Guardian Forces

Guardian Forces are unique to Final Fantasy VIII. A kind of summons creature, they can be acquired through beating certain bosses in the game, or through beatin the Guardian Force it self. If you do this, you’ll win a GF as the spoils of victory, or the GF will call a truce and willingly join your team. Each GF is different, some are able to deliver elemental damage, while others will cause status ailments or black magic.

Guardian Force	Description
	Alexander is a unique Guardian Force, one of the few who are able to cast third level magic. Shooting brilliant white hotmissiles into the sky above from each set of cannons, his attack damages all enemies with holy. You acquire Alexander when you fight and beat Edea at Galbadia Garden. Don’t forget to draw before you deliver the finishing strike! Or you’ll beat Edea, but you’ll walk away empty handed.
	Bahamut is the legendary dragon whom dwells within the Deep Sea Research Centre. A wise opponent, and very useful ally once beaten, Bahamut’s attack comes to life as a great flaming flare within his mouth, which issues forth to do devastating fire damage. To actually beat Bahumut, keep Squall at critical and pound him with his limit break. If you keep healing your team members, you’ll win quite easily.
	Cactuar is a cactus whom annialates any given enemy with his attack 1 000 spines. You can acquire this odd little fellow by defeating a certain number of smaller cactuars, which give way to a Giant Cactuar whom you must beat. The Giant Cactuar is a coward and when he recieves extensive damage he will try to flee. If he does, you don’t get the Guardian Force. So when he ‘hesitates’ in his attacks against you, pound him as hard as you can and you’ll have yourself a new ally!
	Carbuncle is the first offensive Guardian Force you will have the opportunity to recieve during the game. Meaning, he won’t damage the enemy, but he’ll protect you! If you summon Carbuncle during battle, he pops up from his hole in the ground and leaps into the air, to cast Ruby Light, which in effect casts protect and shell on all your party members. To acquire this Guardian Force, you must beat the two reptiles Edea awakens during the Sorceress Float Parade. So don’t forget to draw!
	Cerberus is the Guardian of the Gates of Hell. A formidable three headed hound, you must defeat him at Galbadia Garden to acquire him. Cerberus, like Carbuncle does not damage your enemies, but casts the magical status effects double and triple on your party members. Thus allowing your characters to cast two or three magic spells in one attack! Definitely very handy.
	Boco the Chocobo is an endearing little thing that plops into battle in a mass of golden feathers. Looking around in confusion, she realises you need her aid and tucking down and concentrating, she unleashes a flare of Choco Fire on your enemies. Boco will only appear after visiting a Chocobo Forest and buying some Gysahl Greens.
	Named after the devil that he is, Diablos the mysterious Guardian Force within the secret bottle that Head Master Cid gives to you before you go on your Timber mission. Born of a mass of bats, he reaches forth one arm and conjures a enormous ball of dark matter which he then heaves at your enemy, arcane, star sighn like symbols appear on a purple dome of light. To acquire this demon Guardian Force, you must first go to your menu, and choose to use the secret bottle, thus taking you into battle against. Come of the fight victorious, and he’s yours to use.
	Doomtrain, very literally, a train of doom for your poor enemies! Casting nearly every status ailment possible, and causing heavy non-elemental damage, he is a definite must in big battles. To acquire Doomtrain must use and have the Solomon Ring, 6x Steel Pipes, a Remedy+, and 6x Malboro Tentacles. One of the best Guardian Force’s in the game without doubt.
	Named after the Biblical Garden of Eden, Eden the Guardian Force is anything but beautiful and peaceful, an enigma of great power, Eden, when summoned, at his best can knock of an easy 40 000+ HP off of your enemies. His attack, Eternal Breath is an awe inspiring animation to watch. His special ability ‘Devour’ is also very useful. To acquire Eden, you must drawn him from Ultima Weapon, or from the dragon Tiamat on the fourth disk.
	Gilgamesh is a red cloaked undead knight, and is the second form of the demi-Guardian Force, Odin. Appearing at random, Gilgamesh has four attacks and four swords, Zantesuken, Excalibur, Masamune and Excalipor. He’s just one of those demi-Guardian Force’s who, if you get into a battle with a Malboro, you thank God that he randomly appeared!
	Ifrit is the first Guard Force that you acquire in the game of your own accord, by completing the Field Test in the Fire Cavern. A demon of flare, Ifrit rises into the heaven on a ball of flame, which he then slams down with both fists into the earth, crushing and burning your enemies, with his attack Hell Fire. If you successfully pummel Ifrit, he will insult you, before acquiescing to join you.
