The weapon equipment list in Final Fantasy VIII is the smallest of its kind in the Final Fantasy series, including the weapons used by temporary characters. The game has 33 usable weapons. Each of the 11 playable characters has their own base weapon, and the main six playable characters can access the better weapons by upgrading their base one.
Specific items are needed to upgrade the weapons at junk shops, and the Weapons Monthly magazines scattered around the world inform about the required items, although it is not necessary to read them to get the better weapons; it is enough to only own the required parts. However, stats are mainly gained via the junction system, and thus weapon upgrading is not a particularly good way to become stronger, especially when most upgrades only give a negligible boost to Strength. The weapons most useful for upgrading are Squall's gunblades because they unlock new finishers to his Limit Break, and Selphie's ultimate weapon that has an innate 255% hit rate.
Upgrading a weapon in the Steam version earns the player the achievement Handyman.
- For list of weapon modeling items see Junk shop.
Gunblades[]
Difficult to handle and requiring a lot of skill. These weapons belong to Squall and Seifer. Gunblades have a 255% hit rate. Pressing the trigger button on-hit boosts damage for both Squall and Seifer; gunblades do not naturally deal critical hits. Squall's gunblades unlock new finishers to his Renzokuken Limit Break, and thus it is good to prioritize his upgrades out of the party.
Squall's gunblades[]
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Cost | Limits | Items Required |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revolver | 11 | 255 | 100G | Rough Divide | M-Stone Piece x6 Screw x2 | |
The gunblade's original model. What it lacks in power, it more than makes up for with its reliability. | ||||||
Shear Trigger | 14 | 255 | 200G | Rough Divide, Fated Circle | Steel Pipe x1 Screw x4 | |
An improvement over the Revolver, Shear Trigger uses the same blade as the Revolver, but the gun aspect is now more powerful. | ||||||
Cutting Trigger | 18 | 255 | 400G | Rough Divide, Fated Circle | Mesmerize Blade x1 Screw x8 | |
This Cutting Trigger is made by replacing the blade of the Revolver with the powerful Cutting Sword. | ||||||
Flame Saber | 20 | 255 | 600G | Rough Divide, Fated Circle, Blasting Zone | Betrayal Sword x1 Turtle Shell x1 Screw x4 | |
The Flame Saber got its name from its red blade. This gunblade is very similar to the Cutting Trigger, but instead features the handle and gun mechanism from the Shear Trigger. | ||||||
Twin Lance | 22 | 255 | 800G | Rough Divide, Fated Circle, Blasting Zone | Dino Bone x1 Red Fang x2 Screw x12 | |
The Twin Lance is a gunblade forged with two blades. The two blades work synergistically to inflict severe damage. | ||||||
Punishment | 24 | 255 | 1,000G | Rough Divide, Fated Circle, Blasting Zone | Chef's Knife x1 Star Fragment x2 Turtle Shell x1 Screw x8 | |
The Punishment looks almost identical to the Twin Lance, but is lighter and more powerful. The only gunblade more powerful than this is the Lion Heart. | ||||||
Lion Heart | 30 | 255 | 2,000G | Rough Divide, Fated Circle, Blasting Zone, Lion Heart | Adamantine x1 Dragon Fang x4 Pulse Ammo x12 | |
Of gunblades, the finest model is the Lion Heart. It requires rare items to be remodeled to its highest quality. |
Seifer's gunblade[]
Seifer uses his gunblade differently from Squall, in a backhand slash rather than a forward one, although this may just be his fighting style and not due to the weapon's design mechanic. He also uses it with one hand rather than two. Due to a lack of mention in any source material involving gunblades, it is unknown whether this is an actual model type or a custom-designed model for Seifer's personal use.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Limits |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hyperion | 12 | 255 | No Mercy, Demon Slice, Bloodfest, Zantetsuken Reverse | |
This gunblade uses a semi-automatic pistol, resembling a Beretta rather than a revolver as a handle, and it also has a unique blade. |
Blaster Edges[]
Wrist-mounted ranged weapons; Rinoa's preferred means of attack.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Cost | Items Required | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pinwheel | 11 | 99 | 100G | M-Stone Piece x3 | ||
A weapon that can be used from a distance and have many advantages. The Pinwheel is one of the more basic projectile weapons. | ||||||
Valkyrie | 14 | 101 | 200G | Shear Feather x1 Magic Stone x1 | ||
Valkyrie is a projectile weapon that can fly straight at the enemy using its stabilizing fins. The blade is extremely deadly. | ||||||
Rising Sun | 18 | 103 | 400G | Saw Blade x1 Screw x8 | ||
The Rising Sun is similar to a circular saw. It is made by upgrading the Pinwheel. It is capable of slicing into enemies like a spinning saw and dealing a devastating blow. | ||||||
