Use recovery items automatically when hit.
Description
Auto-Potion is a support ability that lets the user automatically heal themselves with an item when damaged in battle and their HP is low enough.
Obtained[]
Auto-Potion is learned by the Guardian Forces Leviathan, Cactuar, and Tonberry. Leviathan is drawn from the boss in Balamb Garden B2, or from Trauma in the final dungeon. Cactuar is recruited by defeating Jumbo Cactuar on Cactuar Island, reachable on a flying transport. Tonberry is recruited by defeating Tonberry King at Centra Ruins who appears after enough of its subjects have been felled.
If the player removes Auto-Potion with Amnesia Greens, there is no way to get it back.
Mechanics[]
When equipped to a party member, they will automatically use the weakest single-targeting potion in the inventory on themselves at half HP or less after being damaged (regardless of damage type: physical/magical/typeless), without using up a turn. Items that can be used are: Potion, Potion+, Hi-Potion, Hi-Potion+, X-Potion, and Elixir. Auto-Potion will trigger even under Berserk and Angel Wing and in the final dungeon when the regular Item command is sealed.
Auto-Potion works concurrently with Med Data.
Auto-Potion does not trigger if the user is damaged by Poison or Darkside, or if they are asleep. If the user has Zombie, Auto-Potion will damage them and may KO them. If Auto-Potion uses an Elixir on a Zombified user, they will still die even if Elixir also heals status, as the HP restoration is set to happen first.
Use[]
Auto-Potion is a good situational ability, such as in the final dungeon when Item and Magic and Limit Break commands are disabled, leaving the player scant means of healing otherwise. It is the only means for Rinoa to heal herself during Angel Wing. It can be good in the final battle against the final boss's attack that leaves the entire party in 1 HP, or against Omega Weapon where the player needs full health to survive Medigo Flame. However, as equipping Auto-Potion takes a valuable support ability slot, it is likely not a high priority.
To get good healing items for the ability, the player can use GFs' refine abilities and shop at Esthar Shop!!! with Familiar. Money is generally plentiful and grindable in Final Fantasy VIII. Angelo's card modifies into 100 Elixirs, however, the status heal from auto-used Elixir is rarely useful: it could come in handy against Malboros. Another passive means for HP recovery is to junction Drains to ST-Atk-J.
The player can use Call Shop from the menu to sell all low grade healing items they may have in their inventory if they do not want them used with Auto-Potion.