Cloud Strife is once again the main protagonist in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and the character you’ll likely spend the most time playing in battle. As such, it is vital that you pick the best cloud build in FFVII Rebirth that works well for your play style.
Recommended Weapons for Cloud
Crafting the best build for Cloud begins with the most important piece of equipment: his sword. Sure, the initial Buster Sword is great and all, but there are slightly better weapons out there. We care less about the weapon ability here since you can unlock that for use with other weapons. Our first recommendation is my favorite, the Slipstream Saber.
The Slipstream Saber has high stats with 86 Attack and 99 Magical Attack. It also has excellent Counterstance ability and a great number of materia slots. A bit of an under-the-radar option I also like is the Umbral Blade, as it gives you a decent number of materia slots. While it has lower stats, it focuses on making Punisher Mode better for those who use it.
The final option is a bit of a wild one. Rune Blade has 37 Attack and 110 Magical Attack. You can use this if your Cloud is a caster, but I don’t recommend it for that. Equip it and use the Attack/Magic Attack Swap Materia to get 110 physical Attack for some of the most powerful pure melee damage for Cloud.
Recommended Equipment and Materia for Cloud in FFVII Rebirth
Once you have your weapon figured out, it is now time to focus on the other equipment and materia for the best Cloud build in FFVII Rebirth. He is by far the most versatile character, able to tank, deal physical damage, heal, and even be a mage. As such, it is ultimately up to you, but here is how I crafted my Cloud build:
- Armor: Cetran Armlet (the right mix of defense and materia slots)
- Accessory: Speed Demon Keychain, Gi Warrior’s Charm, or Revival Earrings (if you die a lot in battle)
- Materia: Healing, all four elements (Fire, Wind, Ice, and Lightning), Revival, Poison, Fortification, Magnify (if you go the caster route), Assess, Steal (if you don’t use Yuffie), HP Up, Luck Up, Precision Defense Focus (crucial for blocking on harder difficulties), and Attack/Magic Attack Swap Materia (essential for the Rune Blade build)
- Summon: Any, though I prefer ones that can level up for Cloud.
- Weapon Skill Materia: Stagger Recovery, MP Recovery Rate Up (for casters) or Unrelenting Punisher, and Magic Attack Power +20 or Attack Damage +5%.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is available right now exclusively for PS5.