	A huge Chinese water dragon, Leviathan is very much like her Biblical counterpart. Appearing from within the air, he causes a rock wall to rise from the earth. Settling atop this wall, he glows and water erupts from the top of the wall, becoming a raging waterfall, whose tide crashed down on your enemy, causing heavy water damage. You must draw him from Garden Master NORG when the missiles are heading for Balamb Garden!
	Mini Mog is without a doubt the cutest demi-Guardian Force in the whole game. Dancing on a disco stage, this little mog, when summoned, will restore your Guardian Force’s HP! Demi-Guardian Force? They only appear in battle at random, or when you use an item affiliated with them. Mini Mog is obviously very useful, as if you are running low on Guardian Force-potions, all you need do is get into a battle and summon her! And your Guardian Force’s will be healed. This demi-Guardian Force is so rare in appearing that few fans actually know she exists.
	Moomba the moomba is a demi-Guardian Force, whom appears at random when you have a ‘friendship’ item in your inventory. Appearing on screen, he kicks up a fuss with his trade-mark, Paw Attack, dealing considerable non-elemental damage to your enemies. A part of having this ally is due to your party befriending a jailed moomba at the D-District prison.
	Named after a Norse god, Odin is the undead knight who dwells in the Centra Ruins with his zombie minions. Odin will only appear at random, cuasing instant death to all enemies, every time, guaranteed. One of the more awesome demi-Guardian Force’s in the game. To acquire Odin, you must make you way through the Centra Ruins and complete a puzzle. Upon defeating him in a battle, he will join your party.
	Pandemona can best be described as a sumo sized vacuum cleaner, made of flesh. A extremely odd looking Guard Force, Pandemona sucks all enemies into his air sack and then proceeds to blow them out, slamming them to the ground and taking off considerable non-elemental damage. To acquire Pandemona, you must draw him from Fujin when you battle her and Rajin the Balamb Harbour Hotel.
	Phoenix, a lustrous, firey bird born of ashes, she arises from an outline of flame on the ground and flies up into the air, wings outspread in rainbow colours. A demi-Guardian Force, Phoenix has the ability to bring back KO’d party members. Phoenix will only appear randomly, and only if you have the item Phoenix Pinion in your inventory. On the Ragnarok, Phoenix is very helpful.
	Quezacotl, a bird of myth; when summoned appears in a flash of light, unfurling his wings to their full expanse. Hovering mid-air, he focuses electric energy at his beak, conjuring a great lightning storm dome to surround your enemy. The dome then explodes, tearing up the earth and slamming them to the ground, dealing heavy lightning damage. You acquire Quezacotl at the very start of Squall’s journey when Quistis takes you through the Guardian Force tutorial.
	Shiva is the Goddess of Ice. A beautiful golden haired, blue skinned nymph, she arises from the earth in a crystal pinnacle of ice. Opening her eyes, she shatters her icy prison and gathering her power, she flings forth her attack Diamond Dust on your enemies, dealing severe ice damage. You acquire Shiva at the very start of Squall’s journey when Quistis takes you through the Guardian Force tutorial.
	Resembling her ancient namesake, Siren is in the form of a beautiful scantily clad woman with wings, atop a rock in a crimson sea. Strumming her harp, she sends forth waves of sound on your enemy, casting the status effect silence on them, rendering them unable to use magic against you for the remainder of the battle. You acquire Siren by drawing her from Elnoyl at the top of the Communication Tower at Dollet on your first SeeD Mission.
	The Brothers are a pair of mismatched minotaurs. One outargeously small compared to the other. Playing a game of paper, rock and scissors, Sacred thrusts his brother high into the air, breaking through a layer of rock on which your enemies are standing. Casuing them to plummit to the ground and be hit by rock, causing earth damage. To acquire The Brothers, you must complete the Student ID mission at the Tomb of the Forgotten King.
	A small green turle-like creature with a mermaid tail, Tonberry is a Guardian Force that you must defeat twenty tonberries in the Centra Ruins to acquire. Popping out of a hole in the ground, Tonberry goes forth and ‘doinks’ an enemy, stabbing them with his chefs knife. Though this little guy is a tonberry, he is nothing like the tonberries which you have to fight to get him. Compared to them, he is actually very weak.