Ruby Dragon (Final Fantasy VIII)

Ruby Dragon is an enemy and a boss in Final Fantasy VIII.

Profile
A Ruby Dragon is fought during a particular Laguna Dream Sequence. Whilst shooting a movie at Vienne Mountains (with Laguna as the heroic protagonist), a Ruby Dragon wanders onto the set in place of Kiros in a dragon suit. Both Laguna and the director mistake the dragon for Kiros, remarking how realistic the "costume" is. Upon realizing the dragon is real the director flees, leaving Laguna to fend it off with a gunblade before fleeing himself, only to encounter, battle and defeat it alongside Kiros a minute later. The player can only have Ward Zabac in this scene if they don't read the Timber Maniacs magazine in Shumi Village in Squall's time before the flashback takes place, but Ruby Dragons are known to be easier with only two party members, as then they don't use their devastating Breath attack.

Squall and the party must fight several Ruby Dragons if they are to retrieve the Guardian Force Bahamut in the Deep Sea Research Center. Ruby Dragons are also fought as random encounters in Centra forests near Edea's Orphanage and on Island Closest to Hell and Ultimecia Castle.

Battle
The Breath attack is non-elemental and physical in nature, so its damage can be halved with Protect and defended against by junctioning a high-level spell in Vitality, such as Meltdown. Ruby Dragon will only use Breath if all three party members are alive. It will cast Reflect on itself if one of the party members is also reflected. Ruby Dragon is capable of casting high-level magic. It is susceptible to Sleep, which can be exploited. Irvine is useful to have around against a sleeping Ruby Dragon, as his Limit Break Shot doesn't count as a physical attack and thus will not wake it up. Demi is another good move to use while it's sleeping. Ruby Dragon can also be defeated instantly with Quistis's Degenerator or Selphie's Rapture and The End Slots spells.

Gallery
Rubrum-Drache