Ultra Waves (Final Fantasy VIII)

Ultra Waves
(超振動, Chō Shindō?, lit. Super Oscillation)
Availability
Obtained	Spider Web
Character(s)	Quistis
Classification
Type	Limit Break
Skillset	Blue Magic
Effect	Magic damage to all targets
Specifications
Power	27–48 depending on Crisis Level
Related pages
Recurring appearance	Ultra Waves

Ultra Waves is a Limit Break for Quistis in Final Fantasy VIII that deals magic damage to all enemies depending on her Magic stat and the current Crisis Level, a hidden stat in the game. It is a potentially early Blue Magic Limit Break, learned from a Spider Web. Blue Magic is available randomly when Quistis is on low health or under Aura.

Ultra Waves is also an enemy ability used by Caterchipillars, which in addition to dealing magic damage to all party members, also inflicts Berserk; Quistis's version only deals damage but hers is potentially stronger.

Obtained

The player teaches Ultra Waves to Quistis by using a Spider Web in the inventory. Spider Webs are obtained from Caterchipillars, enemies that roam the forests outside Balamb Garden, meaning the player can easily get one as soon as they first leave the Garden. Spider Webs can also be modified from Caterchipillar cards.

Mechanics

Ultra Waves deals non-elemental magic damage to all enemies as per the following formula:

$Damage = Magic + Power$

$Damage = Damage \times (265 - Target's~Spirit) / 4$

$Damage = Damage \times Power / 256$

Where "Magic" is Quistis's Magic stat, "Spirit" is the enemy's Spirit stat, and "Power" is one of the following values depending on the current Crisis Level:

Crisis Lv 1: 27

Crisis Lv 2: 33

Crisis Lv 3: 40

Crisis Lv 4: 48

This makes Ultra Waves about as strong as Drain at the lowest, and about as strong as Flare at the highest, but unlike these spells, will target all enemies.

Crisis Level is a hidden stat calculated based on how low the party's current HP is compared to their maximum, the number of dead allies, and the number of ailments the party members are afflicted with. The worse off the party is, the better Limit Break outcomes the player can expect. Crisis Level is also raised with the Aura status.

All damage is randomized slightly:

$Damage = Damage \times ([0..32] + 240) / 256$

If the target has Shell, damage is halved.

Limit Breaks never miss and are unaffected by Elem-Atk junctions.

Use

Ultra Waves is a Limit Break for Quistis that she can acquire early. Against groups it is better than her starting Limit Break, Laser Eye, but it is weaker than Laser Eye against single targets. Ultra Waves is mainly good at the very beginning of the game, as the player can likely do more damage with Guardian Forces. It is one of Quistis's few abilities that simply deals damage, as it lacks the berserking effect from the enemy version. It may be good against Granaldo and Raldo boss battle in the Garden training center. The boon of a Limit Break over Magic or GF is that it jumps the action queue and does not expend any Magic stocks or incur any Charge Time.

Because almost all of Quistis's Limit Breaks are magical, it is worth prioritizing her Magic stat with junctions. Out of the starter Guardian Forces, Quezacotl has Mag-J. She is also a good candidate for any GFs that have Mag+% abilities.

If the player is investing in the card game since the start, they may get numerous Blue Magic items early, such as a Black Hole that teaches Degenerator, which is one of her most useful Blue Magic spells. Ultra Waves will be superseded in non-elemental magic damage against all foes by Ray-Bomb and Shockwave Pulsar, but these are Blue Magic spells the player is only likely to get near the end of the game. The elemental Electrocute and Aqua Breath can also be obtained early via the card game, and are stronger than Ultra Waves.