Flactem Walkthroughs

Final Fantasy VIII

Triple Triad Strategies

Being good at the SystemFF8's card game. Winning cards feeds Card Mod, which feeds items, magic, weapons, GF abilities, and all sorts of nonsense in the best way. really does translate to being better prepared for the actual game. Unlike some mini-games in other Final Fantasy games, winning lots of card games translates into better magic (and thus insanely high stats toward the start of the game), better gear (level up your weapons at the junk shops), and stronger SystemGuardian Forces are FF8's summons and the source of most junction, command, support, refine, and stat-growth abilities. (they can learn skills from the stuff you get when you GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl.). Follow these hints to learn how to maximize your card playing ability.

Start early

It’s possible to acquire some good cards without having ever left Balamb. Once you get your starter deck from the guy at the hallway of level two, head for the training center. Set Guardian ForceLightning-element Guardian Force available from Squall's classroom terminal at the start. Its Card and Card Mod abilities are the backbone of the early no-EXP power route. to learn ‘Card’ and go hunting for Grats. When you get weak, head to your room and rest. (Save your ItemRestores HP by 200 and cure spells for later.) From the main entrance to the training center, head to the left and call Guardian ForceLightning-element Guardian Force available from Squall's classroom terminal at the start. Its Card and Card Mod abilities are the backbone of the early no-EXP power route. when you encounter a herd of Grats. He’ll usually kill grats in one shot, but you may have to kill them yourself with a good smack once in a while.

When he learns card, enable it in the menu and have him move on to ‘GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl..’ Continue Grat hunting, but this time try not to kill them outright - if Guardian ForceLightning-element Guardian Force available from Squall's classroom terminal at the start. Its Card and Card Mod abilities are the backbone of the early no-EXP power route. doesn’t kill enemies on one shot, great! Otherwise, you’ll have to hunt by hand. Hit them two or three times to weaken them, then card them. You’ll get lots of Grat cards, but you should also get a few Shumi Tribe cards. These are incredible cards to acquire this early in the game. Try to get three of them if you can, then you can begin playing in earnest.

Round One

Leave the arena, save your game, and take on the girl in the Library at the desk. When you get good enough that you can beat her with ease, go for the girls outside your dorm room, then the lunch GF AbilityCounterattacks after being hit by a physical attack. Learned by Carbuncle. lady (the one on the left). If you can beat all these easily, try Dr. Kadawaki and the guy by the entrance to garden (the one in the booth). If you can defeat these guys pretty much every time, you should begin to acquire some decent cards, and you will probably begin to develop a bit of strategy.

Round Two

Head to the Library and go to the far right screen (a little study area). You should find a girl who says “Hehe… So you want to play with me?” She plays with some pretty good cards, so you can get some pretty powerful cards here. Continue until you can beat her with some frequency. After that, it’s time to win your first Page 10 card - Quistis. Save first. ;)

Head to the Cafeteria and go to the back-right screen. You’ll see a few guys you can talk to (“…the one in front, or the one in the back?”) Card talk to the one named “Trepe Groupe #1” and beat him to acquire your Quistis Card. To beat him easily, I used: Shumi Tribe, Malboro, Wedge/Biggs, Elastoid and Wendigo. If you can’t beat him on the first try, just keep at it. If you lose too many cards, restart from your save (you did save, right?!?) and try again. When you have it, save again and then look for the kid that’s running circles around the middle of Garden. You can’t miss him - he runs past on the screen with the directory almost every time. Card talk to him and win the MiniMog card.

Side note: I used to think the mini mog card was only good for GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl., but there’s a problem with that - you will not be able to complete the queen of cards quest if you do that. I’ll just play the Queen of Cards the first time I get to Balamb City and lose it to the Queen to start the side quest.

