Final Fantasy VIII – Playstation 2

Final Fantasy VIII - Platform: Playstation 2

No random battles
-----------------
Use the following methods to never have any random battle outside of towns:
rent a car for 3,500 gil, walk on train tracks, walk on paved roads, or get
Diablos' No Encounter ability.

Free Potions
------------
You can get free Potions in Timber Town. Get Rinoa in the party, then go to
the bridge where you saw the guards. Keep returning until a man appears. 
Talk to him, then talk to him a second time to receive a Potion. Leave the 
screen and return until he appears again and repeat.

Easy Ability Points
-------------------
Go to Cactaur Island and earn 20 AP for each Cactaur that is defeated in
battle. Cactaur Island is the small island covered by a desert.

Easy Experience Points
----------------------
Display the world map and travel to the left-most island. It contains
powerful monsters that can easily level up your characters after battles.

SeeD written test answers
-------------------------
After the assault on Dollet, a "Test" option will become available. Use the
following answers to the corresponding test level to answer all questions 
correctly and raise Squall 's SeeD ranking. The higher Squall 's ranking, 
the more cash he will receive each pay period.

Seed level Answers
--------------------
1 Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, N, N
2 Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N, N
3 N, N, Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, N
4 N, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, N
5 N, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y
6 Y, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, Y
7 Y, Y, Y, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N
8 N, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, Y, N
9 N, Y, N, N, N, N, N, N, Y, Y
10 Y, N, N, N, N, N, N, N, Y, N
11 Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N, Y, N, N, Y
12 N, Y, N, N, Y, N, Y, N, Y, N
13 Y, N, N, N, Y, N, N, N, N, N
14 Y, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, Y, N, Y, N
15 Y, Y, N, N, N, N, N, Y, N, Y
16 Y, N, N, Y, N, Y, N, N, Y, N
17 Y, N, N, N, Y, N, N, Y, N, N
18 Y, N, N, N, Y, N, N, N, N, N
19 Y, N, N, Y, N, N, N, N, N, Y
20 Y, Y, N, Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, N
21 Y, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y, N
22 N, N, N, Y, N, N, N, Y, Y, N
23 Y, N, N, N, N, Y, Y, Y, Y, Y
24 Y, Y, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, N, Y
25 Y, N, Y, Y, Y, N, N, Y, N, N
26 Y, Y, N, Y, N, Y, N, Y, N, N
27 N, Y, N, N, N, N, Y, N, Y, N
28 Y, N, N, Y, Y, Y, N, Y, N, N
29 N, N, N, Y, Y, N, N, N, Y, N
30 N, Y, N, N, N, N, Y, N, N, N


Hints:
------
By Dark_Reaper

Unlockable: Trophy Games
In the Phon Coast there are three "shady bangaas". Once you've found them go up 
to the bangaa up top behind the "shady bangaas". He'll tell you to got hunt a 
trophy game, I forget his name, but the bangaa will tell you. He'll also tell 
you how to flush it out of hiding. Follow his instructions, and you'll be fighting 
that rare game in no time.
Dispel the game first before charging in to kill him. Buff up your main attacker 
with Haste, Berserk, and Bravery and leave him alone. when he gets low on health, 
use a Curaga spell on him. With this tactic, the rare game will fall easily.
After defeating the game, you'll receive a key item called a "Shelled Trophy". 
Bring that to the bangaa. CONGRATULATIONS! you've now unlocked all trophy hunt. 
(it's Under Rare Game in the bestiary).

Hint: Spirit Salamander 
You can find him in the Northern section, Central Junction section, or Ogir-Yensa 
Sandsea, during sunny weather.

Hint: Survive in the Beginning
After you complete you first hunting mission for the Renegade Tomato, don't bother 
go after that dinosaur you see in the distance. He's not bothering you, and he's 
stronger than you. He'll kill you quickly. Just go back to the city.

