The Final Fantasy VIII remaster was released in 2019 and is one of the most impressive looking games from the PS1 era. This is thanks to the great art design that the series is known for and the more realistic direction the game took compared to other games in the series.

Even though its predecessor Final Fantasy VII has the biggest fan base, on a visual level final Fantasy VIII is arguably the most timeless from a visual standpoint. Until the remaster Final Fantasy VIII was often considered as the black sheep of the PlayStation era Final Fantasy titles.

It was a game that took risks and was quite a departure for the series due to its combat mechanics but that departure for series is something that is more appreciated today. The game also had fewer weapons to obtain in the game and many of which could be obtained early. Here are the strongest and most effective weapons in Final Fantasy VIII.

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10 Flame Saber (Squall)

The Flame Saber is an elemental Gunblade that is affiliated with fire. It takes inspiration from the Flametongue weapon that first appeared in Final Fantasy V. It was also a prominent weapon in Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XII, and Final Fantasy XV.

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The Flame Saber is a weapon for Squall that requires four screws, one turtle shell, and a Betrayal Sword. It also allows Squall to cast the Limit Break called Blasting Zone an ability that can do massive damage to all enemies.

9 Twin Lance (Squall)

The Twin Lance is a Gunblade for Squall and allows him to cast the same Limit Break abilities as the Flame Saber. These abilities are Rough Divide, Fated Circle, and Blasting Zone. The items required for the Twin Lance are the Dino Bone, two Red Fangs, and 12 screws.

It’s Squall’s next weapon advancement after the Flame Saber and has a strength of 22. In addition, it has a high hit rate like all of Squall’s Gunblades at 255%. The Twin Lance’s appearance resembles that of the Gungnir lance used by the Dragoon classes in the Final Fantasy universe.

8 The Cardinal (Rinoa)

The Cardinal weapon is a ranged projectile weapon known as a Blaster Edge that is used by Rinoa. With a strength of 24 and a hit rate percentage of 104, it is her second most powerful weapon. The design is based on the cardinal bird and bears the same colors.

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It’s one of Rinoa’smost accurate weapons and requires a Cockatrice Pinion, the Mesmerize Blade, and a sharp spike to create. The Cardinal was also used by Ultimecia in Dissidia: Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 which is possibly an allusion to the fan theory that Rinoa and Ultimecia were one and the same.

7 Ehrgeiz (Zell)

The Ehrgeiz is a fighting glove based weapon that belongs to Zell. With a strength level of 25 and a hit rate percentage of 103, it is his ultimate weapon. There are no special requirements to obtain the weapon as it can be found in the game’s Junk Shops.

The items needed to obtain the Ehrgeiz are the Adamantine, four Dragon Skin, and one Fury Fragment. Zell’s ultimate weapon also shares its name with the Final Fantasy VII fighting game Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring.

6 Punishment (Squall)

The Punishment Gunblade is Squall’s second most powerful weapon in the game. It has a hit rate percentage of 255 and strength of 24 and just like the Twin Blade, it resembles the Dragoon Lance. Punishment also appears in Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy.

It is obtained by trading in the Chef’s Knife, two Star Fragments, eight Screws and a Turtle Shell. Just like the Twin Lance and the Flame Saber, it allows Squall to cast the Limit Breaks Rough Divide, Fated Circle, and Blasting Zone.

5 The Exeter (Irvine)

The Exeter is a shotgun with a strength of 25 and a hit rate percentage of 115. It is Irvine’s ultimate weapon and be created by trading in two Dino Bones, one Moon Stone, two Star Fragments, and eighteen screws.

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The weapon doesn’t require a specific quest to obtain it but the items required to trade for it in a Junk Shop are very. The Moon Stone can only be obtained in Esthar in the later stages of which would have been disc 3 on the original PS1 version of the game for example.

4 Save The Queen (Quistis)

Save the Queen is a whip-based weapon that is used by the character Quistis. With a strength of 25 and a hit-percentage of 105, it is her ultimate weapon. It is created by trading two Malboro Tentacles, four Sharp Spikes, and four Energy Crystals at the Junk Shops.

The Save the Queen weapon has a long history in the Final Fantasy series and is usually associated with swords. It was Celes’ ultimate weapon in Final Fantasy VI and was a special weapon that leveled up with Beatrix is Final Fantasy IX making it her most powerful weapon if she was leveled up above 85.

3 Shooting Star (Rinoa)

The Shooting Star is Rinoa’s ultimate weapon with a strength level of 28 and a hit rate of 107%. It is created by trading in two Windmills, one Regen Ring, one Force Armlet, and two Energy Crystals at Junk Shops.

The weapon also appeared at Ultimecia’s weapon in Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy. Again, this could be associated with the fan theory that connects Rinoa and Ultimecia and the angel wing design is an allusion to the Rinoa’s Angel Wing Limit Break.

2 Strange Vision (Selfie)

The Strange Vision weapon is a nunchaku that is used by Selphie. With a hit rate for 255 and a strength level of 25 is both her ultimate weapon and the second strongest and most reliably accurate weapon in the game.

It created by trading an Adamantine, three Star Fragments, and two Curse Spikes at the Junk Shops. It can be obtained early in the game at Deling City if the player uses the Card Mod GF ability on the Minotaur Card which will give them 10 rare Adamantine items.

1 Lion Heart (Squall)

The Lion Heart is Squall’s most powerful Gunblade. It is his ultimate weapon and the most powerful weapon in the game with a strength level of 30 and a hit rate percentage of 255. It also allows Squall to use his ultimate Limit Break ability called the Lion Heart.

The weapon can be obtained early during a visit to Deling City. To do this, players will need to play a lot of Triple Triad card games to obtain enough Elnoyle Cards so they can be Card Modded into Pulse Ammo. However, players need a total of twelve Pulse Ammo items to trade at the Junk Shops. Additionally, the Card Mode ability will be needed to gain an Adamtine from the Minotaur card.

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