoning within the Lifestream leaving him paralyzed and incoherent, in a state similar to when Zack rescued him from Shinra Manor a year before. Tifa stays to care for him while the rest of the party fights Shinra, who is risking an attempt to stop the Meteor now approaching the Planet. Ultimate Weapon, one of the Weapons created by the Planet to protect it, attacks Mideel, and Tifa and Cloud fall into the Lifestream and into Cloud's Subconscious where Tifa meets the "true Cloud".

The "true Cloud" is the part of himself Cloud had tried to deny and the one who remembers his past not as a SOLDIER member, but as a regular footsoldier. This Cloud appears as a young version of him, and is the origin of the voices in Cloud's head who had tried to remind him of his true self. Tifa helps Cloud piece together the memories of his childhood by comparing their memories to find which are true, and encourages Cloud to believe in his existence. Restored to his true self, Cloud resumes command of the party and is no longer plagued by an inner voice, finally accepting the truth about who he is.

Shinra's attempt to destroy the Meteor with Huge Materia fails, but Cloud's party is trapped in the Shinra No. 26 rocket when it takes off. While in the escape pod on their way back to the Planet, the party marvels how small the Planet is in the vastness of space, reaffirming their conviction to protect it. With Bugenhagen's guidance they discover Aeris had summoned the ultimate white magic spell Holy before Sephiroth killed her. It could stop Meteor, but Sephiroth is holding it back.

Template:Sideicon After Diamond Weapon attacks Midgar and Cloud and the party stop Hojo from relaunching the Sister Ray Mako Cannon to give Sephiroth a boost of energy, the group lands in the North Crater. Cloud asks everyone to find a reason to fight, and while the others depart he and Tifa spend the night under the stars. The next day the party descends through the Northern Cave to the depths of the Planet to confront Sephiroth. After Sephiroth's new god-like form is defeated, his mind is sent back into the Lifestream. Cloud, sensing Sephiroth is not dead, follows him mentally into the Lifestream and defeats Sephiroth in a final duel of will. He returns to his body with him help from Aerith. Cloud and the party escape the crater on the Highwind moments before Holy emerges to destroy Meteor. The Meteor's proximity causes Holy to hold back its full power, but Aeris commands the Lifestream to push Meteor back so Holy may destroy it and save the Planet.

Post-Crisis

Template:Sideicon

Cloud Case of Denzel

Cloud, as he appears in the animated version of Case of Denzel.

In On the Way to a Smile: Case of Tifa, Cloud and Tifa build a new life together in the new city on Midgar's outskirts, called Edge. Cloud sets up a delivery business, the Strife Delivery Service. One day while visiting Aerith's old church a recently orphaned boy, Denzel, whose family was killed when the Sector 7 plate fell, finds Cloud's cellphone on his motorcycle. After Denzel attempts to call his home in Sector 7 and receives an error message, he calls 7th Heaven which he finds in Cloud's recent call log. Tifa picks up and asks Denzel why he has Cloud's cellphone. Denzel begins to cry and collapses from Geostigma. Cloud takes him home to live with him, Barret's daughter Marlene, and Tifa.

Although their new life as a family is happy, Cloud becomes insular. He admits to Tifa his problems are because "you can't reclaim lost lives", referring to his perceived guilt in the deaths of Aerith and Zack, and leaves, secretly moving out into the Sector 5 Church.

In Case of the Lifestream, Cloud is mentioned as being the core of Sephiroth's being. By focusing on his hatred of Cloud, Sephiroth avoids dissolution in the Lifestream, and believes Cloud's memories of him allow him to survive and be revived. Aerith thinks of Cloud during her attempts to battle Sephiroth's influence, resolving to contact him and help him fight Sephiroth's infection on the Lifestream at the source—the plague Geostigma.

In Final Fantasy VII Lateral Biography Turks -The Kids Are Alright-, needing fuel for his truck, Evan calls Strife Delivery Service from the phone in Dr. Drake's office and talks briefly with Denzel to arrange a meeting with Cloud. While waiting, Dr. Drake discusses a book he's reading, which details the experiments conducted on Jenova by the Shinra Science Department. When Cloud arrives, he informs Evan that if he wants to buy fuel there are three sources: the remnants of the Shinra Company, the World Regenesis Organization, and Don Corneo. Evan explains he's going to travel to Nibelheim to find a missing SOLDIER, and Cloud tells him to ask about the village at 7th Heaven.

Geostigma Crisis

Template:Sideicon

AdventScreenshot246

Cloud in Advent Children.

I'm not fit to help anyone. Not my family. Not my friends. Nobody.

Cloud to Tifa

In 0009, two years after the events of Final Fantasy VII during Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Cloud has left to look for a cure for Denzel's Geostigma and is infected himself due to his Jenova cells. Cloud has fallen into a cycle of guilt and depression, and so avoids calls from his friends. Cloud receives a call from Tifa that Reno has a job for him, and he is attacked by a mysterious trio of young men, three manifestations of Sephiroth's consciousness. In Healen Lodge Cloud is surprised to find Rufus alive, having survived Diamond Weapon's attack on Midgar, and suffering from Geostigma. The president offers Cloud to join them to fight the trio, led by Kadaj. Cloud rejects the offer after Reno brings up the idea of rebuilding Shinra.

Cloud arrives at Aerith's church to find an unconscious Tifa on the flower bed, having been beaten by Loz when she went looking for him. Marlene, Barret's adopted daughter, has been kidnapped and Cloud's Materia stash stolen. Cloud passes out from a Geostigma attack and he and Tifa are discovered by Reno and Rude who bring them to 7th Heaven to recover.

The three remnants kidnap children with Geostigma, among them Denzel, intending to have the children lead them to Jenova's remains. Although unsure if he should fight, Cloud goes to the Forgotten Capital after encouragement from Tifa and the Turks. On the way he is visited by an apparition of Aerith, and declares he is searching for forgiveness. Upon seeing Denzel and the other children under Kadaj's control, Cloud confronts the trio but is outmatched and rescued by Vincent Valentine who explains the true nature of Geostigma to him—a plague caused by Jenova's cells.

Marlene runs into Cloud's arms worried about Denzel but refusing to go home when Cloud asks Vincent to take her. Cloud resolves to take Marlene home and confront Kadaj. Back in Edge, Kadaj threatens Rufus and summons Bahamut SIN to attack the city. After Cloud drops Marlene off at the bar where she tells him not to give up, he finds the strength to take up arms again. After rescuing Tifa and Denzel he defeats Bahamut SIN with help from his old allies. He takes on Loz and Yazoo while chasing Kadaj through the Midgar Highway, and slices their weapons (and Loz's bike) in half. Loz and Yazoo are seemingly killed in the explosion set by Reno and Rude during the chase. Confronting Kadaj the battle takes Cloud back to Aerith's church where the Lifestream-infused water cures him of Geostigma.

Omnislash-v6-begins

Cloud begins "Omnislash Version 5".

Cloud battles Kadaj once more but the remnant absorbs Jenova's remains he had obtained from Rufus earlier, and Sephiroth is reborn. The ensuing battle at the ruins of the Shinra Building nearly kills Cloud, but Sephiroth makes the mistake of asking what is most important to Cloud and how he can take that away from him. Inspired by thoughts of his friends, living and dead, Cloud regains his strength and overwhelms Sephiroth with "Omnislash Version 5". Defeated, Sephiroth dissipates, leaving a dying Kadaj in his place.

Loz and Yazoo return and set off a kamikaze explosion that apparently kills all three of them, but Cloud is healed by Aerith's intervention, reawakening in the pool that now occupies the church. After helping Denzel into the pool's Lifestream-infused water to cure him of Geostigma, Cloud spots apparitions of Aerith and Zack near the doorway. Before they leave, Aerith's final words ensure Cloud will be all right. He silently replies that he will, because he knows he is not alone anymore.

In Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, the climax of Cloud's battle with Sephiroth is more brutal. Zack appears to Cloud and speaks to him, giving him the strength to keep fighting, finishing off Sephiroth with a longer variation of "Omnislash Version 5". After everything is over, the newly polished Buster Sword is moved to Aerith's church from the hill Zack died on, and the hill has a grove of yellow flowers. Denzel asks if the place is a grave, to which Cloud responds it is not; it is the place where a hero began his journey.

