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The Beginning
Enemies: (Training Center only) Grats, T-Rexaurs
At the beginning just watch the cinema and when Squall wakes up you are given a chance to customize your name. The default is Squall. Now Dr. Kadowaki calls your instructor, Quistis, and she comes to the infirmary to get you. Now all you have to do is keep up with her as you walk down a hallway to Squall’s class. When you get there she informs the students of the SeeD Field Exam to be held later that day. After this she calls Squall to the front of the class. You learn that, to be in the SeeD Field Exam, you must pass a prerequisite. You must go to the Fire Cavern East of Balamb Garden and capture the G.F. known as Ifrit. Quistis tells you to meet her at the front gate when you are ready. Before you meet her there are a few things you should do. You bump into a girl going to the classroom you were just in and Squall informs her that homeroom is already over. She will ask you to give her a tour. If you want a tour of the Garden yourself, except. On the way down the hall to the second floor elevators there are two people. The first one you come in contact with will give you seven cards. The card game Triple Triad is in FF 8 to take your mind off the game when you have some free time. There are also some side quests involving cards. It’s all covered in the Cards and Side Quests sections of this guide. When you get off the elevator on the first floor walk up to the big board in the middle of the intersection of halls. That is where Squall shows the girl the sections of the Garden. After that, head to the right. The first section you’ll come to is the library. There is a hidden magazine in the second bookshelf and a draw point in another area at that bookshelf. Next, go to the training area. There you can level up and draw spells to assist you in defeating Ifrit, but the spells here won’t be very good against him so just draw from the Blizzard draw point. Also, watch out for the T- Rexaurs which have a ton of HP and take off upwards of 200 HP with each attack. Now you can do whatever you want to until you decide to leave the Garden. When you’re done playing around meet Quistis at the front gate and don’t forget to draw Cure from the draw point on your way out.
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The Fire Cavern
(Over world) Enemies: Bite Bugs, Glacial Eyes, T-Rexaurs, Caterchipillars, Fastitocalon-F’s
(Fire Cavern) Enemies: Ifrit (Boss), Bombs, Red Bats, Beuls
When you get out of the Garden, if you think you’re ready then go straight to the Fire Cavern, which lies to the East of Balamb Garden. If not then here are the things you should do to prepare you. First go to Balamb, the city to the south of Balamb Garden. There are a couple of useful draw points here. There is a Thunder draw point and a Cure draw point. The Cure draw point is a tricky one. Go to the edge of the dock behind the Balamb Hotel and press (x). Also play some cards and build your deck. If you play enough there is a way to get a powerful weapon for Squall at this point in the game. Play until you get these cards:
Ÿ T-Rexaur (2)
Ÿ Hexadragon (3)
Ÿ Geezard (3)
Once you do, go and learn Quezacotl’s Card Mod ability. When you go into the menu go to abilities and choose Card Mod. This ability allows you to change cards into items. Card Mod the T-rexaurs, Hexadragons, and Geezards to get 1 Dino Bone, 1 Red Fang, and 12 Screws. Then go to the weapons upgrade shop in Balamb and the Twin Lance will be in there. Congratulations! If you have enough Gil you can get your Gunblade remodeled in to the third strongest weapon for Squall! To get Quistis’s next best weapon get and refine 2 Beul cards and 1 Grand Mantis card. Then you can get the Slaying Tail. Next go to the beach and find two Fastitocalon-F’s which give you six AP per battle. They also drop fish fins, which can be modified to 20 Water spells each with the Ice Mag RF ability. This makes it really easy to get 100 waters for all of your characters. When you finally get 100 waters junction them to your stats. I would go with HP, but my next two choices are Strength and Magic. Run around and get into some fights with Bite Bugs and Glacial Eyes. Bite Bugs can be found anywhere on the Balamb continent but you have to be near the mountains to fight a Glacial Eye. Draw scans from Bite Bugs and Blizzards from Glacial Eyes. You should be around level 10 or 11 now and if you are, you’re ready for the Fire Cavern. It’s not really hard. Most of the stuff I had you do was really for the SeeD Field Exam. If you’re beefed up, when the Garden Staff asks you to choose a time limit, choose 10 min., if not, choose 20 min.. Now all you have to do is run through the Fire Cavern. Ignore the Fire draw point on you’re way in, you’re being timed. When you get to the strip of land surrounded by lava then you should equip any magic you’ve forgotten because the battle is on the next screen.
