Reduce damage until next command
Description
Defend is a command ability in Final Fantasy VIII used to mitigate damage while being unable to use other commands for its duration. It can nullify damage from otherwise sure-kill moves, like Omega Weapon's Terra Break.
Final Fantasy games typically had Defend as a basic battle command by pressing 
on the command window, but Final Fantasy VIII does away with row placements as well as making Defend a command ability that needs to be earned and equipped to be used.
Obtained[]
Defend is learned by the GFs Brothers and Cactuar for 100 AP. Brothers is obtained by doing the quest in Tomb of the Unknown King, and Cactuar is obtained by felling Jumbo Cactuar on Cactuar Island, reachable on a flying transport.
If the player removes Defend with Amnesia Greens, there is no way to get it back.
Mechanics[]
When using Defend, the character assumes a defensive stance and remains as such until another command is selected, even while the player is browsing their command menu. Defend nullifies all physical damage and status ailments they would otherwise have inflicted. Defend halves damage from magic attacks, and, presumably, halves the chance of being inflicted with statuses from magic attacks unless the ability always inflicts something as long as the character is not wholly immune.
Any reaction abilities the defender has will still trigger without the defender breaking their stance: Counter, Cover, Auto-Potion.
If the character who has the Defend command gets confused, they will never use Defend in this state.
Use[]
Defend is good situationally, especially against enemies who only use physical attacks like T-Rexaur and Wendigo, and when paired with Cover and placed in the middle of the party formation. Some enemies have attacks that look magical, but are actually considered physical damage, such as Ruby Dragon's Breath, which would deal 0 damage to a character who is defending. Defend is excellent in the battle against Omega Weapon to survive Terra Break: as Omega Weapon always uses its attacks in a pattern, the player can anticipate the correct timing to use the Defend.
Defend does not block fixed damage like the Cactuar-type enemies' needle attacks or fractional damage, such as gravity-type damage. Defend would be good in the battle against Diablos who can only defeat the party with physical attacks, dealing gravity damage otherwise, but Diablos becomes available before Brothers and it is generally advised to get all GFs at the earliest to gain access to their abilities. Defend does not protect against a Malboro's Bad Breath.
Selphie is a good candidate for Defend, as she can use Defend on her first turn and then use Slot: the player can cycle through her spell list while Selphie remains immune to physical damage.
The defender would benefit from high Spirit junctions and possibly Shell and/or Reflect to mitigate magic damage even further. Defend can be used to mitigate damage from Bahamut's Mega Flare though it does not nullify it entirely.
