Final Fantasy 8

Guardian Forces Introduction

GFs are the returning summons from the previous FF series. Generally, there are a lot of differences between them. GF stands for Guardian Force and it is a common abbreviation used in the game.

Differences between the previous series

GFs have statues just like your characters. They can level up just like your characters in gaining EXP and they can acquired AP to learn abilities.
Summon GFs does not requires MP. There is no MP required to summon GFs. Instead, the GF's stats will overlap the character's stats, taking the Elem-Def-J and ST-Def-J from the character and also withstand from the enemy. Summon GFs require time and you need the blue ATB bar drop to zero (or empty) and GF will be summoned. Once GF's HP have drop to zero, the summon will be canceled.
GF obtain methods can varies... such as defeating them, acquired them by meeting requirements, draw them from Bosses.
GFs are the strength of your characters as they gave your characters other abilities beside the Attack command.

Frequently Asked Questions About GFs

I have forgetten to draw a GF, is there a way to get it back?
Yes. But you can only get it back in Disc 4, from either one of Bosses in Ultimecia's Castle. Of course, you have to unlock Draw, otherwise it is useless. Refer to Disc 4 Walkthrough: Ultimecia's Castle in Part I.

Why I don't see Card Mod-RF in Quezacotl's Ability list?
You must obtain its prequisite in order to get its secondary ability. I have expanded the list section, just accompany this purpose. Refer to the abilities lists and description for more information. There are also certain cases that results lost of an ability:

Case #1
You may eliminate the Ability/its prerequisite through using an Amnesia Greens.
For this case, I can't help ^_^; Have to restart. You may need to try to use another GF Item to replace that. As far I know, GF menu and item refinements have no replacements.

Case #2
You may use a GF Ability Item to cover up one of 22 slots.
In this case, just use an Amnesia Greens to eliminate one of abilities so that, there is available space for the ability to "grow" on it. [is there a better word?]

I have sold the Magical Lamp, is it possible to get it back?
Well, I'm not sure about this. But I myself believed that it is possible to get GF Diablos from one of following Bosses: Mobile Type 8, Seifer, Adel, Sorceress [the final one] or Sphinxaur. Just keep a look out for either one of them. If you have a Pocketstation, maybe there will be a chance that you can get this item. [dunno, as I don't have a Pocketstation]

How to I get GF Doomtrain?
You need to get the requirements: 6x Steel Pipe, 6x Malboro Tentacle, 6x Remedy+ (requires GF Alexander's Med LV Up, or Pocketstation) and of course, the Solomon's Ring. Refer to GF Bestiary for more information

Is it possible to GF Griever?
I don't know. But most likely it's not. There is a rumour regarding Occult Fan III [Magic Issue], that you need 666 items to get this GF, the ring shown in the picture is actually the Solomon's Ring and 666 stands for "Steel Pipe""Malboro Tentacles""Remedy+". [it may be a piece of displeasing news ^_^;]

How do I get Mog Amulet and Proof of Friendship?
Don't ask me about this.. These items can only be gotten through the Pocketstation. I am still trying to figure other methods.

How do I boost a GF?
Check the Boost Section. Or here is in-the-game help [provide you have the Battle Meter]:

Tutorial -> Information -> Abilities -> GF Abilities -> Boost

Feel free to post other questions. I am already quite sick about the above mentioned questions…

Introduction

------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                      No.  Name of GF
          __________________________________________  1.   Quezacotl
         | Name of GFs                              | 2.   Shiva
         |  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  | 3.   Ifrit
         | |   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   | | 4.   Siren
         | | 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8 | | 5.   Brothers
         | |___||___||___||___||___||___||___||___| | 6.   Diablos
         |  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  ___  | 7.   Carbuncle
         | |   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   ||   | | 8.   Leviathan
         | | 9 ||10 ||11 ||12 ||13 ||14 ||15 ||16 | | 9.   Pandemona
         | |___||___||___||___||___||___||___||___| | 10.  Cerberus
         |__________________________________________| 11.  Alexander
                                                      12.  Doomtrain
                                                      13.  Bahamut
                                                      14.  Cactuar
                                                      15.  Tonberry
                                                      16.  Eden

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Typically, it just like the ASCII Art shown above. The GFs slot will be occupied by the GF, once you have acquired it. GFs can be found during your journey. To ensure no difficulties in getting them, take a look at the walkthrough and follow the instructions there and you should have no problems. Most GFs can obtained through drawing from Bosses, so it is best to have Draw Command equip GFs.