Cardinal | 24 | 104 | 800G | Cockatrice Pinion x1 Mesmerize Blade x1 Sharp Spike x1 | ||
The Cardinal is the latest line of projectile weapons. The wide fins provide more stability and accuracy compared to the Valkyrie. Its greater accuracy causes more damage. | ||||||
Shooting Star | 28 | 107 | 1,000G | Windmill x2 Regen Ring x1 Force Armlet x1 Energy Crystal x2 | ||
Now we show you the finest projectile weapon, the Shooting Star. Don't let the angel wing motif fool you, it's a deadly weapon. |
Gloves[]
Blunt and to the point; Zell's area of expertise.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Cost | Items Required | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metal Knuckle | 12 | 98 | 100G | Fish Fin x1 M-Stone Piece x4 | ||
A punch can be a deadly weapon, but it can be made even more effective by wearing this, the Metal Knuckle. These gloves are widely used. | ||||||
Maverick | 15 | 99 | 200G | Dragon Fin x1 Spider Web x1 | ||
With the Maverick, the combatant can deliver direct punching blows to the enemy. The gloves are made of black leather and have metal plates on the knuckles. | ||||||
Gauntlet | 20 | 101 | 400G | Dragon Skin x1 Fury Fragment x1 | ||
The Gauntlet is covered with layers of steel. It is a fighting glove for delivering heavy rather than smooth blows. | ||||||
Ehrgeiz | 25 | 103 | 800G | Adamantine x1 Dragon Skin x4 Fury Fragment x1 | ||
Ehrgeiz is the most powerful fighting glove. It allows the wearer to deliver optimal hits based on his or her abilities. |
Whips[]
The artful and precise weapons of Quistis.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Cost | Items Required | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chain Whip | 12 | 103 | 100G | M-Stone Piece x2 Spider Web x1 | ||
Whips are effective against enemies that are close or far away. This Chain Whip has a simple design, but is very reliable in battle. | ||||||
Slaying Tail | 15 | 104 | 200G | Magic Stone x2 Sharp Spike x1 | ||
This whip, the Slaying Tail, is known for its tremendous speed and power. It is named after Sleipner, the horse of the legendary GF Odin. | ||||||
Red Scorpion | 20 | 105 | 400G | Ochu Tentacle x2 Dragon Skin x2 | ||
The Red Scorpion is a unique whip made of rare materials. Its strength comes from the Dragon Skin, while its flexibility comes from the Ochu Tentacle. | ||||||
Save the Queen | 25 | 107 | 800G | Malboro Tentacle x2 Sharp Spike x4 Energy Crystal x4 | ||
Save the Queen is the most powerful whip in the world. It is made with Malboro's Tentacles which are the most ideal material for making whips. |
Nunchakus[]
Selphie's preferred weapons. Due to Strange Vision having a guaranteed hit rate, it is recommended to upgrade to it.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Cost | Items Required | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Flail | 12 | 98 | 100G | M-Stone Piece x2 Bomb Fragment x1 | ||
Even a weakling can cause serious damage with this type of Nunchaku but they're also hard to use. This Flail has long been a favorite for beginners. | ||||||
Morning Star | 15 | 99 | 200G | Steel Orb x2 Sharp Spike x2 | ||
The end of the Morning Star were equipped spike metal balls to cause more damage. It is a plain weapon, similar to Nunchaku, but it is fairly effective. | ||||||
Crescent Wish | 20 | 100 | 400G | Inferno Fang x1 Life Ring x1 Sharp Spike x4 | ||
The Crescent Wish is an extremely powerful weapon. Some rare items are required to forge the weapon. | ||||||
Strange Vision | 25 | 255 | 800G | Adamantine x1 Star Fragment x3 Curse Spike x2 | ||
This Strange Vision is famous for its ability to hit a target with perfect accuracy. It's also famous for its rarity. |
Shotguns[]
Irvine's weapons of choice as an accomplished gunman.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | Cost | Items Required | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Valiant | 12 | 105 | 100G | Steel Pipe x1 Screw x4 | ||
Guns have the advantages of range, but damage is less compared to swords. The Valiant uses powerful bullets to cause damage comparable to swords. | ||||||
Ulysses | 15 | 108 | 200G | Steel Pipe x1 Bomb Fragment x1 Screw x2 | ||
The Ulysses lacks style, but is a quality shotgun with tremendous fire power. The inelegant design was necessary to absorb the powerful recoil after firing. | ||||||
Bismarck | 20 | 110 | 400G | Steel Pipe x2 Dynamo Stone x4 Screw x8 | ||
Contrary to the Ulysses, the Bismarck has a sleek look. The rifle is very handy and light, but in turn requires more physical strength and energy to handle its powerful recoil. | ||||||
Exeter | 25 | 115 | 800G | Dino Bone x2 Moon Stone x1 Star Fragment x2 Screw x18 | ||
Exeter comes to mind when considering high powered guns. Despite its simple design, it's a fine weapon made of many rare materials. |
Other weapons[]
The following are the weapons used by other characters. None of these weapons can be purchased or remodeled, and they are not mentioned in any issue of Weapons Monthly.
