I would say Cloud, as he is a Sephiroth Clone, (only one that survived) and even though he did sneak attack him in the reactor, Zack tells him to kill Sephiroth. That sounds like Zack is acknowledging that Cloud is stronger to me. And, Omnislash is the most powerful attack in the game.

Cloud being a Sephiroth Clone doesn't really imply that he has any sort of unique power...well, not any sort of unique power that all the other SOLDIERs don't have, as well. The only thing that the term "Sephiroth Clone" (and "Clone" is a pretty inaccurate word to describe what they really are) means is that Cloud was one of the test subjects who were put through the SOLDIER procedure despite not being mentally and physically suitable. As such, he was vulnerable to Jenova/Sephiroth's influence and felt drawn to the Reunion by his will. The fact that he survived and was able to exercise his own will (which was only due to interference from Tifa bringing him out of his comatose state, anyway, not because of any strength on his part) only meant that he received the strength that comes with being a member of SOLDIER. He didn't obtain anything unique or inherently more powerful. He certainly didn't receive the strength of Sephiroth, anyway. That wasn't the purpose of the experiment. In fact, a Sephiroth Clone is basically just a person in a vegetative state due to not being suitable to go through the SOLDIER procedure; they're pitifully weak, actually.

And again, Cloud was the only person left. Literally. He was the only person who had any sort of chance at that point. The citizens were either dead or injured, Zack himself had been incapacitated, Tifa was unconscious, and Sephiroth was about to commit mass genocide on the people of the planet. Zack had absolutely no choice but to have Cloud attempt to finish Sephiroth off. What else is he going to do? Tell Cloud to run and endanger the possibly thousands of other innocent people Sephiroth would undoubtedly kill before being captured? I doubt Sephiroth was planning to leave Zack and Tifa alive, either. Zack didn't necessarily have a whole lot of faith in Cloud, but he did know for sure that a great deal of people (himself, Tifa, and even Cloud) were in danger. Someone had to do something, and Cloud was literally the only person there.

thats true... zack saw that the only chance he had of slowing sephiroth down... or stopping him was for cloud to challenge him... it wasnt that cloud was stronger merely the only one in that position not to mention that as the original wielder of the buster sword (im saying this as i never saw angiel actually wield it in battle) he would be stronger with it than cloud

i agree... but he only spent about 5 months with zack "travelling" as before that they were in "cryo-chambers" (sorry dont know what they are really called) i wonder how anyone could not only learn the moves but mimic that persons entire personality in that short space of time... some one help me figure this out

I think they are even, if Zack isnt a step ahead of Cloud.

I was going to explain my reasoning, but noticed the_oathkeeper already said everything I could possibly say! I hail your ownage man!

And another point of view, why not look at their mental strenghts?

The toughest thing that cloud kills is sephiroth and he needs help to do this whereas zack nearly takes out an entire army batallion and not to mention a godess without any help at all so i would have to say zack is stronger.

Cloud has a stronger heart, all the life He has pass have form him into a strong hero, after who is allways there to protect the world from Sephiroth? Cloud.
Who beat Sephiroth so many times? Cloud.
Zack is charismatic but I think more that He should. His confidence has let him down sometimes (in the end of CC he was a lot more mature but still he have some childist inside him). Cloud his more mature, I hardly see him laught, very disturbing.

Cya**

Crisis AVALANCHE, which consists of eight people, not just Cloud.

Well, the first time, Cloud cheapshotted him and then got a burst of adrenaline that allowed him to throw an extremely weakened Sephiroth into the Lifestream. The second time, it was a joint effort. Yes, Cloud did play a large role in the defeat of Sephiroth and the protection of the Planet, but so did Vincent, Yuffie, Cid, Tifa, Barret, Red XIII, and Cait Sith. Of course, Cloud is the main character, but it was still the entire team that defeated Bizarro and Safer Sephiroth. The third time, Sephiroth wasn't even acknowledging Cloud as a serious threat and fooling around with him for several hours, restricting himself to basic swordsmanship and flight as opposed to using the rest of his array of powers, and even ignoring several opportunities to kill Cloud. Yeah, Cloud's certainly always there to fight against Sephiroth, but that doesn't necessarily mean that Cloud is stronger than Sephiroth.

I'm not really sure how being charismatic and lighthearted is a sign of a lack of maturity. Zack is an extremely mature person. Anyone willing to, for the sake of a friend, rush into a battle that they know they most likely aren't going to return from alive is an extremely mature person. Zack regularly shows himself to be fearless and selfless, whereas Cloud is somewhat weak throughout most of the Compilation, unable to come to terms with his own shortcomings rather than simply plowing through his self-doubt to achieve his goals. Even so, I don't really think emotional maturity can be used to determine who would win in a fight. I know for a fact that Sora, despite being far more lighthearted and generally childlike, would systematically and effortlessly dominate Cloud in a fight. Zack is the same way, even though I really don't consider him immature.

Sorry if I come across as irritable, by the way. I know you probably aren't aware of it, but I've basically spent this whole thread reiterating the same points over and over again as more and more people enter and refuse to listen. That sort of thing is bound to get on a guy's nerves after a while...