Hint: Zodiac Spear Insurance
If you plan on getting your hand on this, most powerful weapon in the game, DO NOT 
open the barrel that sit directly across from Dalan's door. Apparently it's linked 
to four other chests in the game that must remain closed until you have the 
opportunity to acquire it in Nabudis.

Hint: Gambit Advice
When it's time to equip those gambits, it's best to assign a "healing ally" gambit 
as your first priority. You may think getting the hits in first will get rid of 
enemies quicker, but you'll never make it if their health get too low, too fast.

Hint: Sky Pirate's Den Figurines

Ashe ... Awarded for having the average party level over 50. 
Ba'Gamnan ... Awarded for completing the hunt catalog. 

Balthier ... Awarded for attacking 300 times. 
Basch ... Awarded for killing 500 foes. 
Belias ... Awarded for obtaining every esper. 
Carrot ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Carrot. 
Chocobo ... Awarded for walking 50,000 steps. 
Crystal ... Awarded for obtaining every character's magics. 
Daran ... Awarded for completing every map. 
Death Gaze ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Death Gaze. 
Devil Dragon ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Devil Dragon. 
Fafnir ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Fafnir. 
Fran ... Awarded for using magic 200 times. 
Gabranth ... Awarded for initiating every fusion technique. 
Gilgamesh ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Gilgamesh. 
Gurdy ... Awarded for using/spending 1,000,000 gil. 
King Behemoth ... Awarded for defeating the monster, King Behemoth. 
Larsa ... Awarded for mastering every character's license board. 
Migelo ... Awarded for selling 1000 loot. 
Mimic ... Awarded for obtaining every rare bazaar goods. 
Montblanc ... Awarded for attaining (monster) chain level 50. 
Penelo ... Awarded for getting 100,000 gil. 
Reks ... Awarded for earning 500,000 clan points. 
Trickster ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Trickster. 
Ultima ... Awarded for defeating the esper, Ultima. 
Vaan ... Awarded for stealing 50 times from enemies. 
Vayne ... Awarded for using techniques 100 times. 
Vossler ... Awarded for obtaining every character's techniques. 
Yazmat ... Awarded for defeating the monster, Yazmat. 
Zodiac ... Awarded for defeating the esper, Zodiac. 

Hint: Respawning Barrels
Find any item barrels around the Save Crystal, open the barrel to get the item, save 
your game now, then quit the game and load it back, go to the same place will see the 
barrel is still there, you can get another random item.

Hint: Infinite Chains
It is very simple, in such places as the Yensen Desert or the airship where you rescue 
the princess Ashe, you can just take your time in the maze-like passageways and wander 
around without leaving the area and the same type of monsters will spawn, heal after 
every battle and continue until you have chains going up to 300.
When you get back to town you will hae enough items to become very rich as well as 
attain levels, it is a good idea that wherever you find these points you use them to 
the fullest potential.

Hint: Yagyu Darkblade
While in the Lhusu Mines, far into the game, or at the Gilgamesh Mark Hunt, go to the 
bridge that is pointing South-West (or South-East). It's a diagonal. Anyway, enter 
and re-enter in a few times until you see a black Bomb (Bullitt) appear. Kill it, 
and you'll have a chance of getting the Yagyu Darkblade (called the Yagyuu's Onyx 
in the Japanese version).
You cannot go here until the get the Area 11 key, which is conveniently located in 
the Phon Coast and the Hunter's Camp, somewhere around one of inhabitants (look for 
the sparkiling object on the ground). Note: you must have done the Antlion mob first.