Boss: Ifrit
HP: 1,068
AP: 20
Exp: None
Weak: Ice
Strong: None
Absorbs: Fire
Elemental: Fire
For this Boss and GF, start off casting blizzards and Shiva. This battle goes on your SeeD report and before you say “Well then, I better beat him as quickly as possible,” that’s not the case. The case is, the less time you have left on the clock when you defeat Ifrit the better. Here’s where the scans come in. Scan him after every two attacks. When his HP gets around 100 STOP USING MAGIC AND GF’S. Just use regular attacks and when the clock gets around 30 sec. left, whip out Shiva and some Blizzards. With any luck, you’ll end up with about 10 seconds left which is good enough for a 90 on your SeeD Rank. When you win this battle, you get a G-Returner, Ifit’s card, 20 AP, and Ifrit becomes your GF.
On your way out don’t forget to draw from the Fire draw point and draw some more Fires from the enemies in the Fire Cavern. Now you can head back to Garden or head towards the train tunnel beside Balamb, which houses a hidden Esuna draw point. Esuna heals all status effects. Another thing you should do is learn SumMag+10%, 20%, 30%, and boost. When at Dollet for the SeeD Field Exam you will fight a mechanical spider called X-ATMO92. He is weak against Thunder. There’s a way to get 400 AP at that point so have your GF’s learning there best abilities.
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SeeD Field Exam
(Dollet) Enemies: Galbadian Soldiers, Anacondors, Geezards, Elite Soldiers, Biggs (Boss), Wedge (Boss), Elvoret (Boss)
When you get back to Garden, save your game in Squall’s Dormitory and then change into your SeeD uniform. After this head down to the main hall to meet your squad members. Much to Squall’s dislike, Seifer is the Captain of your squad. Your other squad member is Zell Dintch. Although Seifer will only be in your party for a short time only, Zell will be in your party for the rest of the game so take this time to get used to controlling him. Now you will go to Balamb harbor to get in a sub-like vehicle, which is your transportation to Dollet. There, Xu will brief you on your mission. After the briefing you will arrive at Dollet. Now is the time to equip Zell and Seifer. Don’t use GF’s in normal battles though, because your SeeD rank will go down. Only use them on the upcoming bosses. Make your way through Dollet fighting a few mandatory battles until you get to the City Square. Once there, talk to Seifer a couple of times and he will tell you that you are going to the facility on the hill. Zell objects because you were specifically assigned to the City Square, but Squall, stubborn as always, chooses to follow the orders of the captain. Zell will give in and come with you. On your way up the hill you will encounter a couple of wounded soldiers. When you get to the top of the first screen you will encounter another wounded soldier who tells you to be careful because that place has always been a nesting ground for monsters. After he tells you this, he is taken into some bushes by a monster and you will have to fight it. This one is an Anaconduar and is the strongest non-boss monster you’ve faced thus far. Seifer’s limit break seems to be available often so use it at every chance. Cast magic with Squall and Zell. When you beat it continue up the hill. You will reach a cliff looking down onto the facility. The party will spy on some Galbadian soldiers and Seifer runs off to fight them. After he runs off A messenger girl from Squad A will arrive with a message for Seifer because he is the squad leader. She will join your party in the place of Seifer. She will also have all of the same GF’s and magic junctioned. When given a choice, don’t jump down the cliff. Doing that will take points off your SeeD rank. Go up the elevator in the facility after drawing some blinds and saving your game. DO NOT FORGET TO SAVE! What you are about to do may take more than one try so if you don’t want to start the SeeD Field Exam over, save your game here. Once up the elevator there’s a CG cinema and then talk to Major Biggs, a really weak boss.
