Final Fantasy VIII

Refine Reference

This section contains a list of each refinement skill, and what you can refine with it. The purpose of this chart is to allow you to find cool chains. Tooltips are useful for reminding you what an ability does, but the good stuff is in the chains. FF8 is happiest when one menu turns into three menus and somehow a stat-up item falls out.

T Mag-RF7 refines

Item	Refines to
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Thunders
Magic Stone (1)	5 Thundaras
Wizard Stone (1)	5 Thundagas
Coral Fragment (1)	20 Thundaras
Dynamo Stone (1)	20 Thundagas
Shear Feather (1)	20 Aeros
Windmill (1)	20 Tornados

I Mag-RF7 refines

Item	Refines to
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Blizzards
Magic Stone (1)	5 Blizzaras
Wizard Stone (1)	5 Blizzagas
Water Crystal (1)	50 Waters
Arctic Wind (1)	20 Blizzaras
North Wind (1)	20 Blizzagas
Fish Fin (1)	20 Waters

F Mag-RF10 refines

Item	Refines to
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Fires
Magic Stone (1)	5 Firas
Wizard Stone (1)	5 Firagas
Flare Stone (1)	1 Flare
Phoenix Pinion (1)	100 Firagas
Phoenix Spirit (1)	100 Firagas
Bomb Spirit (1)	100 Firagas
Inferno Fang (1)	20 Flares
Bomb Fragment (1)	20 Firas
Red Fang (1)	20 Firagas

L Mag-RF21 refines

Item	Refines to
Holy Water (1)	2 Zombies
Death Stone (1)	1 Death
Holy Stone (1)	1 Holy
Tent (1)	10 Curagas
Cottage (1)	20 Curagas
Healing Ring (1)	100 Curagas
Phoenix Spirit (1)	100 Full-Lifes
Healing Mail (1)	20 Curagas
Regen Ring (1)	20 Full-Lifes
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Cures
Magic Stone (1)	5 Curas
Wizard Stone (1)	5 Curagas
Healing Water (1)	20 Curas
Zombie Powder (1)	20 Zombies
Saw Blade (1)	10 Deaths
Mesmerize Blade (1)	20 Regens
Life Ring (1)	20 Lifes
Whisper (1)	50 Curagas
Moon Stone (1)	20 Holys
Death Spirit (1)	20 Deaths
Chef's Knife (1)	30 Deaths

Time Mag-RF14 refines

Item	Refines to
Accelerator	100 Hastes
Aegis Amulet (1)	100 Hastes
Samantha Soul (1)	60 Triples
Rocket Engine (1)	50 Triples
Three Stars (1)	100 Triples
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Slows
Magic Stone (1)	5 Hastes
Wizard Stone (1)	5 Stops
Lightweight (1)	20 Hastes
Spider Web (1)	20 Slows
Black Hole (1)	30 Demis
Steel Orb (1)	15 Demis
Dino Bone (1)	20 Quakes
Dragon Fin (1)	20 Doubles

ST Mag-RF17 refines

Item	Refines to
Antidote (1)	1 Bio
Soft (1)	3 Breaks
Eye Drops (1)	1 Blind
Echo Screen (1)	2 Silences
Steel Pipe (1)	20 Berserks
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Silences
Magic Stone (1)	5 Berserks
Wizard Stone (1)	5 Bios
Ochu Tentacle (1)	30 Blinds
Cockatrice Pinion (1)	20 Breaks
Betrayal Sword (1)	20 Confuses
Sleep Powder (1)	20 Sleeps
Curse Spike (1)	10 Pains
Mystery Fluid (1)	10 Meltdowns
Malboro Tentacle (1)	40 Bios
Venom Fang (1)	20 Bios
Silence Powder (1)	20 Silences

