A complete summary of Cloud’s performance in Super Smash Bros. 4 can be found on the character’s information page. It includes strengths and weaknesses, AI quirks, and an archive of tournament representation and results.
Stats & Bonus Effects
Without restrictions on equipment, Cloud is one of the best characters in the game. His best equipment setup heavily invests into Attack and Defense (+200 Attack / +120 Defense / -200 Speed) at the cost of Speed. In terms of bonus effects, Critical-hit capability, Hyper smash attacks, and Improved escapability are essential.
In the current Super Smash Bros. 4 metagame, Cloud cannot use certain equipment bonuses. As a result, his best equipment setup in most modern tournaments involves a balance between Attack and Defense (+60 Attack / +60 Defense / 0 Speed). In terms of bonus effects, Hyper smash attacks, Lifesteal, and Improved escapability are essential. As with all downloadable fighters, Cloud does not have any custom moves.
Recommended Training
An amiibo becomes strongest if it is mirror matched all the way to Level 50. This is done to teach the AI which moves to rely on; after reaching Level 50, it will use this training as a base and expand upon it with matchup experience. While training your amiibo, do not play aggressively or go off-stage; instead, remain grounded and keep the following moves in mind:
- Neutral options: jab, forward tilt, and down tilt (Sliding). Cloud’s jab and tilts are unarguably his best way to rack up damage quickly, with his jab coming out extremely fast and his tilts having a good mix of speed and power. For Cloud’s tilts, emphasize on his down tilt – it works almost like a dash attack and is his best move out of his fantastic arsenal of tilts.
- Main KO moves: forward smash (Triple Buster), up smash, and limit side special (Cross Slash). Cloud’s forward smash is a reliable kill move that has a high damage output and knockback, and thus should be utilized. Up smash is great for catching your amiibo if it jumps above you, and should be used just as much. And while Cloud isn’t the best at aiming his Limit Break Cross Slash, it’s a much better option for killing than his Limit Break Blade Beam. Try your best at hitting your amiibo with it.
- Moves to avoid: neutral special (Blade Beam) and up special (Climhazzard). Cloud painfully spams Blade Beam to no end, which is a bad option since with this problem he’s more prone to wasting his Limit Break on this move. Cloud also uses his up special, Climhazzard, onstage as an attack, but more often than not he doesn’t use the second hit of it to safely land back on the ground. Avoid these two moves like the plague.
- Situational moves: down special (Limit Charge). Though Limit usage is Cloud’s biggest flaw, it wouldn’t help at all to not have him manually charge it during breathers. Charge the Limit Gauge when there is a good distance between you and your amiibo.
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