Bosses: Biggs, Wedge, and Elvoret
Biggs:
HP: 705
AP: 4
Weak: None
Strong: None
Absorbs: None
Elemental: None
Wedge:
HP: 640
AP: 4
Weak: None
Strong: Poison
Absorbs: None
Elemental: None
Elvoret:
HP: 1563
AP: 10
Weak: None
Strong: All
Absorbs: None
Elemental: None
After you take away all of Biggs’ HP it is completely restored and his partner, Wedge, joins the battle. After you taken away all of their HP combined, even if you only attacked one of them, they are swept away by a sudden gust and the real boss battle begins. This boss is Elvoret. His best attack does 100+ damage to all allies. If you did all of the things I told you to do at the beginning of the game then you should have about 600 HP and this will be a cinch. Draw and cast double on your entire party and cast your best magic with all characters. And also, don’t forget to draw Siren from Elvoret. Siren is a new GF. Draw and cast doubles on your self and use any second or third level magic you may have. Don’t waste your time with first level magic. Use your Limit Breaks when they become available. When you defeat Elvoret you will receive two Elixirs, two Cottages, three G-Returners, and Weapons Monthly March.
Now you have 30 minutes to return to the beach. Seems easy enough. It’s not as easy as you think.
Remember when I told you about that mechanical spider, X-ATM092? If you got your Quezacotl buffed up like I told you to, quickly equip your highest AP demanding abilities because you can get 400 AP. You’ll lose some points toward you SeeD rank by fighting it but if you fight it seven times before you get to the bridge and then fight it at the bridge for the eighth time you can completely destroy it but you’ll miss one of the coolest cinemas in the game. The choice is yours, but if it was me I would play through that part twice to see the cinema and get the AP. You also get a SeeD rank boost if you completely destroy it. Here’s X-ATM092’s stats:
Boss: X-ATM092
HP: 5072~5770
AP: 50
Weak: Thunder
Strong: Poison
Absorbs: None
Elemental: None
There’s basically only one thing you can do. Cast Quezacotl, cast Quezacotl, cast Quezacotl.
When you get back to Balamb, Seifer steals the Garden car so you have to walk back to Garden, but don’t go yet. Go to the train station if you haven’t already and there you can find the first Timber Maniacs. There is also a Thunder draw point in the middle of town that should have regenerated by now. Now you can play some cards, rest at the Hotel, train, save, or anything you want to do. It’s kind of like your reward for working so hard. If you haven’t already and if you can, remodel your weapons. At this point I had the Cutting Trigger for Squall, the Slaying Tail for Quistis, the Maverick for Zell, and the Morning Star foe Selphie. This is without fighting and playing cards frantically to get the items needed to remodel. Doing that, I had the Twin Lance for Squall, Red Scorpion for Quistis, the Gauntlet for Zell, and the Crescent Wish for Selphie. Use that as a guideline for how good you are.
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The Results
Enemies: None (N/A)
When you get back to Garden, meet up with Quistis, Cid, and Xu in the main hallway, then head to the right. There you will find Seifer. He tells you some stuff then Xu and Quistis arrive, and Cid shortly thereafter. Now, go up to the 2nd Floor Hallway and talk to everybody then you just wait. In a moment a Garden Staff member will call out two names: Zell Dintch and...Squall from squad B ( I don’t know why they don’t just use his last name, Leonheart)! Now, you are escorted to Headmaster Cid’s office. There, he will give everyone a different congrads. Talk to Cid after the others have left to get a battle meter. After this you will recieve your SeeD Report. There are five catogories: Conduct, judgement, attack, spirit, attitude. This SeeD Report will determine your initial; SeeD Rank and everything I’ve had you do should count in your favor. In SeeD Rank, anywhere from a 5 to an 8 is average, but if you want to really good, go for a 10 or higher. Do this by:
Ÿ Having the least time possible on the clock when you defeat Ifrit
Ÿ Behaving yourself around Garden
Ÿ Talking to no one on the SeeD Field Exam
Ÿ Killing your enemies as fast as possible without using GF’s
Now, back at your dorm, go into your room and change. Now talk to Selphie. After the party, Quistis asks you to meet her at the back of the Training Area in the secret section. Go back to your dorm and get changed again, then rest up. Now, head towards the Training Center. There’s Quistis. Now, just go to the back. There, Quistis will tell Squall that she is no longer an instructor. Now, go back. On your way back, you hear someone scream. You rush over to them and the girl recognizes you. Before you have a chance to question her, you find out why she was screaming.
