Cloud:Uhn... What is this tingling in my fingertips? And my eyes...they burn...No, stop...Sephiro-Agh!
Mustadio:Best keep your distance. That man is not stable.
Cloud's arrival
Cloud Strife is the main protagonist from Final Fantasy VII. Through the power of the auracite, his soul was copied from the original Cloud's dimension and given a replica body to act as an optional character in Final Fantasy Tactics. His birthday is January 31 in Ivalice, rather than his original birthday in August in Final Fantasy VII games.
Cloud's default job is the soldier, allowing him to use his Limits from Final Fantasy VII as powerful magickal attacks. He can be recruited in the sidequest "Secrets Beneath Goug" in chapter 4, "In the Name of Love".
Characteristics[]
Appearance[]
Concept art.
Cloud looks similar to how he looked in Final Fantasy VII although with different colors of red and blue in contrast to his purple gear in the original. Cloud still sports his trademark blond spiky hair, although in softer waves than in his original appearance. He has a black turtleneck shirt with red braces over it, a belt, blue trousers and red boots and gloves, and a shoulder pauldron on his left shoulder. His artwork shows him with the Buster Sword, although it cannot be obtained in the game; Cloud's associated weapon in Tactics is the materia blade. In his portrait, he has bright blue eyes and his braces are brown rather than red.
The artwork for Cloud in Final Fantasy Tactics was shown in a livestream on May 19, 2018 where Final Fantasy XIV's Return to Ivalice raid series reunited Director Yasumi Matsuno with many of his old team members. Both teams commented on a playthrough of Final Fantasy Tactics and Matsuno showed off concept artwork.
Personality[]
Upon his arrival in Ivalice, Cloud is confused and erratic due to his amnesia and makes rash decisions. He appears to be hearing voices in his head, which disturbs him. He has a strong sense of justice, ready to defend a flower saleswoman from thugs without hesitation. In the Enhanced mode of The Ivalice Chronicles version, Cloud has very little care when learns from that he is a copied soul of the original Cloud created by the auracite, and later, when fighting Hashmal, Cloud is determined to slay him, believing that it's what the original Cloud would do.
A man of few words, Cloud simply seeks out the next fight, and joins Ramza to both find his way home and to stop the Lucavi, though it is unknown how he feels about returning home when he learns that he is a copy.
Gameplay[]
Cloud in The Ivalice Chronicles.
Cloud's default and exclusive job is the Soldier, which has high attack and magick, and can use abilities based on his Limit Breaks from Final Fantasy VII, except for his new ultimate Limit, Cherry Blossom. For him to use his Limit command, the materia blade must be equipped, though it does not need to be the primary weapon if dual wielding. He can equip regular swords, and uniquely, female-exclusive hair adornments. This could be a nod to him crossdressing during the Wall Market segment in Final Fantasy VII. In Enhanced Mode from The Ivalice Chronicles, the restriction on female-equipment has been removed, meaning all male units can now them.
Stats[]
Cloud starts at level 1 in the original and War of the Lions versions with 70 bravery and 65 faith. He is equipped with a thief's cap, black garb, and featherweave cloak.
In Enhanced Mode from The Ivalice Chronicles version, Cloud now joins at an average party level, and comes with the materia blade equipped by default; sitting at the top of Mount Bervenia is instead the materia blade+, an improved version of the sword. He also has the samurai job at a high level with the Shirahadori reaction ability learned, as well the archer's Concentration and the thief's Movement +2.
Recruitment[]
Cloud can be recruited by Ramza Beoulve's party during the sidestory in Chapter 4. Ramza must first defeat Belias and enter Chapter 4 (he must have retained Mustadio Bunansa as a party member), and return to the Clockwork City of Goug, where Mustadio's father Besrudio will have found Construct 8, but cannot power it up. Ramza must recruit Beowulf Cadmus from the Royal City of Lesalia and take him to the coal mine in the Mining Town of Gollund. After they save Reis Duelar, Ramza will obtain the Aquarius Stone necessary to activate Construct 8.
Cloud during his arrival at Ivalice.
After Ramza has defeated Zalmour Lucianada for the second time, Besrudio will come up with a dimensional portal device that resembles an orrery, but again he cannot activate it. In the original version, it is also necessary to first visit Zarghidas Trade City (Trade City of Sal Ghidos) and purchase a flower before this cutscene becomes available.
A rumor will subsequently circulate about Zeltennia Castle. After hearing it, Ramza can journey to Nelveska Temple and defeat Construct 7. Reis will revert to human form (and must be accepted again by Ramza), and Ramza will gain the Cancer Stone. Taking it to Besrudio will summon Cloud, who will run off to Sal Ghidos.