The GF Status Screen

------------------------------------------------------------------------ _______ _______________________________________ | Photo | Quezacotl |Status P1| | of | LV. 1 | HP-J Complete! | | GF | HP 300 / 300 ||> Vit-J 0 / 50 AP | |_______| | Mag-J 0 / 50 AP | | Magic Complete! | Total EXP: 5,000 P | GF Complete! | EXP needed: 250 P | Draw Complete! | | Card 0 / 40 AP | | Mag +20% 0 / 60 AP | | GF HP +10% 0 / 40 AP | Learning | SumMag +10% 0 / 40 AP | Vit-J | Boost 0 / 10 AP | 10 / 50 AP | T Mag-RF 0 / 30 AP | |_______________________________________|

Which GFs have them?
Here is a brief explanation of GF Status Screen. Quezacotl, Shiva, Ifrit, Siren, Brothers, Diablos, Carbuncle, Leviathan, Pandemona, Cerberus, Alexander, Doomtrain, Bahamut, Cactuar, Tonberry and Eden are the sixteen obtainable GFs and have this status screens. GFs such as Moomba (via Pocketstation), MiniMog (via Pocketstation), Chicobo, Odin, Gilgamesh and Phoenix do not have this screen. As for unattainable GFs such as Griever and Tiamat, you can't have them in your bestiary.

What are Abilities?
Abilities are skills that allows GFs to learn to enhance besides summoning it. There are six major classes and here are a summary of what each of them does:

Command - allows your character to have commands besides attack. All the first 16 GFs have the four basic commands: Item, Magic, GF and Draw. There are also other commands such as Card, Darkside, Absorb, Devour, etc. Each commands have different effects, so it's your option to test them out.

Junction - under the Junction screen you will see that you can could make use magic to boost up a character's statistics through Junction. But in order to junction magic, you must have an ability for that junction. E.g. You must have Str-J in order to junction magic to Str.Elemental Combos and Status combos can be done using junction abilities such as Elem-Atk-J or Elem-Def-J, ST-Atk-J or ST-Def-J.

Character - these abilities are rather hard to obtain. These abilities allows you to have add-ons such as Str + 20%, Mag +40%, HP +80%, etc. There are also some special abilities such as Auto-Haste, Auto-Shell, Mug, etc. These skills are pretty hard to mastered due to its high AP Consumption [of course, not as exaggerating as AP requirements for the Materia in FF7.]. They can be equipped under the Ability section where you could equipped commands. Most GFs have 2 abilities to equip. Except for GFs with Ability x3 and Ability x4. Well, the abbreviation seems a bit clear, therefore no explanation ^_^;

GF - Abilities meant for GFs.. There are typically three types, SumMag, GF HP and Boost. GF HP is avaliable for all GFs. SumMag is avaliable for GFs with a summon attack that has a elemental or non-elemental, except support element (e.g. Reflect, Triple/Double). Boost is a pretty good ability.

Menu - A brand new innovation that has been included in this new epic RPG. The Menu ability allows you to do refinement of items and magic and some even allows you to call item shop and get discounts, sell for higher prices, etc. Ability menus for magic are quite good as some magic are very hard to obtained. One good example is Aura. Item refinement usually nabs you Medicine, Battle Items and GF Items.

Party - this ability can be activate through the same method for character ability. In fact it affects for the entire party. There are only four party ability in the game. Examples are Enc-Half [reduces encounter rate by half.]

How to learn Abilities?
Pretty simple. Just select the GF that you wish to learn a particular ability using X. Next you will have the status screen except you can't see abilities screen instead you will find red bars that shows compatibility of GFs for the characters. The higher the compatibility, the faster the GF will be summoned and the less crosses you will find during Boost. Press X once again and you will find the abilities page. Each GF can only acquired a maximum of 22 abilities. Certain abilities require a prerequisite in order to get the new ability. So refer to the GF bestiary to find out more. Just simply select the ability that you wished to learn with the cursor. Next gain AP in battles. Once the ability is mastered. A "Complete!" sign will replaced the requirements.

How to learn Abilities through using GF items?
Not that it is not advisable to use GF items immediately before you have gotten all GF abilities. Otherwise, you will not be able to obtain some of GF abilities. To undo the wrong, just get Amnesia Greens and use it on a GF and forget the ability that you have just added. Remember that abilities that you have forgotten, can't be gotten back! Also have an additional save file before you attempt to do this. Note that you can't have the two of same ability. Example: you can't have two SumMag +30% and this applies for any other abilities.

Generally, there are a lot of problems regarding GF's HP. The Quezacotl's maximum HP does not reached 9999 HP at Level 100 as due to its low EXP requirements to level Up. GF Eden can easily get 9999 HP at the level of 56 with GF HP +10% ~ 40% learnt and it has a higher EXP level compared a full EXP level Quezacotl. Certain GFs take ages to level up. Bahamut and Eden are great examples of these.

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