Reminiscence

In a DVD extra, Cloud is making deliveries while taking calls from his friends. One call is from Vincent Valentine who has recently purchased a cellphone, asking Cloud to tell Yuffie she has no right to call him. Cloud makes a run to Barret's place and receives three packages: one for Marlene, one for Denzel, and a "Closed for Business" sign from Yuffie who has been trying to get a hold of him. The last call is to Tifa, asking her to close the bar the next day, hinting he would be taking a day off for all of the friends to meet up and possibly celebrate together, thus explaining the occasion for the group photo seen at the end of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children placed on Cloud's desk.

Deepground Conflict

Template:Sideicon

DoC Cloud Rides

Cloud in Dirge of Cerberus.

One year later (0010) during Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-, Cloud is not seen during the attack on Edge (assumed to have spirited away Denzel and Marlene). He assists the World Regenesis Organization and Vincent Valentine against the threat of Omega and Deepground and leads the ground assault on Midgar, facing Rosso the Crimson, and he and the others aid Vincent defeat Omega.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay

Cloud's battle render in Final Fantasy VII.

Final Fantasy VII

Cloud is best placed in the front row to ensure solid attack power despite being the second strongest magic caster after Aeris. His Limit Breaks are among the strongest in the game, but Cloud learns them slower than anyone else.

Cloud's stats are well rounded and he is among the characters with the highest values in every stat, notably Strength and Magic. His lowest stat is his Speed, which is still about average. He starts on level 6 but levels up to level 7 in the first battle; this is an allusion to number 7. However, stat growth is somewhat random in Final Fantasy VII, with characters having a chance to gain a boost in stats when they level up, but how much they get has a random element in deciding it.

Cloud is the only character in Final Fantasy VII to have two battle models: his regular model is used throughout the majority of battles, but a more detailed version (Hi-res battle model) is used in the scripted battle against Sephiroth inside the Lifestream, that takes place after the final battle.

Stats

Normal
LV Exp HP MP Strength Dexterity Vitality Magic Spirit Luck +
7 616 323 - 334 55 - 55 20 - 22 7 - 9 16 - 18 19 - 22 17 - 19 14 - 17
8 949 336 - 353 57 - 63 20 - 24 8 - 12 16 - 20 20 - 24 17 - 21 14 - 19
9 1384 351 - 372 66 - 69 21 - 26 9 - 14 17 - 22 21 - 26 18 - 23 14 - 20
11 2614 385 - 410 77 - 82 23 - 29 11 - 17 19 - 25 23 - 29 20 - 26 15 - 22
12 3588 439 - 464 89 - 94 24 - 30 12 - 18 20 - 26 24 - 30 21 - 27 15 - 22
13 4610 476 - 510 95 - 101 25 - 31 13 - 19 21 - 27 25 - 31 22 - 28 15 - 22
14 5809 518 - 552 103 - 109 26 - 33 14 - 20 22 - 29 26 - 32 23 - 29 15 - 22
15 7200 555 - 594 110 - 117 27 - 34 15 - 21 23 - 30 27 - 34 24 - 31 15 - 22
16 8797 597 - 636 117 - 124 28 - 35 16 - 22 24 - 31 28 - 35 25 - 32 15 - 22
17 10614 634 - 678 124 - 132 30 - 37 16 - 23 26 - 33 29 - 36 26 - 33 15 - 22
18 12665 676 - 720 132 - 140 31 - 38 17 - 24 27 - 34 30 - 37 28 - 35 15 - 22
19 14965 713 - 762 140 - 148 32 - 39 18 - 25 28 - 35 31 - 38 29 - 36 15 - 22
21 20368 792 - 846 154 - 163 35 - 42 19 - 26 31 - 38 34 - 41 31 - 38 16 - 23
22 24161 900 - 954 162 - 172 36 - 43 20 - 27 32 - 39 36 - 43 32 - 39 16 - 23
23 27694 957 - 1018 171 - 181 37 - 44 21 - 28 34 - 41 38 - 45 33 - 40 16 - 23
24 31555 1029 - 1090 179 - 190 38 - 45 22 - 29 35 - 42 39 - 46 35 - 42 16 - 23
25 35759 1093 - 1162 188 - 199 40 - 47 23 - 30 37 - 44 40 - 47 36 - 43 16 - 23
26 40321 1165 - 1234 196 - 208 41 - 48 23 - 30 38 - 45 42 - 49 37 - 44 16 - 23
27 45255 1229 - 1306 205 - 217 42 - 49 24 - 31 40 - 47 43 - 50 39 - 46 16 - 23
28 50576 1301 - 1378 213 - 226 44 - 51 25 - 32 41 - 48 44 - 51 40 - 47 16 - 23
29 56299 1365 - 1450 222 - 235 45 - 52 26 - 33 43 - 50 46 - 53 41 - 48 16 - 23
31 69008 1501 - 1594 239 - 253 48 - 55 27 - 34 45 - 52 48 - 55 44 - 51 17 - 24
32 77066 1651 - 1744 249 - 264 50 - 57 28 - 35 47 - 54 49 - 56 45 - 52 17 - 24
33 84643 1751 - 1854 259 - 275 51 - 58 29 - 36 49 - 56 50 - 57 46 - 53 17 - 24
34 92701 1851 - 1964 269 - 286 52 - 59 30 - 37 50 - 57 51 - 58 48 - 55 17 - 24
35 101255 1941 - 2064 278 - 296 54 - 61 30 - 37 51 - 58 53 - 60 49 - 56 17 - 24
36 110320 2041 - 2164 288 - 306 55 - 62 31 - 38 52 - 59 54 - 61 50 - 57 17 - 24
37 119910 2131 - 2264 297 - 316 56 - 63 32 - 39 53 - 60 55 - 62 52 - 59 17 - 24
