FF8 REMASTERED: Blue Magic Guide

This guide will show you how to obtain every Blue Magic skill in Final Fantasy 8 REMASTERED.

Intro

Final Fantasy 8: Blue Magic Guide


This guide will cover:

• Locations of enemies that can drop/steal Blue Magic items
  
• Cards that can be turned into Blue Magic items using the Card Mod ability
  
• Items that can be refined into Blue Magic items using the Tool-RF ability

You will need the following GF skills:

• Card (learned from Quezacotl)
  
• Card Mod (learned from Quezacotl)
  
• Tool-RF (learned from Siren)
  
• Mug (learned from Diablos)

NOTE: This guide is a reproduction of my original Blue Magic guide which can be accessed here
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=325234209

CHANGE NOTES:

• References to "Blue Magic Master" steam achievement removed
  
• Blue Magic spells now have individual tabs for navigation
  
• Images of Blue Magic spells have been added
  
• Added section about Mug support ability

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Blue Magic

In Final Fantasy VIII Blue Magic is limit breaks that are learned by the character Quistis throughout the game from various items. In the previous Final Fantasy game Blue Magic was referred to as Enemy Skill. In Final Fantasy VIII Quistis is the only character that can learn Blue Magic spells.

Quistis can learn Blue Magic spells throughout the use of specific items. A Blue Magic spell can only be used when Quistis has reached her limit break. Initially Quistis comes equipped with the Blue Magic spell Laser Eye which fires an eye beam at the enemy.





Importantly:

• Enemies with the same element as the attack will absorb the Blue Magic. (Ex. Ruby Dragon will absorb fire breath.)
  
• Bad breath's status changes may not effect some monsters.
  
• Shockwave Pulsar is the strongest attack.
  
• Degenerator is an instant kill to all monsters except Bosses, Cactuar, and Tonberries.

Blue Magic spells can be obtained by:

• Dropped by defeating an enemy in battle
  
• Stolen from an enemy in battle
  
• Created using the Card Mod ability
  
• Refining an item using the Toll-RF ability

There are a total of 16 Blue Magic spells that can be acquired throughout the game.

Example Video:

Card Skill

The Card ability turns enemies into Triple Triad cards. The transformed enemy usually turns into a card of itself. Some enemies have a 17/256 (6.6%) chance of rewarding a boss card instead. when an enemy is turned into a card AP and item drops, including card drops, can still be earned, but no EXP is awarded for carded enemies.



The success chance of carding an enemy is very low if they have full HP.

Highest Success Rate:
Enemies have a much higher rate of being turned into to cards when you reduce their HP down to about 5% to 10% of their total HP. Petrified enemies cannot be turned into cards because they considered a defeated enemy.

Example Video:

Card is learned by the GF Quezacotl for 40 AP. You can teach Card to any GF using the Gambler's Spirit item.

Card Mod Skill

Card Mod is an ability found on the menu that allows you to turn cards into items. You can utilize this ability to make items that Quistis can use to learn Blue Magic spells. This ability can be learned by the GF Quezacotl.

Cards that can be used for Blue Magic items:

Ultra Wave
1 Caterchipillar card turns into 1 Spider Web





LV? Death / Shockwave Pulsar
1 Tri-Face card turns into 1 Curse Spike
100 Curse Spikes refine into 1 Dark matter
* In the PSX version Siren must be level 100 to make Dark Matter
** In the PC version Siren doesn't need to be level 100 to make Dark Matter.


Degenerator
1 Gesper card turns into 1 Black Hole
1 Diablos card turns into 100 Black Holes




Aqua Breath
1 Fastitocalon card turns into 1 Water Crystal
5 Fastitocalon F cards turn into 1 Water Crystal




Acid
1 Gayla card turns into 1 Mystery Fluid





Gatling Gun
1 SAM08G card turns into 1 Running Fire





Fire breath
10 Ruby Dragon cards turn into 1 Inferno Fang





Bad Breath
4 Malboro cards turn into 1 Malboro Tentacle





Mighty Guard
10 Behemoth cards turn into 1 Barrier

Mug

Mug is a support ability the Guardian Forces Diablos and Bahamut can learn for 200 AP. When equipped, the Attack command is changed to Mug. This is the only ability that allows players to steal items from opponents, as there is no base Steal ability. If an enemy is mugged, it does not drop items after the battle.

