Leviathan (Final Fantasy VIII)

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Leviathan
(リヴァイアサン, Rivaiasan?)
Portrait(s)
Specifications
Element	Water
Summon abilities	Tsunami
Taught abilities	Mag-J, Spr-J, Elem-Atk-J, Elem-Def-Jx2 Magic, GF, Draw, Item, Recover Spr+20%, Spr+40%, Spr Bonus, Auto-Potion, SumMag+10%, SumMag+20%, SumMag+30%, GFHP+10%, GFHP+20%, GFHP+30%, Boost Supt Mag-RF, GFRecov Med-RF
Behind the scenes information
Designer(s)	Tetsuya Nomura
More information
Recurring appearance

Leviathan is a Water-elemental Guardian Force in Final Fantasy VIII. It is a serpent that summons a tidal wave to wash over opponents. It was the first Guardian Force unveiled for Final Fantasy VIII and appeared in an early PlayStation demo, and also later appeared in the PC version demo.

It learns Magic and Spirit junctions and elemental attack and defense. It is the only Guardian Force to learn the Recover command naturally, which deals a full heal up to 9999 HP to a target and can thus also be used to damage undead opponents. It also learns a support ability that has the junctioner automatically use a recovery potion when they are hit by an enemy. Its unique abilities make support magic and GF recovery medicine from items, and an ability that boosts the user's Spirit upon level up.

Profile

Leviathan is a pale blue sea serpent with green and purple aspects. It somewhat resembles a dragon in appearance an is covered in scales. It has two spiky fins near its head, and another larger pair that more resembles fish fins further down its body. It has a dorsal fin near its tail. Leviathan is one of the larger Guardian Forces.

Obtained

NORG.

Leviathan can be drawn from NORG. If missed, it can later be drawn from Trauma in the final dungeon. If missed on both occasions, Leviathan cannot be obtained in that playthrough. Obtaining Leviathan in the Steam version earns the player the achievement Leviathan.

Battle

Leviathan "Tsunami" from FINAL FANTASY VIII Remastered

Leviathan's attack, Tsunami, is Water-elemental and damages all enemies. He can wash away smaller enemies, defeating them instantly (otherwise known as eject). Leviathan's summon time is 21.4s, which, according to Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania, allows the player to boost the damage to around 230% of normal damage using a regular PlayStation controller.

The damage is calculated as follows:

$Damage = 63 * Level / 10 + 47 + 10$

$Damage = Damage * (265 - TargetSpr) / 8$

$Damage = Damage * 47 / 256$

$Damage = Damage * Boost / 100$

$Damage = Damage * (100 + SummonMagBonus) / 100$

$Damage = Damage * (900 - ElemDef) / 100:$

Elemental Defense starts at 800 (0%), 900 nullifies damage and 1000 absorbs it. If an enemy is shown to be weak against an element, its Elemental Defense is below 800. If damage becomes negative (due to high Elemental Defense), the target is healed by that amount.

Compatibility

The charge time for summoning depends on the compatibility between the character and the GF and the Battle Speed. The greater the compatibility, the less time it takes to summon. Compatibility can be boosted with compatibility boosting items, by casting magic that is the same element as the Guardian Force and by summoning the GF during battle. Perhaps because there is only one Water-related spell, Leviathan's compatibility is also boosted by using top-tier magic like Ultima. Compatibility is reduced by using "opposing" magic to the GF's element and other summons.

Compatibility Chart
Summon Effect	Leviathan +20, Quezacotl -10, Every other GF -1.6
Compatibility Items	Fish Fin +2, LuvLuvG +20
Casting Magic	Holy +1, Water +1, Apocalypse +0.2, Flare +0.2, Meteor +0.2, Ultima +0.2, Thunder -0.4, Thundara -0.6, Thundaga -0.8

The below values are the base compatibility values with all playable characters at the start of the game. Even if Seifer cannot junction Leviathan in a normal playthrough, a default compatibility value still exists for him.