38 130040 2231 - 2364 307 - 326 58 - 65 33 - 40 54 - 61 56 - 63 53 - 60 18 - 25
39 140725 2321 - 2464 316 - 336 59 - 66 34 - 41 55 - 62 57 - 64 54 - 61 18 - 25
41 163820 2511 - 2664 336 - 357 62 - 69 35 - 42 58 - 65 60 - 67 57 - 64 18 - 25
42 176259 2632 - 2797 347 - 369 63 - 70 36 - 43 58 - 65 62 - 69 58 - 65 18 - 25
43 189312 2753 - 2930 358 - 380 64 - 71 37 - 44 58 - 65 64 - 71 59 - 66 18 - 25
44 202994 2874 - 3051 367 - 391 65 - 72 37 - 44 59 - 66 66 - 73 60 - 67 18 - 25
45 217320 2982 - 3172 379 - 403 67 - 74 38 - 45 60 - 67 67 - 74 61 - 68 18 - 25
46 232305 3103 - 3293 390 - 414 68 - 75 39 - 46 61 - 68 68 - 75 62 - 69 18 - 25
47 247963 3211 - 3414 399 - 425 69 - 76 39 - 46 62 - 69 69 - 76 63 - 70 18 - 25
48 264309 3332 - 3535 410 - 436 70 - 77 40 - 47 63 - 70 70 - 77 64 - 71 18 - 25
49 281358 3440 - 3656 421 - 447 71 - 78 41 - 48 64 - 71 71 - 78 65 - 72 18 - 25
51 317625 3669 - 3898 442 - 470 74 - 81 42 - 49 66 - 73 73 - 80 67 - 74 19 - 26
52 336872 3806 - 4048 453 - 481 76 - 83 43 - 50 67 - 74 74 - 81 68 - 75 19 - 26
53 356881 3943 - 4185 462 - 492 77 - 84 43 - 50 67 - 74 75 - 82 69 - 76 19 - 26
54 377667 4080 - 4322 473 - 503 78 - 85 44 - 51 68 - 75 75 - 82 69 - 76 19 - 26
55 399245 4203 - 4459 485 - 515 79 - 86 44 - 51 69 - 76 76 - 83 70 - 77 19 - 26
56 421630 4326 - 4596 494 - 526 80 - 87 45 - 52 70 - 77 77 - 84 71 - 78 19 - 26
57 444836 4463 - 4733 505 - 537 81 - 88 45 - 52 70 - 77 77 - 84 72 - 79 19 - 26
58 468878 4586 - 4870 516 - 548 82 - 89 46 - 53 71 - 78 78 - 85 72 - 79 19 - 26
59 493771 4723 - 5007 527 - 559 83 - 90 46 - 53 72 - 79 79 - 86 73 - 80 19 - 26
61 546170 4983 - 5281 548 - 582 84 - 91 47 - 54 73 - 80 80 - 87 74 - 81 19 - 26
62 581467 5091 - 5401 558 - 592 85 - 92 47 - 54 74 - 81 81 - 88 75 - 82 20 - 27
63 610297 5211 - 5521 566 - 601 85 - 92 47 - 54 75 - 82 82 - 89 76 - 83 20 - 27
64 640064 5319 - 5641 576 - 611 86 - 93 48 - 55 76 - 83 82 - 89 77 - 84 20 - 27
65 670784 5439 - 5761 585 - 621 86 - 93 48 - 55 76 - 83 83 - 90 77 - 84 20 - 27
66 702471 5547 - 5881 593 - 630 87 - 94 48 - 55 77 - 84 83 - 90 78 - 85 20 - 27
67 735141 5667 - 6001 603 - 640 87 - 94 48 - 55 77 - 84 84 - 91 78 - 85 20 - 27
68 768808 5775 - 6121 611 - 649 88 - 95 48 - 55 77 - 84 85 - 92 79 - 86 20 - 27
69 803488 5883 - 6241 621 - 659 88 - 95 49 - 56 78 - 85 85 - 92 80 - 87 20 - 27
71 875945 6111 - 6481 639 - 678 90 - 97 49 - 56 79 - 86 86 - 93 81 - 88 20 - 27
72 913752 6231 - 6601 648 - 688 90 - 97 49 - 56 79 - 86 87 - 94 81 - 88 21 - 28
73 952632 6339 - 6721 657 - 697 91 - 98 50 - 57 80 - 87 87 - 94 82 - 89 21 - 28
74 992599 6459 - 6841 666 - 707 91 - 98 50 - 57 80 - 87 88 - 95 83 - 90 21 - 28
75 1033669 6567 - 6961 676 - 717 92 - 99 50 - 57 81 - 88 88 - 95 83 - 90 21 - 28
76 1075856 6675 - 7081 684 - 726 92 - 99 50 - 57 81 - 88 89 - 96 84 - 91 21 - 28
77 1119176 6795 - 7201 693 - 736 93 - 100 50 - 57 81 - 88 89 - 96 84 - 91 21 - 28
78 1163643 6903 - 7321 702 - 745 93 - 100 51 - 58 82 - 89 90 - 97 85 - 92 21 - 28
79 1209273 7023 - 7441 711 - 755 94 - 100 51 - 58 82 - 89 90 - 97 86 - 93 21 - 28
81 1304080 7251 - 7681 729 - 774 95 - 100 51 - 58 83 - 90 91 - 98 87 - 94 21 - 28
82 1389359 7349 - 7788 735 - 781 95 - 100 52 - 59 84 - 91 92 - 99 87 - 94 21 - 28
83 1441133 7447 - 7895 741 - 788 95 - 100 52 - 59 84 - 91 93 - 100 88 - 95 21 - 28
84 1494178 7545 - 8002 748 - 796 95 - 100 52 - 59 85 - 92 93 - 100 88 - 95 22 - 29
85 1548509 7643 - 8109 755 - 803 95 - 100 52 - 59 85 - 92 94 - 100 88 - 95 22 - 29
86 1604141 7741 - 8216 761 - 810 96 - 100 53 - 60 85 - 92 94 - 100 89 - 96 22 - 29
87 1661090 7839 - 8323 769 - 818 96 - 100 53 - 60 85 - 92 94 - 100 89 - 96 22 - 29
88 1719371 7937 - 8430 775 - 825 96 - 100 53 - 60 86 - 93 95 - 100 89 - 96 22 - 29
89 1778999 8035 - 8528 782 - 832 96 - 100 53 - 60 86 - 93 95 - 100 90 - 97 22 - 29
91 1902360 8221 - 8724 796 - 847 97 - 100 54 - 61 87 - 94 96 - 100 90 - 97 22 - 29
92 1966123 8319 - 8822 803 - 854 97 - 100 54 - 61 87 - 94 96 - 100 91 - 98 22 - 29
93 2031295 8407 - 8920 809 - 861 97 - 100 54 - 61 87 - 94 96 - 100 91 - 98 22 - 29
94 2097892 8505 - 9018 817 - 869 97 - 100 54 - 61 88 - 95 97 - 100 91 - 98 22 - 29
95 2165929 8593 - 9116 823 - 876 97 - 100 54 - 61 88 - 95 97 - 100 92 - 99 22 - 29
96 2235421 8691 - 9214 830 - 883 98 - 100 55 - 62 88 - 95 97 - 100 92 - 99 22 - 29
97 2306384 8779 - 9312 838 - 891 98 - 100 55 - 62 89 - 96 98 - 100 92 - 99 22 - 29
98 2378833 8877 - 9410 844 - 898 98 - 100 55 - 62 89 - 96 98 - 100 93 - 100 22 - 29
99 2452783 8965 - 9508 851 - 905 98 - 100 55 - 62 89 - 96 98 - 100 93 - 100 22 - 29
Flashback

