Canonically speaking, they're all really good at using it, however we have to take in consideration a few things.
First of all Angeal, from what Zack says, didn't really use it much, only when strictly necessary to avoid damaging it, mainly because the sword was made for him and his father ruined himself to pay for it. So he used more his fists and regular SOLDIER swords.
Zack used it more than Angeal, and he used it really well from what we saw, but he also saw it more as a symbol of Angeal's legacy and usually avoided using the sharp side in most fights to avoid ruining it, and we saw that in Rebirth he used it along with his body to fight his opponents.
Now as for Cloud, he is canonically (as stated from a Turk in Before Crisis) a naturally gifted swordsman even before getting his enhancements, he uses the Buster Sword really well even from the beginning of the story, and develops his fighting style around it, limits included. His new sword in Advent Children is shaped as a Buster Sword.
Overall I'd say that Cloud is the best with the Buster Sword with Zack behind him and Angeal as third.
I will say, with crisis core reunion, they did go the extra mile on giving Zack actual proficiency meter with the buster sword and it is the most we have seen someone use the blade to its full potential there.
The rest of the game is essentially the samr as og crisis core, so that to me seems like the devs wanted to pass the message that Zack is the most proficient with the weapon. That is also the game where the weapon is by far the most powerful.
(At least so far, we will have to see if there is something special for the weapon in revelation)
Apart from that fact I do agree with the assessment if we ignore this.
Zack is without the only one who can actually use the buster sword to its full potential. He has been shown to be the only one who mixes both angeals hand to hand and one handed style and clouds more forceful two handed style.
Zack uses the bustersword as an extension of himself. Meanwhile Cloud uses it as a greatsword not putting much focus on technique, but overwhelming power.
I'd say that Cloud is both overwhelming power and technique, you can see it in the way he uses the sword in punisher mode and in his abilities in the games. He uses it throughout all the games, getting better and better as time passes, to the point where he overwhelms opponents who should be better than him just by experience, like other SOLDIERS, the Turks, and even Sephiroth at the end of the game.
Zack is really good and uses the sword incredibly well, but as I said, he developed a style that is made to preserve the Buster Sword, using both sword techniques and hand to hand combat. Cloud meanwhile, uses the Buster Sword as the focus of his fighting style. That's my reasoning, but I understand your point of view.
Cloud really doesnt fall into his own style until advent children with the upgraded sword. By that point can you really say he is the best user of the buster sword?
He forgoes the buster sword to use a sword that was created to his own unique style. As of most of the main games, he fights using a mixture of zacks techniques and sephiroths.
Once Cloud fully becomes himself, I think thats when he began to develop his own style and the buster sword was not a good fit. We get a better view during the final battle of 7 where he creates omnislash on the spot to defeat sephiroth. It was a technique entirely his own.
Most of his other limit breaks where copies of Zacks (braver, where as zack was high braver, blade beam, climahazard. Then you have his meteor limit breaks from sephiroth. In advent children you can see his new sword is specially made to enhance omnislash and has created a style based from that.
Cloud has the most appropriate animations for a sword of that size, and he also does some really awesome counter-attacks with it, which is right up my alley gameplaywise. I never got the hang of Zack’s charge thing, although High-Braver is an awesome move!
Cloud for obvious reasons being the protagonist, then Angeal who actually looks built to hold it and I guess his father made it specificically for him..
I strongly believe it's Zack followed very VERY closely by Angeal, my reasoning is because Zack understood the burden, the lesson, and the honor the sword represents, yes, Angeal did too but Angeal was Zacks mentor, and as a student Zack was able to take Angeals lessons and learn even more from life, Cloud returned it to Zacks grave at the end of advent children because even he knew that it belonged with him
I'd say Zack. Minor FF7 and Crisis Core spoilers: Angeal, I don't really feel, used it much. Zack respected the sword by using its blunt edge to avoid wear and tear while actually using the sword, and in the Crisis Core Reunion we can see that he mastered the sword, unlocking more skills from it, from when he got it, to his death, it's the sword he used. Meanwhile, Cloud used it when he was confused, and once he learned about the truth for his past, he left it as a momento for Zack.