Due to the level scaling system, most enemies actually give worse items when mugged instead of defeating them normally and obtaining item drops. For example, the Elnoyle at high tier (level 30+) drops Energy Crystals, but mugging from it only yields Moon Stones, same as the low tier (level 1-19) version.

The formula for Mug to steal is as follows:

{\displaystyle Mug\%=(MugDifficulty+(MuggerSpd/2)+1)/256*100}[1]
MugDifficulty is often 128 or higher, meaning a base Mug% of 50% or higher, which is further increased by the character's Spd. The enemies have four item "slots" in the game data and the item one obtains via Mug depends on which slot the character steals from. The lower slots contain common items, whereas higher slots usually contain better/rare items. If the character successfully mugs an enemy, the game decides which item slot's item the player gets by utilizing the random number generator (random value between 0 and 255).

If (rnd < 178) Slot = 0[1]
else if (rnd < 229) Slot = 1
else if (rnd < 244) Slot = 2
else Slot = 3

If the player has the Rare Item party ability in effect, the probabilities are modified. Since it's impossible to get a value higher than 255 on the random number generator, it's impossible to get an item from Slot 3 with Rare Item equipped, which means, counter-intuitively, Rare Item might prevent the player from obtaining the rarest items.

if (rnd < 128) Slot = 0[1]
else if (rnd < 242) Slot = 1
else if (rnd < 261) Slot = 2
else Slot = 3

World Map

If you are unaware of a specific area discussed throughout this guide, please consult with the world map (pictured below).

Laser Eye (Already Known)

Item: N/A
Drop From: N/A
Steal From: N/A
Location: N/A
Game's Description: Quistis fires an Eye Beam at an enemy.

Note: This spell is already known when you first get Quistis as a party member.

Ultra Waves

Item: Spider Web
Drops From: Caterchipillar
Steal From: Caterchipillar
Location: Balamb continent (Alcauld Plains), Esthar (Grandidi Forest)
Game's Description: Sonic waves rush around the field and hit all enemies.



Tip: Mug or defeat Caterchipillar at the forests of Alcauld Plains.

Note: Spider Web can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 Caterchipillar card.

Electrocute

Item: Coral Fragment
Drops From: Cockatrice, Creeps, Blitz
Steal From: Blitz
Location: Timber (Roshfall Forest), Obel Lake, Esthar (Grandidi Forest). Deling City (Sewer), Galbadia Garden. Centra Plains.
Game's Description: Bolts of Lightning rush around Quistis's body that strike enemies dealing Thunder damage.



Tip: Mug or defeat Cockatrice found in Galbadia-Montersou.

Note: Coral Fragment can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 Creeps card.

LV? Death

Item: Curse Spike
Drops From: Forbidden, Imp, Malboro, Tri-Face
Steal From: Tri-Face
Location: Tomb of the Unkown King, Esthar (Grandidi Forest). Esthar, Lunatic Pandora. Great Plain of Esthar. Balamb Garden (Mid Level), Deep Sea/ Research Center.
Game's Description: Casts Death on all enemies.



Tip: Defeat Forbidden found in Centra Ruins, or Esthar - Nortes.

Note: Curse Spike can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 Tri-Face card.

Degenerator

Item: Black Hole
Drops From: Gesper, Wendingo
Steal From: Gesper
Location: Centra Ruins (Excavation Site; w/Laguna), Lunatic Pandora Laboritory (w/Laguna). Timeber (Roshfall Forest), Galbadia Missle Base.
Game's Description: Eliminates an enemy from battle. Doesn't work on most bosses, Cactuar, Tonberry, Grat, Vysage, Lefty, Righty and Esthar Soldier (Terminator).