The Cloud used in the flashback, more commonly known to fans as Young Cloud, has stats and could technically level up like a normal character, even though this is not possible in a normal game.

This Cloud shares his stat growth with Cait Sith, and has a unique Exp curve. His Exp curve is technically also Barret's Vitality curve, although in reality this does not mean much because both stats grow in a different way, with Exp only using half the values a normal stat does. Since this curve is not specifically designed for Exp, his growth starts out roughly twice as slow as a normal character, levels out between level 50 and 60, and then ends with a roughly a third of the standard max Exp for level 99.

LV Exp HP MP Strength Dexterity Vitality Magic Spirit Luck +
2 13 176 - 176 13 - 13 12 - 14 6 - 8 12 - 14 11 - 13 10 - 13 8 - 8
3 65 212 - 212 22 - 22 12 - 15 6 - 10 12 - 15 11 - 15 11 - 15 10 - 11
4 182 248 - 248 31 - 31 12 - 16 6 - 11 12 - 16 12 - 17 12 - 17 11 - 14
5 390 284 - 284 40 - 40 12 - 17 6 - 12 12 - 17 13 - 18 13 - 19 12 - 16
6 715 320 - 320 45 - 49 13 - 18 7 - 13 13 - 18 14 - 19 14 - 20 13 - 18
7 1183 346 - 356 51 - 53 14 - 19 7 - 14 14 - 19 15 - 20 15 - 21 13 - 19
8 1820 370 - 392 56 - 60 15 - 20 8 - 15 15 - 20 16 - 21 16 - 22 13 - 20
9 2652 391 - 418 62 - 66 16 - 21 9 - 16 16 - 21 17 - 22 17 - 23 13 - 20
11 5005 439 - 466 73 - 78 18 - 23 10 - 17 18 - 23 19 - 25 19 - 26 14 - 21
12 7084 505 - 542 84 - 89 19 - 24 11 - 18 19 - 24 20 - 26 20 - 27 14 - 21
13 9100 550 - 587 89 - 95 20 - 25 12 - 19 20 - 25 21 - 27 21 - 28 14 - 21
14 11466 601 - 638 97 - 103 21 - 26 13 - 20 21 - 26 22 - 29 22 - 29 14 - 21
15 14210 646 - 689 104 - 110 22 - 27 14 - 21 22 - 27 23 - 30 24 - 31 14 - 21
16 17360 697 - 740 111 - 118 23 - 28 15 - 22 23 - 28 24 - 31 25 - 32 14 - 21
17 20944 742 - 791 118 - 125 24 - 29 15 - 22 24 - 29 26 - 33 26 - 33 14 - 21
18 24990 793 - 842 125 - 133 25 - 30 16 - 23 25 - 30 27 - 34 28 - 35 14 - 21
19 29526 838 - 893 132 - 140 26 - 32 17 - 24 26 - 31 28 - 35 29 - 36 14 - 21
21 40180 934 - 995 146 - 155 28 - 34 18 - 25 28 - 33 31 - 38 31 - 38 15 - 22
22 46354 1054 - 1115 153 - 163 29 - 36 19 - 26 29 - 35 32 - 39 32 - 39 15 - 22
23 53130 1134 - 1203 160 - 171 30 - 37 20 - 27 30 - 36 34 - 41 33 - 40 15 - 22
24 60536 1206 - 1283 169 - 180 31 - 38 21 - 28 31 - 37 35 - 42 35 - 42 15 - 22
25 68600 1286 - 1363 176 - 188 33 - 40 22 - 29 32 - 38 37 - 44 36 - 43 15 - 22
26 77350 1358 - 1443 184 - 196 34 - 41 23 - 30 33 - 39 38 - 45 37 - 44 15 - 22
27 86814 1438 - 1523 192 - 205 35 - 42 23 - 30 34 - 40 40 - 47 39 - 46 15 - 22
28 97020 1510 - 1603 200 - 213 36 - 43 24 - 31 35 - 41 41 - 48 40 - 47 15 - 22
29 107996 1582 - 1683 208 - 221 37 - 44 25 - 32 36 - 42 43 - 50 41 - 48 15 - 22
31 132370 1734 - 1843 224 - 238 39 - 46 26 - 33 38 - 44 45 - 52 44 - 51 16 - 23
32 114576 1867 - 1987 235 - 249 40 - 47 27 - 34 39 - 46 47 - 54 45 - 52 16 - 23
33 125840 1978 - 2109 245 - 260 41 - 48 28 - 35 40 - 47 49 - 56 46 - 53 16 - 23
34 137819 2089 - 2220 254 - 269 42 - 49 29 - 36 41 - 48 50 - 57 48 - 55 17 - 24
35 150535 2188 - 2331 263 - 280 43 - 50 29 - 36 42 - 49 51 - 58 49 - 56 17 - 24
36 164010 2299 - 2442 273 - 290 44 - 51 30 - 37 43 - 50 52 - 59 50 - 57 17 - 24
37 178266 2398 - 2553 281 - 299 45 - 52 31 - 38 44 - 51 53 - 60 52 - 59 17 - 24
38 193325 2509 - 2664 291 - 309 46 - 53 31 - 38 45 - 52 54 - 61 53 - 60 17 - 24
39 209209 2608 - 2775 300 - 319 47 - 54 32 - 39 46 - 53 55 - 62 54 - 61 17 - 24
41 243540 2818 - 2997 318 - 338 49 - 56 34 - 41 48 - 55 58 - 65 57 - 64 17 - 24
42 214389 2973 - 3152 329 - 350 50 - 57 35 - 42 48 - 55 58 - 65 58 - 65 18 - 25
43 230265 3114 - 3307 340 - 361 51 - 58 35 - 42 49 - 56 58 - 65 59 - 66 18 - 25
44 246906 3255 - 3448 349 - 372 52 - 59 36 - 43 49 - 56 59 - 66 60 - 67 18 - 25
45 264330 3381 - 3589 360 - 383 53 - 60 37 - 44 50 - 57 60 - 67 61 - 68 19 - 26
46 282555 3522 - 3730 370 - 393 54 - 61 37 - 44 51 - 58 61 - 68 62 - 69 19 - 26
47 301599 3648 - 3871 379 - 404 54 - 61 38 - 45 51 - 58 62 - 69 63 - 70 19 - 26
48 321480 3789 - 4012 390 - 415 55 - 62 39 - 46 52 - 59 63 - 70 64 - 71 19 - 26
49 342216 3915 - 4153 401 - 426 55 - 62 39 - 46 53 - 60 64 - 71 65 - 72 19 - 26
51 386325 4182 - 4435 420 - 447 57 - 64 41 - 48 54 - 61 66 - 73 67 - 74 19 - 26
52 318682 4320 - 4586 431 - 458 58 - 65 41 - 48 55 - 62 67 - 74 68 - 75 20 - 27
53 337610 4444 - 4724 442 - 469 58 - 65 41 - 48 56 - 63 67 - 74 69 - 76 20 - 27
54 357273 4582 - 4862 451 - 480 59 - 66 41 - 48 56 - 63 68 - 75 69 - 76 20 - 27
55 377685 4706 - 5000 462 - 491 59 - 66 42 - 49 57 - 64 69 - 76 70 - 77 20 - 27
56 398860 4844 - 5138 472 - 501 60 - 67 42 - 49 57 - 64 70 - 77 71 - 78 20 - 27
57 420812 4968 - 5276 481 - 512 60 - 67 43 - 50 58 - 65 70 - 77 72 - 79 20 - 27
58 443555 5092 - 5414 492 - 523 61 - 68 43 - 50 59 - 66 71 - 78 72 - 79 20 - 27
59 467103 5230 - 5552 503 - 534 61 - 68 44 - 51 59 - 66 72 - 79 73 - 80 20 - 27
61 516670 5492 - 5828 522 - 555 62 - 69 45 - 52 60 - 67 73 - 80 74 - 81 21 - 28
62 372124 5581 - 5927 530 - 564 63 - 70 45 - 52 60 - 67 74 - 81 75 - 82 21 - 28
63 390575 5670 - 6026 540 - 574 64 - 71 46 - 53 61 - 68 75 - 82 76 - 83 21 - 28
64 409626 5759 - 6125 548 - 583 64 - 71 46 - 53 61 - 68 76 - 83 77 - 84 21 - 28
65 429286 5848 - 6224 558 - 593 65 - 72 46 - 53 62 - 69 76 - 83 77 - 84 21 - 28
66 449566 5937 - 6323 566 - 602 65 - 72 46 - 53 62 - 69 77 - 84 78 - 85 21 - 28
67 470474 6036 - 6422 575 - 611 66 - 73 46 - 53 63 - 70 77 - 84 78 - 85 21 - 28
68 492021 6125 - 6521 584 - 621 66 - 73 46 - 53 63 - 70 77 - 84 79 - 86 21 - 28
69 514216 6214 - 6620 592 - 630 66 - 73 47 - 54 64 - 71 78 - 85 80 - 87 21 - 28
71 560588 6402 - 6818 610 - 649 67 - 74 47 - 54 64 - 71 79 - 86 81 - 88 22 - 29
72 584784 6501 - 6917 619 - 658 68 - 75 47 - 54 65 - 72 79 - 86 81 - 88 22 - 29
73 609667 6590 - 7016 628 - 668 68 - 75 47 - 54 65 - 72 80 - 87 82 - 89 22 - 29
74 635246 6689 - 7115 637 - 677 68 - 75 47 - 54 66 - 73 80 - 87 83 - 90 22 - 29
75 661530 6778 - 7214 646 - 687 69 - 76 48 - 55 66 - 73 81 - 88 83 - 90 22 - 29
76 688530 6877 - 7313 655 - 696 69 - 76 48 - 55 67 - 74 81 - 88 84 - 91 22 - 29
77 716254 6966 - 7412 663 - 705 70 - 77 48 - 55 67 - 74 81 - 88 84 - 91 22 - 29
78 744713 7055 - 7511 673 - 715 70 - 77 48 - 55 68 - 75 82 - 89 85 - 92 22 - 29
79 773916 7154 - 7610 681 - 724 70 - 77 48 - 55 68 - 75 82 - 89 86 - 93 22 - 29
81 834592 7342 - 7808 699 - 743 71 - 78 48 - 55 69 - 76 83 - 90 87 - 94 23 - 30
82 487154 7414 - 7887 706 - 750 72 - 79 49 - 56 70 - 77 84 - 91 87 - 94 23 - 30
83 505308 7486 - 7966 713 - 757 73 - 80 49 - 56 70 - 77 84 - 91 88 - 95 23 - 30
84 523908 7558 - 8045 720 - 764 73 - 80 49 - 56 71 - 78 85 - 92 88 - 95 23 - 30
85 542959 7630 - 8124 727 - 771 73 - 80 49 - 56 71 - 78 85 - 92 88 - 95 23 - 30
86 562466 7702 - 8196 734 - 778 74 - 81 49 - 56 71 - 78 85 - 92 89 - 96 23 - 30
87 582435 7774 - 8268 741 - 785 74 - 81 49 - 56 71 - 78 85 - 92 89 - 96 23 - 30
88 602871 7846 - 8340 748 - 792 74 - 81 50 - 57 72 - 79 86 - 93 89 - 96 23 - 30
89 623779 7918 - 8412 755 - 799 75 - 82 50 - 57 72 - 79 86 - 93 90 - 97 23 - 30
91 667035 8062 - 8556 769 - 813 75 - 82 50 - 57 72 - 79 87 - 94 90 - 97 23 - 30
92 689393 8134 - 8628 775 - 820 76 - 83 50 - 57 73 - 80 87 - 94 91 - 98 23 - 30
93 712245 8206 - 8700 782 - 827 76 - 83 50 - 57 73 - 80 87 - 94 91 - 98 23 - 30
94 735597 8270 - 8772 789 - 834 76 - 83 51 - 58 73 - 80 88 - 95 91 - 98 23 - 30
95 759454 8342 - 8844 795 - 841 77 - 84 51 - 58 73 - 80 88 - 95 92 - 99 23 - 30
96 783821 8406 - 8916 802 - 848 77 - 84 51 - 58 74 - 81 88 - 95 92 - 99 23 - 30
97 808704 8478 - 8988 808 - 855 77 - 84 51 - 58 74 - 81 89 - 96 92 - 99 23 - 30
98 834108 8542 - 9060 815 - 862 78 - 85 51 - 58 74 - 81 89 - 96 93 - 100 23 - 30
99 860038 8614 - 9132 822 - 869 78 - 85 51 - 58 74 - 81 89 - 96 93 - 100 23 - 30

Equipment

Cloud wields a variety of weapons throughout his appearances. His most iconic weapon is the Buster Sword, a massive two-handed broadsword he wields in Final Fantasy VII and most of his spin-off appearances. In Final Fantasy VII Cloud can equip katanas and other greatswords as well, though he continues to wield the Buster Sword in cutscenes.

