Electrocute (Final Fantasy VIII)

Electrocute is a Limit Break for Quistis in Final Fantasy VIII that deals lightning magic damage to all enemies depending on her Magic stat and the current Crisis Level, a hidden stat in the game. It is a potentially early Blue Magic Limit Break, learned from a Coral Fragment. Blue Magic is available randomly when Quistis is on low health or under Aura.
Electrocute is also a weak enemy ability used by Cockatrices, called "Electric Discharge" when used by them.
==Obtained==
The player teaches Electrocute to Quistis by using a Coral Fragment in the inventory. Coral Fragments are obtained from Creeps, enemies that roam the Deling City Sewers, meaning the player can easily get one when Quistis is the party leader in Deling City. Coral Fragments can also be modified from Creeps cards, which are available since the beginning of the game.
==Mechanics==
Electrocute deals lightning-elemental magic damage to all enemies as per the following formula:
:Damage = Magic + Power
:Damage = Damage \times (265 - Target's~Spirit) / 4
: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: 30
:Crisis Lv 2: 36
:Crisis Lv 3: 44
:Crisis Lv 4: 50
This makes Electrocute about as strong as Bio at the lowest, and slightly stronger than Flare at the highest, but unlike these spells, will target all enemies and deal elemental damage, meaning it can do more damage if the enemy is weak to lightning.
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:
:Damage = Damage \times ([0..32] + 240) / 256
If the target has Shell, damage is halved. If the enemy is weak to lightning, Electrocute will do increased damage. If the enemy resists lightning, Electrocute will do less damage. If the enemy nullifies lightning damage, Electrocute will not damage the enemy, and if the enemy absorbs lightning, Electrocute will heal them.
Limit Breaks never miss and are unaffected by Elem-Atk junctions.
==Use==
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Electrocute is a Limit Break for Quistis that she can acquire early from the card game, or during "Disc 1" as an enemy spoil. Against groups that do not resist lightning, it is better than Ultra Waves, but it is weaker than Laser Eye against single targets unless the target is weak to lightning.
Electrocute is mainly good at the very beginning of the game, as the player can likely do more damage with Guardian Forces. Mechanical enemies are weak to lightning, such as many enemies in D-District Prison and BGH251F2. It can be good against Blobra in Tomb of the Unknown King if they happen to be weak to lightning, but the player would need to check with Scan as their weakness is random. The boon of a Limit Break over Magic or GF is that it jumps the action queue and does not expend any Magic stocks or incur any Charge Time.
Because almost all of Quistis's Limit Breaks are magical, it is worth prioritizing her Magic stat with junctions. Out of the starter Guardian Forces, Quezacotl has Mag-J. She is also a good candidate for any GFs that have Mag+% abilities.
If the player is investing in the card game since the start, they may get numerous Blue Magic items early, such as a Black Hole that teaches Degenerator, which is one of her most useful Blue Magic spells. Electrocute is the weakest elemental Blue Magic, superseded in elemental magic damage against all foes by Aqua Breath and Fire Breath.
==Etymology==
==Citations==
Category:Blue Magic in Final Fantasy VIII