Tip: Mug or defeat Gesper during Laguna's 2nd Dream Sequence at the Excavation Site.

Note: Black Hole can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 Gesper or 1 Diablos card.

Aqua Breath

Item: Water Crystal
Drops From: Chimera, Fastitocalon, Fastitocalon F, Grand Mantis
Steal From: Fastitocalon
Location: Esthar (Kashkabald Desert), Ultimecia Castle. Great plains of Galbadia (beach), Galbadia (Dingo Desert). Galbadia (near beaches). Deling City (sewer), Centra Ruins
Game's Description: Fires a water wave at all enemies, dealing Water damage.



Tip: Mug or defeat Fastitocalon found in Dingo Desert of Galbadia (outside D-District Prison).

Note: Water Crystal can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 Fastitocalon or 5 Fastitocalon F cards.

Micro Missiles

Item: Missile
Drops From: Death Claw, GIM52A
Steal From: GIM52A
Location: Galbadia Garden, Centra Plains. Galbadia D-District Prison, Lunatic Pandora
Game's Description: Fires several missiles at an enemy that cuts its HP down depending on Crisis Level. Gravity-based attack.



Tip: Mug or defeat GIM52N found in D-District Prison

Acid

Item: Mystery Fluid
Drops From: Gayla
Steal From: Gayla
Location: Trabia Snowfield
Game's Description: Quistis hits an enemy with poison, inflicting various status effects, depending on Crisis Level



Tip: Mug or defeat Gayla found in Trabia - Bika Snowfields.

Note: Mystery Fluid can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 Gayla card.

Gatling Gun

Item: Running Fire
Drops From: BGH251F2, Iron Giant, SAM08G
Steal From: SAM08G
Location: Fishermans Horizon. Esthar, Lunatic Pandora, Deep Sea Research Center. Galbadia Missle Base
Game's Description: Quistis fires a wave of bullets at enemy. Physical attack.



Tip: Defeat Iron Giants found in Esthar City after getting the Ragnarok airship.

Note: Running Fire can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 1 SAM08G card.

Fire Breath

Item: Inferno Fang
Drops From: Hexadragon, Ruby Dragon
Steal From: Ruby Dragon
Location: Ethar (Grandidi Forest, Galbadia, Islan closet to Hell. Trabia Canyon, Deep Sea Research Center (Lab).
Game's Description: Quistis fires a wave of fire at all enemies, dealing Fire damage.



Tip: Mug or defeat low Levels Ruby Dragon at Island closest to Hell.

Note: Inferno Fang can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 10 Ruby Dragon cards.

Bad Breath

Item: Malboro Tentacle
Drops From: Malboro
Steal From: Malboro
Location: Great Plain of Esthar. Balamb Garden (Mid Level), Island Closest to Heaven
Game's Description: Inflicts various status problems, depending on Crisis Level.



Tip: Mug or defeat Malboro at Island closest to Heaven

Note: Malboro Tentacle can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 4 Malboro cards.

White Wind

Item: Whisper
Drops From: Adamantoise
Steal From: Adamantoise
Location: Dollet (hasberry Plains; beach), Ultimecia Castle
Game's Description: Restores the HP of all party members.



Tip: Mug or defeat Adamantoise at the shores of Long Horn Island.

Homing Laser

Item: Laser Cannon
Drops From: Belhelmel, Elastoid, Mobile Type 8
Steal From: Elastoid, Mobile Type 8
Location: Galbadia (Monterosa Plateau), Lollapalooza Canyon, Ultimecia Castle. Centra Ruins (Evacuation Site w/Laguna), Lunatic Pandora Laboratory (w/Laguna).
Game's Description: Quistis fires a laser at an enemy for high damage.



Tip: Mug or defeat Mobile Suite Type 8 at Lunatic Pandora

Mighty Guard

Item: Barrier
Drops From: Behemoth
Steal From: Behemoth
Location: Esthar, Great Plains of Esthar, Deep Sea Research Center
Game's Description: Quistis casts Shell and Protect on the party. Sometimes Regen, Haste, Float and even Aura are added.