Cloud's ultimate weapon is the Ultima Weapon, which sports the strongest Base Attack stat in the game, that increases in power the higher Cloud's HP is. Among his arsenal is the Apocalypse, one of only two equipment pieces in the game to give Triple Materia Growth, the other being Cid's Scimitar. His Yoshiyuki increases attack power by the number of dead allies in the active party.

Limit Breaks

FFVII Limit Break Cloud Braver

Braver, Cloud's default Limit Break.

Cloud has seven Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy VII: Braver and Cross-slash are his level 1 limits, Blade Beam and Climhazzard are his level 2 limits, Meteorain and Finishing Touch are his level 3 limits; and his level 4 limit is Omnislash.

These attacks reappear as special attacks for Cloud in his spin-off appearances in Final Fantasy Tactics and Dissidia Final Fantasy, and he has some of these skills in the Kingdom Hearts series.

Cloud has an eighth Limit Break introduced in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, "Omnislash Version 5", where he splits the Fusion Sword assembly into its six individual parts, then performs a series of six slash attacks on an enemy. It was christened "Omnislash Version 5" during development as it is the fifth version of the attack designed. In Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete, Cloud's finishing blow to Sephiroth is a longer sequence of thirteen slashes instead of six, and was dubbed "Omnislash Version 6" by fans.

Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-

BCCloudSprite1

Cloud is fought as a boss in the Training Mode of Before Crisis.

Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-

Cloud's DMW icons.

Though Cloud is not playable himself, Zack gets Cloud's portrait to the Digital Mind Wave. When Cloud's portraits line up during modulating phase, Zack performs Meteor Shots, his versions of Cloud's Meteorain Limit Break. Cloud is added to Zack's DMW after Zack meets him partway through chapter 6.

Creation and Development

There wasn't really much controversy or criticism about having him as the hero from within Square, but he is definitely a mysterious character. That's one of the game's main themes, the fact that the protagonist has all these secrets to unravel. He isn't a straightforward hero like Superman; rather, he has lots of mysteries, self-doubts, and a real dark side. Mr. Nomura was also very good at designing a character like that.

Yoshinori Kitase, Electronic Gaming Monthly, October 2005

Final Fantasy VII

Original design sketch of Cloud.

Cloud was one of the first three characters designed for Final Fantasy VII by Tetsuya Nomura with influences from producer Yoshinori Kitase, scenario writer Kazushige Nojima and director Hironobu Sakaguchi. Originally conceptualized by Sakaguchi as one of only three playable characters (the others being Barret Wallace and Aerith Gainsborough) Nomura was called upon to supervise Cloud's various lines and personality traits while Kitase and Nojima were in charge of developing Cloud's background and his relationship with Sephiroth.

Nojima thought of the relationship between the player and the protagonist when writing for Final Fantasy VII. In an interview in Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania Nojima makes a comparison to Dragon Quest where the main character doesn't have a set personality and the player is free to "become" the hero. In a case of an RPG protagonist whose name and past have already been decided, Nojima tries to come up with ways to get the player to empathize with the character. The characters living in a game's universe know their world well, but it's a new place to the player, and so Cloud's foggy memories were created as a way to introduce the player to the world.

Production Sketch.

In early drafts Cloud was meant to be more directly controlled by Sephiroth. As Sephiroth fell to his death in the Nibelheim Mako Reactor, his strong will to live would have manifested itself in Cloud as he needed a body that could move freely to bring him the Black Materia. It would be told that Cloud's memories are a phantom created by Sephiroth himself out of his emotions when he was "killed" in the Nibelheim Reactor. Cloud would later have discovered that due to the SOLDIER process, Sephiroth was directly trying to take control of him, and that Cloud's own complexes combined with Sephiroth's willpower, created his alternate persona that obscured who Cloud really was. This version was altered after the introduction of Jenova and the fleshing out of Zack Fair's story.

The game's directors only had a vague image of Cloud's identity, mainly that it was intended as mysterious, but the actual unfolding of events was left in Nojima's hands. Event planner Motomu Toriyama had made the "Cloud showing off" pose, which was made to be be used in the scene where Cloud first appears in the game. This little animation impressed Nojima, and lead to him determining Cloud's false persona based on that pose.[1]

Cloud Victory Pose Sketch

Concept art of Cloud's victory pose.

After figuring out Cloud's identity issues the rest of the scenario came together. Nojima made not only the scenario but the event scenes as well, and the parts where the mysteries are made clear. The team ended up doing the test play with no idea how it was going to end, and that's how they first found out the true course of events. Zack was a character Nojima brought in while building up the mystery, so the others had no clue he would be such a pivotal character.[2]

Cloud was the first person created for the game by Tetsuya Nomura.[1] Cloud's original character design called for slicked-back, black hair with no spikes. This depiction was to serve as a contrast to the long, flowing silver hair of Sephiroth, and also because Nomura thought it would be better not to use too many polygons.[3] However, to make Cloud stand out more and emphasize his role in the game as the lead protagonist, Nomura altered Cloud's design to give him spiky blond hair instead. Aspects of Cloud's original design were later used in designing Angeal Hewley. The image of Cloud and Sephiroth was based on Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojirō[3], famous Japanese warriors whose duel became legendary and the swordsmen have appeared in many forms in pop culture in Japan.

Lift-demovii

Cloud in the 1996 Final Fantasy VII demo.

Originally listed as a "Mystic Knight (Berserker)", Cloud's weapon, the Buster Sword, was smaller, its size increasing as Nomura redesigned Cloud. Nomura nicknamed it "the Giant Kitchen Knife" due to how he originally envisioned it. The sword was meant to be held on his back with the use of magnets and have a small chain.

Pre-release material reveals what is possibly an early character model for Cloud. In the 1996 demo version Cloud's menu portrait is the young Cloud portrait seen during the Kalm flashback to the Nibelheim Incident in the final game, and his character model is different and shorter than his finalized model. This "Demo Cloud" makes appearances in other pre-release shots published in magazines before the game was out. Cloud's battle model also had an earlier build, wielding a different version of the Buster Sword that had only one slot as opposed to two seen in the final game.

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children

Advent Children concept art with the original six swords.

Cloud's design is an accumulation of eight designs the staff made, ranging from deformed to realistic. In The Reunion Files for Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, Tetsuya Nomura explained that while Cloud was depicted as a more upbeat character at the end of Final Fantasy VII, he chose to have Cloud be a character fans would find more familiar, and the script was written to explain why Cloud had returned to such a frame of mind.[4] Nomura said a great deal of care was taken to animate Cloud's face and expressions, and over thirty different models of his face were made. His face was modeled to keep "a stiff upper lip", with his emotions and thoughts being expressed through his eyes. Numerous scenes featuring close-ups of Cloud's face were redone with adjusted facial expressions and lighting to convey the intended emotions.[5]

On explaining Cloud's situation in the film, Nomura said that "Cloud tried to lead his life positively after the end of FF7 but he cracked... The sin which Cloud thinks he owns is not anyone's fault in particular. It is something Cloud has to overcome by himself". Cloud, in choosing to fight against Sephiroth once again, is finally "given healing and forgiveness".

Nomura admits that in the film, "Cloud seems to be a weak guy. Generally, heroes are strong, cool and don't have any weaknesses... Although Cloud is a jerk sometimes, he is really human-like. It's through redemption from his friends and having children to protect that he becomes stronger".

Cloud's new weaponry was created based on jokes by fans who commented that, since Cloud's weapon in the original game was enormous, in a sequel he should go with sheer numbers. Although it does not have an official name, the staff named them the "Fusion Swords" during the film's development. The concept was to have Cloud hold a total of six swords he would carry on his back, but it was changed to six interlocking swords forming a single weapon. Although the film's staff originally thought doing sequences with the Fusion Swords was impossible, they decided to make it as they found it made an interesting twist to the battles.

