Ever since the debut title on the N64 Super Smash Brothers has been a growing collection of all the most iconic (as well as a number of more obscure) characters across gaming. What started out as a celebration of Nintendo characters has only expanded through later releases to include characters from dozens of other developers and franchises. Starting with Snake and Sonic, one of the most surprising new characters that first arrived as DLC for Super Smash Bros. 4 was Cloud Strife, the iconic hero of Final Fantasy 7. Since Smash Ultimate launched with every character ever featured in the series up to that point, it left many fans eager to unlock their favorite spikey-haired swordsman as fast as possible. If you haven’t managed to unlock his spot on the roster yet, here’s how to unlock Cloud.

How To Unlock Cloud In Smash Ultimate

There are actually multiple methods you can use to unlock Cloud in Smash Ultimate. Depending on what you have done so far in the game, one may be easier than another. Check out all the ways to decide which one would work best for you.

Beating Classic Mode

Classic mode is a seven-round series of challenges — plus a bonus round — that’s capped off with a boss battle. It is a throwback to the single-player modes of the earlier titles, specifically Smash 64. But unlike Smash 64, in Ultimate each character in the game has their own specific Classic mode route that’s unique to them. Not only are the fights different, but so are the rewards. Depending on who you play as you will unlock new characters by beating it multiple times.

If your goal is to unlock Cloud, you will want to play the Classic mode as Samus a total of six times. All of the characters you can unlock playing Samus, in order, will be:

  • Inkling Wii Fit Trainer Pit Incineroar Dark Samus Cloud Wario Dark Pit

Vs. Mode

As you play more Vs. mode matches, you will eventually get a notification that a new challenger has appeared. These come up the more you play the game, and you can use this method to unlock all the characters if that’s the way you prefer to play. Just like Classic Mode, the characters you will get the chance to unlock come in a set order. Cloud will show up fairly late in this order. He’s the 55th challenger you will get, so if you haven’t unlocked many characters up to this point it may not be the fastest way to go.

The three characters that come before Cloud are Mr. Game & Watch, Robin, and Dark Pit, so if you have any of them then you know you’re close to getting Cloud to show up. Just make sure you win the fight against him!

The World of Light

Finally, there’s the World of Light Adventure Mode. Again, just like in the Vs. Mode method, Cloud won’t show up until late in this mode. He will appear once you make it to the Zelda style dungeon in the Sacred Land. This is likely the mode you’ll want to complete first in the game anyway, so it might make the most sense to unlock him here.