The Final Fantasy series in recent years has become increasingly real-time action combat, though Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has married the best of the ATB system of earlier games with the fast-paced action Final Fantasy has become known for. And the character whom you will see the majority of that combat through is Cloud.

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Though Cloud plays quite similarly to how he did in the previous instalment, he has a few new tricks in his combat repertoire to take advantage of the new systems at play in Rebirth. We'll break all of that down for you now to help you master the combat system like the SOLDIER Cloud really is.

Combat Overview

Battle Basics

Like every other character in Rebirth, Cloud has two primary actions in combat:

Square (Single Press)

For Regular Attacks.

Triangle (Single Press)

To alternate between Operator and Punisher modes.

Cloud is a bit of an all-rounder in combat, moving swiftly and dealing strong attacks while still remaining quite sturdy if need be.

In general, Cloud performs a series of striking slashes regardless of the mode he's in with his Regular Attack. Any combo can also be quickly ended by holding 'Square', with Cloud performing either a wide-reaching spinning attack or slamming his weapon into the ground for high damage.

Owing to his versatility, Cloud can also take to the sky easily. If you press the Regular Attack button while dodging, Cloud can shoot off a series of beams to attack flying enemies. If you hold the button instead, Cloud will jump into the air and fight the enemy there. You can also quickly descend from the air by swapping to Punisher Mode, dragging the enemy down with you.

Limit Breaks

Cloud also has two Limit Breaks by default, with the second accessible by increasing your max Limit Level through Synergy Abilities.

Cross Slash

Cross Slash, a level one limit that has Cloud deal devastating damage to a single enemy.

Ascension

Ascension, a level two limit that has Cloud deal immense damage to a single enemy while also significantly raising their stagger.

Finishing Touch

Finishing Touch, a level three limit break that has Cloud unleash a tornado of blows on an enemy that massively increases stagger.

    Operator And Punisher Mode, Explained

    Core to Cloud's moveset is alternating between his two distinct fighting modes - Operator and Punisher.

    Operator Mode

    Operator is Cloud's default stance and affords him much more manoeuvrability. With this, he can dodge, track enemies into the air, and quickly jump from enemy to enemy with speedy attacks.

    Dodging in this mode while near enemies also deals a small amount of damage to them while giving Cloud invincibility during the animation.

    Punisher Mode

    Punisher Mode, which is accessed by pressing the 'Triangle' button, is a slow-moving, damage-dealing machine.

    Cloud cannot dodge in this mode without reverting back to Operator mode, and it can also only be used on the ground. Cloud moves exceedingly slowly as well, but can unleash powerful attacks on closely grouped enemies that he can chain to keep them locked in place.

    Another core aspect of Punisher mode is its auto-counters. While blocking, any melee attack that hits Cloud will have him retaliate with a high-damage attack that is also liable to pressure the enemy. This has no cooldown or button activation, just blocking allows you to counterattack indefinitely, making Cloud incredibly sturdy in this mode.

    It is also possible to change between the two modes mid-combo by pressing 'Triangle', which will have Cloud perform a quick attack while switching. If changing into Punisher mode, Cloud will also auto-counter attacks during the animation.

    Cloud's Weapons

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    Obtained at various points in the game, be they easy to spot or hidden in devious spots, Cloud can get up to seven different weapons, each with its own stats and abilities. We've listed allof them below, alongside their abilities and proficiencies.

    Weapon

    Ability

    Proficiency Bonus

    Buster Sword

    Focused Thrust

    Stagger an enemy.

    Sleek Saber

    Firebolt Blade

    Exploit an enemy's weakness.

    Rune Blade

    Disorder

    Strike with Attack or Heavy Attack after switching modes.

    Umbral Blade

    Prime Mode

    Finish off an enemy while active.

    Crystal Sword

    Infinity's End

    Strike a staggered enemy.

    Igneous Saber

    Blade Burst

    Finish off an enemy.

    Slipstream Saber

    Counterstance

    Unleash a counterattack.

    Weapons can cover plenty of different playstyles, from being more magic to strength-focused, or to having lots of Materia slots versus incredibly high stats. Considering Cloud is already fairly balanced, this means he can be geared to whatever set-up best fits your party make-up.

    Cloud's Ability List

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    Like all characters, Cloud has a great variety of moves, many of them gained from new weapons or through upgrading folios. Many of these abilities are very broad, from both increasing stagger to regular damage dealing. They promote Cloud being a jack-of-all-trades, rather than specializing in any one place.

    Move

    Ability

    Braver

    This is a standard damage-dealing ability, though increases in damage if used while airborne.

    Triple Slash

    As the name implies, this ability has Cloud perform three slashes, though they increase with power if each slash hits a different enemy.

    Focused Thrust

    Focused Thrust both hits multiple times and is a highly effective ability for rapidly increasing an enemy's stagger bar.

