Our FFVII Cloud guide provides all the details you need to know about this leading man, including his weapons, limit breaks, armour, stats, and the best materia to equip him with. Given that Cloud is a consistent member of your party, it’s vital to prepare him right, or the turn-based RPG will chew you up and spit you out.
Of course, that’s not to say other party members aren’t important, far from it. For example, you’d be foolish not to recognise the capabilities of Tifa Lockhart. Seriously, that girl could send Mike Tyson running away screaming, so make sure you check out our FFVII Tifa guide to get the best out of her. Or, if you fancy playing some Final Fantasy X, take a look at our FFX Lulu guide to prepare her for battle.
FFVII Cloud’s weapons
I don’t suggest ever comparing sword size with Cloud. His broadswords are as huge as they are deadly, and he has plenty to choose from. As you might expect, these weapons offer great physical damage.
For the most part, Cloud’s weapon range doesn’t have any unique capabilities, save for two swords. For example, the Yoshiyuki doubles your damage output should an ally be downed, or tripled if two allies bite the dust.
Weapons also have materia slots. You should consider these when selecting your weapon, given the more materia you can equip, the more of an advantage you get in battle. Seriously, you’re going nowhere fast if you don’t equip some of those wacky orbs.
| Weapon | Attack value | Magic | Where to get it | Bonuses |
| Buster sword | 18 | 2 | Starting weapon | Element: cut |
| Mythril saber | 23 | 4 | Kalm, Junon | Element: cut |
| Hardedge | 32 | 6 | Gongaga, Junon | Element: cut |
| Butterfly edge | 39 | 8 | Cosmo canyon | Element: cut |
| Enhance sword | 43 | 16 | Gaea’s cliff | Element: cut |
| Organics | 62 | 15 | Icicle inn | Element: cut |
| Crystal sword | 76 | 19 | Mideel | Element: cut |
| Force stealer | 36 | 7 | North Corel, Junon | Element: cut |
| Rune blade | 40 | 9 | Junon, Mt Nibel | Element: cut |
| Murasame | 51 | 12 | Wutai Village | Element: cut |
| Nail bat | 70 | 0 | Junon, Temple of the Ancients |
Critical plus four Element: cut |
| Yoshiyuki | 56 | 9 | Rocket Town |
If an ally is dead Cloud’s damage is doubled, the effect is tripled if two allies are down Element: cut |
| Apocalypse | 88 | 43 | Ancient forest |
Spirit plus 16 Element: cut |
| Heaven’s Cloud | 93 | 31 | Gelnika | Element: cut |
| Ragnarok | 97 | 43 | Proud clod |
Spirit plus 35 Element: cut |
| Ultima weapon | 100 | 51 | Drop from ultimate weapon |
Spirit plus 24 The more health cloud has the more damage this weapon does Element: cut |
FFVII Cloud’s stats
Unlike other party members, Cloud begins the game at level six, though this quickly increases to level seven. Unsurprisingly, Cloud is a powerhouse that boasts impressive strength, while also having the capability of being a strong magic wielder.
The below chart indicates the maximum stat for each attribute.
| Level | HP | MP | Dexterity | Strength | Vitality | Spirit | Luck | Magic |
| 6 | 314 | 54 | 6 | 20 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 19 |
| 10 | 391 | 76 | 16 | 28 | 24 | 25 | 21 | 28 |
| 20 | 804 | 146 | 25 | 41 | 37 | 37 | 23 | 40 |
| 30 | 1522 | 244 | 33 | 53 | 51 | 50 | 24 | 54 |
| 40 | 2564 | 347 | 41 | 68 | 64 | 63 | 25 | 66 |
| 50 | 3777 | 459 | 49 | 80 | 72 | 73 | 26 | 79 |
| 60 | 5144 | 571 | 54 | 91 | 80 | 81 | 26 | 87 |
| 70 | 6361 | 669 | 56 | 96 | 85 | 87 | 27 | 93 |
| 80 | 7561 | 765 | 58 | 100 | 90 | 93 | 28 | 98 |
| 90 | 8626 | 840 | 60 | 100 | 93 | 97 | 29 | 100 |
| 99 | 9508 | 905 | 62 | 100 | 96 | 100 | 29 | 100 |
FFVII Cloud’s limit breaks
Limit breaks are deadly abilities that unleash hell upon your opponent, and Cloud has an impressive arsenal of moves at his disposal. Each move is capable of causing devastation. However, do be prepared to play the long game when it comes to unlocking his best skills.
| Limit break name | How to obtain it | Effect |
| Braver | Cloud starts with it | Cloud uses a downward slash that deals three times the normal damage |
| Cross-slash | Use braver eight times | Cloud performs three slices that cause more than three times the normal damage and inflict paralysis |
| Blade beam | Defeat 120 enemies | Cloud unleashes a wave of energy at the enemy causing three and a half times normal damage, while causing minor damage to nearby foes |
| Climhazzard | Use blade beam seven times | Cloud hits the enemy before jumping upwards slicing his foe for more than four times normal damage |
| Metorain | Defeat 200 enemies after receiving blade beam | Cloud brings down six meteorites from the sky causing more than one and half times normal damage each |
| Finishing touch | Use meteorain six times | Kills any enemy it hits, except for those immune to death. Those immune take more than times normal damage |
| Omnislash | Read the omnislash manual after receiving all of Cloud’s limit breaks | Hits enemies 15 times with the automatic critical effect active |
The best materia for FFVII’s Cloud
There isn’t a best route per se for Cloud materia wise. Not because there are few that help, but because you have multiple options in approaching battle. Seriously, the power is in your hands, given how good his strength and magic stats are. Some people may prefer the use of magic while others prefer playing whac-a-mole with their swords.
Cloud begins the game with lightning materia, which can be paired with the all materia – combining these two means our hero can hit all of his opposing enemies in one swoop. When it comes to other materia, anything to do with magic is a great bet if you plan on using spells in combat.
Alternatively, if you prefer to get physical, you should use materia such as slash-all and double-cut. We also suggest equipping Cloud with HP absorb materia to keep his health in check.
And there you have it, everything you need to know about Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud. Next, head over to our list of the best Switch RPGs if you’re after a new adventure. Though maybe pay FFVII’s Aerith a visit first. We also have a Mortal Kombat 1 characters guide, just in case you want to swap Midgard for Outworld.