Hint: Gambit Hint
I might have overdone this, but it sure works with minimal time and effort. First 
equip everyone with spears, barbuts, iron armor and argyle armlets. This will give 
you maximum power/speed ratio. If you do not have the money nor LP to do this, go 
just west of the Sandsea Moogle in the the Sanscale Bank and you will find enemies 
called Alraune. Kill them all, go back to to the moogle and 1 screen east.
This makes the monsters respawn and takes a little time, go back and kill them again. 
Steal succullent fruits and maces from them (set gambit) and they also drop succulent 
fruits very often. The maces sell at 900 gold but these fruits sell at 363 each and 
you can quickly build up 99 of of the fruits since you ccan respawn them quickly. If 
you want to keep the combo up, when you have 99 succulent fruits, flee all the way 
back to the merchant without touching a save crystal, sell them all for 35,937 gold, 
flee all the way back to the Alraunes and repeat the process as needed.
Set all gambits to attack nearest and heal manually. Start with the people that do not 
have quickenings in case they get ejected from battle (with a little luck it will be 
Vossler) And use all quickenings at the end if needed. For higher level characters, 
just attack and you should even have time to steal. All my guys were level 17 – 20 and 
I had a little difficulty until Vossler was ejected instead of one of my party members, 
then it was easy.

Hint: Paramina Rift Experience Exploit
In the Paramina Rift there is a great place go get a great deal of EXP quickly and 
easily. Go to the Spine of the Icewyrm (check your map) and there are two Twintanias 
and about three Garuda-Egis. The Twintanias alone drop between 600 to 750 EXP a piece.
When finished (or if you get low on health) retreat to the Path of the First Fall and 
use the save crystal. Save an reload the game so the the beasts respawn. This is a great 
way to grind out some levels before going into the Stilshrine of Miriam.

Hint: Airship Sidequest For Ring of Renewal
If you talk with the Chief Steward on your first airship flight you get the option to 
participate in a sidequest.
You get the item "Ann's Letter" and have to deliver it to her six sisters who are chief 
stewards on other airships throughout Ivalice.
You cannot finish this side quest until you can access the port of Balfonheim's Aerodome. 
If you complete the quest, you get the ring of renewal which gives you 6 defense, 5 magic 
resistance, and regeneration.

Hint: Yiazmat Battle
1. Armor of choice high defense and magic defense such as cirlet , robe of lords , 
grand armor , grand helm and etc.
2. Weapon - best choice dark element weapon such as Yagyu Dark blade and other high 
attack power dark element.
3. Techniques - use Expose to lower Yiazmat defense.
4. Characters with high strength and speed. Vaan, Basch, Balthier, Fran are strength. 
Vaan, Penelo, Fran, Ashe are speedy.
5. Accessories - power armlet strength +2 anti stop, - genji armlet enable mutiple 
hits, - cat earhood increase speed and vitalty.
When Yiazmat HP is halved his defense will increase, a 9999 damage will reduce to 6999, 
HP is 1/4 his level would be double, HP is 1/8 his attack would be double and increase 
of mutiple hits of 12, cast death strike twice in a row.

Hint: Tortoise XP Farming
At level 20 you can do the quest Withered tree bridge in Giza Plains. There are six 
withered trees located around the map, after all six are chopped down you can gain 
access to the level 37 silicon tortoise.
The way to get tons of experience points per fight is to get to the location via party. 
Make sure all members have job trait charge magic, reflect and gravity.
When you zone into area where the tortoise are located go solo with one character, cast 
refect on yourself and start fight off with steal, once you steal start running in a 
circle around the tortoise in safe distance as not to get hit by the mob or its lights out.
It will start to cast AGA spells on you but with reflect on they will bounce of yourself
 and hit the tortoise instead. While circling around the tortoise cast gravity over and 
over. It will do around 3000 damage to the tortoise and eventually will take the mob down 
for around 3,500 exp per kill. There are four tortoise on the island so the experience 
will add up quickly.
Remember to do it one member at a time and to have those spells or else this exploit won't 
work. I got 7 levels per character in no time plus good loot from the steal/drop items, 
plus its a lot of fun as opposed to the same old experience points game play. The only 
downfall is the lack of license points as opposed to regular combat. You will receive 
around 3 per kill. I made up for it by returning to the Lhusu mines and kill there for 
around 3 hours or so for rediculous license/money items. Well I hope this helps you all 
and good luck.

