I found cloud had a lot of drawbacks. First of all his skills are pretty powerful but they take for EVER, i even got quicken or whatever from a time mage for him, as well as giving him time majik so he could caste haste on himself, and it still took like 7 turns to cast omnislash. The biggest drawback though is he can only use his skills while holding his buster blade, which kinda sux stat wise... Finally his skills are based on magic rather than attack, so youve gotta give him a lot of magic increase stuff