Voice

Cloud's English voice actor, Kingdom Hearts included, is Steve Burton. In the Japanese versions of Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring he was voiced by Kenyu Horiuchi (Arcade version) and Nozomu Sasaki (PS version), but for rest of his appearances he has been voiced by Takahiro Sakurai. Cloud shares his Compilation of Final Fantasy VII Japanese voice actor with Kurasame Susaya from Final Fantasy Type-0.

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Final Fantasy VII is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Musical Themes

Template:Listen Though it is not his official theme, in Final Fantasy VII Cloud's theme is often considered to be the "Main Theme of Final Fantasy VII". It plays on the world map of Disc 1 of Final Fantasy VII.

His theme is called "Cloud Smiles" in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. It is played in the ending when Cloud awakens in Aerith's church.

"FINAL FANTASY VII Symphony in Three Movements" is a symphony arranged and orchestrated by Jonne Valtonen for the Final Symphony concert series. The second movement deals with the themes of love, loss and uncertainty as Cloud is undecided in his feelings towards Aerith and Tifa. The movement begins with "Words Drowned by Fireworks", a scene in which Cloud goes on a date that ends abruptly. The music moves forward representing the themes of Tifa, Cloud and Aerith—the three themes that are always present, each one featured up front as a main theme at certain phase of the movement.[6]

Other Appearances

Final Fantasy V

Template:Sideicon

Cloud, designed as a sprite in Final Fantasy Anthology.

A 2D sprite of Cloud occasionally appears in the loading section of the Final Fantasy Anthology port of Final Fantasy V.

Final Fantasy VII: Snowboarding

Ff7snow

Cloud snowboarding.

Cloud is the playable character in Final Fantasy VII: Snowboarding, a mobile remake of the Final Fantasy VII snowboarding minigame. The objective is to snowboard down tracks while dodging moogles, doing tricks off ramps, and collecting balloons.

Final Fantasy VII G-Bike

Template:Sideicon Cloud is the playable character in Final Fantasy VII G-Bike, a game for Android and iOS based on the G-Bike minigame in Final Fantasy VII where Cloud rides motorcycles through highways battling monsters. The announcement trailer shows him riding the Hardy-Daytona while wielding the Buster Sword.

Template:Gallery

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Final Fantasy VII G-Bike is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Template:Sideicon

Lightning can wear Cloud's SOLDIER 1st Class uniform as a garb, together with the Buster Sword and SOLDIER's Band. While wearing the outfit Lightning performs a variation of Cloud's victory pose. It has the locked ability Heavy Slash.

The outfit is available as a pre-order bonus or as downloadable content.

Template:Gallery

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

A Male Miqo'te wearing Cloud's Advent Children outfit.

Cloud's Advent Children outfit will be available as a new veteran reward for players who have subscribed for a total amount of 720 days.

Triple Triad

Cloud appears as a legendary (5-stars) card.

Template:FFXIV Card

Final Fantasy Tactics

Template:Sideicon

Cloud's portrait.

Cloud is a bonus playable character who can be recruited into Ramza Beoulve's party by embarking on a sidequest involving the Constructs and the Zodiac Stones. Besrudio will come up with a dimensional portal device that will summon Cloud, but he will not become a party member until Ramza meets the flower girl Aerith; Cloud will defend her from thugs and join Ramza's party.

While Cloud retains most of his abilities from Final Fantasy VII, he cannot use his Limit skills until he obtains the Materia Blade.

Cloud in Final Fantasy Tactics.

While Final Fantasy VII lists Cloud as a Leo, his zodiac sign in Final Fantasy Tactics is Aquarius. Cloud is the only male character in Final Fantasy Tactics able to equip a Ribbon. This is no longer unique in Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions version, as the Onion Knight can also equip what is otherwise female-exclusive equipment.

Dissidia Final Fantasy

Template:Sideicon

Cloud Dissidia Artwork

Cloud appears as a Warrior of Cosmos, and stands as the hero representing Final Fantasy VII, opposing Sephiroth.

Seeking the Crystals in the company of Firion, Cecil, and Tidus, Cloud is seen by his comrades as a composed and level-headed warrior. Cloud later admits his hesitations for fighting and departs to search for a reason to fight on his own, eventually joining Terra.

His alternate outfit is his Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children outfit and weapon.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Template:Sideicon Cloud reappears in the prequel to Dissidia Final Fantasy alongside all the other characters from the original, but now he is aligned with Chaos. Though he is summoned to fight by the god of discord Cloud doesn't care about the war, as he has been through several cycles and knows the fighting is pointless. When Sephiroth attacks Tifa, Cloud intervenes to save her.

Cloud's second alternate outfit is based on Yoshitaka Amano's artwork of him, giving his uniform blue details and white boots, as well as the original SOLDIER logo on his belt. As a bonus fourth outfit, Cloud dons his Kingdom Hearts attire. This outfit can be obtained in Japanese by buying Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep - Final Mix, or pre-ordering Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy from GameStop in the US.

Dissidia Final Fantasy (2015)

Cloud returns in the arcade version of Dissidia Final Fantasy. In the announcement trailer he was seen battling the Warrior of Light.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy

Template:Sideicon

Theatrhythm cloud

Once a member of SOLDIER, the elite fighting force of the Shinra company, this blunt young man with his haughty words and deeds often invites animosity from those around him. While lending his strength to the anti-Shinra terrorist group AVALANCHE, however, he learns that the madman who stole his home from him is alive and so he sets out to hunt down Sephiroth for the final resolution to their battle.

Online description

Cloud is a default playable character in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy.

He is an Offense and Defense oriented character. His Limit Break, Omnislash, deals damage in direct proportion to his Strength.

Stats

Level HP CP Strength Magic Agility Luck
1 325 5 20 15 15 9
10 1,297 10 46 33 35 21
20 2,376 16 74 55 56 34
30 3,456 22 102 76 78 48
40 4,535 28 131 97 99 61
50 5,615 33 159 118 121 74
60 6,694 39 188 139 142 87
70 7,774 45 216 160 164 100
80 8,072 50 224 166 170 104
90 8,370 50 233 172 176 108
99 8,638 50 240 177 182 111

iOS Stats

Level HP Strength Magic Agility Luck
1 325 SS C C D
99 8638 SS C C D

Abilities

Reactive Abilities
Ability CP Level Learned
Weapon Break (Lv1) 3 Initial
Focus (Lv1) 4 Level 5
Weapon Break (Lv2) 6 Level 20
Omnislash 18 Level 40
Focus (Lv2) 9 Level 45
Weapon Break (Lv3) 10 Level 65
Focus (Lv3) 13 Level 75
Proactive Abilities
Ability CP Level Learned
Strength Up (Lv1) 5 Initial
Wind Rhapsody (Lv1) 5 Level 10
HP Up (Lv1) 4 Level 15
Lance (Lv1) 8 Level 25
Strength Up (Lv2) 10 Level 30
HP Up (Lv2) 8 Level 35
Wind Rhapsody (Lv2) 10 Level 50
HP Up (Lv3) 14 Level 60
Strength Up (Lv3) 16 Level 65
Lance (Lv2) 14 Level 70
Wind Rhapsody (Lv3) 15 Level 80
Lance (Lv3) 20 Level 85


Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call

Template:Sideicon

FFVII:AC Cloud in Theatrhythm: Curtain Call.

Cloud returns as a playable character, and is one of the few characters to have a 2nd variation. His first variation is of his SOLDIER attire in Final Fantasy VII, and is available from the start. However, if the player did not select him among their party of four, he can later be unlocked by collecting Yellow Crystal Shards. His second variation is his attire from Advent Children, and is purchasable through DLC.

His first variation is Offense oriented, while his 2nd version is more Defense oriented. Both versions have Limit Breaks. Omnislash for the 1st variation, functioning the same as before, deals damage in proportion to his Strength, and Omnislash ver. 5 for the 2nd variation, dealing damage in proportion to his Strength and Agility.