Party member	Compatibility
Squall	Template:Var
Quistis	Template:Var
Zell	Template:Var
Selphie	Template:Var
Rinoa	Template:Var
Irvine	Template:Var
Seifer	Template:Var
Edea	Template:Var

Stats

The following table represents the base stats:

Level	HP	Attack Power
17	1,349	963
20	1,546	1,075
30	2,206	1,445
40	2,847	1,815
50	3,550	2,186
60	4,234	2,555
70	4,926	2,925
80	5,626	3,295
90	6,334	3,666
100	7,050	4,036

Abilities

Abilities learned naturally by Leviathan are listed below:

Ability	AP	Prerequisite
Mag-J	50	None
Spr-J	(Already learned)
Elem-Atk-J	160	Mag-J
Elem-Def-Jx2	130	None
Magic	(Already learned)
GF	(Already learned)
Draw	(Already learned)
Item	(Already learned)
Recover	200	None
Spr+20%	60	None
Spr+40%	120	Spr+20%

Ability	AP	Prerequisite
Spr Bonus	100	Spr+40%
Auto-Potion	150	None
SumMag+10%	40	None
SumMag+20%	70	SumMag+10%
SumMag+30%	140	SumMag+20%
GFHP+10%	40	None
GFHP+20%	70	GFHP+10%
GFHP+30%	140	GFHP+20%
Boost	10	None
Supt Mag-RF	30	None
GFRecov Med-RF	30	Supt Mag-RF

Triple Triad

Leviathan Card
	Element	Water
	Refine	1 refines into 3 Doc's Codes
	Drop	n/a
	Card	n/a
Level 9 (GF Card)	Win	CC Group Joker in Balamb Garden Training Center (appears randomly in the easternmost screen after Garden has become mobile).

Other appearances

Final Fantasy VIII demos

Rinoa summons Leviathan.

In the PlayStation demo that takes place during the Siege of Dollet, the party has Leviathan. It is the only Guardian Force the party can summon as the menu is disabled. Leviathan can be summoned by Rinoa, who is not playable for this segment in the final game.

The PC version demo included Squall and Quistis's trip to the Balamb Garden training center, ending with the battle against Granaldo. The party has Leviathan, a Guardian Force not available at that point in the full game.

Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)

Leviathan's auto-summon in Dissidia.

Leviathan is a summon who uses Tsunami, which repeatedly washes away Bravery Points during a certain period of time from the summoner's opponent. Its auto-summon summons it immediately when the summoner suffers a break, and shows its Final Fantasy VIII artwork. Leviathan's auto version is obtained in the third stage of the Destiny Odyssey V storyline.

Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy

Leviathan returns with the same function. His auto version is now found in Chapter Five: Entrusted Power of Scenario 013.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival

Leviathan.

The Leviathan in All-Star Carnival is based on the GF from Final Fantasy VIII.

Final Fantasy Artniks

The GF Leviathan appears on a card.

Mobius Final Fantasy

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Final Fantasy Trading Card Game

Leviathan from Final Fantasy VIII appears on a water-elemental trading card.

Gallery

Artwork by Tetsuya Nomura.

Sketch by Tetsuya Nomura.

Tsunami.

Tsunami.

Storyboard concept.

Final Fantasy Creatures Vol 1.

Transcendent Artists Collection: Final Fantasy VIII.

Etymology

[view · edit · purge]Leviathan (Biblical Hebrew לִוְיָתָן or לווייתן Liwyāthān) is a violent sea creature referred to in the Hebrew Bible as well as the Talmud and some other ancient Jewish texts. The Ugaritic equivalent being Lotan. During the golden age of seafaring, the term Leviathan became synonymous with any large sea creature, sometimes describing whales. Bible scholars interpreted Leviathan to be either a demonic sea creature and an enemy of God.

The Talmud and other ancient Jewish sources refer to Leviathan more specifically as a sea serpent, sometimes with multiple heads capable of breathing fire, that was made on the fifth day of Creation. It is said that during the end of days, God will make tents, or sukkah, out of the skin of Leviathan for the righteous to live in. Some have speculated that Leviathan was based on a real animal, the most popular theory being the Kronosaurus and the Nile crocodile.

Leviathan is also one of the seven princes of Hell associated with the deadly sin Envy and Hell's gatekeeper in Christian demonology.

In the Final Fantasy series, Leviathan is sometimes referred to as the King of the Seas. Its incarnation in the series appears to derive from the legends of the Shinto god Ryūjin or Owatatsumi, said to be the dragon god that reigns over the seas. It also resembles the Chinese dragon, mystical beings seen as the rulers of moving bodies of water, and the Dragon God as the dispenser of rain.