Boss: Granaldo and Raldos
Granaldo:
HP:1314~9700
AP:3
Weak:Wind
Strong:None
Absorbs:None
Elemental:Flying
Raldos:
HP: 111~6700
AP: 3
Weak: None
Strong: None
Absorbs: None
Elemental: None
First, draw and cast sleep on Granaldo. Once you get him asleep, take out the Raldos. They should just sit there while Granaldo is asleep. Now, take out Granaldo with magic and Limit Breaks. This boss is pretty easy.
In the morning, check the desk in Squall’s new room to find Weapons Monthly April. Next, head to the front gate for your first mission. Your first mission is to assist a rebel faction in the town of Timber called the Forest Owls. Cid will give you a password so the faction can recognize you. It is “But the owls are still around.” Be sure not to forget it. Before you leave, talk to Cid again. He will give you the Magical Lamp. Before you use this item make sure you’re prepared for a hard battle. When you finally do use it, you’ll enter a battle with the G.F. Diablos. This battle is quite hard.
G.F. Diablos
HP: 1600~80,000
AP: 20
Weak: Wind
Strong: None
Absorbs: None
Elemental: Flying
Begin this battle by drawing and casting Demis on Diablos. When he gets you down to your limit breaks, use them with two players then heal with the third. After that, continue to draw and cast Demi on Diablos until the spell loses its strength. Then use physical attacks or use your strongest magic. When you defeat Diablos, you get Diablos as your newest G.F. and you also get his card.
Now go to Balamb and get on the train. During the train ride you get a Pet Pals Vol. 1. After a minute the party starts feeling funny. You fall asleep and start dreaming. You’re Laguna, a soldier in the Galbadian army. You’re running through the forest with your buddies, Kiros and Ward. Just get to the end of the trail and there’s a vehicle. You drive it to Deling City, where you have a couple of drinks. You work up your courage and try to talk to the girl you like, Julia. You’re just about to make your move when your leg cramps up. Your lucky though. After Julia’s performance, she comes over and talks to you. She asks you to meet her at the Galbadia Hotel later. After that you just go to the hotel. You’ll talk for a while then fall asleep. After that you’re needed at the battlefield so you take off. When you wake up on the train it seems everyone had the same dream. No time to worry though, because you’ve got a mission.
When you get to Timber give the correct password and follow the man to your train. Once they introduce themselves, Zone and Watts send you to wake up the “Princess.” Walk to the very back of the train and save on the way if you need to. When you get to the back you see a familiar face. It’s the girl fro the SeeD ball, Rinoa Heartilly. Meet her dog, Angelo, then take her to the front. You’ll enter another room and be told the plan. You’re to kidnap the president. The plan consists of the following steps:
1. Catch up to the 2nd escort car and sneak onboard.
2. Proceed cautiously across the roof of the 2nd escort car.
3. Proceed across the roof of the president’s car.
4. Uncouple the 1st escort car.
5. Have the dummy car and your team move in after uncoupling the escort car.
6. Uncouple the 2nd escort car.
7. Escape with the presidents car.
If you do what Rinoa says on the missions they should be no problem.
More to come...