Cloud
Stats
Level CP HP Strength Magic Agility Luck Stamina Spirit
1 5 323 20 10 10 8 17 10
50 33 5576 155 80 79 63 137 79
99 50 8578 234 121 118 95 206 118
Abilities
Reactive Abilities
Ability CP Level Learned
Focus (Lv1) 4 Initial
Armor Break (Lv1) 2 Level 5
Weapon Break (Lv1) 3 Level 15
Chi Blast (Lv1) 5 Level 20
Focus (Lv2) 9 Level 35
Omnislash 18 Level 40
Chi Blast (Lv2) 10 Level 55
Focus (Lv3) 15 Level 70
Chi Blast (Lv3) 15 Level 80
Added Cut 15 Level 90
Proactive Abilities
Ability CP Level Learned
Sacrifice (Lv1) 5 Initial
Mighty March (Lv1) 7 Level 10
Lance (Lv1) 8 Level 25
Sinewy Etude (Lv1) 7 Level 30
Sacrifice (Lv2) 10 Level 45
Mighty March (Lv2) 10 Level 50
Lance (Lv2) 10 Level 60
Sinewy Etude (Lv2) 10 Level 65
Sacrifice (Lv3) 16 Level 75
Mighty March (Lv3) 15 Level 85
Lance (Lv3) 20 Level 95


Cloud #2
Stats
Level CP HP Strength Magic Agility Luck Stamina Spirit
1 8 325 20 10 11 10 17 10
50 37 5612 157 80 89 79 137 80
99 50 8633 237 120 134 119 207 121
Abilities
Reactive Abilities
Ability CP Level Learned
Counter (Lv1) 5 Initial
Weapon Break (Lv1) 3 Initial
Sic (Lv1) 10 Level 10
Brace (Lv1) 3 Level 15
Berserk (Lv1) 5 Level 25
Counter (Lv2) 10 Level 35
Omnislash ver. 5 18 Level 40
Weapon Break (Lv2) 6 Level 45
Brace (Lv2) 5 Level 50
Berserk (Lv2) 10 Level 60
Counter (Lv3) 16 Level 70
Thoroughbred 10 Level 75
Weapon Break (Lv3) 10 Level 80
Brace (Lv3) 7 Level 85
Berserk (Lv3) 15 Level 95
Proactive Abilities
Ability CP Level Learned
HP Up (Lv1) 4 Level 5
Forest Nocturne (Lv1) 5 Level 20
HP Up (Lv2) 8 Level 30
Forest Nocturne (Lv2) 10 Level 55
HP Up (Lv3) 14 Level 65
Forest Nocturne (Lv3) 16 Level 90


Pictlogica Final Fantasy

Template:Sideicon Cloud appears in Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character. His initial weapon is the Buster Sword.

Template:Gallery

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade

Template:Sideicon Cloud is an ally and a summonable Legend depicted in both his Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children outfits, as well as an event-related reindeer outfit. His abilities are Blade Beam, Climhazzard, Cross-Slash, Finishing Touch, Meteorain, Rising Fang and Sonic Break. His EX abilities are Sonic Break, Finishing Touch, Cross-slash, Omnislash, Omnislash ver.5, Meteodrive and Knights of the Round. He was first introduced as an event ally in the event, Winter Holiday Campaign while wearing an exclusive reindeer suit.

Leveling him up in this event granted the player the Cloud II summon stone, along with each level-up at a specified number granting players an additional summon stone. He was re-introduced in the following event, Final Fantasy VII - Calamity from the Skies, in which his abilities and weapons were made usable to successfully combat Jenova∙LIFE and Jenova∙DEATH.

He was present as an ally during the coinciding events, Final Fantasy Special Event Parts 1 & 2 - Shattered World and Final Fantasy Special Event Parts 1 & 2 - Showdown, in which he was unlocked by clearing the Big Bridge stage. In this event, his overdrive granted individual players a big increase in their attack for five minutes. Leveling him up to 99 in these events granted the player his individualized SSR weapon, Flayer. In battle, Cloud is armed with his Buster Sword and uses the ability Sonic Break.

Template:Gallery

Template:Gallery

Template:Gallery


Final Fantasy Artniks

Template:Sideicon Cloud appears as all three elemental type cards (fire, lightning, and ice) and his cards are either R, SR, or SR+. His card artwork appears from Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and Dissidia Final Fantasy.

Template:Gallery

Final Fantasy All the Bravest

Template:Sideicon

Cloud's sprite in All the Bravest.

This self-styled SOLDIER member packs a huge sword and sports a chocobo hairdo.

Description

Cloud is an exclusive character only available from the Premium Character Shop as a random downloadable content. He uses Meteorain during battle.

Final Fantasy Record Keeper

Template:Sideicon

An ex-SOLDIER whose true memories have been lost, Cloud joins the rebel group AVALANCHE's fight against the Shinra Company in an attempt to save the plane, and discover more about his own identity.

Description

Cloud appears in Final Fantasy Record Keeper. He joins the party after clearing Mako Reactor No. 5 for the first time.

Template:FFRK Character

Stats
Level HP Attack Defense Magic Resistance Mind Accuracy Evasion Speed
1 200 12 8 7 8 8 20 20 92
10 1,008 30 26 15 20 18 20 20 99
20 1,740 50 42 24 35 30 20 20 105
30 2,417 70 57 35 49 43 21 21 112
50 3,679 110 85 58 78 72 22 22 123
Gallery

Template:Gallery

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Final Fantasy Record Keeper is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.


Final Fantasy Explorers

Template:Sideicon

FFE FFVII Cloud cg

Cloud as he appears in Final Fantasy Explorers.

Template:Gallery

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Final Fantasy Explorers is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.


Final Fantasy World Wide Words

Template:Sideicon

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Final Fantasy World Wide Words is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Final Fantasy VII Technical Demo

Cloud-PS3-tech-demo

Cloud in the demo.

Cloud and Aerith appear in the PlayStation 3 tech demo, which recreates the Final Fantasy VII opening sequence in advanced graphics. The scene of Cloud leaping from the train shows only him with no Shinra or AVALANCHE members present. His hair is modeled after his Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children appearances.

Chocobo Racing

Template:Sideicon

Cloud in Chocobo Racing.

Cloud is a secret character riding the Hardy-Daytona.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

Template:Sideicon Cloud is represented by many cards: five are of the Fire element, three are of the Shine element, two of the latter being promotional cards, and one is of the Wind element.

The fire-elemental cards depict his Final Fantasy VII artwork, his Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- render, an image of Cloud from a promotional image of Final Fantasy VII, an artwork of him and Aerith from Final Fantasy VII and an artwork of him and Red XIII from Final Fantasy VII. The three shine cards depict his Dissidia Final Fantasy art, his Theatrhythm Final Fantasy art, and his Kingdom Hearts art, the latter of which was distributed with Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Final Mix. His wind card depicts artwork of Cloud riding a chocobo from Final Fantasy VII.

Template:Gallery

Bravely Default: Praying Brage

Template:Sideicon Cloud appears in Bravely Default: Praying Brage as a collaboration character from Kingdom Hearts χ [chi]. He makes an appearance in his outfit from the Kingdom Hearts series.

Template:Gallery

Non-Final Fantasy Appearances

Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring

Cloud is a playable character in the PlayStation game Ehrgeiz: God Bless The Ring. He fights primarily with martial arts, but can wield the Buster Sword as well, for slower but stronger attacks. Cloud's special attacks include Omnislash, Braver, and Meteorain. His extra alternate costume gives him a Shinra infantry uniform. His story title is "Guardian," and defeating him under the proper conditions allows the player to fight "Summoner" Tifa.

Template:Gallery

Kingdom Hearts series

Cloud artwork from Kingdom Hearts.

Cloud appears in the Kingdom Hearts series as a withdrawn and quiet swordsman seeking his arch-rival Sephiroth across several worlds, wishing to end a grudge between them.

In the first game, he makes a deal with Hades that the god will help him find Sephiroth if Cloud kills Hercules. This leads to a battle between Cloud and Sora, whom Hades orders Cloud to kill. Cloud either fails or he beats Sora but refrains from killing him, and Hades is prompted to release Cerberus. After Sora dispatches Cerberus, Cloud departs, but returns after Sora defeats Sephiroth to fight him.

In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, a memory-based version of Cloud fulfills the same role, only seeking his lost memories instead of Sephiroth who does not appear in the game. Similarly, a data-based version of Cloud appears in Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, hired by Hades to defeat Hercules within the glitched labyrinthine coliseum. Cloud is defeated by Sora and Hercules, and later briefly joins the party. In the game's final world, a data-based Castle Oblivion, a memory-based version of the data-based Cloud appears.

In Kingdom Hearts II, Cloud returns appearing in Hollow Bastion, wearing his outfit from Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Cloud is again seeking Sephiroth, and confronts him after Sephiroth spars with Sora. Cloud helps Leon defend Hollow Bastion and is generally closer to the other Final Fantasy cast than before; including Tifa, who is pursuing him as he pursues Sephiroth.

In Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, Cloud appears as a boss in various coliseum cups. After the player beats Cloud in the Hercules Cup in the first Kingdom Hearts they receive the Metal Chocobo Keyblade, which is modeled after the Buster Sword. The Metal Chocobo reappears in both Chain of Memories and Re:coded. In Kingdom Hearts II, after Sora watches Cloud and Sephiroth's fight, Tifa gives him the Fenrir Keyblade, modeled after a motorcycle key. In Chain of Memories, Cloud can be obtained as a summon. A special gummi ship blueprint called Fenrir can be obtained. It shows Cloud riding the Fenrir and wielding the Buster Sword.

In the Japanese version, Cloud is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai, while in the English release, he is voiced by Steve Burton.

Cloud also makes an appearance in Kingdom Hearts χ [chi] as one of the obtainable character cards.

Template:Gallery

Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special

Cloud in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special.

Cloud is a playable character in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special alongside several other Final Fantasy characters.

Template:Gallery

Impresario-ffvi-iosThis section in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable

Cloud in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable.

Cloud is a playable character in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable alongside several other Final Fantasy characters.

Impresario-ffvi-iosThis section in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Portable is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.


Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Mobile

Cloud in Itadaki Street Mobile.

Cloud is a playable character in Itadaki Street Mobile, alongside several other Final Fantasy characters.

Impresario-ffvi-iosThis section in Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Mobile is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.


Gunslinger Stratos 2

GS2 Cloud

Cloud's costume was released in November 2014.

Puzzle & Dragons

Cloud and his Buster Sword appear in Puzzle & Dragons as part of the Final Fantasy collaboration. Template:Gallery

FFI PSP Black Mage MapThis section about a character in Puzzle & Dragons is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Wiki by expanding it.

Other Media

Zidane ref cloud

Zidane makes a reference to Cloud.

Square Enix games

  • In the instruction manual for Final Fantasy Origins, Cloud is an example name chosen for the Warrior class in Final Fantasy.
  • In Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII- there are several posters of Cloud around Edge, showing a silhouette of his original artwork from Final Fantasy VII on a green background.
  • Cloud's name makes a cameo in the Final Fantasy VIII shop in Esthar with the title "Cloud's Shop".
  • In Final Fantasy IX, Zidane says "no cloud nor squall shall hinder us" during the production of I Want To Be Your Canary, referring to Cloud and Squall Leonhart. Zidane later comments "I remember a guy with spiky hair who carried something like this" when he sees a large sword, similar to Cloud's Buster Sword, hanging in a weapon shop.
    • Later in the game the player can witness a soldier, Pluto Knight VII, attempting to woo a flower girl in a destroyed city, who comments "He's cute, but he isn't exactly Mr. Personality".
  • In Final Fantasy Dimensions, when the Mysterious Old Man tries to introduce himself as "Clou-", Alba replies her name might as well be "Aeri-".
  • An NPC in the Miner quests in 1.0 version of Final Fantasy XIV mistakenly called players by the wrong name. He would call a Midlander Hyur "Cloud", and a Miqo'te "Aerith".
    • Cloud Strife is also among the names used in example sentences for the chat log filtering configuration.
  • Users in Square Enix Members Virtual World community can make their character appear as Cloud in his Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children attire. The avatar was released to celebrate the Japanese release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete.
  • In Parasite Eve II, there is a laboratory where Aya Brea tries to use a computer infected with a virus called "Fatekeeper". The anti-virus, "Cloud", is found inside the September issue of a magazine called "Aeris".
Cloud LittleBigPlanet 2

Cloud costume in LittleBigPlanet 2.

Non Square Enix games

  • Cloud appears in the game Mainichi Issho, but as a costume only.
  • Like Sephiroth, Vincent, Aerith, and Tifa's, Cloud's costume is available for LittleBigPlanet 2.
  • The internet MMORPG Kingdom of Loathing features an enemy called the Protagonist, a parody of Cloud, featuring item drops such as the Ridiculously Huge Sword and Super-Spiky Hair Gel.

Fandom

  • Cloud makes a brief cameo in two strips in the fan-made webcomic 8-Bit Theater as a potential Light Warrior. His attempts to prove his skills to Fighter are to use an overly-long and flashy summon sequence to summon a chocobo, and showing off the Buster Sword, which he is unable to hold due to its weight. Fighter falls asleep during the summon sequence, and rejects him as a Light Warrior when the Buster Sword falls on him.
  • Cloud makes a guest appearance in Monty Oum's Dead Fantasy series in his Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children attire, wielding the main blade of his Fusion Swords and riding the Fenrir motorcycle.

TV Shows

  • In the TV show Coconut Fred's Fruit Salad Island, Fred parodies Cloud in the episode "Sir Nutalot". It is said Fred is taking the role of the hero. A Sephiroth parody also appears in the episode.
  • In the Adult Swim show Robot Chicken (Season 2, episode Rodiggiti), Cloud, Tifa, Yuffie, Barret, Aerith and Sephiroth appear as employees at a burger chain.
    • Cloud Strife is apparently the fry cook, Barret is a burger chef, Aeris is working the register, while Tifa and Yuffie both have unclear roles, and Sephiroth is the manager.
    • "One Winged Angel" is played humorously during Sephiroth's entrance with lyrics consisting only of HAM-BUH-GAH! said over and over.
  • In the Cartoon Network show Steven Universe (season 1, episode 16 Steven the Sword Fighter), the main character, Steven, is seen playing with many action figures that reference characters from video-games. Among them are Cloud and a Moogle/Pikachu hybrid, as well Gitaroo Man and the infamous Sonic the Hedgehog fan art "Gotta Go Fast" meme called "Sanic".
    • In the same scene, the character Pearl is seen impaling the Cloud's figure in the same manner Sephiroth did during the Nibelheim Incident.

Merchandise

Cloud has appeared in numerous action figures, cold cast statues and other merchandise.

Template:Gallery

Gallery

Template:Gallery

Etymology

The names "Cloud" and "Strife" are English words referring to weather and difficulty respectively. Tetsuya Nomura has stated Cloud's name contrasts with Zack Fair's and the idea of "fair weather", in that Zack lead a peaceful and happy life while Cloud's has been full of turmoil.

In the French translation of Final Fantasy VII, Cloud's name is rendered as "Clad" to be more faithful to French pronunciation ("Cloud" in French would be pronounced as "clood", rhyming with "mood"). His name is rendered as "Cloud Strife" in all other Compilation of Final Fantasy VII entries.

Trivia

  • Cloud is the only character in the game seen wielding another weapon other than his trademark Buster Sword. In his artwork and CG render showing him mounted on the Hardy Daytona, his weapon is the Hardedge, which can be stolen from SOLDIER:3rd in Shinra Headquarters.
  • In the Nibelheim flashback sequence in Final Fantasy VII, Cloud's menu portrait is different from his usual portrait. Cloud is one of only a handful of characters to have more than one menu portrait in a game. This portrait is also used for Cloud in the 1996 Final Fantasy VII demo.
  • Cloud has the most player-controlled appearances of any character in the Final Fantasy series, and the second-most appearances altogether, behind Gilgamesh.
  • Cloud Strife is the central topic of two Square Enix promotional books, CLOUD Vol 1 and CLOUD message.
  • Cloud and Zack's Japanese voice actors, Takahiro Sakurai and Kenichi Suzumura, are best friends in real life and have appeared together in many anime productions, as well as having their own production mini-group, R-16.
  • If the player recruits Vincent after the events in Gaea's Cliff and Mideel, the dialogue between the two will remain as if Cloud never knew about his true past; Cloud still claims he was in SOLDIER.
  • A party of Cid and Cloud offers the fastest Materia growth out of every other combination, assuming Cid is equipped with the Scimitar and Cloud is equipped with the Apocalypse. Those are the only weapons in the game with triple Materia growth.
  • At the start of Final Fantasy VII if one opens the menu and checks Cloud's status the amount of experience needed to level up to Level 7 is 35 EXP. However, when winning the first battle, that amount decreases to only 6 EXP.

External Links

References


Template:Characters Template:CompVII Template:FFVII Template:VIIAC Template:VIIDoC Template:VIIBC Template:VIICC Template:OtWtaS Template:HwMO Template:FFT Template:Dissidia Template:D012 Template:TFF Template:TFFCC Template:ChocoR

Advertisement