FF8 leveling

[amratis]

Hi guys, question. I've been reading on the threads here that boss's are easier at lower levels because they kind of level up with you through the game? (Coda has posted that he beat the game at level 20) How much is this true? because I'm just at end of Disc 3, am about to face Raijin and Fujin then Mobile-8 and I've read that from this point on its pretty much impossible to beat the game if you havnt taken the time to level up to at least 50 or so. Well....Squall's my best char and he's on 38....Does this mean theres no way in hell im going to be able to continue and that I'll have to fly round - do alot more random battles and get some more GF's? ( I do not have DoomTrain or Bahamut and I've heard these are v.imp) What is this meltdown spell i have heard about? I have not encountered it. Plus I still have squalls original gunblade. Doh, I think I've rushed through this game because I found the story-line so engrossing and now I may have gotten myself stuck, whoops.

amra

[DarknessFromAbove]

I don't know. . . I always level up as much as possible, when ever possible. When I first beat the game I beat them without D. train, or B., OR meltdown, or a lot of other stuff. But at level 38. . . I don't know. I think you can get meltdown from Ruby Dragons. . . but they'll be REALLY hard to kill at lv. 38(I think) there's likely to be easier monsters to get it from, but I can't think of any. . . sorry.

[Xxiawakin]

I've beaten the game twice just because I have no time to play it...I never had any problems...
Whoever wrote that guide you're reading needs to stop trying to power-level and get some actual skill.

With the right equipment, you can beat Fujin, Rajin, and Mobile Type 8 no problem...(MT8 is a total pushover for me...heh heh.)

If you want to know what to get, and how to get it, ask me.

Edit: Also, by any chance does anyone know exactly how Enemy level is determined?
I'm thinking it's based on Squall's level, in which case I've got a trick for my No-Junction game...
Or maybe I'll play a No-Junction/No-Level game...hmm...

[Auronhart]

I don't know. . . I always level up as much as possible, when ever possible. When I first beat the game I beat them without D. train, or B., OR meltdown, or a lot of other stuff. But at level 38. . . I don't know. I think you can get meltdown from Ruby Dragons. . . but they'll be REALLY hard to kill at lv. 38(I think) there's likely to be easier monsters to get it from, but I can't think of any. . . sorry.

You get meteor from Ruby Dragons not meltdown. You can get meltdown from gaylas which can be found on the trabia continent.

If you want a super easy game, win the Quistis card at the beggining of the game (use card on some bombs and get the ifrit card first) and use card mod (you need to learn card and then card mod for quezacotl) on it to get 3 samantha souls. Next defeat diablos (get blind from granaldo and cast it on Diablos) as soon as you can and get him to learn time mag-refine. Then modify the samantha souls into 180 triple and junction 100 on squall's strength. (also you can use siren's life mag-refine to refine tents into curaga and junction this to life) Leave Squall's hp in the yellow and abuse renzokuken until you have the ragnarok. Avoid leveling whenever possible (always run from random encounters) until disk 3 when you get cactuar. Finally, level up on the island closest to hell using quistis' degenerator and bonus abilities. So, I only suggest leveling if you have bonus abilities equipped.

The level of enemies is not based on Squall's level. Most people think it is the average level of your party which seems quite possible.

[bEoWuLfX]

to actually have a successful low level game, you need to play cards and card lots of monsters. you need to get encounter none ASAP and run from battles alot. I have personally beaten the game 3 times. once regular levels and the 2 other times low level(my best was beating at lvl14). By playing low level you are making fights easier for yourself, but you will be doing a lots more side quests to get your junctions up to par. I wouldn't suggest this if you haven't beaten the game atleast once. My advice to you level 38 man is to get the better weapons and learn the rest of the gF abilities. Then I would suggest you look at an FAq for junctioning advice. It's still doable just so you know. The only reason to get weapons is for the limit breaks. Personally I think you can still beat the crap out of mobile type 8 aslong as you have some junctions going for you.

[Auronhart]

As bEoWuLfX said, a low level game isn't really very hard, but it has annoying tedious activities such as carding enemies and such.

[amratis]

Thanks for the response guys, all your tips were very helpful I havent really carded all that much either, whoops, I do have Quez's Card though, not the Card mod however. I also forgot to draw Leviathan ( or is Alexander?) from Edea at end of disc 2. I do have the mod that lets you refine life magic from stuff and most of the other refining mods. and diablo's mug. I think I need some adamantine for squall's gunblade, does anyone know where you get this? As I said earlier, I havent done all that many of the side-quests and all because I was so stuck into the plot I kinda rushed along. I think I'll go back and do some. Fight with Seifer is coming up I think, and I wanna kick his ass
Thanks for the offer Xxiawakin, I'll probably take you up on asking you for advice, talking to real gamers is better then any walkthrough type thing.

