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Being above to revive his allies is a big plus. Revival - Given the defensive upgrades of the Iron Blade, Cloud may well be your last party member standing in some tougher fights.Healing - Cloud can provide solid support with this weapon's upgrades.Fire, Ice, Lightning - With the Iron Blade's magic-based upgrades, having Cloud shoot off a spell every now and then is recommended.The Iron Blade is a great choice if you want Cloud to be more of a tanky character with magic support, while still dishing out decent physical damage. Strengths: Another good all-round weapon for Cloud, but with more of a focus on defence and magic. Location: Given to you near the beginning of the game, can't miss it. Less damage and more ATB from blocking is a benefit that should not be sniffed at if you're always fighting enemies face to face. Steadfast Block - A great fit for Cloud regardless of his weapon.Parry - With the Buster Sword, Cloud is already a fine all-round fighter, but Parry materia gives him an extra defensive edge when things get tough.HP Up - HP Up is always useful for any character, especially if they're on the front lines.Elemental - Elemental materia isn't always useful depending on the enemy that you're facing, but it can help Cloud fulfil a damage dealing role if you're up against a foe that's weak to certain elements.Healing - With the Buster Sword, Cloud shouldn't be your primary healer, but he can still support his allies with a healing materia equipped.Fire, Ice, Lightning - Any elemental spell materia is a good fit here in order to cover weaknesses.If you want Cloud to be your front line fighter, capable of dishing out good damage while also casting magic here and there, you can't go wrong with the Buster Sword.
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Its upgrades lean towards physical attack power, but overall, the Buster Sword allows Cloud to fulfil a number of different roles thanks to the wide range of stat boosts that it provides. Strengths: A solid all-round weapon for Cloud.
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