Cloud (Smash Plus)

Cloud is a playable character in Super Smash Brothers Plus for the Nintendo Switch Plus. Representing the Final Fantasy universe, Cloud is listed as Fighter #80 in Smash's modified numbering system, and is classified as a Middleweight fighter. He is hidden at the start of the game, but can be unlocked through random encounters in versus mode or by scoring at least 10 KOs in a single game on either the Midgar or Northern Cave stages.
In his normal state, Cloud is a fairly standard and average fighter, though he does have some glaring weaknesses. Despite being relatively faster than most swordfighters, Cloud's recovery is overall weak, though his overall aerial game is slightly above average. His grabs are among the worst in the game, and his ground attack leaves him with few distancing options when pressed, due to his swords slow startup on many of his attacks. All of that can change however due to Cloud's unique abilities. Cloud has a unique fighting mechanic called Limit Break, which can completely change the complextion of a match. A meter will charge during the match, growing in power either by taking damage or by charging it up with his down special move. Once full, Cloud's speed will greatly increase on the ground, and his already impressive aerial maneuverability will be slightly buffed too. His attacks will also do slightly more damage, though their knockback remains the same. While this status doesn't last forever (the charge can fade after 20 seconds), it can be used to great effect. If an opportunity presents itself, Cloud can also unleash a Limit Break version of any of his special moves, granting them additional features and power at the expense of depleting his Limit Break meter. Players have to learn Cloud's advantages and disadvantages, and when to find the opening to use the Limit features in order to maximize results. Cloud has two normal jumps and the ability to wall jump.
==Moveset==
===Basic Attacks===
*Neutral Jab- Cloud performs a three hit combo consisting of a side kick, followed by a roundhouse kick, and then finished with an outward slash with his Buster Sword.
*Side Tilt- Cloud hits and inward slash with the Buster Sword. Comes out very quick and is a reliable KO option at higher percentages.
*Up Tilt- Cloud performs an overhead swing with his sword. The hitbox extends slightly behind Cloud and the attack has decent launch power.
*Down Tilt- Cloud slides along the ground with a baseball style dropkick. This move will send Cloud forward a short distance.
*Dash Attack- Cloud thrusts the sharp edge of the Buster Sword forward. The move has a lingering hitbox, and does more damage if it connects when it first comes out.
*Grab & Pummel- Cloud has an incredibly short range grab. He pummels with a quick knee strike.
*Forward Throw- Cloud performs a somersault dropkick to knock foes away. Only KOs at high percentages.
*Back Throw- Cloud moves behind the opponent and hits them with a reverse spin kick to knock them backwards.
*Up Throw- Cloud spins through the air and hits a 540 degree kick. Cloud's most damaging throw, though its basic utility is in combo setup.
*Down Throw- Cloud slams the opponent onto the ground with one hand, popping them back behind Cloud.
*Neutral Air- Cloud delivers a circular slash with his Buster Sword around his entire body.
*Forward Air- Cloud briefly pauses and then delivers a powerful downward swing with the Buster Sword. The blade has a sweetspot in the middle that can meteor smash opponents at the beginning of the move.
*Back Air- Cloud turns around and swings his Buster Sword up behind himself with a powerful knockback slash.
*Up Air- Cloud thrusts the sharp end of his sword straight above his head, holding it parallel to the ground. Has a lingering hitbox.
*Down Air- Cloud thrusts his sword straight down towards the ground. The move can spike foes in the early frames.
===Smash Attacks===
*Side Smash- Cloud quickly slashes his Buster Sword in front of him three times, with the third hit launching foes. The first two hits have no appreciable knockback, comboing into the third hit. Despite it being Cloud's most powerful non-Limit Break move, it has bad start and endlag, limiting its usefulness somewhat.
*Up Smash- Cloud performs an overhead slash with the Buster Sword, beginning the hit in front of himself and then swinging the blade up. Has good coverage for an up smash, especially in front of Cloud, but does far more damage and knockback at the beginning of the move.
*Down Smash- Cloud crouches down and stabs the hilt of his Buster Sword forward, before following up with a reverse thrust with the blade of the sword behind himself. The back thrust has far more launching power and damage than the initial hit.