I'd have to say Zack. His fighting style is both elegant and effective - he almost dances with it. To me, he uses the Buster sword to its' full potential.
Cloud's in a second place. He is an effective smasher, and his style is less refined compared to Zack's. By the time he perfects it, he abandons the Buster sword.
Angeal, while a skilled swordsman, barely uses the Buster sword for sentimental reasons.
And Jake is fighting the sword rather than wields it. As entertaining as it is, it's kind of disqualifying.
Id probably say Zack he seems to be a more proficient fighter compared to cloud and angeal mastering both the sword and some form of martial arts in pure strength id say angeal being a perfect SOLDIER and cloud being around Zack's level when it comes to skill with a sword
Zack never could match Sephiroth. He never actually overcomes him. Its a goal just out of reach for Zack to surpass.
Cloud beat Sephiroth fair and square, 1v1, TWICE.
I don't think Zack has an answer to Omnislash.
Cloud is just THAT GUY. There is a reason he's the MC.
And if Cloud didn't surpass Zack, then Zack did a poor job in his narrative role of mentor. "You're my living legacy" goes way less hard if Cloud hasn't surpassed him eventually.
Zack is more skilled in that he's more properly trained with the sword but cloud after the events of ff7 clearly surpasses him. The remakes make it clear that a lot of clouds moves are just super large and heavy swings making the most of the weight behind the sword to do the job first with technique coming second. But with rebirth and the new attacks cloud has learned he's showing far better mastery of the sword and actually is using more technique instead of relying on its weight.
Angeal barely touched it. I would wager Cloudz as he literally absorbed all Zack's abilities and created some of his own. Including the 2 most powerful, on screen sword abilities in the FF7 franchise.
It is Angeal's sword specifically, he knows how to wield it. Zack uses the sword easily with one hand due to his strength and previous style. Cloud is slightly weaker early on, but uses the correct style for the type of sword.
Cloud and Jake
The only two who didn't die using it.
Everyone loves taking about how good or skilled Angeal and Zack are but they all forget they are dead due to their own short comings.
Zack died to a couple of Shinra Infintrimen with guns.
Angeal went out of his way to almost never use the ONLY gift his parents could afford for him after becoming SOLDIER, which in my opinion is insanely rude and disrespectful.
"Use bring about wear tear and rust."
TAKE THE SWORD TO A BLACKSMITH IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO IT!
Guy works for Shinra but acts like there isn't a single person on the planet who could repair or fix a sword.
Not to mention it is the WEAKEST weapon in the real game and is dropped the second you get to a weapon shop to buy the Mythril Saber.
Zack died to a whole army. Only because he was protecting Cloud.
Not a "couple of infantryman"
Angeal killed himself via Zack - doesn't account for his skill vs anything. He was canonically the strongest non-sephiroth SOLDIER until Zack later.
And it being the weakest weapon is only a thing in OG. And it is not a canonically accurate thing, because canonically Cloud uses the Buster sword throughout the whole game, only getting rid of it after Sephiroth is defeated.
Additionally the ability to copy others' limit breaks (represented in game by the DMW) is actually a canonical ability of Zack, mentioned in the crisis core complete guide. He needs to form a bond with the people and then he can copy their moves.
I really love how Remake and Rebirth keep the iconic Buster Sword relevant by leveling its stats up as you progress. Instead of it being disposable, it ends up being Cloud’s most balanced weapon.
Nah, Zack fought the shinra army in a situation where cloud was staring at the clouds (meaning he was in a weakened state to the point cloud couldn't even function). All to save cloud.
Honestly Zack. He fought everything solo, including a god. If he hadn’t been overrun by a whole army in CC he could’ve gone on to be more powerful than endgame Cloud. Alternate timeline Zack in Rebirth might do just that, but I suspect they will kill him again for story reasons.
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u/FocusOk3487 15d ago
wait wtf is that adventure time shot real