Refine Water/Ice Magic from an item
Description
I Mag-RF (ice magic refiner) is a menu ability in Final Fantasy VIII that allows the player to make ice and water magic spells from certain items. Making spells from items is generally much more convenient than drawing from enemies, and can let the player get high tier spells earlier than enemies would offer them.
Obtained[]
The Guardian Force Shiva learns I Mag-RF for 30 AP. Shiva is Squall's starter GF that he has since the beginning of the game (inspect the Study Panel at the classroom). If the player removes I Mag-RF with Amnesia Greens, there is no way to get it back.
Mechanics[]
Using I Mag-RF in the Ability menu enables the player to make spells from items currently in their possession and allocate the resultant spells to a party member who has space in their Magic inventory. Each party member has 32 slots for Magic, and can hold 100 spells of each type.
| Item | Refine Into |
|---|---|
| Arctic Wind | 1 = 20 Blizzara |
| Fish Fin | 1 = 20 Water |
| Magic Stone | 1 = 5 Blizzara |
| M-Stone Piece | 1 = 5 Blizzard |
| North Wind | 1 = 20 Blizzaga |
| Water Crystal | 1 = 50 Water |
| Wizard Stone | 1 = 5 Blizzaga |
Use[]
Setting I Mag-RF as the first ability Shiva learns is a good idea, as the first boss (Ifrit) and the toughest monster in the Balamb region (T-Rexaur) are both weak to ice. The player would need to grind AP for Shiva and play Triple Triad for refiner items, however, to have high tier ice magic this early, though doing so is not needed for a casual playthrough.
Early game means of getting items for I Mag-RF include fighting Glacial Eyes on the plains near Balamb Garden, or collecting their cards, to get Arctic Winds to make into Blizzara spells. Playing Triple Triad and collecting Snow Lion cards would also net North Winds to make into Blizzaga.
Water is a strong early game spell, more powerful than other elemental first tier magic for both casting and junctioning. The player can get Fish Fins from the fish on the beach on the world map and Water Crystals from their cards with Quezacotl's Card Mod and make them into Water.