Final Fantasy VIII command abilities

Defend command.

The following is a list of command abilities in Final Fantasy VIII. Characters always have the Attack command, but other commands can only be used by equipping a Guardian Force. In addition to Attack, each party member can equip three command abilities.

See also: Final Fantasy VIII support abilities

List of commands

Unequippable commands

Ability	Effect
Attack	Physical attack.
	Attack with equipped weapon
Mug	Physical attack on target and attempt to steal items. Replaces Attack command when Mug is equipped. Steal mechanics explained here.
	Attack and steal items
Renzokuken	Squall's Limit Break command.
	Attack with Renzokuken
Duel	Zell's Limit Break command.
	Combat style attack
Shot	Irvine's Limit Break command.
	Use ammo to attack
Blue Magic	Quistis's Limit Break command.
	Use monster's skill
Slot	Selphie's Limit Break command.
	Attack with magic chosen at random
Fire Cross	Seifer's Limit Break command.
	Attack with sword
Sorcery	Edea's Limit Break command.
	Use ammo to attack
Combine	Rinoa's Limit Break command.
	Call something
Angel Wing	Rinoa's Limit Break command.
	Use Angel Wing
Limit	Laguna's Limit Break command.
	Attack with Limit Breaks
Limit	Kiros's Limit Break command.
	Attack with Limit Breaks
Limit	Ward's Limit Break command.
	Attack with Limit Breaks

Equippable commands

Ability	AP	GF	Requirement	Item	Effect
Magic	N/A	All GF	N/A	Magic Scroll	Enables the Magic command.
	Cast magic
GF	N/A	All GF	N/A	GF Scroll	Enables the GF command.
	Summons Guardian Force
Draw	N/A	All GF	N/A	Draw Scroll	Enables the Draw command.
	Draw magic
Item	N/A	All GF	N/A	Item Scroll	Enables the Item command.
	Use item
Card	40	Quezacotl	N/A	Gambler Spirit	Turns an enemy into a card, with a higher success rate the lower their current HP is. May spawn boss cards randomly. Bosses and human enemies and any enemies that lack Triple Triad cards cannot be carded.
	Turn monsters into cards
Doom	60	Shiva	GF LVL 10+	N/A	Inflicts the Doom status effect on an enemy.
	Use Doom on one enemy
Mad Rush	60	Ifrit, Eden	GF LVL 10+ (Ifrit) N/A (Eden)	N/A	Casts Berserk, Haste and Protect on the entire party.
	Use Haste, Berserk, Protect on all
Treatment	100	Siren	GF LVL 12+	Med Kit	Heals all negative status effects, apart from KO.
	Remove abnormal status
Defend	100	Brothers, Cactuar	N/A	N/A	Makes user immune to physical attacks and halves damage from magical attacks until they select another action.
	Reduce damage until next command
Darkside	100	Diablos, Doomtrain, Eden	N/A	N/A	Attacks with three times the strength while sacrificing 10% of max HP.
	Expend HP to attack
Recover	200	Leviathan	N/A	Healing Ring	Fully recovers a target.
	Restore HP
Absorb	80	Pandemona, Doomtrain	N/A	N/A	Drains HP from a target, while ignoring Shell.
	Absorb HP
Revive	200	Alexander	N/A	Phoenix Spirit	Revives a target and fully recovers their HP.
	Remove KO
LV Down	N/A	Tonberry	N/A	N/A	Lowers an enemy's level, decreasing stats and drawable magic.
	Lower monster level
LV Up	N/A	Tonberry	N/A	N/A	Raises an enemy's level, increasing stats and drawable magic.
	Raise monster level
Kamikaze	100	Cactuar	N/A	Bomb Spirit	Deals massive damage but removes the user.
	Damage one enemy before getting KO'd
Devour	N/A	Eden	N/A	Hungry Cookpot	Attempts to eject an enemy if their current HP is less than the user's, and grants additional positive or negative effects to the user depending on the enemy.
	Devour monsters
MiniMog	100	N/A	N/A	Mog's Amulet	Restores GF HP.
	Call MiniMog

Dummied commands

The original PlayStation demo has two dummied command abilities that were removed for the second, non-Rinoa demo.

Ability	Description
Fortify	Casts Cure, even if its description suggests it would heal a Guardian Force.
W-Item	W-Item works the same as its equivalent in Final Fantasy VII and uses two items per turn.

Other appearances

Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade

Ability Cards

Darkside (UR).

Darkside (UR+).