[RinoaLeonhart]

I think you can get Adamantine from one of the Brothers Card, Minotaur.
As for leveling up, I remember when I got stuck with the first battle with Rajin and Fujin and ,yes, forgot to draw out Leviathan. The first time I played this game I totally sucked. But then after playing about five times and finding myself getting nowhere, I decided to level up to Lv100 since leveling up is so easy. Then finally after learning my lesson that drawing and junctioning magic AND getting as much GF's as possible is so important, I finally beat the game in peace (took me alot of times to get it right, though)...... Now I find myself playing it all the time!
Having your characters on Lv100 is well worth the hours, hours, and hours of leveing up.........OH, and their strength is very IMPORTANT!
Its a good idea to have a character with the Str Bonus. I junctioned it to Rinoa and by the end of the game her Str was 238!
Well, I better shut up now because I'm typing too much........Good Luck!

[Auronhart]

hours, hours, and hours of leveing up

Doesn't take that long if you use the Island Closest to Hell degenerator trick.

Its a good idea to have a character with the Str Bonus. I junctioned it to Rinoa and by the end of the game her Str was 238!

I prefer to use Magic bonus on Rinoa so she can use the Angel Wing trick.

I think you can get Adamantine from one of the Brothers Card, Minotaur.

Or from adamantoises. (at a beach near Dollet)

[Devourment]

Well from my point of veiw as you level up & become stronger so do the Monsters. I usually level every one up to level 20 after i have aquired all of the G.F's & learnt all the abilities. Then i level each character up to level 100 with the right ability-ups shared evenly....& i have no problem at all with anyone of the enemies or Bosses.

[Xxiawakin]

Adamantine can be refined from the Minotaur card, which you receive from the Brothers (Tomb of the Unknown King) after you defeat them.
Pulse Ammo is refined from Laser Cannons, defeat Elnoyes (Esthar) for them, Elastoids also carry them.
Dragon Fangs are received from Grendels (Island Closest to Hell).

[lss155lss]

If you want to beat the game without leveling up much, avoid all enemies by all means and try allocating powerful spells like Ultima, Meltdown and so on just in case you are unable to run away from some enemies. And try to avoid secret areas like Island closest to Hell, Island closest to Heaven or the Research Centre( can't remember the actual name, sorry), coz you will be facing enemies like Ruby Dragons, Malboros and enemies on the islands have a fixed level of 100. while that research centre has one area where the encounter rate is DAMN HIGH (about a few steps or second per encounter and all the encounters are actually Ruby Dragons. but there is a trick to it though...) and using Encounter None (i think it's available from GF Diablos) is useless as it somehow disable the function in that area.

For those who want to know more, the Ruby Dragons has high HP* and great Str* so be prepared before being roasted by them (I encountered one when i was at lv 60+ with but accidentally remove spells that are junctioned to everyone,and each of my members was roasted to death with 9999 damage points and therefore I hope that you save your game b4 fighting them.) while the malboros give you a breath of their own, Bad Breath, and infects you with all the status in the FF VIII world (unless you have junctioned spells to defend against it), that includes Berserk, Petrification, Doom, Death and so on...then comes the nightmare.

The malboro attacks you while watching you all slashing each other. You can tell yourself to unplug the controller and make yourself a sandwich as you would not have any control over anyone unless you're damn lucky and did not get yourself into any status or some of the status wore off by itself...b4 u were dead though.

*the actual amount of HP and Str of an enemy depends on its level while its level depends on the average level of your active team members

[blue_midget192]

while that research centre has one area where the encounter rate is DAMN HIGH (about a few steps or second per encounter and all the encounters are actually Ruby Dragons. but there is a trick to it though...) and using Encounter None (i think it's available from GF Diablos) is useless as it somehow disable the function in that area.

i think your talking about the bit with that crytsal in the middle of the room? the trick to that is to not walk while the crystal is glowing!

And as for leveling i found it's better at lv100 because even though the monsters level up too, they don't have the junctions so...yea. so if i was you amratis i would probably go back and level up a bit, and level up your GF's on the islands closest to heaven and hell (with enc-none equiped) but thats just my opinion

[Auronhart]

i think your talking about the bit with that crytsal in the middle of the room? the trick to that is to not walk while the crystal is glowing!

No, he wasn't, apparently when Ultima Weapon is still alive the encounters in the deep sea reasearch centre are a set number of steps apart. (though I have heard that enc-none increases the number of steps between each encounter)

and level up your GF's on the islands closest to heaven and hell (with enc-none equiped)

Were you joking here, because you wouldn't have any encounters. (you probably were joking)

The malboro attacks you while watching you all slashing each other. You can tell yourself to unplug the controller and make yourself a sandwich as you would not have any control over anyone unless you're damn lucky and did not get yourself into any status or some of the status wore off by itself...b4 u were dead though.

It's easy (to escape anyways) either if you are not immune to sleep (because you will get attacked by the malboro and sleep and confuse will come off) or if you are immune to sleep and confuse. Personally, I find the Ruby dragon breath to be much nastier, (unless vitality is maxed so it does 250 damage to each person ) but Malboro's always do bad breath at the beginning of the battle.

[Xxiawakin]

No, he wasn't, apparently when Ultima Weapon is still alive the encounters in the deep sea reasearch centre are a set number of steps apart. (though I have heard that enc-none increases the number of steps between each encounter)

This is false, I've had Fights two steps from each other, as well as fights 20 steps from each other.