Editing Cloud Strife

{{justreleased|downloadable character|date=December 15, 2015}}
{{SSB Infobox
|color=yellow
|image=Cloud Strife - Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.png
|name=Cloud Strife
|emblem=FinalFantasySymbol.svg
|games=''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'' (DLC)
|standard=[[Blade Beam]]
|side=[[Cross Slash]]
|up=[[Climhazzard]]
|down=[[Limit Charge]] / [[Finishing Touch]]
|final=[[Omnislash]]
|entrance=Falls onto the stage, catching his Buster Sword.
}}

{{LLQuote|Konna higa kurutowa, omowanakattana. (Never thought I'd see the day...)|Cloud Strife|"Cloud Storms the Battle!" Trailer}}

'''Cloud Strife''' is the main protagonist from [[Square Enix]]'s ''[[wikipedia:Final Fantasy VII|Final Fantasy VII]]'' and its spin-off material of the [[wikipedia:Final Fantasy|''Final Fantasy'' series]] and is a newcomer for ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]'' confirmed during the November 2015 Nintendo Direct.<ref name="Nintendo Direct">Nintendo (November 12, 2015). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc3CY31kMJ4 Nintendo Direct Trailer]. ''YouTube''. Retrieved November 12, 2015.</ref> Claiming to be a former first-class SOLDIER, Cloud leads a group to stop Sephiroth's plan to use the Black Materia to summon Meteor and destroy the planet. Players who purchase Cloud from the Nintendo eShop will also get his stage based on ''Final Fantasy VII'', [[Midgar]].<ref>[http://www.smashbros.com/us/dlc/index.html Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U: Downloadable Content Info]. Smashbros.com. Retrieved November 12, 2015.</ref> Alongside his release, DLC [[Mii Fighter]] hats based off [[Wikipedia:Chocobo|Chocobo]]s were released. 

Cloud can move quickly and jump high, and wields the Buster Sword, a giant sword given to him by deceased friend Zack Fair that gives his attacks power and range, though several of his moves are slow to execute. He also has a Limit Break mechanic, similar to [[Little Mac]]'s Power Meter. When Cloud attacks or is attacked, his Limit Gauge fills up, and when it is full Cloud is covered by a blue aura that boosts his stats, and for one use only can power up one of his special moves; Cloud can also charge his Limit Gauge manually with his [[Limit Charge]] down special. Most of Cloud's special moves are taken from the Limit Breaks he can obtain in ''Final Fantasy VII''. His neutral special is [[Blade Beam]], in which Cloud swings his sword to fire a beam forward. His side special is [[Cross Slash]], in which Cloud swings his sword in the shape of a Japanese character to damage opponents. His up special is [[Climhazzard]], in which Cloud swings his sword to propel himself directly up into the air. When the Limit Gauge is filled, Cloud's down special becomes [[Finishing Touch]], a whirlwind that deals little damage but high knockback. His [[Final Smash]] is [[Omnislash]], in which Cloud knocks opponents into the air and rapidly and repeatedly slashes them.<ref name="Nintendo Direct"/> His title in the [[Boxing Ring]] is SOLDIER 1st Class.

When customizing Cloud, he can be equipped with Sword, Suit, and Boots equipment. However, like with the other DLC characters, he lacks any custom special variations of his special moves.

While Cloud's appearance is primarily based on his original design, an alternate costume using his ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children'' design is also available. Two of his ''Advent Children'' costumes have a sleeve covering his Geostigma-infected arm, while the others leave his arm bare, revealing the ribbon he wears in memory of Aerith Gainsborough.

==''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U'' profiles and statistics==
===Trophy information===
{| align=center width=100% cellspacing=0 border=1 cellpadding=3 style="border-collapse:collapse; font-family:Arial;"
|-
!width="10%"|Name
!3DS Image
!Wii U Image
!width="20%"|Appears in
!NTSC-U Description
!PAL Description
|-
!Cloud
|
|[[File:CloudTrophyWiiU.png|100px]]
|bgcolor="lightblue" align=center|''FINAL FANTASY VII'' (11/1997)
|''The protagonist of FINAL FANTASY VII, Cloud wields the enormous Buster Sword, a memento from his comrad Zack. Once a SOLDIER of Shinra, he now fights as a mercenary against the corporation he originally served. His decision to join AVALANCHE's insurgence, however, will transform his destiny.''
|
|-
!Cloud (Alt.)
|
|[[File:CloudAltTrophyWiiU.png|100px]]
|bgcolor="lightblue" align=center|''FINAL FANTASY VII'' (11/1997)
|''Filling the Limit Gauge allows Cloud to perform a Limit Break, supercharging his next special move. His down special becomes Finishing Touch. With a huge swing of his sword, Cloud summons a whirlwind that inflicts only 1% damage, but boasts brutal launch power. Go for a KO while foes' damage is still low!''
|
|-bgcolor="lightblue"
![[Omnislash]]
|align=center|''N/A''
|[[File:OmnislashTrophyWiiU.png|100px]]
|
|''Cloud sets out to prevent Sephiroth from sending Meteor crashing into the planet. The fate of the world on his shoulders, Cloud confronts his enemy one on one. He unleashes a flurry of swift slashes before delivering the finishing blow. In Smash Bros., the final strike creates an explosion, launching nearby fighters.''
|
|-
|}
<small>Blue indicates exclusive to the Wii U version.</small>

====Palutena's Guidance====
The following dialogue applies also to [[Mewtwo]], [[Roy (Fire Emblem)|Roy]], [[Lucas]], and [[Ryu]], who are also downloadable fighters.

*'''[[Pit]]''': Who is THAT?
*'''[[Palutena]]''': I have no data on this fighter. I can't believe it!
*'''Viridi''': It must be an intruder from another dimension!
*'''Pit''': Whoever it is, the goal remains the same: to fight and win!

==Names in other languages==
{{Foreignname
|Jap=クラウド・ストライフ
|JapR=Kuraudo Sutoraifu
|JapM=Cloud Strife
|Rus=Клауд Страйф
|RusR=Klaud Strayf
|RusM=Cloud Strife
|Kor=클라우드 스트라이프
|KorR=Keullaudeu Seuteuraipeu
|KorM=Cloud Strife
|Chi=克勞德•史特萊夫
|ChiR=Kèláodé Shǐtèláifū
|ChiM=Cloud Strife
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:CloudStorms.jpg|Cloud splash screen
File:CloudPromotionalArt.jpg|Promotional artwork
File:CloudHeadSSB4-U.png|Stock icon
</gallery>

==Trivia==
*Cloud is the only ''Final Fantasy'' character appearing in a Nintendo crossover to be a named character rather than a generic class or creature (such as [[Black Mage]] or [[Moogle]]).

==External links==
*[http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Cloud_Strife Cloud Strife on the Final Fantasy Wiki]

==References==
{{NIWA|SmashWiki=1}}
<references/>
{{Human}}
{{SSB4}}
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U Fighters]]
[[Category:Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U]]
[[Category:Downloadable content]]
[[Category:Playable Characters]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy Series]]
[[Category:3rd Party Characters]]