Hint: Post-Raithwall Gil Farming
After the The Tomb of Raithwall, you may find yourself in a bit of gil trouble setting 
up your characters. Get Thief's Cuffs and Dragoon's Monograph. Golden Amulets for the 
characters not in play is a good investment as well.
Head to Dalmasca Westerland and go to the section called The Western Divide and go into 
the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea. Stay in the section "Platform East Tanks" because your targets 
are Alraune's. With the Thiefs Cuffs you're able to steal Succulent Fruits (300g) and 
Maces (900g). The Monograph in place will make Alraunes drop up to 1-3 Succulent Fruits!
The important thing to remember is you must be able to chain Alraunes to get better drops! 
The best way to do this is to dive into the next section and grab the 2 Alraunes on the 
first platform, then go down the stairs and up the left platform for another 2. Last 2-3 
in this area is tricky, head north to the M-pathed platform for 2-3 more Alraunes, just 
make sure not to kill any other creature that may break the chain. By the time you're 
finishing up these 6 you can go back to "Platform East Tanks" and clear the respawned 
mobs. Simply head back to the crystal and out the next screen to respawn everything and 
do it again!
Doing this I was able to make 100,000 gil an hour. Happy hunting!

Hint: Airship Letter Delivery
This isn't in any particular order except your first airship ride which is in fact 
Rabanastre to Nalbina. You will recieve the letter after talking to the chief steward 
on your first airship ride. Here is a list of connecting flights:
· Rabanastre to Nalbina 
· Rabanastre to Archades 
· Rabanastre to Bhujerba 
· Bhujerba to Balfonheim 
· Balfonheim to Nalbina 
· Balfonheim to Archades 
· Archades to Nalbina 

Hint: More Zodiac Spears
Originally, you are only supposed to get one Zodiac Spear. However, after you get the 
one in the Necrohol of Nabudis and obtain at least 10 espers (I had 12), more become 
available in the Henne Mines.
First, talk to Geomancer Yugelu at Jahara, Lull of the Land AFTER getting at least 10 
espers. He will unlock the path to the ultimate esper, Zodiark. To find this path, enter 
the Ore Sepperation (where you fought the Tiamat) and continue north to a gate that was 
previously locked. Make sure you save your game in the Staging Shaft, because there are 
no more save crystals if you go forward.
Make sure you are a high level, because the fiends are level 60+ and the weakest one 
(Abysteel) has about 20000 hp. But don't give up hope! Continue forward to the SECOND 
to last room, and turn right.follow this path down the stairs and begin going up the next 
path,but stop about halfway through.
The games minimap dosen't show it, but there is a small alcove and inside is a chest. Make 
sure you have the diamond armlet equipped, and open the chest. You have a 90% chance of 
getting an elixer and a 10% chance of getting the Zodiac spear. The chest itself appears 
10% of the time, so it will take a while, but imagine an army of Zodiac Spears with hate 
bravery, and berserk. Continue on the twisted paths to find the ultimate esper Zodiark 
(Keeper of Precepts).

Hint: Saving LP
A smart way to save LP (License Points) in the game while exploring the entirety of the 
licensing map is to use one character to unlock as many boxes as possible. Since the maps 
are identical for all characters, you can then figure out how you want to use your remaining 
characters’ LP without having to blindly explore each board. By exploiting one character’s 
LP, you can save the rest of your party from needlessly spending theirs on skills, et cetera, 
that aren’t necessarily needed by them.

Hint: Hidden Merchant
To find a hidden merchant in the Nechrohol of Nabudis, do the following. Head to the 
northwestern-most corner of the Hall of Effulgent Light. The room on the map will have a 
dead end, but it’s not. In the secret room adjacent, you can fight a powerful enemy (you 
should be at least level 40 to attempt this). The southeast corner of this room is where 
the real point of interest is, however. A merchant will be there that can sell you rare 
items.

Hint: Defeat Braegh Easily
If you’re having trouble defeating Braegh in the "Rodeo to the Death" hunt, all you have 
to do is cast Reflect on the party. Since Braegh casts Invert on your party as soon as you 
engage him in battle, the spell will be reflected on him, leaving him with roughly 10% of 
his full health.

