Yeah it is really confusing with AC. I was going to mention the fact that Cloud got stabbed through the chest in the original game/CC (can't remember about Last Order) but he was practically dead when Hojo found him and started experimenting on him and Zack, so a phoenix down probably wouldn't have helped there either (heck, not like the game people even thought that much about it )

But AC just blows any explanation away because not only does Cloud appear unhurt by the masamune when Sephy stabs him with it, but also he gets up and quite happily finishes Sephy off. It's Yazoo's gunshot that kills him after that, and why he comes back after that, I don't know (phoenix down in Aerith's pool?).

I think the whole thing is a lack of canon, as is usually the case with FFVII, as much as I love it. It's such a mess

There are two ways we can look at this. The first method would be the logical method, in which case the fact that Cloud didn't have JENOVA Cells/Mako Enhancements when Sephiroth stabbed him at the Nibelheim Reactor probably had a lot to do with him being near-death that time around and is certainly worth mentioning. Sure, even after undergoing the SOLDIER Treatment, Cloud is most definitely vulnerable to such things as swords and bullets, but his stamina has probably increased drastically. In other words, though the Masamune is still able to pierce his skin, Cloud's Mako Enhancements probably provided him with the endurance required to continue fighting despite having sustained serious injury. I mean, it's not like Sephiroth pierced one of his vital organs or anything. With proper tolerance for pain, it's theoretically possible for someone to keep fighting after being stabbed in the shoulder. The fact that Cloud was undoubtedly experiencing an extreme adrenaline rush further supports my claim.

Besides the fact that Cloud was a lowly, unenhanced ShinRa MP the first time Sephiroth stabbed him, I believe he was also stabbed through the stomach...oh, and he was lifted off the ground, too. That aside, yes, I'm fairly certain that Cloud was stabbed through the stomach, which meant that, for all intents and purposes, his spinal chord should've been severed (come to think of it, Sephiroth's should've been severed, as well...). Logically, Cloud should've been paralyzed from the waist down, if that were the case. Clearly, getting stabbed through the shoulder is not nearly as bad as getting stabbed through the gut. The former is really just a matter of intense pain, whereas the latter requires the person to defy physics just to continue walking. But hey, speaking of defying physics...

Explanation #2 would be following the Laws of Anime. This means that Cloud was able to continue fighting despite having been stabbed in the shoulder because he had SUPAH HONORABLE RESOLVE to continue fighting. To hell with any previous limitations Cloud might have had, his RESOLVE allowed him to overcome previously-unsurmountable odds. Logic and physics be damned. If Cloud wants to lift and swing around a 200+ pound sword in one hand after just being stabbed in the shoulder, then damnit, he can, as long as he has enough RESOLVE. Through sheer determination and willpower, Cloud has overcome the laws of reality.

As for the whole "Shot in the back" thing...Don't you think the fact that Cloud was caught in a massive explosion mere seconds after being shot in the back had something to do with his near-death experience? I mean, call me crazy, but generally, being caught in massive Materia-influenced explosions doesn't do most people a whole lot of good. Doing so after getting shot in the back probably wouldn't lead to the best of results, either. That being said, yes, Cloud was put into a state of limbo for (I think) a day or so before Aerith helped to revive him. However, it's perfectly reasonable for this to happen, considering, again, Cloud had just been in the middle of a massive explosion visible from the outskirts of Midgar.

I quite like this explaination.

Think of FFVIII as another example of this. Those little Ice Columns Edea uses doesn't do much damage HP-wise (as evidenced later in the game), yet, at the end of disc 1, Squall takes a near-fatal hit from one of them, thus ending their encounter. Obviously he wasn't ready for such an attack.

Because she wasnt attacked by sephiroth but i have to say tifa and cloud where slashed by him and didnt die. XD

everyone its okay heres what you do. when jenova boss battle starts, use a smoke bomb and use a phoenix down on aerith(sarcasm)

it was actully through the stomach but he has got a point cloud survived though he tecnically died for a bit

I think this is also why Sephiroth was surprised when Cloud was suddenly talking about moving on. Cloud has always been negative about most things.

Also, about Aeris dying by the blade of Sephiroth... Well, there wouldn't have been much of a story if he didn't. Sephiroth didn't kill Aeris, Square Soft did.

I thought it was something about Sephiroths sword too, lols.
Just realised that she probably did get stabbed through the lungs that does definatly mean death. xD