When Ramza's group sets foot on Sal Ghidos again, they see Cloud attempt to save the girl from a group of thugs whom Ramza must help Cloud defeat. Cloud will join the party, but in the original and War of the Lions versions will be unable to use his Limit Break skills without the Materia Blade, which is at the top of the tall pillar in Mount Bervenia, discovered with Treasure Hunter.
In The Ivalice Chronicles Enhanced mode, Cloud has the Materia Blade by default when recruited; the treasure atop Mount Bervenia is an improved version of Materia Blade, called Materia Blade+.
Extended dialogue in The Ivalice Chronicles[]
If Cloud is present in the battle at Mullonde Cathedral against Folmarv Tengille, Loffrey Wodring, and Cletienne Duroi, Folmarv is perplexed by Cloud initially believing him to not be from Ivalice. Folmarv deduces that his soul is a copy of another's from another plane given flesh, calling him an aberration brought into existence at the whim of the auracite. Folmarv also states that Cloud's copied soul is blended with another's, although it was never stated whose. Cloud coldly brushes off Folmarv's words and sets out to fight him regardless.
Upon facing Folmarv's Lucavi form Hashmal, Cloud wants to settle the score with him as Hashmal mocks him as an aberration and imitation. Cloud is unsure why the auracite chose to bring him to Ivalice, but since he is there, he resolves that no matter what his fate has in store for him he will vanquish Hashmal as his other self would do the same. Hashmal calls him a foolish puppet saying that he wont achieve anything. Cloud declares he is not a puppet and has a will of his own and he will prove it by defeating him.
Rendezvous[]
This content is exclusive to the War of the Lions version of Tactics.
When fought in the fourteenth Rendezvous battle, Brave Story, Cloud is level 99 and starts with 76 bravery and 59 faith. He uses his soldier job, equipped with the materia blade, thief's cap, black garb, and a random accessory. He has access to the Limit command, Shirahadori and Swiftness abilities, as well as random movement abilities.
Behind the scenes[]
While Final Fantasy VII lists Cloud's birthdate as August 19 (and the Ultimania lists it as August 11, making him a Leo in either case), Cloud's zodiac sign in Final Fantasy Tactics is Aquarius and his birthdate is January 31. In the original and War of the Lions versions of the game it is not stated or revealed why, and it is implied that the Cloud in the game is the actual Cloud from the Final Fantasy VII games. In The Ivalice Chronicles, this is cleared up by the reveal that the Cloud in Tactics is a copy of the original, and that his Zodiac sign and birthday reflects the day the auracite gave this copied soul a body.
Much like the other cameo characters (Luso and Balthier), Cloud's age is not displayed when the player views his profile in Personae. Cloud's Personae entry also does not appear until either the player lets Cloud die permanently, or they dismiss him from the roster; this was changed in The Ivalice Chronicles Persons chronicle.
Cloud was initially the only male character able to equip a ribbon, which is otherwise female-exclusive. This is no longer unique with the release of The War of the Lions, where the onion knight becomes able to equip female-exclusive equipment; and in Enhanced Mode of The Ivalice Chronicles version this restriction has been removed, allowing any male unit to wear them. The reason Cloud can equip hair adornments may be a reference to his crossdressing disguise in Final Fantasy VII, or to the Ribbon's status as a unisex accessory in that game.
Cloud's Cherry Blossom Limit is later used as one of Freya Crescent's Dragon abilities in Final Fantasy IX. In Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, Cherry Blossom is one Cloud's HP attacks. The animation bears heavy resemblance to Kujata's Tri-Disaster but like all of his other abilities is non-elemental.
Voice[]
Cloud gains a voice in Final Fantasy Tactics: Ivalice Chronicles, where he is voiced in Japanese by Takahiro Sakurai, and in the English version, he was voiced by Cody Christian. Both of them currently voice Cloud in the remake versions of Final Fantasy VII.
In The Ivalice Chronicles, Cloud has extra dialogue during the battle at Trade City of Sal Ghidos, referring to Aerith's fate and the promised land. This implies that he got transported to Ivalice some time following the events of the Forgotten Capital; this is further reinforced if Cloud is defeated during this fight, as he says "I am not... a puppet.", which reflects the words said by Jenova to him in the original Final Fantasy VII at the Forgotten Capital. Upon arrival, he mentions being "swallowed by a current-a great stream", likely referencing when he fell into the lifestream after the events of the Northern Crater.