I don't know why I feel compelled to share the different viable builds in this game.
Cloud Sword's Cloud Hit effects go off as long as the previous card was Cloud Sword. The character I was on (Yan Xue) has Cloud Sword - Avalanche as a unique card, but otherwise you can see all the cards for a default build here: Flash Wind consistently lets you play two cards a turn with its Chase effect. Moon Shade builds up Increase Attack stacks that charge up your multi-hits with Step Lightly and Dragon Roam.
It was just very unfortunate for my final opponent that they went all in on the Earth Spirit defense-stacking strat and thanks to Cloud Sword - Necessity I did not remotely have to care. As long as the chain doesn't get broken the "Every successive "Cloud Sword"" counter keeps ticking up and the Avalanche hit bypasses their carefully built-up Defense.