Moving up

It’s probably obvious by now, but the single easiest way to get powerful characters is to win and GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl. certain cards, and then use your SystemGuardian Forces are FF8's summons and the source of most junction, command, support, refine, and stat-growth abilities. magic refinement skills to turn those things into magic. Throughout most of the game, you’ll be playing with 3 characters. You can also move magic between characters via the Magic submenu. What all of this means for you is that you can very early on in the game use the SystemFF8's card game. Winning cards feeds Card Mod, which feeds items, magic, weapons, GF abilities, and all sorts of nonsense in the best way. to make normal game play easy (I mean REALLY easy!!!) and the really tricky stuff possible. Put another way, if you want to get some of the most powerful stuff in the game, you’re going to have to learn how to play the SystemFF8's card game. Winning cards feeds Card Mod, which feeds items, magic, weapons, GF abilities, and all sorts of nonsense in the best way. well. As an example of what the SystemFF8's card game. Winning cards feeds Card Mod, which feeds items, magic, weapons, GF abilities, and all sorts of nonsense in the best way. can do for you, before I have Squall (L17), Zell (L9), and Selphie (L8) get on the train for Timber, they all have between 3000 and 5000 HP. All three have 100 of the following high-level magic: Tornado, Death, Meltdown, Pain, Curaga, Regen, Zombie, Blizzaga, Thundaga.

And it’s not just magic. Remember the Weapon Upgrades section? I upgrade Squall’s weapon the moment I leave Balamb Garden to go take the Fire Cave test.

I get a lot of email from people saying “It’s so boring to play the card game for hours before I even play this game, why don’t you just level grind?” My answer is: Go ahead!!! It’s your game - play however makes you happy. For those of you who want to truly dominate - no matter what it takes, the SystemFF8's card game. Winning cards feeds Card Mod, which feeds items, magic, weapons, GF abilities, and all sorts of nonsense in the best way. is an easy (if a little time consuming) way to do it. Compared to other games where you have to play the same level 100 times and get everything EXACTLY right or you can’t beat it. That really bugs me. But I’m not going to force you to do things my way. ;)

For example, if you get 50 Chimera cards, you can refine those into 100 Full-Life. Junction this to HP and a level 13 Quistis goes from 900 HP to 7700 HP.

Before leaving Balamb for Timber is my favorite time to play the game. Here’s what I like to do:

By this point, I have the following 5 cards, which I can use to win 4+ cards virtually every game: Quistis, Seifer (or Guardian ForceGravity-themed Guardian Force from the Magical Lamp. Diablos brings Enc-Half, Enc-None, Mug, and key time/status magic refinement abilities.), Guardian ForceFire-element Guardian Force earned in the Fire Cave. His F Mag-RF and Ammo-RF abilities open up fire magic and ammunition refinement., Jumbo Guardian ForceGuardian Force from Cactuar Island. Cactuar is the prize for stat-bonus leveling because it knows HP, Str, Vit, Mag, and Spr Bonus abilities. (from casting card on a glacial eye enemy), and Elnoyle. You can win a lot of really great cards from the guy at the Guard Shack this way.

If you like, you can have Squall, Zell, and Selphie wander around the fire cave GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl. Bombs and Buels in order to try and get some Krysta cards so you can get Holy Magic. However, you’ll be able to win a bunch of these cards from a somewhat easy opponent before too long, so don’t bother if that kind of thing frustrates you. On the other hand, it can provide the AP needed to learn the Junction AbilityAllows magic to be junctioned to HP, improving that character stat. Learned by Quezacotl, Ifrit, Brothers, Diablos, and Carbuncle. skills for Guardian ForceLightning-element Guardian Force available from Squall's classroom terminal at the start. Its Card and Card Mod abilities are the backbone of the early no-EXP power route., Guardian ForceFire-element Guardian Force earned in the Fire Cave. His F Mag-RF and Ammo-RF abilities open up fire magic and ammunition refinement., and Guardian ForceGravity-themed Guardian Force from the Magical Lamp. Diablos brings Enc-Half, Enc-None, Mug, and key time/status magic refinement abilities., which is handy for keeping your guys alive.

