Final Fantasy VIII Junction Workshop

Welcome to the FFVIII junction workshop. One of my favorite aspects of RPGs is party management, what is known in some circles as min-maxing. I like FFVIII precisely because it has an excellent system for doing this. When choosing which characters get which Guardian Forces, there are a number of factors to consider. You always want to spread the good abilities around, which means not only making sure everyone has their share, but also making sure you haven't doubled up on anything important. There is no clear best setup for GFs in FFVIII, regardless of whether you junction three characters or all six. This workshop is designed to make it as easy as possible to come up with one you can live with.

The basic idea is simple. Guardian Forces are listed on the left, and indicate their relevant junction abilities. Abilities they don't have are grayed out so you can compare GFs at a glance. Below this block of data is a list of special abilities the GF offers, shown in blue. Party and Menu abilities are not listed at all. To assign a GF to a character, drag the GF's box to the "Junctioned GFs" section for the character of your choice. (The character boxes are named, but the names have no special meaning, so feel free to use them however is convenient.)

Assigning a GF to a character will highlight the abilities granted by the GF. When two or more GFs are assigned to a single character, there are usually abilities shared between the GFs. These are shown in red at the bottom of the character's ability list, so you can see if you're doubling up on anything important. Abilities that are used more than twice will have a number indicating how many extra copies the character has. At the very bottom is a total number of redundant slots. This number is useful because in the long term you can use Amnesia Greens to remove abilities you don't need.

Note that the redundant ability total counts the four basic commands that each GF has, but does not explicitly list them. It also counts (and lists) abilities which are made obsolete by others: for instance, ST-Def-J is counted as redundant if you also have ST-Def-Jx2. Finally, this count considers abilities like GFHP+10%, which are often redundant by the end of the game since many GFs can hit 9999 HP even without them. In this case I assume you are leaving the larger GFHP+ abilities in place, and the GF is at level 99.

Unassigned GFs

  • Quezacotl

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Card
  • Shiva

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Doom
  • Ifrit

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Mad Rush
  • Siren

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Treatment
  • Brothers

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Cover Defend
  • Diablos

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Darkside Mug
  • Carbuncle

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Auto-Reflect Counter
  • Leviathan

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Auto-Potion Recover
  • Pandemona

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Absorb Initiative
  • Cerberus

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Auto-Haste
  • Alexander

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Med Data Revive
  • Doomtrain

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Absorb Auto-Shell Darkside
  • Bahamut

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Auto-Protect Move-HP Up Mug
  • Cactuar

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Auto-Potion Defend Initiative Kamikaze Move-HP Up
  • Tonberry

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Auto-Potion Initiative LV Down LV Up Move-HP Up
  • Eden

    HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
    Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
    Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
    Spd-J/+20%/+40%
    Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
    Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
    ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
    Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1
    Darkside Devour Mad Rush

Squall

Abilities

HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Spd-J/+20%/+40%
Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1

Junctioned GFs

Zell

Abilities

HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Spd-J/+20%/+40%
Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1

Junctioned GFs

Irvine

Abilities

HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Spd-J/+20%/+40%
Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1

Junctioned GFs

Quistis

Abilities

HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Spd-J/+20%/+40%
Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1

Junctioned GFs

Rinoa

Abilities

HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Spd-J/+20%/+40%
Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1

Junctioned GFs

Selphie

Abilities

HP-J/+20%/40%/80% Bonus
Str-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Vit-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Mag-J/+20%/+40%/+60% Bonus
Spr-J+20%/+40% Bonus
Spd-J/+20%/+40%
Eva-J/+30% Hit-J Luck-J/+50%
Elem-Atk-J Elem-Def-Jx2x4
ST-Atk-J ST-Def-Jx2x4
Abilityx3x4 Expendx2x3-1

Junctioned GFs