===Special Moves===
*Neutral Special: Blade Beam- Cloud swings his Buster Sword in front of himself, causing a crescent-shaped wave of energy to travel in front of himself. It is stronger if used on the ground, and loses strength the further it travels from Cloud. Despite it being slow, it has a large hitbox and is one of his most effective distancing tools. If empowered by Limit Break, the green energy will instead be blue, travel much faster, and will deliver a seven hit combo to anyone it impacts before launching them away.
*Side Special: Cross Slash- Cloud slices the air in front of himself, leaving a small slash mark there. If it doesn't hit an enemy, the attack ends. However, if the attack connects, then players can followup with 4 more slashes (spelling out the kanji for "bad luck"), with the fifth and final slash doing good damage and moderate knockback to opponents. The move is a good punishment tool up close, but is vulnerable to shields as none of the slashes do much damage to them. If empowered by Limit Break, then the five-hit combo will happen automatically, doing far more damage and having more launch power. However this version can easily miss if not timed correctly.
*Up Special: Climhazzard- Cloud jumps straight up into the air with a slash attack with the Buster Sword. At the apex of the jump, players can press the special button again to perform a downward slash attack along a similar trajectory. As an attack, it does decent damage and comes out quickly enough to be a bit of a surprise attack. However as a recovery move, it is severely limited due to its lack of horizontal movement and difficulty snapping onto ledges. The Limit Break version remedies this somewhat, as the vertical ascent is greatly enhanced, rising you to above the main platform of most stages from just above the bottom blast lines, though it doesn't enhance the knockback of the move or enhance the downward strike at all.
*Down Special: Limit Charge/Finishing Touch- Pressing down special at a normal time will cause Cloud to assume a defensive posture and charge his Limit Gauge, gathering energy. It takes roughly 6 seconds of total charge time to fully charge the gauge in one go, though dealing and receiving damage will also charge the meter. However, Cloud is vulnerable and unable to move while charging, forcing players to shield cancel if they need to enter a more advantageous spot. Using down special when the Limit Gauge is fully charged will unleash the Finishing Touch, which is a swirling tornado of energy that only does 1% of damage, but has tremendous knockback and KO potential even at mid-percentages, though it does have endlag if it misses.
*Final Smash: Omnislash- Cloud swings his Buster Sword up directly in front of himself. Anyone hit by the sword swing will be sent skyhigh, where Cloud will deliver several slashes with his sword before charging a final slash, slamming them down to the ground (and dealing collateral damage to anyone on the stage caught in the crossfire) and launching them as the Final Smash ends. If Cloud is wearing his Advent Children alt costumes, then the move will be referred to as Omnislash Ver. 5, but there are no appreciable differences between the moves.
===Miscellaneous===
*Entry Animation- Cloud descends from the sky and catches the Buster Sword with a flourish.
*Idle Animation 1- Cloud pulls the Buster Sword back and rubs the back edge of the blade.
*Idle Animation 2- Cloud briefly holds the Buster Sword directly in front of himself with both hands.
*Side Taunt- Cloud performs his magic casting stance from Final Fantasy VII, complete with a slight aura glowing around him.
*Up Taunt- Cloud twirls the Buster Sword around twice and then places it over his shoulder, commenting in Japanese "I'm not interested."
*Down Taunt- Cloud leans on the Buster Sword while scoffing at his opponents.
*Victory Animation 1- Cloud twirls the Buster Sword with one hand and then places it on his back, saying in Japanese "No Hard Feelings."
*Victory Animation 2- Cloud slashes with the Buster Sword, turns away from the camera, and then says in Japanese while placing the sword on his back "Better Luck Next Time."
*Victory Animation 3- Cloud dashes onto the screen, slashes with the Buster Sword twice, and then assumes a fighting stance while saying in Japanese "You cannot defeat me."
==How to Unlock==
Cloud can be unlocked any of the following ways:
*Play Versus Matches until he randomly shows up as a "Challenger Approaching" fight. Defeat him to unlock him.
*Score at least 10 KOs in a single match on either the Midgar or Northern Cave stages.
*Unlock him in the Finale of World of Light by defeating him.
*Pay 1,000 gold in a shop where he can randomly appear (though rarely.)
Category:Super Smash Bros. Characters
Category:Super Smash Bros. (series)
Category:Smash Plus Characters