Hint: Endless Chain of Zombies
In the Stilshrine of Miriam, just past the entrance, there is a pedestal called the Pedestal 
of Dawn. If you touch the pedestal without the Dawn Shard equipped, a trio of Zombies will 
attack you (and will continue to attack you if you touch it again, as many times as you want). 
This is a great place to accumulate experience, LP, and some loot (although the latter isn't 
that impressive).

Hint: Acquiring Zeromus
Head to the Paramina Rift Palace after it has been destroyed and talk to the people within. 
One of them will give you the Stone of the Condemner. Then, head to the Still Shrine of 
Miriam and use the Teleport Pad when it asks you to use your newly-acquired stone. This will 
teleport you to a room where Zeromus is. Fight him, and the Zeromus Esper is yours.

Hint: Early Game Leveling
To level up early in the game when your characters are still relatively weak, head to a place 
like the Dalmasca Westersand or the Giza Plains. In those locales, you can fight enemies like 
Dive Talons or Werewolves. Try luring them to the dotted blue lines, fighting the foes in 
those vicinities so that when your characters become weak you can cross the line, heal up, 
and go back to fight once more. The experience delivered with this tactic early in the game 
will raise your levels rather rapidly (only 2-3 fights per level). The ideal place to attempt 
this is to head to the Giza Plains, and go to the blue save crystal there. Hang around it, 
using it to heal as needed.

Hint: Hell Wyrm
If you want to fight the most difficult enemy in the game, make sure your active party is 
at least at level 70 or higher, with Bubble Belts equipped to double your HP. This enemy, 
the Hell Wyrm, is located in the Sochen Cave Palace in a secret room.
To find it, you have to first speak to one of the toad creatures on the summit of Mt. 
Bur-Ominsace, who will talk of a Wyrm Philosopher. From there, head to Balfonhelm and speak 
to the man in the bar who will also talk about the philosopher. Next, head to Cerobi Steppe, 
and speak to the Moogles working on the windmill, who will reveal the philosopher. The 
philosopher will, in turn, hand over a key.
With the key in hand, head to Sochen Cave Palace, to the Destiny's March section of the map. 
Do the puzzle there (where you have to run around a track in a certain order, much like Final 
Fantasy VI's light puzzles). If you do it right, a prompt will tell you a door has opened. 
Head to the Ascetics Door on the west side of the map, which was the door that was opened. 
Head down the path and use the key on the next door. Inside is the Hell Wyrm, the game's most 
difficult enemy.

Hint: Easy Revives
If you want an easy way to revive fallen characters, try the following. Head to Balfonheim 
Port later in the game, when a gambit called Ally: Status=KO can be purchased. This can be 
used in conjunction with Phoenix Downs or the Raise spells to raise dead characters automati
cally. However, if you use the gambit called Ally: HP < 10%, and combine that with a Phoenix 
Down or the Raise spell, your allies will revive one another before they even disappear after 
being KOed.

Hint: Zodiac Killer
There are four areas of treasure chests that are connected to the Zodiac Spear, and if any 
of them are opened, the spear will not appear.
(1) In the "low town" directly in front of old Dalan's place.
(2) The treasure coffers in the cellars' southeast corner.
(3) The treasure coffers in the Confiscatory. This is after you recover your lost equipment 
in the Nalbina dungeons.
(4) There is a huge stash of sixteen treasure chests at the eastern point of Vaddu Strand 
(Phon Coast Region). If you have opened any of the previous chests, you only receive Gil. 
But the Zodiac Spear bestows 150 attack and 8 evasion.

Hint: Easy Leveling
A great place to level-up in this game is at the Nebulous Dead Lands. Head towards where the 
Stone Golem hunt takes place. The Zombie enemies you encounter there are worth about 1,200 
experience points apiece (with the Embroidered Tippet equipped, that will be doubled). 
Additionally, you’ll get chains of around 90 there. Just be sure to bring plenty of 
Eye Drops -- you’ll need 'em!
By Dark_Reaper


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