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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Cloud Strife got his Buster Sword from Zack Fair. Zack had already been carrying it, and he passed it to Cloud after his final stand. The sword’s earlier owner was Angeal Hewley, Zack’s mentor, so the full chain runs Angeal, then Zack, then Cloud.
The direct answer: an inheritance from Zack
Cloud did not find, buy, or win the Buster Sword. He inherited it from Zack Fair. Square Enix’s official Zack Fair character page states that Zack received his iconic Buster Sword from the operator he trained under, and that he later returned to Midgar with a mako-poisoned Cloud. Cloud took the weapon when Zack’s story ended, which is why the sword is tied so closely to their friendship.
Who held the sword before Zack
The earlier owner was Angeal Hewley. In the backstory told in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-, Angeal was the SOLDIER who trained Zack, and Zack received the sword from him. Zack was therefore the immediate predecessor, while Angeal was the prior wielder. The sources reviewed for this article do not establish how Angeal himself first obtained the weapon, so that part of the sword’s history should be treated as unknown.
| Holder | How the sword changed hands | Where the story is told |
|---|---|---|
| Angeal Hewley | Prior wielder; origin of his possession not stated in the sources reviewed | Backstory in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- |
| Zack Fair | Received from Angeal, the operator he trained under | Square Enix’s Zack Fair character page; Crisis Core |
| Cloud Strife | Inherited from Zack after Zack’s last stand | Crisis Core backstory and the wider Final Fantasy VII story |
Where the handoff fits in the story
Square Enix presents Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- as a prequel centred on Zack. Its official Final Fantasy Portal describes Cloud as befriending Zack, a SOLDIER First Class, while accompanying him on assignments. That friendship is what gives the sword’s transfer its weight: Cloud does not simply pick up a weapon, he takes over the symbol of a man he admired.
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For readers who want the earlier context, Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion is the current version of that prequel. Check the platform and edition you plan to buy, and confirm current availability with the publisher or your retailer, since storefront listings change.
Buster Sword collectibles
If you are looking for a physical version of the sword, Square Enix announced a Cloud Strife BRING ARTS figure packaged with the Buster Sword in a July 20, 2022 press release, with a release announced for November 2023. That announcement is historical. It does not confirm current stock, and it does not establish the availability of any particular retailer listing.
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How to describe the sword’s history accurately
- Say Cloud received the sword from Zack, not that he found or bought it.
- Say Angeal was the earlier wielder who passed it to Zack, and note that Angeal’s own acquisition is not established in the sources reviewed.
- Cite Crisis Core for the Zack and Cloud context, since it is the game that presents this backstory.
Square Enix’s September 13, 2020 retrospective on Crisis Core also traces the sword’s origins, which supports the chain above.
Quick Recap
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- Detailed Design: This Final sword made of the high-density foam material come with inner core makes the Axe not only strong, but also flexible and will not break and bend,
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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