In this article, we will discuss the 5 best builds that Cloud can use throughout Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
There will be different types of builds that you can use to master your swordsmanship over the course of the game, and you can use these builds to cover specific portions of the game, namely, Early, Middle, Late, and Endgame Builds.
There is also a Secret Build that I will be suggesting to you guys, which will greatly help you in the VR Missions portion, so be sure to read it until the end. Cloud is, in general, the best jack-of-all-trades character that is present within the party but here, we will be focusing on builds that utilize every single aspect of his character.
Without further ado, let’s start the article.
5. Early Game Build
As the name indicates, this one’s specific for the early game portion of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and you should use this build starting from the Kalm portion of the game all the way up to the Junon region.
Despite this being an Early Game Build, this would be sufficient enough for Cloud to gain an edge over his enemies and be faster than ever in combat while being on the frontline of the party.
How this build works:
- Place Cloud in the leading 1st slot, making him the party's de-facto leader. Make him equip Utility Materia which will boost his HP and MP.
- Equip Sleek Saber to have Cloud build ATB Charge Rate speed up for Cloud, for more abilities for Cloud to use.
- Take advantage of Cloud’s perfect block to parry and Counterattack enemies, which is his trademark feature.
Early Game Build Strengths:
- Since the enemies will be at a lower level, Cloud will have no difficulty facing the hordes of enemies and will defeat them with ease.
- Magic will be pretty effective from early on in the game, elemental enemies will be particularly weak to specific kinds of magic, which Cloud can cast.
- Fire and Ice Materia equipped on Cloud will be advantageous since mob enemies like Ogre and Crystalline Crab are particularly weak to these elements.
Early Game Build Details:
- Abilities: - ATB Charge Rate Up (Provided by equipping and using Sleek Saber)
- Accessory: - Hi-Power Wristguards (Increases strength by 5% and Increases max HP by 250)
- Weapon: - Sleek Saber (Equip Fire and Ice, HP Up and MP Up on this weapon)
- Armor: - Hunter’s Bangle (Equip Assess and Precision Defense Focus on this armor)
Team Compatibility:
- Aerith – Can use Firework Blade, where Cloud teams up with Aerith to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels.
- Tifa – Can use Divine Punishment, where Cloud teams up with Tifa to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels.
4. Mid-Game Build
The Mid Game Build is perfect for the duration of the Mt. Corel portion of the game until the part when you reach Nibelheim. That portion covers about the middle of the game.
With this build, Cloud becomes significantly stronger than before and will be able to take on tougher enemies in-game and provide combat support as well, slowly giving us a sneakpeek of his swordsmanship
How this build works:
- Place Cloud in the leading 1st slot, making him the de-facto leader of the party. Make him equip Utility Materia which will boost his HP and MP.
- Equip Sleek Saber to have Cloud build ATB Charge Rate speed up for Cloud, for more abilities for Cloud to use.
- Take advantage of Cloud’s perfect block to parry and Counterattack enemies, which is his trademark feature.
Mid Game Build Strengths:
- Since the enemies will be at a moderate level, Cloud will have small difficulty facing the hordes of enemies and will defeat them with ease.
- HP Absorption and Enemy Skill are vital skills to have for World Intel completion as well as overwhelming enemies.
- Fire and Ice Materia equipped on Cloud will be advantageous since enemies weak to these elements are mostly present in the Corel and Nibelheim regions.
Mid Game Build Details:
- Abilities: - ATB Charge Rate Up (Provided by equipping and using Sleek Saber) and Attack Power +20
- Accessory: - Hi-Power Wristguards (Increases strength by 5% and Increases max HP by 250)
- Weapon: - Sleek Saber (Equip Fire and Ice, Wind, HP Up, and Precision Defense Focus on this weapon)
- Armor: - Abyssal Bangle (Equip Assess, Chakra, and HP Absorption paired with Enemy Skill Materia on this armor)
Team Compatibility:
- Aerith – Can use Firework Blade, where Cloud teams up with Aerith to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels.
- Tifa – Can use Divine Punishment, where Cloud teams up with Tifa to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels.
- Barret – Can use United Refocus, which splits the ATB Bar into three portions.
3. Late Game Build
From Nibelheim onward until the end of the game, this Late Game Cloud Build will be your best friend and will finally showcase the hidden magic prowess that he has within.
With new weapon skills and more Materia slots, Cloud will have access to a strong set of weapon abilities that will make him a force not to be trifled with. Not to mention, having the Odin material equipped with you, you’ll be one-shotting enemies out there.
How this build works:
- Place Cloud on the 1st slot of the party to make him take on a more leading role.
- Equip Igneous Saber to have Cloud build faster ATB Charge Rate for more abilities for Cloud to use.
- With a faster ATB rate, unleash abilities after abilities to quickly eliminate enemies from the battleground.
Late Game Build Strengths:
- Cloud will now eviscerate enemies on sight and be a force to be reckoned with, thanks to his fully unlocked Sword skills and ATB Generation skills.
- Valkyrian Bangle provides more slots for Materia, improving Cloud’s magic prowess.
- Odin will kill enemies with one hit should he use his Zantetsuken ability.