When I’m ready to move on from Balamb and head to Timber for my first SystemBalamb Garden's mercenary rank system. Higher SeeD levels mean higher salary payments. contract, the last thing I do is play cards against the queen with Guardian ForcePocketStation-related GF support summon. It can heal GFs in battle, mostly for the cute factor., and 4 terrible (I use Fastitocalon-F) cards. That makes it very easy to lose the Guardian ForcePocketStation-related GF support summon. It can heal GFs in battle, mostly for the cute factor. and start the Queen of Cards side quest. Then I junction all the new magics I’ve picked up from playing cards. My favorite junctions are:

My guys are now 10+ times as powerful as they would otherwise be, and I haven’t even left the island!!!

The best cards to GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl. early in the game are:

Best Card Mods
Quantity Card Mods Into Refine With Refines Into Junction To
5 Abyss Worm 5 Windmill Quezacotl: T Mag-RF 100 Tornado Magic
5 Blitz 5 Dynamo Stone Quezacotl: T Mag-RF 100 Thundagas Elem Def/Atk
5 Snow Lion 5 North Wind Shiva: I Mag-RF 100 Blizzaga Elem Def/Atk
2 Fastitocalon 2 Water Crystal Shiva: I Mag-RF 100 Water Elem Def/Atk
50 Ruby Dragon 5 Inferno Fang Ifrit: F Mag-RF 100 Flare (F/L/I dmg) Str/Elem-Def
15 Hexadragon 5 Red Fang Ifrit: F Mag-RF 100 Firaga Elem Def/Atk
50 Chimera 5 Regen Ring Siren: L Mag-RF 100 Full-lifes HP
25 Torama 5 Life Ring Siren: L Mag-RF 100 Life HP
5 Mesmerize 5 Mesmerize Blade Siren: Life Mag-RF 100 Regen Vitality
3 Tonberry 3 Chef's Knife Siren: Life Mag-RF 30 Death (+ 10 below) Magic
3 Belheml 3 Saw Blade Siren: Life Mag-RF 10 Death (+90 above) Magic
10 Tri-Face 10 Curse Spike Diablos: ST Mag-RF 100 Pain ST-Atk
10 Gayla 10 Mystery Fluid Diablos: ST Mag-RF 100 Meltdown Vitality
5 Armadodo 5 Dino Bone Diablos: Time Mag-RF 100 Quake Strength
5 Blood Soul 5 Zombie Powder Diablos: ST Mag-RF 100 Zombie Status Def
5 Anacondaur 5 Venom Fang Diablos: ST Mag-RF 100 Bio St Def/Atk
5 Forbidden 5 Betrayal Sword Diablos: ST Mag-RF 100 Confuses St Def/Atk
4 Ochu 4 Ochu Tentacle Diablos: ST Mag-RF 100 Blind St Def/Atk
1 Vysage 1 Wizard Stone Various Level 3 Magic Various
1 Imp 1 Wizard Stone Various Level 3 Magic Various
80 Blue Dragon 1 Fury Fragment Supt Mag-RF* 100 Aura

Who to play: To make it easier to find some of the cards above, here’s a helpful list of who to challenge to win the cards you want.

Early in the game; while you are still in Balamb:

