Zack vs. Cloud: Who's Stronger?

February 24, 2008, 8:45 PM

Well, it's like the Vincent/Cloud thread except more interesting in my view because of Zack's and Cloud's relationship.

I'd say Cloud did surpass Zack at some point but which point, I'm unsure. Perhaps in AC or near the end of FFVII.

February 24, 2008, 9:00 PM

Cloud surpassed Zack before Final Fantasy VII even began.

In the Nieblhiem reactor Sephiroth easily defeated. Soon after, Cloud owned Sephiroth by stabbing and then throwning him into the Mako reactor.

February 24, 2008, 9:09 PM

It depends on when you look at it really.

Spoiler alert.. maybe... i dunno lol

Supposedly Cloud's sword skills were lacking very bad in the Crisis Core storyline, Hence him being a MP/trooper/guard ( whatever you want to call them). But in his desperation he was able to stab Sephiroth ( or maybe Sephiroth was just talking too much to "mother" that he wasnt paying attention). That scene in the reactor shows that Cloud has the potential to be great.

Zack and Aeris' death were his motivation to be stronger, fight harder and protect what he has left.

But to answer the question... as much as I love Zack... Cloud is stronger. For me its I dunno if he surpasses Zack in Crisis Core or FFVII. By the time of AC... i think we all know he's much stronger then Zack.

February 24, 2008, 9:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Android 18

Cloud surpassed Zack before Final Fantasy VII even began.

In the Nieblhiem reactor Sephiroth easily defeated. Soon after, Cloud owned Sephiroth by stabbing and then throwning him into the Mako reactor.

So what you're saying is because Zack took on a psychopathic supersoldier head-on and lost, it means he's weaker than the grunt who got in a sneak attack on the psycho supersoldier?

I don't see how that works.

Admittedly Cloud's surviving being run through and then chucking Seph to his supposed doom was impressive but it's not anything I'd say means he's stronger than Zack or would beat Zack in a fight...unless Zack will stab Cloud, lift him in the air and be standing on a bridge.

February 24, 2008, 10:05 PM

Zack is as close to equal ( more so then Cloud) to Sephiroth since ALL SOLDIERs have Jenova cells in them plus mako. The most equal would be Angeal but his lost his fight to live a while ago. Since both Angeal and Sephiroth were given Jenova cells in the fetus state.
Given that Cloud was able to lift and toss ( using the sword that is still impaled in his chest) Sephiroth into the reactor or a wall ( depending if you go by the game of the Last Order OVA) is a huge feat, since Cloud has no Jenova cells or mako in him at this time. And surviving that... I'll just give credit to Hojo. -shrugs-

February 24, 2008, 10:31 PM

Cloud was in a much worse state than zack after Hojo played with them. But I Don't know if that's because Zack was already a SOLDIER.

Zack was obviously initialy much stronger than Cloud as he was aloud into SOLDIER and Cloud wasn't.

However Cloud does show his worth by Omnislashing Sephy at the end.

February 24, 2008, 10:35 PM

I think Zack surpasses Cloud on some levels of strength, Cloud surpasses Zack on others. Zack is much stronger than Cloud on a phsychological level, and in circumstances where Cloud would crack, Zack stands strong. As for physical strength, I'd say it is pretty close. We know that Cloud has always had a gift with large swords, and that when he has one in his hand you better look out. He is a total badass and is by no means the weakling Sephiroth and the others wrote him off to be. Zack is by no means weak either though. He takes out 96 soldiers by himself without any help at all, and if the story did not have to go the way it does he might have beaten them all. The stronger one though would have to be Cloud, and the only thing that makes me believe that Cloud is stronger than Zack is how he defeats Sephie in Advent Children. It was set up to were he was going to lose the battle, case closed, but he looked inside himself and found a strength inside to win. He did the same thing in Nilbenheim, when Sephiroth stabbed him, and he found a way to persevere. That is the strength that makes him far stronger than anyone else. The only problem is, he has to believe in himself, which Zack never had a problem with.

February 24, 2008, 10:36 PM

I think before Zack died, he was stronger than Cloud. But with him dead, and Cloud having time to train and such, he surpassed Zack.

February 24, 2008, 10:54 PM

This is kinda hard to explain, especially since I haven't never played Crisis Core. As far as I've always believed, Cloud is the strongest one in terms of physical strength.

I'm sure Zack's a few steps behind him, but as the main hero of Final Fantasy VII, I think it would only be natural for Cloud to be the stronger one.

As for Crisis Core, again, I cannot speak about the matter since I haven't seen Zack's skills or his sole characterization.

February 24, 2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jam

Cloud was in a much worse state than zack after Hojo played with them. But I Don't know if that's because Zack was already a SOLDIER.

Zack was obviously initialy much stronger than Cloud as he was aloud into SOLDIER and Cloud wasn't.

However Cloud does show his worth by Omnislashing Sephy at the end.

Its cause Zack has already gone though the whole mako and jenova cells SOLDIER training. Although the experiment was some what similar... it was also different.

Also remember Zack has 4 - 5 years of Shinra training under a SOLDIER 1st Class - Angeal, where as Cloud just came to try to get into SOLDIERs 6 months - 1 year ago.