Supt Mag-RF20 refines

Item	Refines to
Remedy (1)	5 Esunas
Shell Stone (1)	1 Shell
Protect Stone (1)	1 Protect
Aura Stone (1)	1 Aura
Med Kit (1)	100 Esunas
Giant's Ring (1)	20 Protects
Turtle Shell (1)	30 Protects
Rune Armlet (1)	40 Shells
Moon Curtain (1)	100 Shells
Steel Curtain (1)	100 Protects
Glow Curtain (1)	100 Reflects
M-Stone Piece (1)	5 Esunas
Magic Stone (1)	5 Dispels
Wizard Stone (1)	20 Dispels
Saw Blade (1)	20 Dispels
Vampire Fang (1)	20 Drains
Fury Fragment (1)	5 Auras
Dragon Fang (1)	20 Esunas
Barrier (1)	40 Shells
Dragon Skin (1)	20 Reflects

Forbid Mag-RF5 refines

Item	Refines to
Meteor Stone (1)	1 Meteor
Ultima Stone (1)	1 Ultima
Star Fragment	5 Meteors
Energy Crystal	3 Ultimas
Pulse Ammo (5)	1 Ultima

Recov Med-RF9 refines

Item	Refines to
Tent (4)	1 Mega-Potion
Cottage (2)	1 Mega-Potion
Healing Ring (1)	20 Mega-Potions
Phoenix Spirit (1)	100 Phoenix Downs
Healing Mail (1)	6 Hi-Potions
Regen Ring (1)	8 Phoenix Downs
Healing Water (1)	2 Hi-Potions
Mesmerize Blade (1)	2 Mega-Potions
Life Ring (1)	2 Phoenix Downs

ST Med-RF12 refines

Item	Refines to
Med Kit (1)	20 Remedies
Ochu Tentacle (1)	3 Eye Drops
Cockatrice Pinion (1)	3 Softs
Zombie Powder (1)	3 Holy Waters
Betrayal Sword (5)	1 Remedy
Sleep Powder (5)	1 Remedy
Dragon Fang (1)	1 Remedy
Curse Spike (1)	1 Remedy
Malboro Tentacle (1)	2 Remedies
Venom Fang (1)	10 Antidotes
Silence Powder (1)	3 Echo Screens
Poison Powder (1)	3 Antidotes

Ammo-RF16 refines

Item	Refines to
Energy Crystal	10 Pulse Ammo
Normal Ammo (1)	1 Fast Ammo
Shotgun Ammo (1)	2 Fast Ammo
Sharp Spike (1)	10 AP Ammo
Screw (1)	8 Normal Ammo
Missle (1)	20 Demolition Ammo
Running Fire (1)	40 Demolition Ammo
Laser Cannon	5 Pulse Ammo
Power Generator (1)	20 Pulse Ammo
Bomb Fragment (1)	20 Fire Ammo
Red Fang (1)	40 Fire Ammo
Venom Fang (1)	20 Dark Ammo
Poison Powder (1)	10 Dark Ammo
Chef's Knife (1)	20 AP Ammo
Cactus Thorn (1)	40 Demolition Ammo
Fuel (1)	10 Fire Ammo

Tool-RF29 refines

Item	Refines to
Mega Phoenix (3)	1 Phoenix Pinion
Rosetta Stone (1)	1 Shaman Stone
Magic Scroll (1)	10 Wizard Stones
GF Scroll (1)	10 Wizard Stones
Draw Scroll (1)	10 Wizard Stones
Item Scroll (1)	10 Wizard Stones
Gambler Spirit	10 Wizard Stones
Healing Ring (1)	30 Cottages
Hungry Cookpot (1)	1 Shaman Stone
Steel Pipe (1)	1 Aura Stone
Diamond Armor (1)	50 Cottages
Energy Crystal	2 Ultima Stones
Regen Ring (1)	5 Tents
Strength Love	2 Aura Stones
Power Wrist (1)	10 Aura Stones
Turtle Stone (1)	10 Protect Stones
Orihalcon (1)	30 Protect Stones
Rune Armlet (1)	10 Shell Stones
Force Armlet (1)	30 Shell Stones
Hypno Crown (1)	10 Aura Stones
Healing Water (1)	2 Tents
Fury Fragment (1)	2 Aura Stones
Curse Spike (100)	1 Dark Matter
Inferno Fang (1)	2 Flare Stones
Star Fragment (1)	2 Meteor Stones
Whisper (1)	1 Cottage
Moon Stone (1)	1 Holy Stone
Shaman Stone (1)	1 LuvLuvG
Death Spirit (1)	2 Death Stones

