Fire Breath (Final Fantasy VIII)

Fire Breath is a Limit Break for Quistis in Final Fantasy VIII that deals Fire-elemental magic damage to all enemies depending on her Magic stat and the current Crisis Level, a hidden stat in the game. It is Quistis's strongest elemental Blue Magic spell. Fire Breath is learned from an Inferno Fang, which means it is likely to be learned mid-game unless the player grinds the card game. Blue Magic is available randomly when Quistis is on low health or under Aura.

The ability's enemy version is Ruby Dragon's Breath attack, though it is non-elemental and physical whereas Quistis's version is magical and elemental.

Obtained[]

The player teaches Fire Breath to Quistis by using an Inferno Fang in the inventory. Inferno Fangs can drop from Hexadragons (LV20+) and Ruby Dragons. Inferno Fangs can also be mugged from Ruby Dragons.

Both types of dragon can be fought in the mid-game when the player has the means to traverse most of the world map. Hexadragons are fought in Grandidi Forest (only accessible via chocobo) and Ruby Dragons are fought in the forest near Edea's House. Both are fairly tough enemies, but can be defeated instantly with Quistis's Degenerator. When the player has a flying transport, both enemies can also be fought on the Island Closest to Hell.

Rather than getting an Inferno Fang from the dragons, the player could collect 10 Ruby Dragon cards by playing Triple Triad, and transform them with Quezacotl's Card Mod. This method is available since the beginning of the game, but it would be a grind to collect 10 Ruby Dragon cards. If the player wants to still try it, they can play Trepie Groupie #1 in the Balamb Garden cafeteria, the man in charge of the Garden's entrance barriers, and Ma Dincht in Balamb Town, who all use Level 5 cards.

Mechanics[]

Fire Breath deals Fire-elemental magic damage to all enemies as per the following formula:^[1]

${\displaystyle Damage = Magic + Power}$

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

${\displaystyle Damage = Damage \times Power / 256}$

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

Crisis Lv 1: 70

Crisis Lv 2: 90

Crisis Lv 3: 100

Crisis Lv 4: 120

This makes Fire Breath a bit weaker than Ultima at the lowest, and equally strong as Apocalypse at the highest (a spell only usable during the final battle), but unlike these spells, Fire Breath will deal elemental damage, meaning it can do more damage if the enemy is weak to Fire.

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:

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

If the target has Shell, damage is halved. If the enemy is weak to Fire, Fire Breath will do increased damage. If the enemy resists Fire, Fire Breath will do less damage. If the enemy nullifies Fire damage, Fire Breath will not damage the enemy, and if the enemy absorbs Fire, Fire Breath will heal them.

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

Use[]

Fire Breath is a Limit Break for Quistis that she most likely acquires during the mid-game unless the player makes it their mission to deliberately collect Ruby Dragon cards. Against enemy groups that do not resist Fire, it is better than most of her Blue Magic spells, superseded by Ray-Bomb and Shockwave Pulsar. Against enemies weak to Fire, it is the most damaging Blue Magic spell, unless Shockwave Pulsar can break the damage limit against them.

Fire Breath is a good damaging Blue Magic spell, though the player may be able to do more damage with Guardian Forces. The boon of a Limit Break over Magic or GF is that it jumps the action queue and does not expend any spell stocks or incur any Charge Time.

Degenerator tends to be the best Blue Magic to use against most normal enemies. Fire Breath is still better than Degenerator against groups it can defeat in one go, and against enemies immune to Degenerator, like Grats and bosses, e.g. Abadon.

Because almost all of Quistis's Limit Breaks are magical, it is worth prioritizing her Magic stat with junctions and give her a GF that has Mag-J and Mag+% abilities.

Citations[]