Final Fantasy VIIÂ is one of the most popular games of all time and Cloud Strife, the hero of the game, is one of the popular characters in Final Fantasy history.
He is a very powerful warrior and it seems like nothing can stop him, not even his rival, Sephiroth. His Buster Sword allows for him to take on multiple enemies at once with some powerful strikes. Plus he is pretty quick with his attacks considering his weapon is large and heavy. His Limit Break Omnislash is one of the powerful attacks in the Final Fantasy series. Though Cloud is one of the most powerful characters in the series, there are some Final Fantasy heroes that can beat him in a fight.
10 Warrior AKA Warrior Of Light From Final Fantasy 1
The first hero of the Final Fantasy series and leader of the Cosmos Warrior in the Dissidia Final Fantasy games. Warrior of Light might not seem like anything special at first glance, but do not underestimate him. In Final Fantasy I, he has basic Warrior-class abilities and seems plain. The Dissidia games shows fans see just how powerful he really is. In Dissidia 012, he fights off a whole army of manikins, beings that are crystallized clones of the heroes and villains. Warrior of Light is a well-balanced warrior that can fight in close and mid-range combat and has some support spells in his arsenal. Cloud might have the strength, but Warrior of Light has the endurance, dexterity, and experience against enemies just as strong, if not stronger, than Cloud.
9 Bartz Klauser From Final Fantasy 5
Bartz is a carefree adventurer with a deadly set of skills. Don't mistake his easygoing personality as a sign of weakness. In Final Fantasy V, he can change into a lot of Jobs that range from being a black mage, monk, and dancer. His stats depends on the Job he is at the time. In the Dissidia games, he is able to use the Cosmos Warriors' weapons which add onto his innate versatility. His strength won't be as high as Cloud's, but he does have the speed, the combos, the versatility, and can even use Cloud's own weapon against him.
8 Terra Branford From Final Fantasy 6
She might seem like a meek and quiet warrior, but Terra Branford is one of the strongest characters in Final Fantasy. A strong mage that can use powerful spells like Meteor, Graviga, Tornado, and Ultima. Once Terra goes into her Esper form, she becomes deadlier and her magic power goes through the roof. Her spell execution is faster and her physical attacks with her claws are just as deadly as her spellcasting. Cloud will have physical power and speed on the ground, but Terra outclasses him in magic power and with her being able to float at will, she can keep combat at a mid-range distance.
7 Squall Leonhart From Final Fantasy 8
He doesn't have enhancements like Cloud, but Squall is a warrior who has been training most, if not all, of his life to fight. He went to a school that taught him to take on warriors, sorceresses, and powerful god-like beings like the Guardian Forces. Squall is a master at using his Gunblade and has powerful close-range combos that once he starts one, there's no stopping him. His Limit Break Lionhart is also one of the best attacks in Final Fantasy history and can match Cloud's Limit Break Omnislash.
Cloud will outclass in terms of physical power, but Squall is no slouch. To help with his close-range combos, he has a small arsenal of mid-range spells that can help him throw Cloud off balance and give him the edge.
6 Zidane Tribal From Final Fantasy 9
Zidane is one of the most cheerful and lovable heroes in the Final Fantasy series. Compared to Cloud, he is short and small in body build and stature, but he's a lot powerful than what some might think. He is a quick on his feet and is one of the best fighters in aerial combat. Cloud is experienced in aerial combat as well, but Zidane's speed and attacks are far deadlier once the fight leaves the ground. Zidane can fight in both close and mid-range combat. His attacks will ensure that the fight goes to the air where he excels.
Once he goes into Trance, he is one of the most powerful characters in the Final Fantasy series. All of his stats are raised and he can jump higher and faster than Cloud. With his skills and speed, Zidane can easily take on Cloud and defeat him.
5 Tidus From Final Fantasy 10
One of the fastest warriors in Final Fantasy history. In Final Fantasy X, Tidus didn't have much power to start off with, but his speed allowed him to have a few turns to attack before an enemy could. In the Dissidia games, his speed is still his best asset. Tidus is able to dodge attacks easily which allows him to counterattack with fast, deadly combos.
His Overdrive Blitz Ace is a very powerful attack in his arsenal. This move does so much as damage against a single enemy that defeat is inevitable. Whether it's on the ground or in mid-air, Tidus's speed is a lot greater that Cloud's and that's what could give him the edge in a fight.
4 Shantotto From Final Fantasy 11
One of the most powerful black mages in the Final Fantasy series, Shantotto is a woman with some serious magic power and she knows it. She can chain her spells into devastating attacks, get through anyone attempting to block them, and can bind enemies in their place. Lacking physical power, her magic power is more than enough to give her an advantage over Cloud, who relies more on close-range combat.
Even if Cloud gets close to her, Shantotto is pretty agile and is even quick enough to match Tidus and Onion Knight, two of the fastest characters in the Dissidia games. Shantotto has lived a long time, is an experienced war veteran, and can penetrate any defense Cloud puts up to protect himself against her spells.
3 Lightning From Final Fantasy 13/13-2/Lightning Returns
Before becoming a goddess, Lightning is a pretty agile fighter that has a balance of physical and magical power. She's able to fight from a distance using her gunblade as a firearm or using spells like Ruinga or Thundaga. Her gunblade also allows her to fight up close with quick combos. She can even use spells to heal herself. Her fighting style makes her a pretty versatile fighter.
Her magic skills work well with her physical attacks, stunning enemies long enough for her to attack and get some combos in. Even before receiving her goddess powers, Lightning was able to match up against Sephiroth in the final battle cutscene in Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. With her goddess powers, the battle can easily turn in her favor.
2 Noctis Lucis Caelum From Final Fantasy 15
One of the strongest characters in the series. Noctis has been trained by the best warriors and can use just about any weapon given to him. His magic is pretty limited, but his physical power is more than enough to take on Cloud. He can phase through attacks and can warp around the battlefield. His warping abilities allow him to move around freely and help him build up power for warp-strikes. If this isn't enough to give him an advantage, his Armiger Unleashed Limit Break spells doom for any and all enemies in his way. His health recovery is so fast that any damage done to him will barely hurt him and his magic power is almost infinite. This is basically god-mode for him. With Noctis's stats boosted, attacking quickly, and using multiple weapons at once, Cloud doesn't stand a chance against him.
1 Ace from Final Fantasy Type-0
Ace is a warrior with powerful long-distance quick attacks. Ace's advantage over Cloud is having attacks that are fast even from a long-distance and can teleport anywhere he wants in combat. This means while he's not the best at the close-range combat, he'll be able to dodge most of Cloud's close-range attacks and any mid to long-range attacks.
Unlike most mages, Ace doesn't have to be stationary when casting his magic attacks and can move around freely while doing so. If this doesn't make him deadly enough, he also knows the Stop spell which can temporarily immobilize his enemies. This will give him more than enough time to either finish off Cloud or give him enough time to put some distance between them to recover.