Game:

Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

Duration: 13:24

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Full Playlist/End of Service thoughts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHim6AighbU&list=PLrUTnCWBLN4RnxHeTbKESmZwI9droZBLa&index=1

While there still IS a gear requirement, it's not as high as people might think anymore. Wait mode blew the fight wide open as planning and executing P2 is much much easier now being able to dial in small amounts of time.

I went from 3 sub30s (7, 9, FFT) to all sub30s because lol

Reqs:
1 Main DPS with at least 2 BDL. Good ones obviously really help. HE really helps.
1 "ramp" DPS with at least 1 BDL. HE mandatory here for early gauge.
1 "utility" that helps boost DPS. 1-2 BDL, can get away with 1 if ramp has two. (Utility here means anything from Imperil, an AASB that has another Boostga/Faithga, or overstrike HA, etc timed to go right before main dps to reduce savage levels, etc)

Anything extra on these 3 of course help but gauge juggling is tricky. LBOs are god-tier here because of that, and ADSBs are next-best because they can be fired off early just for a damage boost.
1 Realm healer who can keep people up. The regenga/QC USBs are incredible here
1 Big Mog (AASB2 honed + AASB1) or Big Orran (Sync, AASB, BSB)

All of them should be maxed dived with HA. Even 4-hit HAs are surprisingly good because of the multipliers involved.

FFVIII
Squall (SASB3/AASB1/AASB2)
Rinoa (Dyad/AASB1/Sync3)
Laguna (LBO/USB) (lmao)
Selphie (Glint+/USB)
Mog (AASB2 Honed/AASB1)

I took a few liberties with this one on account of all my stuff being on Ice (Squall/Rinoa, RIP everyone else) and Laguna literally not having any BDL but a nice shiny LBO.

While Squall technically is main DPS (abusing AASB1+2 wombo), his Sync3 allows both for a 3rd SB since it refunds 1 gauge, and also sets crit essentially to 100% before it runs out. Hence, he also blows Sync in P1, and we let the Sphere thing (which doesn't stun for FF8) hit 3 people instead. Technically it's possible to get Selphie's gauge up to the point she can cast a 3rd Booyakashaa before Sphere if she does nothing but spams Holyja (i.e. Laguna hits HC instead), but I didn't think it mattered to demonstrate the strat in this case.

Rinoa ramps, and then Dyad+Syncs in P2 to make up for Squalls slightly delayed setup. The Sync is obviously incredibly good, but hey, Laguna has nothing, cut me some slack lol

Laguna is Util, and all his bars go into keeping Imperil high.

Strat
1) buff (Orran AASB1 or Mog AASB2) and chain up immediately; The offrealm does nothing but spam chases- i.e. Orran HA and critsong or Mog HA and breakdance. Big Buff (Orran BSB, Mog AASB) as close to the 15sec mark as possible (integrated into point 3 later), and re-chain around 15-16s. The Fullbreak counter obviously goes off at 40%. Orran especially can have a little issue with gauge here- consider De'diaja in Slot1 to push gauge a little more if necessary

2) The ramp gets the first BDL up at 7sec because first ability gives more gauge, push to 70% by 12-15s. This tends earlier if there's a second BDL for P1, but otherwise can go slightly on the later side if the main dps is strong to carry the later part of the fight fast.

3) DK needs 6 SBs total to not eat Sphere AOE- 3 immediately on phase transition, then 1 after the first attack, and 2 more after 2nd attack/toplane memory bite. So for that, four people get 1 SB off in P2, last (usually main dps) needs to cast two. That person needs priority in P1 to potentially start casting before the transition while the ramp does the last push, as does Orran for BSB timing if using Orran.

4) Essentially healer is in slot3 to eat sphere, put the two with better gauge gain above (so they can SB before memory bite) and two slower ones below. Healer can basically Diaja or Holyja the entire fight for gauge- with offrealm chip heal support, every healer having some kind of AOE HA medica and the new Chain II giving some help with DR, there's significant overheal especially since going fast cuts out most of the nonsense. (You do not eat the debuff or P2 Megaflare at all) Healer QC USB is a must, it often does more than AASB/Sync depending on their effects

5) DPS should have their fully set-up stuff going off right after Godwall falls off (wait mode + seeing when it's cast goes 90% of the way here)

6) Main DPS with two BDLs up and the offrealm buff SHOULD be able to push King's Rage especially since chain count will be maxed at this point.

7) 2-gauge LBO can be blown in P2 in lieu of 6th SB right before Sphere Ray. Reduced damage is worth for people not getting delayed.

8) If the fight has P1 Black Hole, healer needs to glint there (assuming Orran) or alternatively have Haste ready to cast if using Mog (or Mog can haste)

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