Junctions Magic to Speed
Description
Spd-J is a junction ability in Final Fantasy VIII. When a party member junctions a Guardian Force that has Spd-J mastered, they can raise their Speed by equipping spells from their current Magic inventory to this stat in the junction menu. Speed determines the rate the character's ATB gauge fills during battle. Unlike most junction abilities, Spd-J is commonly only available in the mid to late game.
Obtained[]
The GFs Pandemona, Cerberus, and Eden learn Spd-J natively for 120 AP. It can also be taught to any GF AP-free with the Spd-J Scroll item, easiest obtained by mugging it from Cerberus.
Mechanics[]
Spd-J allows the character equipping a GF who knows the ability to junction spells to their Speed stat; this value is where Spd+% abilities calculate their increase. Any spell can be junctioned to Spd-J, but different spells offer variable increases. The best spells for Spd-J are Haste, Ultima, and Triple.
The following spell list is from worst to best for Spd-J; effect on Speed per single spell. The maximum is 100 spells to one stat, and each spell can be junctioned to one stat at a time (exception, see junction glitch); if the player wants to equip a spell to another stat, it will be unequipped from the current -J ability. When using a draw point, if the offered spell is currently being junctioned to an active party member's stat, it will show a symbol next to it when choosing the recipient upon using the draw point. Maximum Speed is 255.
| Spells | Effect |
|---|---|
| Zombie | Spd +0.02 |
| Cure / Esuna / Protect / Shell / Blind / Meltdown / Scan | Spd +0.03 |
| Cura / Life / Silence / Sleep / Pain | Spd +0.04 |
| Berserk / Bio | Spd +0.05 |
| Drain | Spd +0.06 |
| Quake | Spd +0.07 |
| Fire / Blizzard / Thunder / Dispel / Regen / Full-life | Spd +0.08 |
| Curaga / Aura / Double / Reflect / Death / Break / Holy | Spd +0.10 |
| Fira / Blizzara / Thundara / Water / Demi / Flare | Spd +0.12 |
| Firaga / Blizzaga / Thundaga | Spd +0.14 |
| Float | Spd +0.16 |
| Confuse | Spd +0.18 |
| Aero | Spd +0.20 |
| Meteor / Apocalypse[note 1] | Spd +0.30 |
| Tornado | Spd +0.33 |
| Slow | Spd +0.40 |
| Stop | Spd +0.48 |
| Haste | Spd +0.50 |
| Ultima | Spd +0.60 |
| Triple | Spd +0.70 |
- ↑ Cannot be junctioned in a normal playthrough
Use[]
Spd-J is a boon to have on as many active party members as possible, as without it, the character is left with their base Spd that only grows slightly per level up and there is no "Spd Bonus" ability. The player can also raise Speed via Spd+% abilities, Haste, and Auto-Haste, but all of these work better the higher the character's base Spd stat is.
Spd-J is a mid-game ability, first natively learned by Pandemona, drawn from the wind boss in Balamb Town hotel. The player can easily get three more Spd-J: Spd-J Scroll from Cerberus as a boss in the Battle of the Gardens (the player needs to use Mug) and after recruiting him, he also learns it natively, and one more from Eden, drawn from the boss at the bottom of the hidden island in the corner of the world map accessed in the late game.
Haste and Triple are great spells for Spd-J. Haste is drawn from Cactuars on the Centra region deserts and made from Magic Stones and Lightweights with Diablos's Time Mag-RF. Triple is easiest obtained by drawing from the boss fought under a timer in Centra Ruins: the player can whittle its HP to almost dead and then draw until the timer is about to run out.
Spd-J is great for everyone, but especially for Rinoa when she uses Angel Wing.