Late Game Build Details:
- Abilities: - Unrelenting Punisher, Limit Gauge Stagger
- Accessory: - Speed Demon Keychain (Slightly Replenishes ATB Gauge when using a weapon ability)
- Weapon: - Igneous Saber Level 5 (Equip Auto-Unique Ability, Auto-Weapon Ability, Steadfast Block, Precision Defence Focus, Skill Master and HP Up Materia on this weapon)
- Armor: - Valkyrian Bangle (Equip First Strike paired with Limit Syphon, Darkside paired with Chakra, and HP Absorption paired with Enemy Skill Materia on this armor)
- Summon:- Odin
Team Compatibility:
- Aerith – Can use Firework Blade, where Cloud teams up with Aerith to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels. United Refocus can also be used with her.
- Tifa – Can use Relentless Rush, where Cloud teams up with Tifa to unleash a massive flurry of attacks that extend Stagger duration on enemies.
2. Endgame Build
This Build is for the Hard Mode missions, which become available after completing the 1st playthrough of the game, and Cloud becomes the 1st Class SOLDIER that he has always dreamt of.
The Hard Mode missions are known to be some of the toughest in Final Fantasy history, and having her become overpowered is just the right move to deal with the tougher enemies that the party will have to deal with, especially in Hard Mode.
How this build works:
- Place Cloud on the 1st slot of the party to make her take on a more leading role.
- With a faster ATB rate, unleash abilities after abilities to quickly eliminate enemies from the battleground.
- Equip Igneous Saber to have Cloud build faster ATB Charge Rate for more abilities for Cloud to use.
Endgame Build Strengths:
- Cloud will now eviscerate enemies on sight, no matter how tough they are.
- Cetran Bracer provides more slots for Materia, improving Cloud’s magic or physical prowess depending on the Materia equipped within the slots.
- Ascension and Finishing Touch are OP Limit Break abilities which can almost break the game, given how powerful their damage output is.
Endgame Build Details:
- Abilities: - Stalwart Punisher, Unrelenting Punisher, Limit Gauge Stagger
- Accessory: - Gotterdammerung (Completely fills the limit break gauge at the start of the battle and gradually fills the limit break gauge during battle.)
- Weapon: - Igneous Saber Level 7 (Equip Elemental paired with Fire and Ice, Steadfast Block, Precision Defence Focus, Skill Master, and HP Up Materia on this weapon)
- Armor: - Cetran Bracer (Equip First Strike paired with Limit Syphon, Darkside paired with Chakra, Auto-Unique Ability paired with Auto-Weapon Ability, and HP Absorption paired with Enemy Skill Materia on this armor)
- Summon:- Odin
Team Compatibility:
- Aerith – Can use United Refocus, which divides ATB Bar into three segments and unleash more ATB Attacks for more damage.
- Tifa – Can use Divine Punishment, where Aerith teams up with her to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels or you can also use Relentless Rush with Tifa as well.
- Cait Sith – Can use SOLDIER Moogle Class, where Cait Sith teams up with Cloud and delivers massive damage while raising the Limit Break Levels of Cloud and Cait Sith.
1. Secret Build
This is more of a Secret Build, which makes Cloud the ultimate All-Rounder of the party present in the game.
With this build, you can easily clear the post-game VR Missions needed for the Platinum Trophy, which is even tougher than the Hard Mode missions that the game provides.
How this build works:
- Place Cloud on the 1st slot of the party to make her take on a more leading role.
- With a faster ATB rate, unleash abilities after abilities to quickly eliminate enemies from the battleground.
- Equip Igneous Saber to have Cloud build faster ATB Charge Rate for more abilities for Cloud to use.
- By equipping First Strike, ATB Boost Materia along with Chocoking’s Cape, you will have enough ATB to cast a max-level spell within an Arcane Ward (if Aerith is in your party and should she cast it), hence doubling the damage output that Cloud delivers.
Secret Build Strengths:
- Cloud will now eviscerate enemies on sight, no matter how tough they are.
- Valkyrian Bangle provides more slots for Materia, improving Cloud’s magic or physical prowess depending on the Materia equipped within the slots.
- Ascension and Finishing Touch are OP Limit Break abilities which can almost break the game, given how powerful their damage output is.
- The Jump Materia will help Cloud deliver massive damage to airborne enemies.
Secret Build Details:
- Abilities: - Stalwart Punisher, Unrelenting Punisher, Limit Gauge Stagger
- Accessory: - Gotterdammerung (Completely fills the limit break gauge at the start of the battle and gradually fills the limit break gauge during battle.)
- Weapon: - Igneous Saber Level 7 (Equip Elemental paired with Fire and Ice, Steadfast Block, Precision Defence Focus, Jump, and HP Up Materia on this weapon)
- Armor: - Valkyrian Bangle (Equip Elemental paired with Lightning and Wind, Auto-Cast paired with Chakra, Auto-Unique Ability paired with Auto-Weapon Ability, and HP Absorption paired with Enemy Skill Materia on this armor)
- Summon:- Odin
Team Compatibility:
- Aerith – Can use United Refocus, which divides ATB Bar into three segments and unleash more ATB Attacks for more damage.
- Tifa – Can use Divine Punishment, where Aerith teams up with her to unleash a massive AoE attack that applies to a wide area and affects multiple enemies. It also raises Limit Break Levels or you can also use Relentless Rush with Tifa as well.
- Cait Sith – Can use SOLDIER Moogle Class where Cait Sith teams up with Cloud and delivers massive damage while raising the Limit Break Levels of Cloud and Cait Sith.
And that’s about it with the best party setups that you can have in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. See ya.
