Cloud Matchups

**SLKrn108** · 07-17-2011 04:03 AM

Hmm I want this thread alive again since it was so useful to so many Cloud players out there.

How does Cloud fare against Laguna?
I haven't fought any Laguna mainers at all and I was curious to know how to approach this matchup. I can tell it would be similar to fighting Kefka with the occasional fast close range pokr

**Reikou** · 07-17-2011 03:18 PM

I've faced one Laguna so far in my entire time playing DDFF. While he wasn't that bad, he wasn't that great either, kept trying to "surprise me" with Satellite Beam, which ended up being his downfall.

In the end, it's not that bad of a matchup, since most of Laguna's moves require range, if you stay on top of him, Cloud will be able to just push through most of Laguna's brv moves.

**Balguna** · 07-17-2011 03:24 PM

No proper Laguna should be spamming Satellite Beam in the first place. You're betting off using Homing Bazooka/Ragnarok Blade mixups and using Pummel or Shotgun to set up Assists.

That said, I don't think Cloud has too much trouble against Laguna. Firaga can handle Electroshield and Laguna doesn't have many other options to keep Cloud from getting in close and aggresive. Laguna's a slow Assist builder too. You're in more trouble in enclosed areas where Laguna can set up Ricochet Shots, but an aggresive Cloud player doesn't leave Laguna with too many options aside from Pummel and Electroshield.

**Dart** · 07-18-2011 01:17 AM

My experience vs. Laguna is very limited, but I know enough to contribute to the matchup discussion. When fighting a grounded Laguna Meteorain will work wonders in this matchup. If Laguna tries to setup an Electroshield, Meteorain will punish. If you can figure out the spacing of Ricochet Shot, Meteorain will punish as well. This by all means will not be your only options vs a grounded Laguna, I just don't have enough experience in this matchup to contribute anything more.

So, now you've forced Laguna into the air. This is right where Cloud wants him. Depending on Laguna's aerial moveset, Cloud can be very aggressive chasing him down, and not really worry about anything too dangerous. The one thing that will stop Cloud's aerial assualt is Electroshield, which an experienced Laguna player should have equip (vs Cloud). Without it, Laguna shouldn't even be thinking of fighting Cloud aerial or he will learn the hard way.

**Kit** · 07-23-2011 07:22 AM

That's good it seems like Cloud can handle just about everyone in dissidia duodecim. Although Sephiroth, Ultimecia, and Exdeath have the advantage x.x.Not even gonna mention Feral >_>.

**RDFMASTER** · 07-23-2011 07:39 AM

Spoiler:

Meterorain will not work that much because spam it is asking to get punish by assists. Just be careful about it. I am really lazy to give details about this match up; however, I can said it is kinda hard

. Here is a gameplay of how the match up looks like @ 7:25:

Spoiler:

**Dart** · 07-23-2011 03:11 PM

Very nice match RDF, and that Vincent Mod is lookin' fly! Anyway, what I meant about Meteorain was the ground version. You didn't use it once! Yes, it gets assist punished, but you could say that vs all his matchups. That Laguna player didn't use his assist once outside of escaping your attacks.

Cloud vs Laguna I would use the ground setup of Double Cut, Climhazzard, and Fire. When you have Fire, you can do so much more with your moves. It gives a distraction for Meteorain, sets up Climhazzard, and much more but we all know this already. It seems as if Aerial Fang will take the benefit in this matchup.

Laguna had Electroshield aerial, a good choice which is why it made it hard to close the gap. It seems as if Aerial Fang is more usefull in this matchup than Rising Fang. Still, much testing needs to be done on my end of it, but I just never see anybody use Laguna.

**flipclips** · 07-23-2011 11:24 PM

Well i always figured firaga would make better use than fire for the laguna matchup not only can it provide a wall for the sniper the other 2 fireballs can go behind the electroshield. meteorain spam isnt gonna help punish but instead get you punished. Aerial laguna isnt really gonna be difficult since his only move thats useful would prolly end up being pummel alot of people use his missile attack thing and can get assist punished easy during that. As for a build i'd prolly recommend an EX build against laguna to cut through his shield easily. inb4imwrong =P lol also RDF nice match and sick texture bro XD

**Dart** · 07-24-2011 07:14 AM

Originally Posted by flipclips

meteorain spam isnt gonna help punish but instead get you punished.

Just one thing, I never said Meteorain spam. I said Meteorain will work wonders in the matchup, with other strategies involved. I'm a little confused as to why you guys are downing Meteorain, it is still a great move paired with auto assist lock, you just have to know when to use it. It seems its automatically assumed that the opponent will always have an assist.

**Cookies** · 07-24-2011 08:48 PM

I haven't had a great deal of experience against Laguna's (only 1 or 2 good ones) but I agree with Dart. Meteorain is pretty handy, and the fact that, as Balguna stated, Laguna builds assist slowly helps make it safer. He won't always have an assist available and Meteorain helps when he doesn't.

I think a quick thought about stages should be mentioned. From my experience even with ricochet shot he is outclassed pretty easily in small spaces (particularly PT, but also Pandaemonium to an extent) with Fire or Firaga and (ground)Meteorain. I think the match-up is very slighly more even in bigger areas, due to Laguna's range and weakening of Cloud's pressure game(probably wrong choice of words, I just mean Fire/aga and meteorain), but you shouldn't be letting him get to a safe distance enough to make a difference.