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Squall is the main playable character in Final Fantasy VIII. He is the most powerful party member due to his Renzokuken Limit Break's sheer strength and his gunblades, which can manually be triggered to deal a critical hit every time, and have a 255% accuracy and thus never miss. Like other playable characters, there is also a Triple Triad card based on Squall. He is also playable in demos for Final Fantasy VIII.

Party member[]

Squall is the default party member the player starts with, and will be the player character for most of the game. He is powerful and versatile. During dream world sequences, Squall always inhabits Laguna, his junctions transferring over.

In his intro pose Squall stands with his gunblade resting on his shoulder before slashing the air. In his victory pose he will slash the air twice, then turn his back on the camera with his gunblade resting on his shoulder.

Weapons[]

Case

Squall's gunblade in its case.

Squall uses the hybrid weapon known as the gunblade in battle. Through upgrades via junk shops he can come to wield variant models, although in cutscenes he always wields the Revolver. The player should prioritize upgrading Squall's weapons as he gains new Limit Break finishers from them as well as improved attack power. The upgrades are described in Weapons Monthly magazines, but having the corresponding magazine for an upgrade is not needed if the player only has the materials.

Gunblades provide 255% accuracy, making Squall the most proficient melee fighter as he never misses, even when afflicted by the Darkness status. When pressing the R1 trigger immediately as the weapon hits an enemy, he can boost the damage dealt by 50%.

Squall's own model gunblade is unique, featuring a stenciled Griever on both sides of the blade, as well as having a chained pendant of Griever's head attached to the handle's base. The gunblade's casing is also custom, featuring an enlarged image of Squall's Griever pendant on the lid.

There are seven gunblade models available for Squall to use:

  • Revolver – Initial model. Described in Weapons Monthly, March Issue.
  • Shear Trigger – Described in Weapons Monthly, April Issue.
  • Cutting Trigger – Described in Weapons Monthly, May Issue.
  • Flame Saber – Described in Weapons Monthly, June Issue.
  • Twin Lance – Described in Weapons Monthly, July Issue.
  • Punishment – Described in Weapons Monthly, August Issue.
  • Lion Heart – Described in Weapons Monthly, 1st Issue.

Limit Break[]

Lionheart 2

Squall performing the Lion Heart.

Squall's Limit Break is Renzokuken. The player is prompted to tap the R1 trigger button at the correct time, indicated by a moving bar on the bottom of the screen. Some bosses have unique Renzokuken sequences. Squall will slash the targeted enemy four to eight times before possibly beginning one of his four finishing moves.

The finishing move is chosen randomly, but Squall learns finishing moves in accordance to his acquiring of new gunblade models, and can only do a certain finishing move if he is wielding the gunblade model necessary to perform that technique. For instance, Squall cannot use the Lion Heart finisher if he is not equipped with the Lion Heart gunblade.

Finishers

Stats[]

Squall starts at level 7 with his EXP bar half-way filled, similar to how Cloud always levels up in his first battle in Final Fantasy VII. Squall's first level up being from level 7 to level 8 alludes to the number 8. Natural stat growth is a minor influence in Final Fantasy VIII because of the junction system, but Squall has generally high stats compared to other party members. His Hit% is always 255% because of his weapon. Because he already has perfect hit rate, and his critical hits are manually triggered, the player may be better off prioritizing the other party members with Luck junctions.

LVHPStrVitMagSprSpdLuck
226722222015
331123332015
435533432015
539944542115
644255552115
748666652116
852966762116
957277862116
1165998982216
12702991082216
137451091092216
1478811101192216
15831121112102316
16873121112102316
17916131213112316
18959131214122316
191001141314122316
211086161416132417
221129161516142417
231171171517142417
241213171618142417
251255181718152517
261297191719162517
271339191819162517
281381201820172517
291423201821172517
311506222021182517
321547222022182517
331589232023192517
341630232123192517
351671242224202618
361713252224202618
371754252325212618
381795262325212618
391836262326212618
411918272427222718
421958282527232718
431999282528232718
442040292629232718
452080302629242818
462121302729242818
472161302730252818
482201312730252818
492241312831252819
512321322931262919
522361332932262919
532401332932272919
542441343033272919
552481343033283019
562521353034283019
572560353134283019
582600353134283019
592639363135283019
612718373236293019
622757373336293019
632796373336303020
642835383337303020
652874383437303120
662913393437303120
672951393438313120
682990393438313120
693029403438313120
713106403539323220
723144413539323220
733183413640323220
743221413640323220
753259423640333320
763297423640333320
773335423741333321
783373423741333321
793411433741333321
813486433742333421
823524443842333421
833561443842343421
843599443843343421
853636443843343521
863673453843343521
873711453943343521
883748453943343521
893785453944343521
913859463944353522
923896463944353522
933932463944353522
943969464044353522
954006474045353622
964042474045353622
974079474045353622
984115474045353622
994151474045353622
1004187474145363722

Guardian Forces[]

Squall summons Ifrit from FFVIII Remastered

Squall summons.

Compatibility with Guardian Forces determines how long the Charge Time is when summoning them. The below values are the base compatibility values at the start of the game, but changes as Squall acts in battle, as some actions boost compatibility whereas others lower it. Using compatibility items on him in the menu can also be used to boost compatibility. However, it is a minor mechanic in the game and can be ignored.

Squall is better off junctioning GFs that give Str-J to capitalize on his excellent physical capabilities. Out of the starter GFs, Shiva, can learn it initially, and Ifrit joins with it already learned. Ifrit also has Str+% abilities to further boost Squall's physical attack, making him a good GF for Squall for a good portion of the game. However, the GFs' abilities are highly customizable later on.

GF Compatibility
Quezacotl 580
Shiva 570
Ifrit 600
Siren 560
Brothers 576
Diablos 660
Carbuncle 580
Leviathan 620
Pandemona 570
Cerberus 640
Alexander 580
Doomtrain 540
Bahamut 520
Cactuar 580
Tonberry 540
Eden 480

Optional interactions[]

The player can log into Squall's Study Panel in the 2F classroom in Balamb Garden when playing as him. The information viewable there changes as different points in the game.

Squallasleep

Irvine in Squall's room while he is asleep.

The player can't usually interact with Squall as an "NPC" because he stays as the controlled character so much of the game. After Balamb Garden becomes mobile, when the party members are not assigned as player characters, they can be seen wandering the Garden on their own. During the short time he is not in the party (during the scene the party is choosing the instruments to play at the FH concert), Squall can be found sleeping in his dorm. The player can interact with him as Irvine, but only "..." appears.

Squall uses magic inside from FFVIII

Squall breaking school rules.

There are couple events in the Garden the player can do as Squall, but if the player follows through, their SeeD rank will go down. After completing the Fire Cavern and obtaining Ifrit, two students will be sitting outside the 2F classroom. They will ask if Squall can show them his gunblade. If he does, Instructor Aki will arrive to give demerit points towards Squall's future SeeD rank. After the encounter with NORG, a student on 2F of the Garden will request a display of magic power. If Squall obliges, Instructor Aki will arrive to deduct a SeeD rank as punishment.

Triple Triad[]

TTSquall

Squall is a Level 10 Player Card in Triple Triad used for playing the minigame and for turning into 3 Three Stars with Quezacotl's Card Mod. The card is won off Laguna in Esthar City palace or on the Ragnarok. Squall's card is the final card of the inventory and also the final card of the game were the player to get every card as early as they can.

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