Help With FFVIII

[meprim]

I've been having trouble in various parts of the game, reading around got me some results about keeping low levels, winning card games and junctioning high level spells

Now I'm currently up to the part of the game where Balamb Garden crashes into Fishermans Horizon. I'm barely doing over 100 damage per hit, Quistis and Squall are the only two party members with over 1000hp and I was wondering: what can I do now? I've no longer got enough cards to duel anyone (i wasn't aware the card game was important so i never bothered trying too hard) and everyone is level 13 - 20 at the moment. Is there any advise on how to better my situation?

[martin_cross]

You've got some good advice there, but winning card games alone won't do you many favours. The idea is to refine those cards in to decent items/magic that can be junctioned to your characters.

You either don't have very good magic - due to refinement/using GF abilities - or you are not junctioning the right spells to the right spots.

The easiest way to do this is just select Auto (Att/Mag/Def). Att will prioritise strength and Def will prioritise HP. Curaga works well with the latter, which you can get heaps of by using Quezacotl's(?) refine skill. 1 Tent = 10 Curaga's i think.

[joshuacolyn]

The only way you can get more cards other than playing is from Quetzacotl's CARD abiliy. Some enemies give a card like Ifirit did, but rarely. The critters need to be near death before you can use the CARD ability and turn them into cards. I do not believe you get exp or ap by doing this. Before you play a card game. Save. There is a save point usually (not always) near a game player. If it looks like you are going to lose, quit and then retry again. In beginning the Ifirt, Caterpillar and T-rex cards help a lot

If you have a lot of fish fins from the beach near where blamb was. They can be refined into 20 water with Shiva's Ice refine which junctions well with strength for awhile. Learning mid-mag refine from Queztcotl can turn your cure/fire/blizzard into second level "RA" cura/fira/blizzara. Tornado works well with HP too.

Always draw 100 of each new spell you find for each character your using. Whenever, I go to a new area I for go storyline and run around outside (if possible) fighting to see what new spells are available. That is me though. Yes, some are rather useless after awhile, but that is for you to figure out.

Another thought is to start over. You are not that far from beginning and now you know kinda what to expect. For me, I will spend a long time (hours) outside Balamb in the beginning before going inside the cave to fight Ifrit. Drawing 100 of each spell, fighting fish on the beach (They give 10 AP per battle) to learn as many GF abilities as possible. I am usually lvl 8-10 by the time I have decided to go into cave and continue on wth story. By doing this you have given yourself enough of a lead in levels, junctions and a couple decent GF abilities to progress easily.

[Diabolicus]

Honestly, I did not understand what you're talking about, you can not do what? Do not play the "Triple Triad"?

[fffreakyyy]

Use the card ability you can find it with your first GF Quetzacotl.....! :) you can get crads with this ability just use it on the monsters turn them into cards. !

[Purplefairy22]

Call me silly, but have you learnt the GF ability STR-J?

• Shiva
• Ifrit
• Brothers
• Pandemona

can all learn this ability. You should have these GF's by this point.

You do not have to play cards doing so often lowers your SeeD rank.
You can refine items into magics using GF abilties

1. T Mag-RF (Quetzacotl)
   • 1 M-Stone > 5 Thunders
   • 1 Magic Stone > 5 Thundara
   • 1 Wizard Stone > 5 Thundagas
2. F Mag-RF (Ifrit)
   1 M-Stone > 5 Fire
   • 1 Magic Stone > 5 Fira
   • 1 Wizard Stone > 5 Firaga
3. I Mag-RF (Shiva)
   • 1 M-Stone > 5 Blizzard
   • 1 Magic Stone > 5 Blizzara
   • 1 Wizard Stone > 5 Blizzaga

Other items refine too e.g 1 Bomb Spirit > 100 Firagas

Another helpful tip is learn sirens and carbuncles ST Atk-J

• Requires Diablos ST Mag-RF ability

• 1 soft @ 100 gil = 3 breaks (buy 33 softs @ 3300 gil > 99 breaks) can petrify most targets instantly