    Firebolt Blade

    This ability has Cloud attack a single enemy multiple times, alternating his swod between fire and lightning elements throughout.

    Disorder

    This ability has Cloud swap between Punisher and Operator mode with a powerful attack.

    Prime Mode

    This ability strengthens Cloud's Punisher mode, making it deal more damage and unleash a multi-stage Heavy Attack. Prime Mode is indicated by the Punisher Mode bar becoming purple.

    Infinity's End

    This ability has Cloud wind up his weapon before performing a heavy overhead attack on the enemy. This deals immense damage to staggered enemies and can easily reach the damage limit of 9,999.

    Blade Burst

    This ability has Cloud shoot energy waves from his sword that spread out the further they travel.

    Counterstance

    This ability has Cloud take on a defensive stance similar to Punisher Mode, but can be activated at any time. If attacked during the ability, he dashes to the enemy and unleashes a powerful counterattack.

    Aerial Onslaught

    Obtained at the end of Cloud's folios and requiring a party level of 9, this ability has Cloud unleash a series of powerful attacks in the air before dragging himself and the enemy to the ground. As such, this move can only be performed in the air.

    Disorder

    This ability has Cloud perform a special high-damage attack while switching modes. If performed while in Punisher mode, it also drags Cloud and the enemy into the air.

    Wildfire

    Obtained through folios, this allows you to perform a fire attack without expending MP while also hitting multiple enemies.

    Snow Flurry

    Obtained through folios, this allows you to perform an ice attack without expending MP while also hitting multiple enemies.

    Static Shock

    Obtained through folios, this allows you to perform a lightning attack without expending MP while also hitting multiple enemies.

    Wind Current

    Obtained through folios, this allows you to perform a wind attack without expending MP while also hitting multiple enemies.

    There is also a variety of elemental abilities. These allow Cloud to have access to all elements without ever sacrificing a Materia slot and can be acquired through the purple nodes in his folio.

    Cloud's Synergy Skills And Abilities

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    New to Rebirth are Synergy Skills and Synergy Abilities. These moves are performed with your companions and open up many new opportunities for you in combat. Like Cloud's own abilities, many of his Synergy Skills cover a wide range of actions, both offensive and defensive, ranged and up-close.

    Of worthy note - Synergy Skills, those performed free of charge and increase your ATB, and Synergy Abilities, those performed through the use of extra bits beside your ATB bar, are two separate, though very similarly named, things.

    Synergy Skills

    Synergy Skill

    Effect

    Counterfire

    This skill allows Cloud and his partner to nullify any ranged attack, be it magical or physical, and deliver a counterattack in return.

    Howling Smash

    This skill, used with Red XIII, allows Cloud to fire off up to three ranged attacks that deal magical damage.

    Bullet Batter

    This skill, used with Barret, allows Cloud to fire off up to three ranged attacks that deal physical damage.

    Power Cleave

    This skill, used with Tifa, has Cloud imbue his sword with her physical strength before slamming it down. Charging it for longer increases the damage dealt.

    Spell Blade

    This skill, used with Aerith and Yuffie, has Cloud imbue his sword with their magical prowess before slamming it down. Charging it for longer increases the damage dealt.

    Synergy Abilities

    His Synergy Abilities, however, are much more focused on plain and simple damage.

    Synergy Ability

    Effect

    United Refocus

    This ability, available with multiple party members, has the duo focus and split their ATB gauge temporarily into three segments.

    Relentless Rush

    This ability, used by Cloud and Tifa, has Cloud throw Tifa at an enemy before attacking, increasing stagger potency and length.

    Synchro Cyclone

    This ability, used by Cloud and Tifa, has the duo perform a spinning attack on enemies that gives them both unlimited MP.

    Firework Blade

    This ability, used by Cloud and Aerith, has Aerith imbue Cloud's sword with her magic before dishing it out on enemies. This raises both their Limit Levels.

    Savage Assault

    This ability, used by Cloud and Red XIII, has them both fuelled by rage while attacking an enemy, raising both of their Limit Levels.

    Malestrom Strike

    This ability, used by Cloud and Yuffie, has them attack an enemy from all angles, resulting in them both raising their Limit Levels.

    Halcyon Descent

    This ability, used by Cloud and Yuffie, has the duo unleash an attack on enemies from above ending with a series of explosives falling on them. This increases the potency and length of stagger.

    Curiosity's End

    This ability, used by Cloud and Cait Sith, has Cait Sith leap onto Cloud's shoulders to deliver a powerful strike on a single enemy. This grants the pair unlimited MP for a short while.

    SOLDIER Moogle Class

    This ability, used by Cloud and Cait Sith, has Cloud give his sword to Cait Sith's moogle as it dashes about the battlefield dealing damage to enemies. This raises both their limit levels.

    Synergy Skills and Abilities open up the opportunities to Cloud even further, so it is always essential to remember the strengths of your party and how they can complement Cloud's own fighting style.

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