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Raise monster level

Description

LV Up is a command ability in Final Fantasy VIII used to raise an enemy's level during battle. It is counterpart to the LV Down ability. Bosses and certain other enemies are immune to level-change abilities.

Obtained[]

LV Up is known by the Guardian Force Tonberry, obtained by defeating Tonberry King after felling enough Tonberries at Centra Ruins.

If the player removes LV Up with Amnesia Greens, there is no need to get it back.

Mechanics[]

LV Up allows the player to manipulate regular enemies' levels, doubling the target's level per use to change what type of items can be mugged or won, as well as the type of spells that can be drawn from them, all while making the enemy stronger by boosting their stats and affecting what abilities they will use in battle. If the enemy has different elemental resistance on different levels, using LV Up/Down will not affect it, and the enemy keeps the elemental resistance/weakness it had at the start of the battle. LV Up can be used repeatedly and the effect will not wear off. The maximum level an enemy can have is 100.

If the character equipped with LV Up gets confused, they will never use the command in this state.

Use[]

LV Up can be used to make enemies give better items and spells, such as to get Laser Cannons from Belhelmels, Adamantines from Adamantoises, Flares and Meteors from Ruby Dragons, Power Generators from Blitzes, Moon Stones from Imps, Bomb Spirits from Bombs, and more Curse Spikes from Tri-Faces.

Higher level enemies also yield more EXP should the player want to grind with stat bonus abilities equipped, though there are dedicated places for that in he game where enemies always spawn on Level 100 (Islands Closest to Heaven and Hell).

Some high level enemies also yield permanent stat boosts when devoured: T-Rexaur for Strength, Behemoth for Magic, Adamantoise for Vitality, Malboro for Spirit, and Ruby Dragon for HP.

Elnoyle is immune to LV Up/Down, and so the player needs to be naturally high level to get Energy Crystals from them. Propagators are susceptible level-change abilities despite being pseudo bosses.

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