Weapon | Image | Strength | Hit Rate | User |
---|---|---|---|---|
Machine Gun | 14 | 103 | Laguna | |
Laguna's firearm of choice used in his flashbacks. | ||||
Katal | 13 | 102 | Kiros | |
Kiros's dual-blades which he uses to slice enemies twice in succession. Their actual name is the Katar. | ||||
Harpoon | 16 | 98 | Ward | |
Ward's massive weapon which he throws like a javelin. | ||||
None | — | 20 | 97 | Edea |
Sorceress Edea does not wield a physical weapon in combat, instead attacking enemies with blasts of magical energy. |
Other appearances[]
Dissidia Final Fantasy[]
Squall Leonhart's exclusive weapons are gunblades from Final Fantasy VIII—the Revolver, the Twin Lance, the Punishment, and the Lion Heart. Squall wields the Revolver in battle and exchanges it for the Lion Heart in his EX Mode.
Ultimecia's exclusive weapons are Rinoa's Blaster Edges—the Valkyrie, Cardinal, and Shooting Star.
The Machine Gun appears as the weapon of the "Machine" set, which otherwise includes Tools from Final Fantasy VI.
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy[]
Squall and Ultimecia retain their exclusive weapons. Laguna wields his Machine Gun in battle, and the Machine Gun is now one of his exclusive weapons.
Zell's Ehrgeiz appears as a level 100 grappling weapon.
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT[]
Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia[]
Pictlogica Final Fantasy[]
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
Many weapons, including Irvine's guns, Squall's gunblades, Zell's gloves, Selphie's nunchakus, and Rinoa's blaster edges, appear as weapons.
Final Fantasy Record Keeper[]
- Weapons
- Sprites
Final Fantasy Brave Exvius[]
Mobius Final Fantasy[]
Other media[]
Dead Fantasy[]
Rinoa's fan-made weapons were created by the late Monty Oum based on the weapons seen in Final Fantasy VIII. The Vanishing Star gunblade is her primary weapon with the words "All Existence Has Denied" engraved on its blade. Silenced Tear is her secondary weapon. This blaster edge automatically forms into a disc-like blade she can launch with her wrist-mount launcher. She uses it for ranged attacks and has junctioned Holy and Tornado within her weapon.
Behind the scenes[]
The weapon Selphie wields is called "nunchaku" in the NTSC versions and "shinobou" in the English PAL version. This is because nunchakus are considered illegal weapons in the UK. For example, the use of nunchakus was, in the 1990s, censored from UK rebroadcasts of American children's TV, shows such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons, and films. In Final Fantasy VIII, Selphie's weapon model remains the same, but the name of the weapon has been changed to "shinobou" in the SeeD written test the player can take in the menu. In most media, the weapon is now called "nunchucks".
Rinoa's Blaster Edge might have been inspired by similar weapons found in Rudra no Hihō on the Super Famicom, a game that was released by Square in 1996. The weapons are mounted on the arm and launch a crescent-shaped scythe at the enemy.
Merchandise[]
Final Fantasy Master Arms include miniaturized replicas of both Squall's Revolver and Seifer's Hyperion.
The Lion Heart model is included in the Play Arts Arms set along with four other ultimate weapons.
Being Squall's primary and iconic weapon, a scaled replica of the Revolver gunblade has been featured with every Squall figurine regardless of what media or game the figure is portraying.