Forbid Med-RF20 refines

Item	Refines to
Mega Potion (20)	1 Elixir
Luck-J Scroll	Luck Up
Aegis Amulet (2)	1 Spd Up
Elem Atk (1)	4 Elixirs
Elem Guard (1)	4 Elixirs
Status Atk (1)	4 Elixirs
Status Guard (1)	4 Elixirs
Med Kit (1)	2 Megalixirs
Gaea's Ring (1)	1 HP Up
Hyper Wrist (10)	1 Str Up
Adamantine (5)	1 Vit Up
Magic Armlet (10)	1 Spr Up
Royal Crown (10)	1 Mag Up
50 Jet Engine	Spd Up
Rocket Engine (5)	1 Spd Up
Doc's Code (1)	1 Megalixir
Monk's Code (1)	1 Str Up
Knight's Code (1)	1 Vit Up
Hundred Needles (1)	1 Spd Up
Shaman Stone (10)	1 Hero-trial

GFRecov Med-RF11 refines

Item	Refines to
Pet House (1)	2 G-Returners
Healing Ring (1)	20 G-Mega-Potions
Phoenix Spirit (1)	40 G-Returners
Healing Mail (1)	1 Pet House
Gold Armor (1)	4 Pet Houses
Diamond Armor (1)	16 Pet Houses
Regen Ring (1)	6 G-Returners
Healing Water (1)	2 G-Hi-Potions
Mesmerize Blade (1)	2 G-Hi-Potions
Life Ring (1)	2 G-Returners
Whisper (1)	4 G-Hi-Potions

GFAbl Med-RF42 refines

Item	Refines to
Elixir (10)	1 Doc's Code
Holy War (5)	1 Knight's Code
Phoenix Pinion (20)	1 Phoenix Spirit
HP-J Scroll (10)	1 Giant's Ring
Str-J Scroll (10)	1 Power Wrist
Vit-J Scroll (10)	1 Orihalcon
Mag-J Scroll (10)	1 Force Armlet
Spr-J Scroll (10)	1 Hypno Crown
Spd-J Scroll (10)	1 Jet Engine
Energy Crystal (50)	Samantha Soul
Samantha Soul (20)	1 Elem Atk
Gold Armor (5)	1 Diamond Armor
Diamond Armor (5)	1 Elem Guard
Giant's Ring (10)	1 Gaea's Ring
Power Wrist (10)	1 Hyper Wrist
Orihalcon (10)	1 Adamantine
Adamantine (20)	1 Steel Curtain
Force Armlet (10)	1 Magic Armlet
Magic Armlet (20)	1 Moon Curtain
Hypno Crown (10)	1 Royal Crown
Royal Crown (20)	1 Status Atk
Jet Engine (20)	Rocket Engine
Glow Curtain (2)	1 Monk's Code
Ribbon (1)	1 Status Guard
Lightweight (100)	1 Accelerator
Dragon Fang (100)	1 Med Kit
Malboro Tentacle (100)	1 Moon Curtain
Whisper (100)	1 Healing Ring
Barrier (50)	1 Aegis Amulet
Bomb Fragment (100)	1 Bomb Spirit
Dragon Skin (100)	1 Glow Curtain
Cactus Thorn (100)	1 Hundred Needles
Shaman Stone (1)	1 Rosetta Stone
HP Up (2)	1 HP-J Scroll
Str Up (2)	1 Str-J Scroll
Vit Up (2)	1 Vit-J Scroll
Mag Up (2)	1 Mag-J Scroll
Spr Up (2)	1 Spr-J Scroll
Spd Up (2)	1 Spd-J Scroll
Luck Up (2)	1 Luck-J Scroll
Jet Engine (10)	1 Rocket Engine
Holy War (5)	Knight's Code