Tip: Mug or defeat Behemoth on the Great Plains of Esthar after getting the Ragnarok airship

Note: Barrier can be created by using the Card Mod skill on 10 Behemoth cards

Ray Bomb

Item: Power Generator
Drops From: Blitz
Steal From: Blitz
Location: Galbadia Garden, Centra Plains
Game's Description: Quistis sweeps a laser across the battle field that blows all enemies into the air.



Tip: Mug Blitz at Centra - Khashalbald Desert. Make sure that Rare Item ability is not equipped, even though it is "very rare" item. There is only about a 4% chance to get this item when using Mug.

Shockwave Pulsar

Item: Dark Matter (100 Curse Spikes)
Drops From: Forbidden, Imp, Malboro, Tri-Face
Steal From: Tri-Face
Location: Tomb of the Unkown King, Esthar (Grandidi Forest). Esthar, Lunatic Pandora. Great Plain of Esthar. Balamb Garden (Mid Level), Deep Sea/ Research Center.
Game's Description: Quistis sucks all enemies up into the sky and they are blasted with a gravitational ball of energy. It is Griever's special attack. This is the only attack which allows Quistis to inflict more than 9,999 points of damage.



Tip: Mug and defeat Tri-Face in the Deep Sea Research Center until you have acquired 100 curse spikes.

Note: You have to use the Tool-RF skill on 100 Curse Spikes to make 1 Dark Matter.

Tool-RF Skill

The Tool-RF skill is used to make magic stones such as Ultima Stone or items like Tent. Tool-RF is learned from the GF Siren. In this case we are using it to make Dark Matter which can be used by Quistis to learn the spell Shockwave Pulsar.

You have to refine 100 Cursed Spikes to make 1 Dark Matter. There are no enemies in the game that drop Dark Matter. The fastest way to get 100 Curse Spikes is by Mugging Tri-Face Monsters In the Deep Sea Research Center and then turn them into cards so you can refine a cruse spike using the Card Mod ability.



* In the PSX version Siren must be level 100 to make Dark Matter
** In the PC version Siren doesn't need to be level 100 to make Dark Matter.

Leveling Siren Fast:
Experience is divided among all the GFs junctioned to each character. For example if you kill a monster that is worth 1000 EXP, each character will gain 1000exp, and each character's GFs will share 1000 exp. So if Squall has 5 GFs junctioned each of them would only get 200 exp. However, if Squall only has 1 GF junctioned it'll get the full 1000 EXP.

If you're just interested in leveling Siren as fast as possible you should make sure she's the only GF junctioned to someone so that she's not sharing EXP with any other GF.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are there any new Blue Magic spells in the REMASTED version of Final Fantasy VIII?
A: No, The core game is exactly the same. The enhancements are purely cosmetic.

Q: Are there any Blue Magic items that you can miss and never have access to again??
A: No, none of the blue magic items are missible. Laser Cannon, Power Generator, and Missile can be a pain to get - read: low odds of getting from random always-accessible enemies - if you pass up an easy source of them. Though note that you're *guaranteed* to get at least 1 Laser Cannon from the second to last boss of disc 3.

You can conceivably miss out on Dark Matter if you delete Siren's Tool-RF. Everything else is fairly easy to get: most, in fact, you can get as soon as you get Card Mod and do some card playing.


Q: Does Carding an enemy count as a kill?
A: Yes, it does. However, you will not gain any experience from carding and enemy.

Q: Does Siren need to be lvl 100 to refine 100 Curse Spikes into Dark Matter?
A: In the PSX version Siren must be lvl 100 to make Dark Matter. However in the PC version Siren doesn't need to be lvl 100 to make Dark Matter.

Credits

This guide was created by Sweet Tooth
http://steamcommunity.com/id/Sweet_Tooth85


Edited by ELKronos (AKA The Kronos)
http://steamcommunity.com/id/elkronos


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