Draw (ドロー, Dorō?) is a command ability in Final Fantasy VIII available when a Guardian Force is junctioned to a character. Every Guardian Force has Draw as a default ability, though it can be removed via Amnesia Greens, and later re-added using the Draw Scroll bought from pet shops.
When a character draws magic from enemies, aquamarine spheres eject out of the enemy into the drawing party member. In the game's PlayStation demo, the draw animation is longer, with the spells gathering up in the air for a moment before entering the character.[1] The draw system was created by Takatsugu Nakazawa and Hiroyuki Ito.[2][3]
Mechanics[]
Draw is used to siphon magic from enemies. Enemies have a limitless supply of magic. When magic is drawn, it can either be stocked or cast.
How many of a spell can be drawn depends on the drawing character's Magic stat, the spell they are drawing, and whom they are drawing it from. The formula for drawing spells is as follows:[4]
The Draw Resist value varies per spell, with higher numbers meaning harder to draw, as shown in the Draw list section below. Thus, higher-level spells are harder to draw successfully and in larger quantities.[4]
No more than nine spells can be drawn at a time (in the PlayStation Final Fantasy VIII demo, the maximum is only three spells). This does not apply to magic drawn from the field draw points, where the player character can draw up to fifteen of a given spell if the draw point is "rich" (see draw point article for details). Draws can also fail entirely, as follows:[4]
- If DrawAmount > 9, DrawAmount = 9
- If DrawAmount < 1, Draw command fails
Attempting to draw a spell that is no longer accessible after using LV Up or LV Down will also fail.
Lefty and Griever can draw magic from the player party and use the spells against them.
Stock[]
Stock is the option to draw magic and place the spells into the character's spell inventory. Each character has a magic spell inventory that can store 32 spells, each up to 100 units. Whenever the player stocks the magic, it is saved in the inventory for later use with the Magic command or for junctioning or refining. When a character has 100 units of a spell, the Stock command is disabled. The character uses Stock automatically when drawing spells from draw points.
Stock is used to draw Guardian Forces from certain bosses, such as Eden from Ultima Weapon. If the GF is drawn from the boss, it cannot be used in that particular battle, but can be junctioned afterwards.
Stocking magic from enemies and draw points 100 times in the Steam/Remastered versions earns the player achievements.
Cast[]
Cast is the option to draw a single magic spell from the enemy and immediately cast it, without it being taken out of the player's spell inventory.
The formula to determine how much damage is dealt through casting is the same as using the spell from the character's stock (damage depending on the draw-casters Magic stat and the spell's Spell Power), with an additional fourth step that adds high damage variance:[4]
Draw list[]
- See draw point article for a list of draw points.
Magic[]
Guardian Forces[]
GF | Draw from |
---|---|
Siren | Elvoret, Dollet Communications Tower Tri-Point, Ultimecia Castle |
Carbuncle | Iguion, Presidential Residence Krysta, Ultimecia Castle |
Leviathan | NORG, Balamb Garden Basement Trauma, Ultimecia Castle |
Pandemona | Fujin, Balamb Red Giant, Ultimecia Castle |
Cerberus | Cerberus, Galbadia Garden Gargantua, Ultimecia Castle |
Alexander | Edea, Galbadia Garden Auditorium Catoblepas, Ultimecia Castle |
Eden | Ultima Weapon, Deep Sea Deposit Tiamat, Ultimecia Castle |
Other appearances[]
Final Fantasy XIV[]
The Gunbreaker job, introduced in the Shadowbringers expansion, takes heavy inspiration from Final Fantasy VIII and features an ability called Bloodfest, which refills the job's cartridges. This ability features an animation meant to evoke drawing magic from VIII. This is made clearer in the name of the PvP version of the action, Draw and Junction.
The final boss of the raid series eden faced in eternity; which also takes heavy inspiration from VIII; draws spells from the memories of the previous bossess of the raid series and either casts them, immediately releasing them for the party to avoid, or stocks them, releasing the spell after some time has passed.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]
Squall has the ability to Draw as his unique EX skill. He gains status buffs depending on the enemy class he draws from. Drawing from Vanguards grant him HP regen, Assassins increase his speed, Marksmen grant him Bravery regen, and Specialists randomize what buff he draws and junctions.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
Draw & Junction is an ability used by Squall when he appears as a boss. Which spell he draws and junctions is based on a set pattern, rather than being based on the type of opponent he draws from.
Draw & Junction also appears as the first command for Squall's second Burst Soul Break, Steely Blade. It deals two hits of physical ice and non-elemental damage, each only dealing 40% of the damage of a normal attack, with a 1.65 second cast time. Despite this weakness, it is essential to use Draw & Junction to maximize the performance of Squall's second command, Löwen Roar, which deals more damage, performs more hits, and has a higher critical hit chance the more Draw & Junction has been used, with maximum potential at four Draw & Junctions.
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
World of Final Fantasy[]
Squall mentions the drawing technology several times. According to the intervention "Investigating the Garden" the drawing technology comes from Balamb Garden.
References[]
- ↑ https://youtu.be/hvCQO2nvDzQ?t=240
- ↑ Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania, p.
- ↑ http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US6354940
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 (2010). "Final Fantasy VIII – Battle Mechanics FAQ". From GameFAQs. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023.