Mid Mag-RF4 refines

Magic	Refines to
Blizzard (10)	Blizzara
Thunder (10)	Thundara
Fire (10)	Fira
Cure (10)	Cura

High Mag-RF4 refines

Magic	Refines to
Double (10)	1 Triple
Blizzara	Blizzaga
Thundara	Thundaga
Fira	Firaga

Med LV Up12 refines

Item	Refines to
Potion (3)	1 Potion+
Potion+ (3)	1 Hi-Potion
Hi-Potion (3)	1 Hi-Potion+
Hi-Potion+ (3)	1 X-Potion
X-Potion (3)	1 Mega-Potion
Phoenix Down (50)	1 Mega Phoenix
Elixir (10)	1 Megalixir
Remedy (10)	1 Remedy+
Remedy+ (10)	1 Elixir
Hero-trial (10)	1 Hero
Hero (10)	1 Holy War-trial
Holy War-trial (10)	1 Holy War

Useful Chains

To Get	Buy	From	Refine	Cost
1 HP Up	10 Giant's Rings	Esthar Pet Shop	GFAbl Med-RF 10 Giant's Rings into 1 Gaea's Ring. Forbid Med-RF 1 Gaea's Ring into 1 HP Up.	150,000
1 Str Up	100 Power Wrist	Esthar Pet Shop	GFAbl Med-RF 100 Power Wrist to 10 Hyper Wrist. Forbid Med-RF 10 Hyper Wrist to 1 Str Up.	1,500,000
1 Spr Up	100 Force Armlet	Esthar Pet Shop	GFAbl Med-RF 100 Force Armlet -> 10 Magic Armlet. Forbid Med-RF 10 Magic Armlet -> 1 Spr Up.	1,500,000
1 Mag Up	100 Hypno Crown	Esthar Pet Shop	GFAbl Med-RF 100 Hypno Crown -> 10 Royal Crown. Forbid Med-RF 10 Royal Crown -> 1 Mag Up.	1,500,000
1 Vit Up	500 Vit-J Scroll	Esthar Pet Shop	GFAbl Med-RF 500 Vit-J Scrolls -> 50 Orihalcon -> 5 Adamantine. Forbid Med-RF 5 Adamantine -> 1 Vit Up.	3,750,000
100 Aura	10 Power Wrist	Esthar Pet Shop	Tool-RF 10 Power Wrist -> 10 Aura Stones. Supt Mag-RF 100 Aura Stones -> 100 Aura	150,000
375,000*	100 Cottage	Esthar Shop!!!	Recov Med-RF 100 Cottage -> 50 Mega-Potion	135,000
1 Megalixir	10 Elixir	Esthar Shop!!!	Med LV Up 10 Elixirs -> 1 Megalixir.	375,000

Mega-Potion Money Loop

Clear the first three slots in your inventory. This makes it go a lot faster.
Go to Menu -> Ability -> Call Shop -> Esthar Shop!!!. Use right-arrow to get to the second page of shops.
Buy 100 Cottages for 135,000 gil and 100 Tents for 75,000 gil.
Quit the Call Shop menu and select Recov Med-RF.
Refine both the Cottages and Tents into Mega-Potions.
Go back to Esthar Shop!!! and sell those 75 Mega-Potions for 562,500 gil, then buy another 100 Tents and Cottages. This nets 352,500 gil each pass.
Repeat until you have enough money, then buy the stat-up items.

It only takes me about 30 seconds to do this, so I can earn the 1.5m needed for Str/Spr/Mag Up in just over 2 minutes. For perspective, that means I can earn the 100 items needed to max a character's Str/Spr/Mag in an hour or two of grinding. Not that I manually grind like this, mind you. I have pretty bad carpal tunnel in both wrists, so this is out of the question for me anymore. Thankfully modern technology has come to the rescue.

The modern version of that hardware-helper idea lives in the raspberrypi-hid-emulator-helpers GitHub repo, with more context on the Automation page.