Cloud is a pretty strong lightning damage dealer with high attack and a lot of strong offensive abilities with decent range.
His unique main job provides many incredible things, starting with his passive, Ex-SOLDIER 1st Class, already giving him 60 defense piercing rate, which can become 110 if used with Oldoan Apron. These 2 things alone give him the ability to shred just about anyone. While he doesn't actually have Slash resistance piercing, Cloud can get around this either by using missile attacks from ranger sub-job, or through Blade Burst from Soldier(FFVIIR) sub-job, a pure Lightning type attack.
Then his signature weapon, the Buster Sword, gives him a lot of beefy stats to make him hit hard. If you are not yet convinced, his Triple Slash+ is a guaranteed hit triple slash area attack with mid-range that is ALSO guaranteed critical... and it costs 16 AP.
Lastly, he has a unique area buff, SOLDIER's Honor, that gives AP whenever the affected units gets a critical. It only gives 10 AP, and getting multiple criticals through multiple hits or area attacks won't increase this amount.
Destroys any barrier that reduces Phys Dmg & significantly lowers Critical Evasion Rate of target for 3 tunrs, then deals Dmg (L).
Effect Type
Physical
Attack Type
Slash
Element
Thunder
AP
43
UseLimit
1
Max Effect (at Lv.20)
Dmg: 200%, Critical Evasion Rate: -50
Range Height
1
Area Height
0
Master Ability
Master Ability 1
Lightning Unit Allies' Max HP +10% / Lightning Attack +15, own Area Attack Res +10 / Critical Hit Dmg +5%
Master Ability 2
Own Slash Attack Res Piercing Rate +20
Dream Ability
Own HP +15% / Reaction Block Rate +50 / Mega Slash Skill Upgrade: Deals Dmg (M) to targets within area around self with high chance of Critical Hit & raises Slash Attack Res Piercing Rate.