Things to keep in mind… 10x Elnoyle -> ItemGF learns SumMag+30% ability -> High Level Magic (Ultima) Later 6x Elastoid -> 6x ItemGF learns SumMag+10% ability -> Call Guardian ForceStatus-heavy Guardian Force summoned with Solomon Ring plus the required items. Doomtrain is excellent for elemental/status junction coverage and forbidden medicine refinement. Later 24x Malboro -> 6x ItemQuistis can learn Blue Magic, Bad Breath -> Call Guardian ForceStatus-heavy Guardian Force summoned with Solomon Ring plus the required items. Doomtrain is excellent for elemental/status junction coverage and forbidden medicine refinement. Later 3x Adamantoise -> ItemGF learns Vit+20% ability (Weapon Component) 4x Blue Dragon -> ItemStone that contains morale -> 2x ItemSame effect as Aura Useful chain: buy Power Wrist at Esthar Pet Shop, use Tool-RF into Aura Stones, then Supt Mag-RF into Aura magic. (Guardian ForceGuardian Force drawn from Elvoret during the Dollet mission. Her L Mag-RF and Tool-RF abilities are extremely useful for refining life magic and useful items. Refine AbilityRefines tools from items. Learned by Siren.), but Refine AbilityRefines support magic from items. Learned by Leviathan. is 5 Aura later. GIM47N -> 10x ItemAmmo for rapid fire Wedge, Biggs -> ItemFully Restores HP (Not magic, but powerful) (Guardian ForceGuardian Force drawn from Elvoret during the Dollet mission. Her L Mag-RF and Tool-RF abilities are extremely useful for refining life magic and useful items.: Refine AbilityRefines tools from items. Learned by Siren.) Creeps -> ItemQuistis can learn Blue Magic, Electrocute -> 20x Thundara Thrustaevis -> ItemBird's feather that flies on wind (Compat Pandemona +1) -> 20x Aero Glacial Eye -> ItemContains Ice element wind (Compat Shiva +1) -> 20x Blizzara Bomb -> ItemStone with Fire element (Compat Ifrit +1) -> 20x Fira Caterchipillar -> ItemQuistis can learn Blue Magic, Ultra Waves -> 20x Slow Gesper -> ItemSteel orb with gravitational power (Compat Diablos +3) -> 15x Demi Grendel -> ItemVery hard dragon's scale (Compat Cerberus +3) -> 20x Double Elastoid -> ItemGF learns SumMag+10% ability -> 20x Berserk Ochu -> ItemStrong, flexible tentacle -> 30x Blind Cockatrice -> ItemFeather with petrifying power -> 20x Break Elastoid -> ItemGF learns SumMag+10% ability -> 1x Auro Stone (Guardian ForceGuardian Force drawn from Elvoret during the Dollet mission. Her L Mag-RF and Tool-RF abilities are extremely useful for refining life magic and useful items.: Refine AbilityRefines tools from items. Learned by Siren.) 3x Iron Giant -> Star Fragment -> 2x ItemSame effect as Meteor (Guardian ForceGuardian Force drawn from Elvoret during the Dollet mission. Her L Mag-RF and Tool-RF abilities are extremely useful for refining life magic and useful items.: Refine AbilityRefines tools from items. Learned by Siren.) For more information on other card mods, please see the Card Mods section.

Early Non-Card Mods: Buy 10x ItemFully restores abnormal status and HP to all -> 100 Curagas (Guardian ForceGuardian Force drawn from Elvoret during the Dollet mission. Her L Mag-RF and Tool-RF abilities are extremely useful for refining life magic and useful items. Refine AbilityRefines life magic from items. Learned by Siren. Skill) Kill Grats -> ItemInduces sleep -> 20x Sleeps (Guardian ForceGravity-themed Guardian Force from the Magical Lamp. Diablos brings Enc-Half, Enc-None, Mug, and key time/status magic refinement abilities. Refine AbilityRefines status magic from items. Learned by Diablos. Skill) Kill Grats -> ItemPowder containing Silence (Compat Siren +3) -> 20x Silences (Guardian ForceGravity-themed Guardian Force from the Magical Lamp. Diablos brings Enc-Half, Enc-None, Mug, and key time/status magic refinement abilities. Refine AbilityRefines status magic from items. Learned by Diablos. Skill)

Because I’ve played the game so many times, I don’t feel the need to jump right into the fighting action and advance the plot. As a result, I’ve found that before I even get to the Fire Cave, I like to play the SystemFF8's card game. Winning cards feeds Card Mod, which feeds items, magic, weapons, GF abilities, and all sorts of nonsense in the best way. and get serious status junctions for my characters. If you don’t want to spend all that time, you can just sell stuff off instead. If you go that route, consider selling off any of the extra “Quistis Can Learn x” items. If you’re playing cards, the Wedge, Biggs cards can GF AbilityRefines Triple Triad cards into items, which can often be refined again into strong magic. Learned by Quezacotl. into ItemFully Restores HP, which can be sold off for 2500 Gil EACH!

If I think of more strategy hints later, I’ll put them here too.